What I value most today is the sound of silence

Some dread silence. Some love silence. I transcended from dreading silence to falling in love with silence. The reason I value silence is that:

I live on a noisy road that never sleeps.

I live on top of a noisy pub. (Gen Z calls it music.)

I live with my dog (sorry, my wife’s dog) who barks at night when she is not around. So much for man’s best friend.

I wished to walk away from this deafening world just to listen to the sound of silence. I was lucky to get my first break on a solitary trek over a mountain and into a forest. It was a magical experience to be in the midst of green forests, gushing waters, and the flutter of the wind. It brought out the poet in me. I wrote my first poem, "In the Quiet of the Woods."

How silence can change your life?

Medical science has established the benefits of meditation. Silence is the first step in the practice of meditation. For those of us who struggle with silence or love the adrenaline of multitasking, we could reap the benefit of silence by following some simple and small steps like:

• Enjoy your morning coffee in silence without your gadgets or newspaper

• Walk in the park and relish the silence of the surroundings rather than listening to music

• When you are traveling, look at the scenery rather than looking at your phone

• Start with a small session of meditation, even 5 to 10 minutes is a good beginning

French philosopher Blaise Pascal aptly said, "All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone." Learning to sit in stillness and reflect is one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves. Take the first tiny step in silence and you will reap countless benefits in peace.