There's something wrong if you can't find silence around you.

I listen a lot of music. IPod and earphone were the most important items in my pocket. Reason why?

Simply, I like music. It is my source of inspiration. Music was my friend since I remember. Also it is a great way to concentrate as well.

But sometimes, frankly, a lot of times, I used music as an escape method from the noise of the city around me. Car horn, people talking, noise of the traffic, sound of the utensils… Funny, these are the kind of sound that I grew up with all my life, but I still need to escape from it. Because, I need to be in a silence sometimes.

I remember, right before I made my big decision, when I’m so sick of everything around me, I thought ‘all I want is silence.’ Not a pile of money, not an expensive holiday, not the fanciest laptop, just silence, that was all I wanted. A place that I can sit quietly and think straight without forcing myself into concentration using music in my ears.

It must be something wrong if I can’t find a single spot that I can be in a silence, I thought. It could mean maybe I wasn’t able to find it, or literally the place around me was too noisy. I bet it was a bit of both. So, I tried it in several different places. I tried to find the piece in my own yard. Late night in my room, early morning in the coffee shop, on the top of the hill in the middle of the night… but I couldn’t find one. There was always music, TV, footsteps, traffic from afar, and occasional dog barking.

When did it become so hard to find silence?

Finally, I claim my silence back; by change my environment around me. The moment after I put my feet out of the airplane, I could easily find the silence and peace around me. All I needed to do was give myself a chance to move my butt, so I did and I found it. Maybe it’s because I’m much more happier than before. Must be.

There was a significant moment, in the White Mountains few days ago. It wasn’t even on the top, and I wasn’t looking for having the moment but it came to me. Everything looked so still, and there was not a single piece of sound. Total silence, that’s what it was. It felt like my brain was breathing through the quietness around me. When I was floating in the canoe on Lake Francis, I had another perfect moment. The loon broke my silence but I didn’t mind it at all. And it gently handed to me a piece of peace, and a smile. That’s what I’m talking about.

Happiness is not the ultimate goal of the life. It is a stage of moment and it should not be so not hard to find. Some would say it’s all matter of what you think, and that is true but sometimes, really the situation itself is the problem. No matter how hard you try, somethings are just not going to change.

So, I change the direction and find my silence in the nature. Escape, runaway, brave move, hide… whatever you call it, I did it and I am quite happy about it so far.