Question of the Day 9/11/09:
“What is the longest you’ve spent in silence?” – Traci Toguchi
Silence from multimedia can help us “clear the slate” in a multitude of ways.
I had been making daily efforts to do so everyday, and have to admit, began slacking, or should I say napping. Since I love to sleep, my moments of silence would convert into naps. LOL
Doing the video yesterday reminded me to restart, even if it’s just for 10 minutes.
The longest that I’ve been silent without even reading was for an hour I believe.
What about you?
What is the longest you’ve spent in silence?
Eight years ago, not only the U.S., but people around the world were shaken by the 9/11 tragedy.
We may also experience silence in memory of those who are no longer with us.
The longest that I’ve been able to be in silence without all of the stuffs that you mentioned is probably about 40 minutes.
Oh wait….did you say that sitting on the throne is in or out? If it is out then never mind. Hahahaha.
BTW – LOVED the duck cameo in the background. I think the duck was “just being” too. Very apropos!
He answered! Now I’m silenced. heh.
re: throne – Oh lordie! The only thrones I’d like to hear about include purple velvet and golden crowns. LOL
Dude, those ducks were trying to help me ask the question. I got them in another shot that I may or may not use.
I know… so sweet of them to hang… it’s like when they gathered and welcomed me when I was going to twitpic them in Kailua.
Well, I like to argue. So – Not long at all. ;^)
Here is my question for the day.
Who has done a better job of keeping the country safer – George Bush or Barack Obama?
IMO – Since we have made it past the morning of 9/11, then Obama has officially kept us safer longer than George Bush did.
Alright Dave, stir-it-up with excitement of political’O! My man!
Wait Wait moment of silence… (TT’s thinking don’t get Slimbo Rock started) … Another moment of silence… Ok, ok I’m calm!
Barack Obama of course !!! Dubya and Darth Chaney in my opinion created much fear and many lives ruined in so many ways over eight years of Repo HELL black curtain almost bringing us to the brink of civil war years in this USA.
I for one have enjoyed the so-called conservatives suffer in their neo-radical- “I’m conservative” rhetoric of fear all in the name of freedom, lately. The outburst of the Repo Rep during President Obama’s speech was living proof of that side of aisle sense of fair play. It’s always the same… “Their way of the Hi-Way!” Bull Rubbish Cow Patty Town, Man’O, Baby’O’s… Peace sells, but no-body-was-buying!
Ministry Lies Lies Lies
AFLAC !!!
Traci, again very nice quiet location. That is a sweet pond. Glad that “Dude” ducked you shot today,
I have to go with ParkRat’s answer, but go with 45 minutes, lol
No, but seriously, seriously and this is after having a noisy dream. I can’t even find true silence in my dreams. May be a good thing that I’m REM’in like crazy. I still have dreams of co-workers from years past popping up in my dream-time like old boring Group Meetings, but weirder. Dreams are always surreal, yea.
I suppose most time spent silent was when my Father was in Hospice for three days. I think he made it 34 hours. They said it would be 24 hours, so Stan R.I.P. beat the odds on that bet. He died 3/11/06 and we all were pretty silent. I still have silent moments when I think of him… His eyes remained very blue, bright and azure.
Today 9/11/09 is another mellon collie day of reflection in that quite pond of what went wrong or mysteries of 9/11 events. Everyone has thoughts of that day and where they were and faces of horror. And in silence ask who, why and how? Never again?
When I visualize silence, the though of one of those pristine Japanese Gardens come to mind
Peace and Love
INXS – Mediate
Does scuba diving count? That’s a form meditation for me, even when I’m shooting. Longest dive… a little over 2 hours I think.
I would say so. Definitely, like be in suspended animation or feeling of a space walk in the vacuum of space, but in the deep blue… Although whilst down there you got to keep you wits about you for fish much much bigger than you and those sharp cisors. You’d go from nice mental alpha state to full beta big time. Just guess’in.
I can only hope for one of those to come along. I have yet to get a really good shot! They’re scavengers, and their job is to go after dead or dying things and keep our oceans clean. So people on the surface (surfers, snorkelers, etc.) are fair targets… no self respecting marine animal would be thrashing around like that. At depth, they’re more afraid of you than vice versa. You’re this big, clumsy, bubble blowing monster with (in my case) a big camera housing and two strobes that look like missile turrets.
Peter,
Thx for answering my comment Peter on details of the Ocean going wild of Maui, Hawaii. Started following you on twitter. You shoot some amazing under water workx photo-togs. I suppose you could always put yourself in one of those shark cage rides. Chum the waters and hang on for some sharp-tooth-nashing bump and grind as it were!
Say, if I can ask you a question. I live in Livermore, Ca. at present. I noticed you indicated on Twitter you did some kewl work in Silicon Valley. Enough so that your on island of Maui doing what now is you passion.
Was it an adventure or usual work long hours, real hard dogma?
Were you behind a success filled start-up effort at one time or another down in SV?
Terrific comment about they being more afraid of you, then you of them. Sort of a achieving a sense of calm under fire, so they don’t sense the divers overwhelming fear. Same sort of situation that gets land animals spun-up like when you meet a junk yard dog protecting it’s territory. It takes metal training to have confidence to remain calm under fire.
; )
Aloha James,
In the Bay Area, I worked for Amdahl (before the Fujitsu mess), then Netscape, which got swallowed by AOL, where I got into their 2-badge “alliance” with Sun called iPlanet, then I got myself a package when that imploded, went back to Sun to try to clean things up after a few months off , and finally walked away from the whole industry in ‘04 after 25 years.
The photography has been a passion since I was a teenager, and I started doing it seriously while looking for the next thing. Still looking for the next thing.
As for the underwater stuff, started diving in ‘95, got my divemaster about a year later, started taking my camera down as soon as I could find a viable housing, and never quit.
Life story in a nutshell! Hope that’s what you were looking for.
Hi Traci! Sorry to take up your comment space with all that!
Aloha…
Amdahl, Fujitsu, Netscape, AOL, “alliance” with Sun called iPlanet, then back to Sun!!!
Bloody Bravo !!!
That’s a war story in high tech. I raise my glass toya.
You made it out alive, congrats, big time. Makes my 31 years at LLNL a piece of pi !
I drive down to Silicon Valley now and again for events and what not. Traffic from Livermore can drive you up the red-hill.
I am sure somewhere in there was exciting spills, thrills and rewards, again good onya. I met some other Silicon Valley engineers from time to time. Their goal is to get as many firms on the ol’ Resume’ as humanly possible w/o crash and burn-out and maybe escape with a KPCB VC options winner!
Cheer mate — jr
Traci, by the way love your new video lay-out on your front page web-site. Your muse is well listed for viewing. I think Peter would agree the Stormy Bell Ringer can sing, no doubt about it!
Rock_On
Peter, you are kind, no worries. Glad to see you folks conversing here.
A few years back, people gave actors Katie Holmes & Tom Cruise a lot of flack for Suri’s “silent birth,” something Scientologists practice. I was curious + read up on the details, mainly that you try to keep your environment as minimally invasive as possible to reduce stress. The thought was intriguing.
In May 2008, I went in for surgery to remove a Phyllodes Tumor from my left breast. I decided to try this “silent healing” technique myself. I went radio silent on social media. Shut off my phone completely. Nurses would ask if I wanted the TV on + I refused. I didn’t even pick up a magazine. As I waited alone for more than four hours in the surgical prep area, my thoughts drifted to how hungry I was then, but I suddenly found myself in a different place mentally. I didn’t talk or joke w/ hospital employees, unless necessary. If I heard other TVs, I blocked it.
When I got home, I spent two days by myself, in total silence. By the 3rd day. I hopped in my rental car + drove to the North Shore, where I went climbing on the rocks + enjoyed nature in silence. I healed really fast.
A couple weeks later, I had to go back for a second surgery on the same tumor. This time, I was overconfident + felt I could take myself to the same place mentally. I texted, tweeted, talked story. While I left the TV off, I read magazines + tried in vain to nap. Post surgery, I started joking w hospital staff. Later that night, we went to a loud restaurant + I foolishly downed a margarita. This time, I spent my time in bed on the computer, excited to start my new job.
The pain did not go away after 3 days. It didn’t go away for more than two weeks. I called my surgeon, insisting something was wrong.
When things finally cleared up, I took time to reflect + realized my mistake. While I may not agree w Scientologists on much else, I agree that doing meditative + silent work during medical procedures is imperative to faster healing.
Mahalo for listening! Aloha,
Laurie