I appreciate silence, but not so much as an absence of sound, it just has to be sounds I don't have to engage with, music can really affect my mood and thinking and when it's on I find it hard to ignore, it's always in the background sinking into my mind. Which I love, but after a while can make the mind feel a bit cluttered (especially headphones), so I'll go outside and just lie on my couch in the sun.
I can't remember the last time I was in a truly silent place, I live in the country so there are always birds and rustling trees, I imagine it is even worse in the city. And when the ambient noise is very low I become intensely aware of my own heartbeat and at least imagine that I can hear it.
|