Serenity Now! Would you just like to find some quiet every now and then?
There were a mere 314 million hits when I Googled ‘find some quiet.’
The unusual thing about quiet is that when you seek it, it is almost impossible to achieve.”
― Hilary Thayer Hamann, Anthropology of an American Girl
If you’re craving some peace and quiet, you can be sure you’re not alone. So just how do you find some when there’s little left to be found?
Finding some quiet takes far more than closing a door.
One convenience that Silicon Valley hasn’t delivered yet is a device that would have just two simple buttons.
Button #1 would instantly transport you or me—but not both (this is about quiet, remember)—to a cabin deep in the woods. Deep enough to find some quiet.
Now that I’ve imagined button #1 for a few minutes, Button #2 may not be necessary.
Just in case though, let’s have them include it anyway. If for no other reason than if they can do button #1, they can certainly do button #2… the one that would bring us back when we’ve grown tired of peace and some quiet time.
See why it might not be necessary? But have you ever wished for a device like this?
I hear you. In fact, I can hear you screaming the answer as loud as you can.
And it’s not helping matters either.
So imaginary devices notwithstanding, how do we find some peace and quiet?
First, let’s set some realistic terms… because without them, it’s just not happening. Without serious countermeasures, that is.
Consider this quote for a moment…
Quiet is peace. Tranquility. Quiet is turning down the volume knob on life. Silence is pushing the off button. Shutting it down. All of it…”
― Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner
Through Hosseini’s definition, quiet is possible. But true silence would be a Jedi level achievement in this very noisy world.
There is hope, however.
According to an article on OutsideOnline.com, the National Park Service has developed a way to help you find silence. Yes silence… not just quiet.
After years of recording natural and human-generated noises, there’s now a map (or maps) available to help you make a true escape from all the noise. Plan on travelling farther and deeper into the void as you may have imagined. Because…
97 percent of people in the United States are regularly exposed to 50 decibels of sound—the equivalent of a humming fridge—from flight paths and roads.”
— Heather Hansman, in the OutsideOnline article
I’ve never been a morning person no matter how hard I’ve tried.
But what I remember most about those early mornings when I had no other choice? The quiet. that’s what I remember. The quiet before the rest of the world wakes up.
Find some quiet, private time. Allow yourself to slow down and relax. Find nature, meditate, or do nothing. Take a mental break. You’ll gain the benefits of a quiet mind.”
― Tom Giaquinto, Be A Good Human
Be untucked.
Epilogue—
Each morning I enjoy some quiet time, before the volume gets turned up for another day. Lanette has left for her commute into the city. Now it’s just me and my mug of coffee… sometimes Brodie joins me.
Otherwise it’s no television and no devices for at least the first thirty minutes.
I’ve come to value this time as I’ve found it helps me clear my head and set myself up for a good day. One thing I’ve learned though is this. Quiet time is relative… and that’s why it’s important to find some quiet every chance we get.
I thought it would be interesting to share some…
Noises I’ve Heard During My Morning Quiet Time —
Planes flying overhead
Of course, cars
Helicopter ‘chopping’
Trucks
Screaming kids
Leaf blowers
Lawnmowers
Chainsaws
Fireworks
People talking
Robocalls
Wind blowing
Assorted chimes, dings, and other reminders
Music and not music
Motorcycles
Birds
Barking dogs
A woodpecker pecking
A car burning rubber
Sirens
Cars crashing
UPS truck
FedEx truck
Amazon Prime truck (yes, I can tell them apart)
Screeching brakes
The trash truck
Air hammer
Weedwacker
A Watering sprinkler
Car alarms
Jackhammering
Rain
Thunder
Ice maker dumping and refilling
Refrigerator defrosting
Furnace igniting
HVAC blowing
Washing machine
A ticked-off squirrel chattering
A fox squealing and screeching
And these are the ones I could remember right now.
Just one parting question… is the noise in my head bothering you?
You may also enjoy these posts… “How to Notice What Matters in a World Filled with Noise and Distraction” and “Can’t We Stop the Noise for Just One Minute? How You Can Turn Down the Volume…“
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