turn it OFF

Ever wonder how people invented (and improved) a lot of the conveniences we have nowadays, how classic masterpieces of literature and music were conceived?  Do you suppose it might have had something to do with communing with their own thoughts, pondering problems in silence and solitude, exercising their imaginations and memories?

Has it occurred to you to wonder where people used to find the time to sew and knit garments by hand for every member of their large families, or to hand-craft the sort of marvelous things which nowadays are admired in museums, or which are treasured as family heirlooms? 

I'll tell you what those people DIDN'T do:  they didn't park themselves on a piece of furniture and passively let themselves be "entertained" for hours every day.  When their strenuous work days were done, they rested their bodies, but flexed their minds. 

They didn't have a cellphone glued to their ear while walking down the sidewalk or driving down the highway.  They didn't arrive home after work and immediately turn on the television.  They didn't have music or conversation constantly in their ears.

With ambient noise an inescapable distraction, it's hard to have an original thought.  It's almost impossible to be fully "in the moment" while doing ANYTHING, but most especially while trying to enjoy nature.

When my husband is concocting something in the kitchen, he's far more likely to make mistakes with technique or leave something out entirely when he's listening to NPR in the process.  When i have people around, talking to me while i'm trying to prepare for something (like packing the car for a trip!), it's almost guaranteed that i'll forget to include what i know darned well i need.

Here's a challenge for you -- try an occasional day with no noise.  No television, radio, tunes, podcasts, movies, phone calls, social-media chats, pointless natter, etc.  It's possible to have a thought without communicating it -- you might even find that the quality of conversation you have WITH YOURSELF will improve.  There's a lot to notice, inside yourself and out, if you remove the curtain of distraction that noise has woven around you.