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HushFest is on the horizon. Cornwall’s festival of quietness, shaped by our community. |
This post was shaped within the Quiet Connections community. Some pieces are written anonymously; others come together through gentle collaboration. Either way, they come from lived experiences and quiet reflections from quieteers like you.
Our articles are here to offer understanding and encouragement to quieteers finding their way with confidence, connection, or a sense of belonging. If something here feels familiar or reassuring, you're warmly welcome to read more, join our Facebook Community or come along to a Meet Up whenever you're ready.
If you’ve found comfort, connection or confidence through Quiet Connections, then you already know the quiet power of being seen and accepted as you are. At Quiet Connections, we believe in the power of gentleness and showing up just as we are. We’re a small but deeply rooted community in Cornwall, creating calm, inclusive spaces…
The Flawed Narrative of ‘Fixing’ If you’re a quieter person, you’ve likely experienced a moment when someone—perhaps with the best intentions—tried to ‘help’ by encouraging you to be more outgoing. “Just speak up.” “Go and talk to people.” As if it should be that simple. But instead of feeling supported, we’re left feeling as though…
There are moments in life when the path ahead seems unfamiliar and the way forward unclear. When you find yourself stepping into new territory without a map, it can feel as if every step is a leap into the unknown. Yet, these moments, challenging as they may be, also hold the seeds of growth, transformation,…
Quiet Reflections for National Stress Awareness Month Some kinds of stress are loud. They burst in—sweaty palms, racing heart, fast speech. The signs are hard to miss. But some kinds of stress are quiet. They gather slowly and silently. They don’t shout for help. They live in the pause before we speak. In the tension we…
Have you ever felt like the world wasn’t quite built for you? Maybe you’ve been told to “speak up” in meetings or to “come out of your shell,” as if the way you naturally engage with the world is something to fix. Maybe you’ve felt overlooked—not because of what you can do, but simply because…
When your nervous system feels overwhelmed, it can seem like you’re no longer in control of how you respond to the world around you. Whether you’re experiencing the fight-or-flight response, freezing up, or feeling like you’re collapsing, reaching out for help can feel difficult. But what if those around you could recognise the signs of…
Relationships aren’t built on perfection—they are built on repair. No matter how close we are to someone, moments of disconnection happen. A misunderstanding, a sharp tone, a missed bid for connection—these small ruptures can make us feel distant or uncertain. But they don’t have to be the end of the story. In fact, how we…
Shame can feel like an invisible barrier, keeping us small, disconnected, and unseen. For those of us who are naturally quiet—whether introverted, sensitive, or experiencing social anxiety—shame can be tied to feeling like we don’t quite fit in a world that often rewards loudness and confidence. We might have heard messages like “You need to…
Happiness is often portrayed as something bright and exuberant—a word that brings to mind beaming smiles, laughter-filled gatherings, and boundless energy. But for those of us who are quiet, introverted, or experience social anxiety, happiness doesn’t always look this way. And that’s okay. On International Day of Happiness, we want to explore a different perspective—one…
This Neurodiversity Celebration Week, we take a moment to honour the many ways that minds can work—each one bringing its own strengths, perspectives, and ways of experiencing the world. Neurodiversity is not just about differences in how we think, process, and communicate; it’s a reminder that there is no single ‘right’ way to be in…
Every choice we make creates ripples. Some are small, barely noticeable. Others shift the course of our lives. And yet, when faced with a decision, it’s easy to get caught up in the immediate pressure: What’s the right answer? What if I get it wrong? For many of us who are quieter, decision-making can feel…
We know that many of you wonder why our Meet Ups aren’t available in every corner of Cornwall–and even the Country–and why we sometimes can’t secure the local venues you know and love that seem ideal. These questions matter, and we want to be open about the challenges we face and how you can help…