I confess that the cacophony of my daily life wears me out and the older I get the less I can bear the constant noise that surrounds me as I go about my daily activities. When I am home alone I rarely turn on the television, the radio, the CD player or anything else that will disrupt the sweet solace of silence. (I confess that the sound of my computer keyboard clack-clacking away doesn't bother me in the least, though!)
Recently, almost by accident, I discovered that an album (do they still call them albums?) I purchased from iTunes has the opposite effect. It contains an assortment of selections, some of which are familiar others not, played softly and gently on an instrument like the piano or flute. I connected my iPod to my external speaker the other day while I was writing and something about the music soothed me to the point where I was inspired to take my writing to another level. I believe it was one of the most productive writing days I have had in some time.
I am still worn out by the end of the day, exhausted by the constant cacophony generated by people, traffic, and even sometimes the geese that fly overhead. I still crave silence whenever I can get it. I have also come to realize that my sense of hearing is a blessing and, in the right form, sound can sooth me.
4 comments:
I love that word too Linda! I think music is so soothing & often use music as a writing prompt...
I def need my quiet time though!
I love the word cacophony. Do people still use the word album? Our generation does. I think it is still correct to say album because, really, an album is a collection. A CD is a collection of songs; therefore, it is still an album. Is my logic faulty?
I know what you mean about music. I've never listened to music while writing; but I know it makes a difference when exercising or cleaning.
My daughter just gave me her filled IPOD and I've been using it instead of mine. I get so much when it is on my head--cleaning that is. But otherwise, like you, I love the sounds of silence.
I am a firm believer in certain types of music nurturing creativity. The landscape architect I used to work for had to have classical music playing or she couldn't design. I have a CD of classical guitar music called Vertigo, by Jesse Cook. If I pop it in while I'm driving back and forth to Houston, I always come up with something to write about, or an idea for the garden, or a solution to a problem...It's magic!
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