As I was thinking about this post for the all important "Q" day, I realized that quiet and silence are not the same thing. Silence can be good, and silence can be golden as the saying goes, but silence is not what brings me joy.
I much prefer quiet, which I generally define as the opposite of loud. I enjoy ambient sounds and can tolerate almost anything--music, traffic, conversation--as long as it is quiet. Once the volume ramps up, so does my stress level. Even my favorite music will set my nerves on edge if it is too loud. The same goes for loud-talkers.
At an outdoor concert a couple of years ago, which was much louder than I anticipated, I despaired when I realized that I had left my earplugs in the car. I was forced to improvise with little wads of chewed gum wrapped in Kleenex. It sounds disgusting, I know, and I'm not proud of it. But my desperate ingenuity saved my sanity and most likely my hearing. Necessity is the mother of invention, after all.
I come by this naturally, as I was a very quiet child who was easily overstimulated. I think every single report card from elementary school identified me as being "too quiet," and it didn't get much better in the upper grades. A few years ago, I read the book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking (2012), and I recommend it. In fact, I think I should read it again, because the world is just getting louder.
Of course, being too much of a "low talker" has its drawbacks, as well!
I agree with you about quiet. I do like quiet surroundings. Maybe it was because growing up with my younger twin brothers, who were anything BUT quiet, I quickly learned to appreciate quiet moments.
ReplyDeleteI love this Seinfeld clip. Not only does it have the "low talker" but it also talks about the infamous, "puffy shirt!"
I imagine twin brothers would do that to a person, especially younger ones!
DeleteLove the puffy shirt! "But I don't want to be a pirate!"
I'm with you on this one. In fact, I'm thinking about getting noise-canceling headphones to keep me from getting irritable while I'm quarantined.
ReplyDeleteI don't like wearing headphones, or I would be thinking the same thing!
DeleteI don't like noise either - although having said that, I do play in a concert band, which isn't quiet. But I do think the blessing of being an introvert has never been more apparent than the current situation. It must be really tough on extroverts to be stuck at home!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more about being an introvert these days!
DeleteI was described as quiet as well which I think made me even more quiet.
ReplyDeleteI like quiet but I'm starting to enjoy instrumental music with the quiet these day.
Have a lovely day.
I do love instrumental music. Lyrics sidetrack my brain when I'm working.
DeleteThanks for visiting!
It's definitely been quiet around here which is actually a little eerie, although, it's been nice to not hear the loud chatter (until 2 am) from the brewery patio that's next to our building. Of course, I might start to miss it soon!
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine how much the volume in New York has been turned down. Such strange times.
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