It’s a constant cacophony: a maelstrom of music and boisterous buzzing, tumultuous talking and ceaseless squawking. Noise is neverending. In all this, silence is absent.
Not all is awful. Parts are pleasant, sequences are soothing. Humanity’s resonance is reassuring. It is a sign of life, of the struggle to survive and coexist. A baby’s babble, a friend’s whispered words, a magnificent melody. They synchronize to form a soundtrack, one that is different everyday and accents achievements and altruistic acts.
Even in the midst of harmony, there’s a perplexing problem.
Humans abstain from quiet, calling instead for clatter and chatter. Headphones putter out podcasts and sing songs. Televisions stream static and conversations. Cars rumble by. Planes power overhead. Keyboards click clack. Doors slam. Heaters hum. Construction clamors on and on.
Be it morning or night or noon, humans can be heard. In the city, in the ocean. Humans make themselves known. Maybe it denotes human domination. The spread of sound proliferates power. Anthropological vibrations snake through the air to touch every creature at their core. There is no escaping the sound of supposed supremacy.
Maybe humans are uncomfortable with quiet. They are scared of the thoughts that will thread through gaps of stillness. Panic ignites at the idea of confronting the questions crouching at the edge of consciousness, those held at bay by society’s bedlam.
Embracing silence does not necessitate suppressing the soul of the Earth. Noises of nature, the cadenced chirping of crickets and the whoosh of wind winding through leaves, can symbolize silence. Silences are often sustained by the lyrics of life, ever present and ever changing.
In silence the cocoon created by clamor and commotion falls away. A blanket of quiescence descends. In this stillness, the gentle patter of a heartbeat wraps around the listening lifeform, felt more than heard. They listen not for sound but for reflection and speculation. Hope lives in the imaginings dreamed of in this state.
Learn More
Why Noise Pollution is More Serious Than You Thought from SciShow
What illusions tell us about silence from the Science Sessions Podcast
8 Physical and Mental Health Benefits of Silence, Plus How to Get More of It by Sarah Garone on Healthline