When I first moved from the city to the country, I couldn't get over how silent it was except for the occasional hooting of an owl or a serenade by croaking frogs. I had gotten used to screeching brakes, shouts from sidewalks, and piercing sirens. At first the silence kept me up at night. I tried to find ways to fill up the 'nothingness', turning on the radio or the fan.
I finally realized the extent to which our days are filled with the constant buzz of background noise. Even if you turn off all of the obvious noisemakers, the sound of the refrigerator or an alarm will kick in. The opportunity to experience complete silence is so rare that when you encounter it, it feels unnatural.
When we take a week off and go to the beach, it takes me at least two days just to get used to the quiet and the thoughts in my head. I can finally hear things like the beat of my own heart, or the sound of the waves in the distance.
In the last 30 years, there has been an unprecedented growth of noise in our society. Cars honk, video games blare, and leaf blowers are earsplitting. Think of noise pollution as second-hand smoke--even if you are minding your own business, you're forced to put up with it. What can we do in order to counteract the volume in our lifes and rediscover true quiet?
1) Make your home a haven of tranquility--find ways to make things quiet at home.
2) Create a sense of calm--practice meditation or muscle relaxation.
3) Tune it out--daydream.
4) Give your brain a break--put on headphones.
5) Speak up-- tell the person next to you that they are bothering you.
6) Fight for peace--Noise Pollution Clearinghouse at noise.org
In the long run, a quieter life will mean a healthier life. It's good for your body, your mind, and your spirit.
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