This morning I’m sitting wrapped in the silence of my living room, shirtless and barefoot with a pair of comfy sweatpants, typing simply to hear the click of the keys under my fingers. I hear my wind chimes tinkling faintly outside my window, the hum of an AC unit, and the whispery drone of insects. I might be hearing the creak of floorboards overhead. A sign that my morning of silence and sound may soon be interrupted by another human. I’ve grown to relish my morning quiet time. So much of my day is filled with sound and interaction. When things get hectic, as this week has been with the first week of school, I have to remind myself to sink into this quiet, drink it in so it carries me through the day.
In school we talk a lot about listening. But so much of the instruction we get on listening focuses on listening to sounds. “Listen to your teacher. Listen to this piece of music.” What about listening to quiet, to silence? When I was purely working from home, I’d often focus on the sounds of my house as I went through the day without being interrupted by my thoughts. When they intruded, I’d reset and start again. I’d spend hours listening and come out of it feeling refreshed and buzzing. What is it about silence?
My first conscious memories of focusing on silence are from camping. I’ve always loved being out in nature for extended time, the only barrier a millimeter of canvas between myself and the elements. In nature there is always music. My first concert in percussion ensemble in college was a John Cage music circus, the central piece of which was 4’33”. For those who are unfamiliar, 4’33” is John Cage’s most famous work and is a call to listen.
4'33" by John CageThere actually is no silence. John Cage searched for it. He went into a sensory deprivation chamber and when he came out said that he heard a high-pitched whine throughout the experience. They finally figured out that what he was hearing was his own nervous system. We are walking music! We’re wired for sound.
SHHHhhh!-The quietest room in the worldLife can be hectic, and silence might be the best balm there is. We’ve been socially programmed to take in so much information at all times that if we’re to experience the healing power of silence, we have to actively look for opportunities to immerse ourselves in it. Get yourself some silence. Wake up a little early or stay up a bit late to find your alone time to tune in. Unplug and go for a walk in the early morning. Get some of that healing silence that will carry you through your busy, sound-laden life.
Until next week,Jason