We’ve all heard the expression silence is golden and I happen to believe that is a true statement. I love quiet. I look forward to that special time of the day, right after breakfast, when all of my guests have either checked out for other exciting places, or gone out exploring for the day, and my husband leaves for work. I feel like I have space to move and I can breathe.
Not that I’m claustrophobic mind you, nor do I mind people or crowds. In fact, it’s pretty cool being in the kitchen in the morning and listening to the guests share stories and chat about their vacations; dishes clinking, laughter, different voices melding into one.
But, there’s something special about the quiet after everyone leaves that I find refreshing and soothing. I look forward to the calm after the breakfast rush. One by one the couples say their good-byes and leave. Eventually, none remain. That’s when the house takes on a whole new quality of likability for me.
Being an innkeeper, I’m learning to treasure those precious few hours in the middle of the day when quiet invades the house and I’m at peace. I know it’s never really completely quiet, because there’s the hum of the refrigerator, the gentle whir of the air conditioner, the squawk of a bird outside, and the occasional comforting creak of an old well-loved house, but for the most part, it’s quiet. Sometimes I just sit, close my eyes and enjoy the sound of silence. The picture below is how I see silence in my mind.
Ever notice how some people are just naturally loud? I’m not talking about voices necessarily, although there are some people who project whether they want to or not, I’m talking about their entire presence and every action. It’s not even something those folks are aware of, they just make their presence known by simply being. Some people don’t close doors, they slam them. Some people don’t open doors, they fling them. Some people can’t rummage in a drawer or closet without waking the dead. Some people pound on a keyboard, others gently tap. Some people have a heavy tread when they walk. Others are light on their feet and can sneak up on you and scare the bejesus out of you. It’s part of our make-up. It’s not something most people conscientiously think about. Except me. I try to walk lightly and leave little noise pollution.
Quiet is not for everyone. Some people can’t work or sleep it it’s too quiet. Some folks have to have the radio or TV on “for company,” or “white noise.” A lot of people wear ear buds and listen to their favorite tunes during the day. Not me. Especially if I’m trying to sleep. It has to be quiet. I thrive in quiet, peaceful situations.
That picture is a prime example of how my house would look every single night if my husband has his way and kept a TV in the bedroom. Nope. Not going to happen.
However, I do sometimes like some soft background music when I’m writing. I try to find something in the new age genre and let it work its magic. Usually no lyrics because then, I listen. If I find myself listening to the music, then it gets turned off. Sometimes the sound of silence is the most beautiful sound of all.
How about you readers, do you cherish the quiet moments. Do you crave quiet or do you function better with some kind of sound? Can you sleep with the TV on?
Word of the Day: Joual
Fun fact about me: I like all-you-can-eat buffets.
Original post by Jansen Schmidt, April 2017. Photos courtesy Google Images.
We have a family of huge raccoons under our deck and Danny set up a radio and a light to encourage them to go some place else. Now I can’t sleep with the window open!
Enjoy your peaceful time today!
LikeLike
But the raccoons aren’t under there at night – that’s when they’re out and about doing their raccoon thing. You need the light and music during the day when they’re trying to sleep. Also, try sprinkling cayenne pepper around the perimeter; I hear that sticks to their paws and is unpleasant for them. Just a thought.
Enjoy the quiet when you can find it. Thanks for stopping by.
Patricia
LikeLike
Yep! It’s on 24/7 since we think there are babies.
LikeLike
Yep, I love my silence too, and I definitely couldn’t handle the innkeeper gig – I need more quiet time than that! Hubby is my complete opposite and has some noise going on all the time. It’s been an adjustment, and let’s just say I really enjoy those weekends he goes fishing. 🙂
LikeLike
Ha – I can see Jack as being the loud one. He strikes me as needing to be seen and heard. (Don’t tell him I said that.) My husband tends to have a heavy tread and can’t sneak around either. But, we gotta do what we gotta do for our guys right?
Here’s to long fishing weekends!
Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week!
Patricia
LikeLike
I need quiet. Though not total quiet, because I have tinnitus. My husband is the loud one – you could’ve written that paragraph about him, LOL! Luckily, he has a huge garage full of projects… 😉
LikeLike
Maybe it’s a writing thing – writer’s like quiet. Or, maybe it’s a male/female thing; guys tend to be noisier in general, I think. My husband makes so much noise in the morning when he’s getting ready for work. And when he cleans out the dishwasher you’d think he was building a house for all the clattering and clinking going on. Good heavens it’s a wonder the plates and glasses aren’t busted into a million pieces.
Anyway, here’s to the quiet folks. Long may we live.
Have a wonderful week.
Patricia
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like the quiet too. Sometimes i will listen to playlists when I work–with headphones, but it’s music i’ve heard so many times so it blends into the background. Dear hub is definitely the one of us who likes to make his presence known! When he walks he plants his feet firmly aka loudly on the floor lol.
Hope you’re having a great week. And thanks as always for the word of the day, here’s hoping there will be a french canadian language category one day on Jeopardy and I will impress with joual. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for stopping by my friend – I hope it was a quiet experience for you. My hubby also has a heavy foot. And, he’s a door and drawer slammer.
I’ll contact the network and see if the writers will include a French Canadian language category for you on Jeopardy. I’d hate for your knowledge to go to waste.
Have a wonderful, peaceful week. We’ll see you next time around.
Patricia
LikeLiked by 1 person