THE BIG PICTURE: The Sounds of Summer

OFF THE WIRE
http://www.globe-democrat.com/news/2010/jun/03/big-picture-sounds-summer/ THE BIG PICTURE: The Sounds of Summer By Maria Rodgers O'Rourke
Thursday, June 3, 2010
The sounds of summer may be hazardous to your health. Business Week recently quoted David Coffin, director of Ball State University's audiology clinic in Indiana: “Risky noise can come in the form of the pop of fireworks, the snarls of traffic, the buzz of lawn mowers, or the percussive tones of marching bands.” Such sounds are typically within the range of 90 decibels to 140 decibels, said Coffin, but any noise above 80 decibels can cause long-term hearing damage. So, while the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer are upon us, we should be mindful of noise pollution in the environment.
“Silence is golden,” the classic expression goes, and it certainly is a rare commodity today. Background noise of lawnmowers, airplanes and traffic has long been standard sounds for a typical day. Now, televised advertisements surround us at the grocery store and gas pump. We are privy to cell phone conversations, and others’ headsets buzz nearby like flies. Quiet is no longer the default mode in our world—it is something we must intentionally seek.
There’s a folk tale about a group of American explorers on a jungle expedition. They hired native guides to lead them. After a few days completing an aggressive itinerary, the guides refused to travel farther. When pressed for a reason, they replied, “We need time for our souls to catch up to our bodies.” Silence can provide this much-needed time.
Americans compulsively fill quiet with sound. Perhaps the inactivity that accompanies silence suggests a lack of purpose or productivity. We’re so busy “doing” in our culture that it’s tough to just “be.” But it is in the “being” that some of our best ideas will emerge, or we’ll simply catch our breath and get recharged for our next project.
Recently I participated in a 3-day quiet retreat. Structured by prayer, director-led conferences, meals and rest, I felt my soul catch up to my body. When I first faced the silence, the anxiety welled up inside me. “How will I fill it?” I wondered, but perhaps even more terrifying, “How will the silence speak to me? What insights about my life will be revealed? How will I respond?” Sometimes it’s easier to turn up the music or go on to the next task than face the bigger questions about life that surface in silence.
Thankfully, I remained quiet long enough to move through the anxiety and into some answers. As the retreat went on, I treasured the silence and the time spent in it passed quickly. When I returned home, my brother-in-law offered me a ride on his new motorcycle. I declined, simply to avoid the noise!
“If it’s too loud, you’re too old,” my friend shouted just inches from my ear at a rock concert years ago. Under those circumstances, we most likely permanently damaged our hearing, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. While hearing loss is not reversible, we can prevent overexposure to noise. “The average person will wear a helmet when riding a bike, or a seat belt in a vehicle,” says David Coffin, “but doesn't even think about ear protection when going to watch a rock band, a fireworks display, or even an auto race." This summer, let’s be mindful of the long-term effects of noise pollution, and remember the ear plugs along with the sunscreen. And, who knows? Behind that buffer of silence, we may find some peace.
Maria Rodgers O’Rourke is an author and speaker with 25 years of experience in communications and nonprofit management. Creator of the “Prepare Your Heart” journals, her work also appears in the “Chicken Soup for the Soul “ series of books. A native of St. Louis, she is married and has two children. Contact Maria at MROTheBigPicture@gmail.com or visit her website MariaRodgersORourke.com