Wonderful, tangible reproducible experience, Sally. The Ralph Waldo Emerson quote reminds me of Plato's conception of Beauty in the REPUBLIC; Beauty Itself —Singular — in contrast with beautiful things —plural. The things you learned from those 10 days of silence are instructive for all of us.

"The awareness that other people matter, and the things we don’t know about them matter even more". And if I may add: those things we don't know about them might include their inner Beauty Itself.

"The awareness that there is beauty to behold in every moment, if only we can remember to notice it".

Thanks for reminding us about the value of solitude, silence and meditation in the pursuit of actualizing the miracle of a happy, meaningful life.