There is one quiet place left on this earth.
One quiet place where there are no phones, no news tickers, no instant messages or even music.
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Updated 6 years ago,January 2, 2019
There is one quiet place left on this earth.
tdurkee /www.twenty20.com/photos/895dd6e0-0539-4f2f-832f-e293b9041d58
One quiet place where there are no phones,no news tickers, no instant messages or even music.
That place is underwater.
This morning, I ran a mile and a half down to the lake near my hotel.
I left my shoes and phone and sunglasses on the dock and eased myself into the water.
It was barely 8 am.
What was on my mind as this happened?
My head was clear and I knew exactly what I wanted to do that day.
It has become clicheand annoying, franklyto venture to sell people on Zen Buddhism and meditation these days.
Sit and watch your breath, they say.
Try a five day silent retreat.
Download this guided app.
I think there is a simpler solution: Just go for a swim.
At a natural spring.
yo dont ignore).
Youll see the benefits immediately.
I like the way my goggles fog up and reduce my visibility to just the necessary amount.
But meditation is more deliberate than this, you might say.
For me, the solution to this problem was quite unintentional.
I havetattooed on my forearmsthe phrases The Obstacle is the Way and Ego is the Enemy.
When I swim in clear water, they are my mantras.
Perhaps thats because running has fewer defenses against the intrusions of the world.
There are the stoplights and the honking cars.
Besides, what if we want to look at Google Maps?
What if there is an emergency?
What if someone is trying to reach me?
Not that these technologies arent coming to the pool either.
When I look over and see a swimmer in the next lane with waterproof headphones I think, Icarus!
You are going to ruin this for yourself if youre not careful.
The new Apple Watch is waterproof, and originally I was quite alarmed that it would be an intrusion.
I shake my head at other inventions too.
What are you swimming with fins for, friend?
Whats with that ridiculous snorkel?
To each their own, I guess.
One last story, one last sales pitch, I promise.
Are you Ryan Holiday?
I just readPerennial Seller.
I thanked him and started my swim.
Not writing consciously of course.
I would head out to swim precisely when I wastired of writingor helplessly stuck.
Maybe not every single day but incorporate it into your weekly routine at the very least.
Because swimming is good for the body and good for the soul and good for the mind.
