A number of months ago I was listening to ABC 702 as I do (the source of much mirth amongst my friends) and a musician was being interviewed who in the course of the conversation used the phrase ‘in my listening life’. The words jumped right out at me as I had never heard that description before.
The phrase resonated deeply with me and so I have been rolling around this idea of a listening life in my head for some months now. Trying to experience the my world differently.
You see, generally we all experience our lives through our primary sense. I am really visual so for me it is what I see, my daughter it is touch, for my son, smell and my husband its tone of voice. Let me tell you that makes for some interesting times in our house!
This ‘listening thing’ has been quite a conscious process and our travels around NSW through the different landscapes made this quite a pronounced experience. I really paid attention when were out West, in the bush on a wheat and sheep farm. What I noticed was the absence of noise. It was louder than the traffic that is a constant sound where we live.
SILENCE in Western NSW
Silence I think is a tricky sound to cultivate a relationship with.
The first golden moments, like when you walk into the house and no one else is home, can be intoxicating like the first blush of romance.
As the silence grows however it can be hard to hold the space for it.
Somehow when we are surrounded by silence the noises in our head grow louder and we need some distraction. I am yet to master the art of meditation even after many years as a willing student and a desire for conscious silence.
Travelling as we were though, a family of four, meant silence was a rare commodity. This summer, wind has been my soundtrack. Refreshing breezes that come through and take the edge of the heat. The sound of the wind has had such a calming and grounding presence relaxing my very being.
What has your summer soundtrack been?
This past Friday night I went to The Greatest Hits of Queen concert by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Opera House and had a complete blast. I knew all the words and was up in my seat dancing much to the surprise of my friend sitting next to me!
Rocking at the Opera House
I was in my happy place!
You see these days I describe myself as musically illiterate and yet clearly in my past this was not the case. It felt like my unconscious becoming conscious. I need more of this in my life.
I got the message loudly – my listening life needs music as much as it needs silence!
What does your listening life need?
Liska x
