The Quiet Within: Reflections on Stillness

I recently finished reading Stillness, and what I liked most is how the author uses simple, relatable stories to show us that stillness isn’t some far-off goal — it’s something we can all tap into whenever, wherever, with practice. As I read, I kept thinking back to a moment I had during my walk along the Camino de Santiago, specifically the Caminho Português.

I remember my feet aching, being tired, hungry, and absolutely drenched from the rain. Yet, somehow, in that moment, I reached a kind of stillness that was incredible—a feeling of weightlessness and complete freedom from thought. It was ecstatic.

That’s what I love about this book: it reminds us that stillness isn’t about where you are. You don’t have to be on a mountain top in Abruzzo or on a remote island to find it. Stillness lives within us, waiting to be discovered no matter where we are or what’s going on around us.

Of course, being somewhere peaceful can (will) make it easier to find that calm, but the real magic is that it’s not about the place—it’s about the state of mind. Stillness is a lovely reminder to pause, breathe, and find that quiet space inside ourselves, especially when life feels overwhelming.

If you’re someone who craves moments of calm but struggles to find them, this book is definitely worth a read.

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5) A quiet, powerful book that speaks to something we all need more of — especially if you’ve ever paused long enough to feel it.