Silence, or quiet?

By Rhiannonw

Tue, 03 Feb 2026
  • 105 reads
8 comments
 

When the kids are jabbering nineteen
to the doszen
or quarrelling …
when the gossips are gossiping,
stridently shouting…
when the teenagers’ music is blaring …
we long for silence, quiet.
Total silence? or
just a gentle breeze, some tuneful birdsong,
the murmur of cooking
or a calm conversation.

I used to be puzzled by the television
being on in the Old People’s Homes,
not very loud.
The pictures (especially nature programmes)
were gently stimulating and pleasing,
and the sound, mostly probably only partly understood,
but stimulating and soothing,
more than silence when speech was expected,
and better than electronic hum or buzz.

My mother-in-law (106!)
didn’t seem to want television or music
in her room
(music should be listened to, not just background,
and her concentration and hearing were so much less now)
but when recently she was unwell
with difficult breathing and disturbed sleeping,
thoughtful staff put a player with some CD music in her room,
and she was soothed, hearing enough to be relaxing –
and arguments about listening have disappeared by now!

[IP: silence]

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Comments

Submitted by Nolan on

Peace and silence are really wonderful things Rhiannon, and calm relaxing music too, softly like harp, or classic guitar or panpipes that can be very nice! Specially in an expensive restaurant, perhaps with excited little bright-eyed kids!

We have many turtledoves here they are a blessing night and day.

Sometimes a dog barks or the cars passing or neighbours shout at their kids but it's not too much. The noise as you described, very familiar and mostly unpleasent really you can almost understand the sunday afternoon hidings of those days.

A good radio station too can be pleasant company. Total silence though can be scary sometimes, can't it? Ominous.

All the best, keep well! Nolan &

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Sorry, Nolan, I missed this earlier. Yes, harsh sounds can be grating, and many soft sounds are very soothing. I don't suppose we often experience total silence, not for long anyway! And the old people do seem to like some sound around them, but not too loud! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Rhiannon,

As we get older we learn the sound of silence is soothing, helping us to think straight, to help us utilize our imagination. I love my own music, but where as when I was younger I loved it really loud, now I like to listen to it a lot quieter. I suppose the older I get, it will be like backgrond music, but I do so love silence, especially when it's really blowy and the rains pouring down and it hits the window. Makes everything so cozy.

Your mother in law is so amazing for her age. To have such caring staff must be a gods send to you and your husband, it must put your minds at rest to know she's well looked after.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

thank you, Jenny. But you do seem to come back to the point I was making in the title, that we often like and equate gentle sounds with silence, I suppose as it is silence from overwhelming noise that we crave.

Yes, we are very thankful fo a lovely caring and happy staff in the home, and thoughtful. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thank you for your IP response Rhiannon. I hope your mother in law is sleeping better, now. I like that you include cooking sounds in those which it is good to hear :0)

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Di. Yes, she is quite a bit easier and eating more. We really did think it might  be her time to leave this time. 

Interesting to list the sounds we are so used to and like! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by GlosKat on

I only wish I could hear complete silence Rhiannon, that would be a wonderful thing.  But I have had tinnitus for years and know I will never be able to hear it again.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Oh, that is so sad - not so much the not being able to hear silence as the constant sound that must penetrate everything. I think we like small sounds most of the time, but not just electronic buzz, or that sound that you have.

I remember my father's frustration when his mother always kept the TV on when we called, but turned the sound off, - or so she thought, but in fact, in those days there was a loud humming still which she was unaware of but was irritating to those with hearing. Rhiannon

Rhiannon