An Introduction
Sometimes you just need to start over.
Rebuild things from the ground up.
Whether you need to tear everything down yourself or maybe things have come down on their own, regardless, every once in a while you may have to hit the reset button and begin again.
In 2011, I began the process of rebuilding my life from its foundation. Facing several health challenges, I took to the sport of running and started making several other life changes that resulted in healthier eating, losing over 50 lbs, and eventually running long-distance races.
I’m older now, and my knees remind me that I’m getting older with each passing day. Not only that, but a lot of “life” has happened since then too.
And as expected, when that much time passes, routines and priorities change.
And that’s okay. Life is full of different chapters, and it’s time to turn the page.
So, I’ve spent the last few months quietly thinking about what I should do next.
I don’t remember how I stumbled upon it, but my attention was recently captured by the following verse:
“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you may not be dependent on anybody.” - 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
I’ve thought a lot about that verse over the last few months. The longer I contemplate those words, the more I resonate with them. I’ve even reflected what a “quiet life” might look like.
Quiet (n.) - “freedom from disturbance or conflict; calm, stillness,” from Old French quiete “rest, repose, tranquility.” (Source)
I know not everyone is wired to appreciate that idea, and that’s okay. But there are those of us who desire (dare I say crave) a life lived in a lower gear. When I think about making a quiet life my “ambition,” I have to admit that it sounds like a worthwhile goal to me.
I’ve turned a corner on a few things in my life recently, and the 1 Thessalonians verse above serves as a bit of a North Star for me now. And as such, I suppose that this site will function as a digital scrapbook of sorts for all the things that capture my attention, thoughts that bounce around my head, and projects I’m working on to align myself with this ambition.
I don’t know what all that means just yet, and maybe I never will, but here are some artifacts you might stumble across as you rummage through the posts and pages of this site:
- Articles exploring the depths of a quiet life, minimalism, and slowing down
- Thoughts on craftsmanship - specifically the craft of making split-cane fly rods
- Ideas on Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) - organizing all the junk in my brain promotes “calm and stillness”
- Various resource lists that I’ve compiled
Pursuit of a quiet life is not something that is taught in schools, yet I believe that it’s probably one of the greatest things that can lead a person to happiness.
It means you have to be ruthlessly intentional about what you allow into your life - news, certain types of social media, etc.
It takes courage to disconnect. To retreat from the chaos of the modern world. To choose to walk a different path. To simply say “no.”
This site is my contribution to the discussion.
No set posting schedule. No specific list of topics. Just me recording my thoughts and observations to serve as an almanac of my explorations of a quiet life.
Take your time and rummage around. I’m glad you’re here.