I took the day off yesterday. It’s the second weekend in a row that I set aside writing assignments and artwork for one day. It is as though I were tapping into a natural rhythm after years of neglect.

Quiet. Silence and quiet. I have been thinking about that a lot lately. We misunderstand what it means to embrace silence. There are many ways to do so. It is not merely about shutting up; it is about listening and thinking, deeply.

Jacob Barnett, a young man diagnosed with ADHD, repeatedly invited his audience at a TED talk to “Stop learning, start thinking, start creating.” This was his premise: “In order to succeed, you have to look at everything with your own, unique, perspective.” The starting point for this must be a form of silence.

He paced the stage explaining how we spend too much time delving into conventional learning methods and not enough time thinking for ourselves. He has come to the conclusion that he cannot help but think for himself. This thinking advanced him in his perception and understanding of the world, so much so that he is ahead of his peers.

Learning demands that we stop focusing on outside information, on text books, on culture, and start turning our ears inward and asking, What do I know? Who am I? How am I inspired by what I know and see? What can I become as a result of this? How do I perceive myself in the midst of all of this? How does this help my journey? How does it hinder it? What can I change? Perception begins inward.

Yesterday, I watched an interesting movie on Hulu, titled “Disfigured”. It featured two women, one overweight and one anorexic, dealing with their respective personal body image. I especially enjoyed the tone the director chose to give to scenes where a group of men and women meet to discuss how society views people with “imperfect” bodies. It felt like they had filmed an actual group. Also, the parallel between the perception of the anorexic woman and her heavier friend’s was a brilliant way to highlight our twisted views of our bodies, regardless of their actual shape. I highly recommend it.

Meanwhile… the Beech Leaf Gift Pouch has inspired a new Brooch Pouch. I finished a first prototype today. I’m quite pleased with it. The button serves as a weight, keeping the flap down. I like to use the brooch pouches as a pocket for a daily goal or words of inspiration written on a small, folded piece of paper. A friend who got one from me keeps a lock of hair from her daughter in hers.

Beech Leaf Pouch