What I Learned in the Quiet

iphone. target. laptop. google. kroger. email. GONE for one week.

An episode of the Simple Life, you say? Nope. Just a week in the California hillside.

Well, a hillside is a bit of an understatement. I went to visit my sister in Hume, California—a community nestled around a lake within the Sequoia National Forest, 1.5 hours from civilization.

When you think of California, you normally envision sunny beaches (clearly with attractive surfers), the bright lights of Los Angeles, the bay bridge, or the vineyards of Napa Valley.

Hume Lake does not fit the traditional bill, but presents a side of California everyone should explore.  There are infinite mountains (a smidge larger than the Blue Ridge), unbeatable crisp mornings and nights, epic sequoia trees, and a lake that looks like you could walk on top of it at dusk (I don’t suggest trying it though).

After disconnecting myself from technology and modern conveniences, I was able to learn a lot about myself.

What I learned (mostly while lounging in my new favorite spot below):

… I rely on technology too much to occupy my time. Challenge: Cut off your phone, kindle, ipad, or tv 1 night a week after work. It’s amazing what you’ll find right in front of you in the flesh that you’ve never noticed before.

… I love to read—especially in porch swings.

… Daily naps should be mandatory.

… Spending time with close friends and family in person far exceeds browsing anything on a screen (you learn far more about someone when you spend time with them with your phone turned off).

… A walk around a lake or bike ride through a canyon can solve most any problem.

… Airports are seriously one of the loudest places on earth. After leaving the lake I was overwhelmed by the fast pace, amount of personal information people share on their cell phones while waiting (we can hear you), and the overstimulation of the lights, TVs, loud speakers, and shops.

In a world with a lot of noise, it is eye opening to just be quiet.