Most of us are juggling holiday craziness, but I took some time out to take a look at my Lingerie line today. Even in the winter there are things one can do to prepare a new line for the new life of spring. You have probably guessed by now that working on my line is a preferred pastime, because of the connection to colors and the creative feeling I have when I vision, scribble and sample, and also because of the silence.

And when I say silence, I don’t mean a complete lack of sound. In fact I am not quite sure what a complete lack of sound is like. It seems like there is always some kind of sound, even at the quietest of times. If nothing else, there is the sound of my breath and the beating of my heart to keep me company and remind me of the gift of life I enjoy each and every moment.

In a world of constant noise, traffic, airplanes, constant bombardment of machine sounds and the like, it is no wonder so many people feel stressed and anxious, though they may not even know why. Alternatively, most people relax when they can get to places that are quieter and more natural, where one can hear the breeze rustling the leaves in the trees, and the sounds of water flowing over stones in a softly flowing stream.

If you are like me, just reading about rustling leaves and water sounds can generate an immediate feeling of relaxation. I believe the reason for that is that such sounds are natural and in tune with the Earth, unlike many of the sounds of bustling human activity.

One of the nicest things about relaxing sounds is that they allow us to access the most important aspect of silence, the silence within. That silence inside that allows us to actually hear our own thoughts and receive insights can leave us feeling not only relaxed, but more alive and in step with the planet. The word silence comes from the word silentium, which means repose, to sit down, to rest. So, maybe silence is not so much the lack of sound as it is the kind of sounds that give us rest.

The next time you find yourself feeling a bit anxious without an obvious reason, stop and listen to the sounds around you. If you are not happy with what you hear, find a way to enjoy the sounds that do make you feel peaceful and relaxed. Take an early walk in the park, dig in your own garden, sit on your porch listening to the wind blow through the trees, or maybe put a waterfall or ocean wave CD on to play, and enjoy the sounds of silence.

I hope you can take some time out to enjoy a little silence right now.