Last week, I spent time with my parents in Southern Illinois. They live in the town where I was born and where both of my parents’ families have lived for generations.
My parents live in a town of only 5,000 people There are no major metropolitan areas surrounding their town, it’s really just an area encompassing about two hundred miles of nothing but small town after smaller town.
Since I live in the city, visiting Southern Illinois is always like a step back, a reminder to slow down and simplify. Now that I’m back home, I can really feel the change of speed.
I’ve been back in the St. Louis area since Saturday night and I haven’t had a chance to slow down yet. This post has been the only moment I’ve stolen to pause and reflect.
If there’s one thing I can say I feel reverberating throughout my body as I entered the city again, it’s noise. Not only actual sounds, from traffic to people, but white noise and static like more responsibilities, errands to run, places to go.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m always ecstatic to be home after an extended stay. I love living in a city. I like the architecture of downtown St. Louis, the cultural influences, museums, art galleries and lots of things to do.
Yet, it was nice to sit back and get lost in silence for a few days.
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Amanda Bretz 