Never let the important things become white noise
From the time she was born, my youngest granddaughter went to sleep to the sound of a tropical rainstorm. You can almost visualize the raindrops bouncing off the leaves of the palm trees, trickling down into the ground below, filling lakes and streams for the large variety of wildlife that lives therein. It is a peaceful sound, which quickly lulls you and relaxes you. Sometimes I find it hard to stay awake when surrounded by it!
Brood X cicadas also produce such a noise. These 17-year critters, with the bulging red eyes, are in no way a threat to us, but the large numbers can be daunting. It is interesting to me where they have popped up.
For instance, at my residence in Bucks County, we do not have them. Yet, down the road, at my daughter’s house, it is a steady hum. You can cross the street and encounter them, walk a bit, and once again have silence. I spent some time at my daughter’s house over the weekend. They are not present near her house or patio, yet 75 yards or so away, in the trees, they are rampant.
When I first arrived, it was hard not to notice a steady drone of cicada song, humming loudly. As the day passed, however, it became background. I barely heard it. It became white noise, a pleasant summer sound that can easily transport me to my carefree childhood summer days. I must admit, I relish that sound.
According to the Sleep Foundation, white noise consists of low-, mediumand high-frequency sounds played together at the same intensity level. It is very effective at masking other intrusive sounds, which is why it is helpful to people who live in loud neighborhoods or happen to be in the hospital. Both those situations would produce loud and disruptive noises, perhaps preventing relaxation or sleep.
It is a common catchphrase, but “There’s an app for that” is very true in this case. There are many apps to choose from for your smartphone or tablet. White noise uses a fixed frequency and a tone that is equally distributed. The apps work by covering up annoying noises with a constant peaceful sound, droning endlessly until you turn it off. Case in point, the rainstorm my granddaughter hears every night.
There are many positive things to say about white noise. It is relaxing and can be a huge aid for those who have trouble sleeping or relaxing. Many use this kind of background noise to meditate or decompress after a stressful day. White noise is noise that you hear, but soon don’t hear. It takes a sound, usually of nature, such as a rainstorm or birds chirping, or waves crashing on the shore and moves them to the background of your mind. This is indeed a valuable tool. But …
I for one, never want to take the majesty of an ocean, or the sound of birds happily chirping or the beauty of rainfall and minimize them to the point of not appreciating them. Sitting on a beach, I am carried away by the beauty of the ocean — I don’t want to lose that feeling of amazement or the majesty of the waves crashing on the shore.
I guess the message I want to impart is to never let the important things become white noise. The sound of your children’s laughter, the barking of a dog who is happy to see you, the sound of a loved one’s voice — one day, these will become memories.
Make sure that while they are in your life, you appreciate them to the fullest. White noise most certainly has its usefulness, when used at the right times. But keep those important things in the forefront and let them warm your heart.