One of the most disconcerting aspects of teaching children for me is the volume they can reach if unchecked. I teach art and naturally that is a cause for excitement in children. Some feel it's a chance to let their hair down but for me it has this sort of effect:
And I do love kids. Their energy is wonderful and many have a sweet and creative nature. I'm just one of those people who loves quiet. I like to speak quietly and play my music quietly. I get stirred up when sound bombards.
I was at clinic recently when this bombardment occurred. Three flat screen televisions all on different channels, in close proximity to one another made me feel as though I was losing my mind. You'd think at a doctor's office there would be some awareness to the fact that when people aren't feeling well they might not like sound coming from every angle. These unwell people might find it grating on their nerves. They might even want to run out of the clinic because all the loudness is making them feel even less well than when they walked in but no, that isn't the case.
I crave quiet. I view noise as one more type of pollution that attempts to invade my body and impact its state of health and wellness.
Sometimes, even though I'm at home the noise level is still too high. I can't control my parrot or other animals when they want to make a ruckus. At these times, I head off to our public library because there is a room so quiet you can actually hear yourself swallow, breathe and think. Hooray for quiet!
I love my nephews but I have to watch them every Wednesday and Friday after the school. Their noise volume can get very loud. I have to find art and baking projects for them to do to keep them occupied and a little quieter than fighter jet planes. Haha!
ReplyDeleteYes I know what you mean. Imagine 30 of them in one room. Thunderous joy!
DeleteAnd hooray for public libraries!
ReplyDeleteAnabel's Travel Blog
Adventures of a retired librarian
None of my books would have gotten written without them.
DeleteSometimes, in the evening, I can start to feel a little unwell - nothing specific, just a bit blah - and a lot of the time, it's because the TV has been turned up higher than I would normally have it.
ReplyDeleteI like to take the dog walking in a place where sometimes all you can hear is the birdsong. Sometimes, not even that. Perfect :-)
Annalisa, writing A-Z vignettes, at Wake Up, Eat, Write, Sleep
Indeed. The quiet dog walk is the writer's best friend.
DeleteQuiet can be seen in different ways. Like you, I prefer quiet. It provides the perfect backdrop for me to grab a book and travel to a new place, experience some awesome or sad thing with the main characters.
ReplyDeleteUntethered Realms
I know. Sometimes you need sounds but there's a special place left in our noisy world for quiet.
DeleteI can't take noise in the house either. Outside is a different story. Inside, nope. A library is a great escape.
ReplyDeleteI think it all depends on your mind frame at the time it bombards you.
DeleteThanks for this Stephanie. It seems unbelievable that a doctor's waiting room can be so bombarded with noise. I would have asked to turn it down! Also at restaurants the music can be too loud, and I ask for it to be turned down. They comply happily enough. I agree quiet is so lovely ...
ReplyDeleteI wanted to do something like that Susan but of course with flat screens you need to get a hold of the remote. Ugh. It was horrible. Next time I'd better bring my iPod.
DeleteHi Stephanie .. I love quiet .. and get quite grumpy when doors are just left to slam shut .. as other things .. I love being home .. peace - little noise and I can listen to the bird song etc ...
ReplyDeleteCheers Hilary
I love bird song and their chatter. The right sounds are nurturing but blatant noise is very distracting when you're writing.
DeleteI love and cherish my quiet time. No television, no radio, and no family (although I adore them very much, they are a distraction). When it's quiet like that, I can get so much more done. Thanks for stopping by my blog today.
ReplyDeleteHooray for quiet indeed! I'm happiest in the quiet and go to great lengths to insure my necessary requirements. And I'm a regular at my library as well.
DeleteMy pleasure Elsie and I do know what you're talking about. Deborah, I'm grateful our library was completely renovated and now contains a large silent room with beautiful light, comfy chairs, tables and a fire place. I feel very lucky.
DeleteNo TVs at our doctor's thank goodness. I think most of us enjoy quiet. We do have the radio playing music softly. But otherwise.....
ReplyDeleteJo, my old doctor didn't have one but the newer ones do unfortunately. Music is great but sometimes I can't even stand that when writing.
DeleteQuiet time is so important, as is alone time (in fact they tend to go hand in hand, don't they?) Although I do like to work with music, but music that can meld into the background, so generally softer music, or classical music.
ReplyDelete