Silence is the think tank of the soul.
-Gordon Hempton, self-described acoustic ecologist
My inspiration for this post flows from an article in the October 2020 issue of Smithsonian entitled, “The Last Quiet Places” by photographer and writer Pete McBride (see photo above). *
The point of McBride’s article is that there are very few places left on earth where the natural acoustical environment is undisturbed by some type of man-made noise.
Silence doesn’t happen very often at Merry Mount, but when it does, it is golden (or should I say white?). Am I talking about total silence? No. Silent enough to hear a pin drop? Yes! Most often, I experience it during the night when the various hums of refrigerators and HVAC systems temporarily shut off, but I experience it more profoundly during a crisp winter walk following a snowstorm. I treasure those minutes.
In the Silence
Give me this Life,
Give me this Life, too:
That I may hear you, blessed world
That I may hear your secret life;
That I may hear the snow as it nears,
That I may hear the snow as it kisses the earth.
-Robert Bode
How many of us today have the luxury of quietude to the extent that we can listen for and hear subtle sounds: the buzz of bees, the flapping of bird’s wings, the chewing of mice, or the wind whistling through a grove of pine trees or a field of corn? Instead we a bombarded with the noises of traffic, trucks, lawn mowers, construction sounds, phone alerts and television. Give me a moment of silence.
Scientists who study the negative effects of noise pollution have found that excessive noise can cause: sleep disorders, heart arrhythmia, diminished productivity, negative emotions and psychiatric disorders. Our ears and brains need silence.
Silence is the universal refuge, the sequel to all dull discourses and foolish acts.
-Henry David Thoreau
In conclusion, I recommend finding a place of solitude to take a walk and tune your ears to peace and quiet. I have found Merry Mount.
* to see some spectacular photographs taken by McBride, I recommend:
CPW
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