Listening to the Sound of Silence: My Daily Experience of Solitude

On Sunday morning, my alarm did not go off. My phone was turned off, my curtains were drawn, and all connection to the outside world was severed. I had given myself a 24-hour retreat—a day spent entirely alone with my inner voice, without speaking, without media.

08:00 AM – Awakening

I woke to the sound of birds outside. Normally, my first action would be to check my phone. But this time, I simply lay in bed and listened to my breathing. The first thoughts that surfaced in my mind were not daily worries but memories from childhood. My mind seemed to be sifting through old files in the silence.

12:00 PM – Meal Ritual

I sat in the kitchen with only a slice of bread and cheese. While I usually check my phone while eating, this time I savored every bite—the crisp texture of the bread, the salty taste of the cheese. The meal took only five minutes, yet the sense of fullness was far deeper. Silence had sharpened my senses.

03:00 PM – Inner Dialogue

Sitting in the living room, I gazed out the window. A voice inside me kept talking: “Did they call about work? What am I missing today? What’s happening on social media?” This voice reflected the modern world’s imposed need for constant connection. But after a while, the voice slowed and gave way to a profound stillness.

07:00 PM – Sitting in Darkness

The sun had set, but I did not turn on the lights. I sat in the dark and listened to the distant sounds of the city—the car horns, children’s voices, dog barks. Each sound told a story I normally never noticed. Darkness, by shutting off my vision, amplified my other senses.

10:00 PM – Alone with the Stars

I stepped onto the balcony and watched the stars. Even amid light pollution, I could see only a few—but knowing they had been there for millions of years brought me peace. In that moment of silence, I felt how insignificant my small world was within the vastness of the universe.

Next Morning – Rebirth

When I turned on my phone Monday morning, I saw that nothing had been missed. The world had continued spinning during my 24-hour absence. But I had changed:

• I now sit in silence for ten minutes each morning
• I eat meals without my phone
• I observe a “media fast” once a week
• I make time to listen to natural sounds

The Lesson I Learned

Silence is not something to fear—it is a doorway to the deepest wisdom within us. While the modern world forces us to seek “more”—more information, more entertainment, more connection—what we truly need is “less.”

On that day, I learned:

• The best ideas are born in moments of silence
• True rest must be both physical and mental
• Being alone with oneself is one of the most valuable skills
• We can never hear our inner voice if we do not turn down the noise outside

Perhaps we all occasionally need to experience our own retreat. When I learned not to fear silence, I discovered that my best friend was inside me all along.