Since moving to the suburbs a couple years back I am struck by how often I have a front row ticket to the suburban orchestra of weed whackers, leaf blowers and lonely outdoor dogs.
In the past I had grown accustomed to the urban melodies of BART, shopping carts, and car alarms, so I’m always a bit surprised by my agitation with suburban noise. Although I find no sound worse than that of a leaf blower, especially as an alarm clock, I find that my visceral reaction to that sound has more to do with my nervous system being on overload than anything else.
We are absolutely inundated with noise and stimulus. It’s all around us. TV, radio, phones, computers, loud neighbors, public cell phone abusers, etc. We are addicted to technology and all of the stimulus it brings with it. It’s become increasingly hard to find a quiet physical space, therein lies the importance of cultivating the quiet within you.
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Most of the folks that have been coming to see me lately are dealing with chronic pain and stress related issues. While chronic pain and stress can wreak havoc on your life, like anything else, it’s how you deal with it that determines your outcome. Most folks as it turns out aren’t resting and either can’t or won’t find the time to be quiet. Fully resting rejuvenates every cell in your body. Being quiet gives those cells the time they need to try and repair, regenerate and renew. Resting is your medicine – just as important as food and fun in maintaining health. Being rested can change the way you perceive your pain and life stressors actually making you more tolerant of both.
The fallout from being overstressed, over stimulated, and malrested is apparent in every nightly new broadcast. Times are tough and we, as a culture, are not coping well. But all is not lost. Things like acupuncture and meditation can help you achieve the rest your body is screaming for. Novel ideas like breathing, gardening, reading, napping, and doing nothing isn't for the lazy, they are for the productive! It makes for a happier, healthier you. Quiet and rest make for a better mate, parent, boss and co-existor on this planet.
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Each of us has a noise or stimulus trigger that can send us over the edge. With a little bit of work, patience and quiet reflection we can work past those triggers and move into a more peaceful and quiet space in our lives. So turning everything off even for 30 minutes a day is all you need to really give yourself a break. Oh, and outlaw leaf blowers. They don't help anyway.
