When I created my blog in 2016 … “The Space Between the Notes” mybrickleys.com … I was never fully clear where the original idea came from. It just arrived one morning. Or as I’ve alluded to in my book CONNECTIONS, a “firefly” … a random thought during quiet time one morning. Just came to me. Came from somewhere. This morning a “firefly,” a thought of “space” returned. The space between a musical note. The space between one word and another. The space, pause between breaths. Then there’s outer space. The unfathomable universe. Today? I’m enjoying “spacing.” Basically, doing nothing. Oh, is there a tension I may be wasting the day? Yes. But then I was drawn to write. Write this.

I heard something recently that put the concept of “space” in broad perspective.

How big is the Universe? Picture an elegantly molded sandcastle on a beach. Would it be possible to count the grains of sand here? Probably, most probably not. Well, then imagine how this might allow you to picture God’s universe. How large, vast is it? The stars. All those stars. The firmament. How big is it?

Take that sandcastle. Envision it grows and grows and grows. 35 miles wide; 35 miles deep; 35 high. Think how many grains of sand there are in this one. Can you? If you could count them? The sum would be one quintillionth … {A thousand trillions is a quadrillion. A thousand quadrillions is a quintillion.} The sum of the grains of sand here would be one quintillionth of the number of stars there are in the Universe.

And here’s the clincher for me? Our earth is but one of all those stars. We are the size of just one … one. Just one of those grains of sand. Humbling?  Incomprehensible for sure.

Vast or minute. The Universe or the pause between breaths. Space has no sound. But we tend to spend most of our time living in the “noise.” Live in silence, the quiet? You kidding me? “I’m not being busy! I’m wasting time!” We live compressed, over stimulated lives today. I don’t need to tell you why. The avalanche of stuff sent our way. Exhausting. But I’ve always been fascinated by the paradox … The best way to speed up … is to slow down. Living in the quiet. Just spacing out can be so productive. Even though at the time it doesn’t feel that way.

Sure, we need to deal with all sent our way. But isn’t it within our power to choose what we attach to? As I age I have become very selective about the things I attach to. Nourishing relationships … healthier foods … things, people that make me laugh … those I coach who as I coach them? I realize they are at the same time coaching me. My decisions are better in focus when I take the time to “quiet” me. Stop and just “space out.” Let my thoughts soften. Allow me to more mold them. Rather than wait for them to abruptly jump me. Create unnecessary tension, anxiety. And not feel guilty doing so.

This is far from a complete remedy for our stresses

But as we learn more about our ability to heal ourselves. Know our body has its own magical capacity to cure many of the health issues we face. Holistic approaches to medicine suggest our attitude … our mental and spiritual state have the capacity to address much we face. Being settled, quiet … holding our personal “space” intact can set a stage for positive thoughts, better control of our emotions. And contribute to our better health.

So, guess what? As I’ve written this? I’ve decided to take time each week to just “space.” Zone out. Basically do nothing. Just “be.” Quiet myself. Rest in silence and let things come to me. They will. And in the process my “attachments” will serve me … so, so much better.