Four of Pututus

I barely spoke to anyone today. I didn't plan it that way. I woke up early and walked outside before breakfast, then just kept going. Eventually I found a quiet place overlooking the valley and sat there for what must have been more than an hour.

There were sounds everywhere. Birds somewhere below me. Wind moving through the grass. Occasionally I could hear people farther down the trail. But I wasn't talking, listening to a guide, trying to translate something, checking directions, or asking anyone a question.

I hadn't realized how much effort I had been putting into understanding everything around me until I stopped trying for a while. I just sat there. It was probably the quietest morning I've had since arriving, and I think my mind needed it.