But this morning as I sit in my office I realized how much I have come to depend on the familiar sounds in my home. In my whole life, actually. At the same time, I have taken them for granted.It may sound silly again, but I thought of one of my childhood heroines, Helen Keller. Blind and deaf, she still found a way to use the rest of her senses to understand her world and even show us a thing or two.
Right now, the loud tic toc of my husband's grandmother's pendulum clock is the only sound I hear. In a few minutes my husband will get up and start the coffee maker and the waterfall outside my window will kick on for the day - more sounds I have come to depend on, yet take for granted.
Do these things directly inspire me? Probably not. But the whole of them are my life as my senses bring it to me. And I wonder, if they were taken from me, would I still find inspiration? Would I, like Helen, be able to pull out of the silence the inspiration I need to write a book, travel and touch the lives of others?
I wonder. I hope I would.
My friend is an abstract thinker, I like that. Sometimes that's what it takes to be inspired.
Wow, Jan, I never thought of how sound affects my world and reactions. I have said that if I had to choose between sight and sound, I'd choose sound, because I love music so much.
ReplyDeleteI have a hard time concentrating on writing when there are too many noises to distract me. Not so much nature--that's not noise. But TV in my husband's den, computer in my husband's office, husband going up and down the hall to do things. Hey, I see a pattern here--LOL!!!
Hi Jan -
ReplyDeleteUnlike many writers, I like silence when I'm working on my book or a non-fiction piece. I get to distracted by noise.
Blessings,
Susan :)
I do find sound inspirational. When sitting in a coffee shop I am inspired by the music in the background, the light chatter of the patrons and workers, and the sounds of the machine brewing and cleaning. I do wonder if that was taken away if I still would feel inspired. I would have to dig deeper into my soul I'd guess!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like we all have a little different preference. I find that I like it quiet now where I needed noise before. Sign of age?
ReplyDeleteThanks gals.
You know they probably inspire in their own way. I think like you're friend, and if you're writing, to try and incorporate sounds in your work so that the life you're creating for your characters rings true.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to note what we accept or reject as background noise. I think if we stop and think on it, it has the potential to inspire, or at least make us think a little. :)
ReplyDelete