This post is a continuation of the thoughts generated from Earls post on Embracing Chaos and from Tom Dills post on Noise. We all pretty much agree there is visual chaos within nature. I would like to suggest that for some people the sounds of nature may be considered chaos while for others it can be “exalting” music. Music has been an intragel part of man early on. Man has made musical instruments from pounding on hollow logs, carving wooden flutes and violins to our modern mp3 players. Man has chanted and sang for years. Some of us have rhythm and some us struggle to keep the beat. Some can carry a tune and some can’t. I lean more towards the latter of both. When younger I took guitar lessons with aspirations of being a rock star. Due to my lack of musical talent, and dad wouldn’t let me grow my hair long, the reality of that dream quickly faded. Over the past few years listening to rock and roll, country or jazz music no longer appeals for me. I’ve moved away from listening to music or even being around it, choosing quiet or the sounds of nature. So much more enjoyment in the sounds of nature for me.
For me the sounds of nature offers a quiet where the chaotic noise of our society can’t. When March Madness started a couple of my crew members asked me to join them at Buffalo Wild Wings to eat and watch the earlier games. However, attempting to have a conversation with them over the man-made chaos of 20-30 strategically placed televisions is no longer appealing. That is chaos to me. For me the sound of wind blowing through the leaves, the meadowlarks morning song, the cadence of falling rain, or the clap of thunder from a passing storm, or the quiet of a snowfall is a soothing sound to me. Maybe I’m just getting old but it’s natures music that stirs me inside not the beat if a drum.
10 Comments
Paul
Of course you know that I cannot possibly offer a dissenting view of this post. 🙂 I love all of those things that you talk about, especially the sound of birds in the morning, or the evening. Sometimes, it can be positively loud, but it’s always welcome, whereas the sound of television is rarely welcome in my mind.
I had lunch with a friend of mine and Wild Wings Cafe yesterday afternoon, but fortunately, there was not a raucous crowd and the TVs were turned low, so only pictures. I much prefer this type of atmosphere, but it’s nothing in comparison to eating lunch on a bench in the middle of the woods. Beautiful, quiet pictures Monte.
Monte Stevens
Thought you might feel that way. The wind is blowing today so the music is playing. 🙂 the sounds of nature are soothing.
Ken Bello
I feel the same as you do, Monte. Most restaurants are too noisy for me and I much prefer quiet places, especially if you want to carry on any conversation. I still do enjoy music and it’s a large part of my life, mostly because my wife is a musician.
I like the bird photos. Is a real challenge for me to get good bird photos, so I almost never try.
Monte Stevens
Thanks, Ken!
Tom Dills
There’s definitely a time and place for social interaction, but I agree that trying to carry on a conversation over the din of music and televisions is difficult. Add to that the fact that most of the conversations end up revolving around work (with co-workers), sports or television, there’s not much to contribute from my end of the conversation.
I’ve got a musical background and was actually a music major before I decided to switch to something where I could actually make a living, so for me some good music is often welcome. But again, the music I listen to seldom appeals to anyone else, except Kathy who will tolerate a lot of what I listen to. She and I are of similar mindset though, so we are often in a similar mood. The sounds of nature are usually the best, although even that can be tiresome. As much as I enjoy the sound of water I don’t think I could live next to a waterfall or a river, at least not one that makes a lot of noise.
Paul
Tom, I like quiet, but I think that I could live very close to a waterfall or a river. 🙂 But, then again, maybe that would get to be tiresome, or since it’s such a constant sound, it might just disappear altogether.
Monte Stevens
I know people who live near train tracks and never hear them.
Monte Stevens
You’ve got that right about the subject of conversations. Hearing someone complain about work is not my idea of conversation.
I love music and have found it be healing for me at different times in my life. When I do listen it will most likely be some instrumentals. Who knows where I’d be if dad had let me grow my hair long.
Mark
Great post Monte. I am with you all the way on what you describe here. I have one exception though – those indoor fountains with trickling water drive me nuts. I am not exactly sure why – I can sit by a real stream in the woods for hours. It depends on the fountain, but most of them just don’t have the same appeal. Man is never good at replicating nature – I suppose that goes for sound also.
Monte Stevens
And, I’m with you, too many men think they have power over nature. Not! It would do us well to listen more to nature, in nature.