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Listening to Silence

The Silence of Flight
The Silence of Flight

We are a culture of constant piped music wherever we go. I have nothing against listening to music but not everyone wants to have a cup of coffee or eat a sandwich listening to music. Depending on where you go it can be almost impossible to have a conversation.

Back in 1991 I made a major lifestyle change when I decided no more television for me and have not had one since. I still listened to music, finding it valuable during some tough times in my life. I used the music for comfort and healing, with both lyrical songs and instrumentals.

In 2000 another lifestyle change occurred. I had a 5 year relationship come to an end and found myself not dealing well with it. There was enough wherewithal to decided to take a camping/fly fishing trip for three days on the Green River in Colorado. I talked to no one nor listened to any music during that time. Something shifted within me. After my return, I began to listen to less music at home. It’s now to the point of none at all. The music took a backseat to quiet and the sounds of nature, the silence drawing me more into those places. I now find man made noise to be more of an annoyance and the primary reason for my trips to the country. At this season of my life, silence is about listening to silence.

Retired. Having fun with photography. Journal daily. Meditate daily. Learning haiku/poetry. Have a love for fountain pens.

7 Comments

  • Cedric Canard

    They do say silence is golden. I agree with you on the topic of piped music, I can usually shut it out when I’m on my own but if I am trying to converse with someone, I do find that it divides my attention.
    No TV since ’91 is impressive. I bought my first TV in ’95 when I was 35. It was a year before I turned it on and then I was blown away by the amount of advertising so I bought a video player and only used it to watch movies. That’s pretty much all I use it for to these days (except that I’ve progressed from VHS to streaming for my movies 😉 ).
    On the subject of silence though, I recall an occasion when my wife and I went cross-country skiing on Mt Shasta in California. There was so much snow and we were completely alone. At one point we stopped to take a break and we both noticed the silence. It was so intense that we were both left speechless. I could hear my own heart beat. The two of us just stood there in awe for such a long time. I imagine that is what it would be like in an anechoic chamber, except that we were surrounded by pines and snow with nothing but blue sky above us. It was one of the most moving experiences of my life though I couldn’t really tell you why.

  • Earl

    There are certainly times when I crave the silence or at least only the sounds of nature and natural earth. I find it to be a healing experience…good for the should type of thing. Thanks for sharing, Monte!

  • Mark

    Can’t blame you. True silence is so hard to come by, it is almost erie when we encounter it. While I enjoy music immensely, when I am out photographing or just a hike in the woods, I prefer no added noises other than what is ambient.

  • Tom Dills

    Kathy & I both come from musical backgrounds, so for us we are frequently listening to music. As a rule, we choose music that is appropriate to whatever we are doing and the mood we are in. But there are times where no music or sound at all is what we seek. We’re fortunate to live in a neighborhood of older folks who for the most part are quiet. One of our favorite things is to drive up to the Blue Ridge Parkway, pull into an overlook, stop the car and roll down the windows to enjoy the sound of the wind and the birds. Ahhhh….!

    We often choose or avoid restaurants based on the noise level or number of televisions. When we’re meeting friends we look for places that are conducive to quiet conversation, and that is hard to do! Now we can’t walk through Lowe’s or the grocery store without being bombarded by those little screens mounted on the shelves imploring us to buy something.

    • Monte Stevens

      The restaurant is probably the last place I would want the piped music since the meal is a social gathering. I wonder if some of my avoidance of places with piped music is due to not having it in my youth.