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Health & Fitness

Noise

Today I am grateful for noise.  It occurred to me today as I was waking up, that while some noises drive me to the brink, not all noise is bad.

 

I’m not a fan of leaf blowers.  I know they are efficient, but their blaring blast shoots right through my patience.  Give me the soft swish of a broom any day.  I feel the same way about snow blowers, although after this winter I hate to even use the “s” word.  Also necessary, their roar assaults the quiet calm of a winter day.  The gentle scraping sound of a shovel on the walk is much more pleasing to the ear.  But I don’t need to hear it for a long time.  Got it?  A long time!

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I once had a conversation with a young child about emergency sirens.  I mentioned to him that they always bothered me because their sound meant someone was in trouble.  He said, “I always think someone is getting help.”  I learned a lot from that kid. 

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Video game noises are only fun if you are the one playing them.  If someone else is playing them I want to throw them out the window. . .and the video game, too.   It’s the same with some musical instruments like drums, horns and the gong in my front hall.  I usually give kids one well-placed hit on the gong, but when they won’t stop my brain turns to brass.

 

When my husband’s hearing aid is malfunctioning it gives off a high pitched whistle that he can’t hear, but I can.  So can every dog in a 12 mile radius.  Makes me crazy.  I’m going to give myself a lobotomy by tapping the side of my head to let him know with our pre-arranged signal, that he’s “whistling”.  Makes me crazy!  Did I say that already?  I can’t say it enough!  And while I’m on the whistling topic, if he sets the tea pot to boil and it starts to whistle, he takes his own sweet time to turn it off and pour the tea water.  I could lose my mind with that screeching whistle.

 

But not all noises are bad.  I love the sound of the humidifier pumping out white noise at night.  My last dog made a peaceful chuffing sound whenever I petted her.  Is anything better than the little squeaks and puffs a baby makes when they are sound asleep?  Not much.  I love the sound of the birds chirping wildly in the morning or splashing in the bird bath; the gently lap of water on sand; the clickety-click of an old push lawn mower; peaceful music; the wind blowing dried leaves in fall; a gentle rain hitting windows (not today, please); a rippling waterfall or fountain; the purr of a kitty; and tinkling wind chimes in a soft summer breeze. 

 

I am grateful for noise, because without it I would not appreciate the sounds of silence as much and sometimes the pulse of silence is the best sound of all.

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