Have you ever longed for a place where you could just pause—
Shut off the noise, escape the pressure, and simply be?

Lately, I’ve felt mentally and emotionally worn down.
There were days when waking up felt like a chore, not a choice.
My mind had become a noisy, tangled place—dark, chaotic, filled with thoughts that didn’t belong to the person I’m trying to become.

But here I am, dear reader.
Still standing.
Still writing.
Still surviving another storm.

Whenever the world feels too loud, I search for silence in the arms of nature.

Last month, I revisited Stiperstones, a remote and rocky ridge tucked in the Shropshire Hills. It was my second time there—and like the first, it greeted me with peace.

There’s something about this place that stills me.
That whispers, “It’s okay to pause here.”

Let me share with you why this hidden gem has become my quiet refuge:

What Makes Stiperstones So Special?

• The View.
  No filter could ever do it justice. The sweeping hills, the way the sky seems to stretch wider here—it’s a place where your lungs breathe deeper and your heart beats slower. (See the photo below, and you’ll know what I mean.)
• The Character.
  Rugged, raw, and unapologetically wild.
  The jagged stone outcrops rise like ancient guardians piercing the clouds. They look like they were sculpted not by time, but by emotion.
• The Legends.
  Stiperstones isn’t just scenic—it’s storied.
  Its myth-laced rocks have inspired artists and poets, including D.H. Lawrence. One outcrop, known as The Devil’s Chair, is steeped in folklore. They say when clouds cover the hilltop, Satan himself is seated on his rocky throne. Spooky, yes—but strangely poetic.
• The Stillness.
  Despite the haunting tales, I feel incredibly safe here.
  Like I’m just a door away from heaven.

My Safe Haven

It’s in this place that I allow myself to stop thinking.
To simply sit.
To breathe.
To look out into the distance with no expectation of clarity, but with a heart wide open to peace.

Sitting there, beneath a cloud-strewn sky, I let go of every weight I’ve been carrying.
And in return, Stiperstones offers me silence, beauty, and healing.

We all face battles—some louder than others, some fought entirely in silence.
And no one way of coping is better than another.
What matters is that we show up—as kind, compassionate, and informed versions of ourselves.

So if you’re going through something right now, I see you.
I’m walking through my own, too.

But despite the darkness, I still believe this:
Life is beautiful.
We’re alive. We’re human.
And maybe, just maybe, that’s enough for today.

With love and light,
Anj 🌥