The (even more) Silent Why (& the Singapore Strait)

#150. Life is hectic. Sometimes we simply need to stop for a moment. And that’s what this short episode is all about. 

Oh, and the lapping of the sea in Singapore that I recorded when we were there. 

Welcome to The Silent Why podcast, here to help you navigate loss and grief, and possibly... find hope. 

These very short, episodes will pop up every now and then to help you take a moment to check in and see how you're really feeling.  

Less than 9 minutes total, including 2 minutes of time for you (and you alone) - join me (Claire Sandys, podcast host) and allow yourself to press pause on life for a short while. 

And for this episode, I'm asking you to sit on the rocks of Sentosa, as the water laps below, and just take a moment to pause. 

Transcript

Life Feels Relentless

Claire 0:02

Hello, welcome to the even -more -Silent Why podcast. I don't think it's just me that's noticed how crazy and stressful life feels nowadays. It's tiring, right? Relentless, hectic, hard work on all levels, mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually. There's pressure on all sides. Even catching up with podcast episodes. So I've decided, to help me as much as you, I'm going to occasionally put out an episode to encourage slash force you to do something that we all need to do every now and then. Stop. Breathe. Be still. Allow your mind two minutes to just check in with you. You've probably experienced listening to a podcast with adverts. The advert comes on at a time when you can't fast forward, because you're stuck with your hands in the washing up bowl, or you're in the shower, or you're driving and you're forced to listen to the whole advert. Well, I kinda hope you're in one of those situations now, because I'm going to encourage you to do something and feel like you just have to do it. Pretend there is no option to stop or fast forward. Because I want to give you just two minutes, just for you. Let's face it, you came to this episode expecting it to be at least 30 minutes, so I know that you have two minutes free. And you know what? It might just make all the difference to your day. In these short episodes, I'm gonna transport you somewhere different each time. To come with me and then just ask you to think about one thing.

A Sea Soundscape In Singapore

Claire 1:45

Today, I want you to join me at the southernmost point of South East Asia. Or I thought I did, because I recorded some sound there when we were in Singapore last year, on the island of Sentosa, where there's a sign saying it was the southernmost point of Southeast Asia. However, my Google search to confirm this to make sure the information was right, has revealed that geographically, Tang Jung Pi in Malaysia is generally recognised as the southernmost point of the mainland, and where we went is a contested tourist spot with a sign. Why is it contested? Because it's on a bridged island off Palawan Beach on Sentosa Island, so because it's separated from the mainland by a bridge, it's kind of contested as being part of the continent. Anyway, that's where I'm getting the relaxing sounds for this episode from, whichever one you want to believe. So for the purposes of this relaxation, let's say that we are at the southernmost point, and we're enjoying the relaxing sound of the sea. Which I do just want to know is really hard to record. At this point, we were stood near the water's edge. But it's not a beach, there are rocks that you can sit on and the water comes up to the rocks a couple of feet away from you. There is sea in every direction from this side of the island, and as you look out at the sea, it is littered with ships. If you haven't seen the sea around Singapore, it's a mass of large shipping boats all moored up in every direction. The country imports almost everything, so there are always boats around. But it's still very relaxing. The air is humid, it's very warm. There are black birds like rooks nosing around, most of the birds in Singapore are black, and you're surrounded by lots of green tropical plants and trees that we only see here as houseplants.

Three Deep Breaths

Claire 3:30

So, take a moment just to turn your focus inward. And start with three deep breaths.

The Time Gift Question

Claire 4:06

Forget all the current demands on your time right now. Let's just take two minutes to imagine that you have time. It's all yours. You can do what you want with it. You can imagine an hour or a full day. It's just a gift. You have time with not a single thing to do. You have a fully healthy body, no restrictions physically. You have no jobs to do. Your decision has no impact on anybody else. What do you do with that time? What does your heart or mind instantly go to? And in the time we have by the sea, ask yourself, is that really what I'd like to do? Because sometimes the first answer is more about what we need or crave. Rest, sleep, big mug of coffee, giant donut. But I want you to hone in on what you want to do. What's that second thing that you so often put off that you don't allow yourself time to enjoy or endure? The thing that you really want to do, completely selfishly, but not in a bad way. In a way that feeds something in your soul. And I want you to allow this to be anything. Because maybe you want to dance or paint or sing or be with friends or walk on the beach or fully enjoy a hobby. But maybe you want to grieve, cry, feel, process or love. And when you find it, ask yourself if you're allowing enough of that into your life right now. And if not, why not? Because it's obviously important to you. So ask yourself the question, then wait, see what the answer is as you stand by the sea. If you had time, what would you want to do with

2 mins of Sea Sounds

Claire 5:51

it?

What You Feel Is Not You

Claire 7:52

Thank you. From me for joining me. But also there'll be parts of your own body and mind that are grateful that you stop to notice them and just check in. Whatever it is you identify, don't let it go without doing something with it. Recognizing emotions is a powerful way to understand ourselves better, feel more in control, and improve our emotional intelligence. Matt Haig said, You are not your feelings. You just experience them. Anger, sadness, hate, depression, fear. This is the rain you walk in, but you don't become the rain. You know the rain will pass, and you walk on, and you remember the soft glow of the sun that will come again.