18 Nov 2013

sound


Industrial noise seems to dominate my aural landscape. A too close main road and a neighbour obsessed with his leaf blower spew harsh tunes into the air.  Even my "whisper quiet" kettle announces its presence with a distinctly un-natural sound.  I sense the tightening in my shoulders and I nudge myself out of my little wallow - to change perspective.

From another section of the orchestra a steady breeze is passing through leaves tickling them with its cool fingers. In turn they are sending forth their crinkly laughter. A giant gum tree creaks as it allows the earth's turning to bend and sway her. It reminds me of ebb and flow. On quiet reflection I also tally four different bird calls from within her branches. Above me the tin roof pings as the hot sun contorts its form and I think of Summer and its imminent arrival. Far off rumblings herald the beginning of the storm season.

Equal in frequency these calming sounds are dwarfed by discordant mechanical musicians.  Inadvertently I have chosen to magnify the annoying and let it diffuse my day with tension and disharmony.  Although I have learnt to visually overlook the less appealing and hunt out the beauty in my everyday I have been unable to shake these unrelenting tunes from my ears. Perhaps it is time to shift my attention to the sounds around me. Can I focus on the soothing and beautiful and let them drown out the grating? I guess it is all a matter of perspective.

Steph x

5 comments:

  1. sometimes its hard to filter the good sounds from the bad, I also just long for quiet somedays, you weave your words so well,

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  2. So true, Hadn't thought about looking for beauty in sounds. beautifully written.

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  3. Such lovely words..wind chimes have helped us redirect our attention to the beautiful when we were living by a busy road! x x

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    1. What a beautiful idea! I'm off to buy some tomorrow. Thanks so much for your thoughts xx

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  4. Beautiful Steph... I know just what you mean (especially the leaf blower... I detest leaf blowers, and also have an overenthusiastic neighbour). We have a neighbour who somehow persuaded the local council to let him run a sign writing business from his home... that means many days are punctuated by metal grinding and the like... it is exceptionally frustrating when it wakes Anaru from a sound sleep. As a Mother of a rarely sleeping newborn, there were many occasions when I threatened actual violence! Lol! When it all gets a bit much, we either head to the beach (where the sound of the sea drowns out most things) or I will put on music to soothe the soul (usually buddhist chanting or similar)... You write so beautifully Steph, thanks for sharing : ) x

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Your words brighten my day! Thank-you so much for joining me on my adventure. x