‘White Noise’ is described as a merger of many sounds or frequencies to form one sound with no distracting features. It is as if you are listening to one voice and hearing every word that is said, then attempt to hear and understand hundreds of voices, all speaking at once. You would only hear a smooth wash of muddled voices with no distracting features. White noise is what we actually hear from those cheering, chattering crowds at sports events. Consider also a drop of water, drip, drip, drip. But if those drips become hundreds of drips at once, the noise is the sound of a rain shower or, perhaps, the thunderous roar of a water fall. Why then don’t we describe silence as ‘black noise?’ This silence is the absence of all sound, a still a hush, but I digress.
We go about our daily routines and are unaware of all the various white clamoring that impedes the ear. The blare of traffic noises, one car swishing past, then the heavy drone of rush hour traffic sounds. The white noise created by the buzzing of a fan pushing, blowing, and forcing the movement of air.
Doctors have discovered that white noise like the sound of a heartbeat, trickling water, or the gentle hum of music provides comfort to new born babies. It also soothes the senses of schizophrenia patients. Who knew the importance of noise?
Why then, do so many people seek out peace and quiet? People go to the mountains, travel long distances to get away from the maddening crowds. Yet, I seek out the sounds of the ocean, the crashing surf, the gentle lapping of waves against the beach. Ahhh, how it lulls my senses to rest and peace of mind, at the same time offering me an interlude of soothing sleep.
Perhaps, the dead of silence is not the pleasure I seek in life. Only later, after life, I will discover the blackness of no noise.
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