There was rarely a time this weekend that I wasn't completely surrounded by some kind of noise. I went to North Carolina to see the Tarheels play. On the drive, instead of paying attention to the landscapes and just enjoying the ride, I found myself sending lots of texts or worrying about what's on the radio. When I finally did see something worthwhile (a whitetail buck standing ironically outside of a Gander Mountain), all I could think was "I should have taken a picture". It's ridiculous. Why wasn't I simply enjoying the moment instead of lamenting the fact that I wasn't able to physically immortalize the moment?
On the contrary, when I went to the bar before the game and then entered the arena for game time, I embraced the traditional concept of noise. I didn't worry about taking tons of pictures or texting, but rather talking, cheering, chanting, shouting, and taking in all of the things hitting my senses at once. It was almost overwhelming. Sure, the TV screens and music were still in the background, but I wasn't being distracted or sucked in by what they had to offer. I wasn't thinking about Facebook; I was thinking about my family and friends around me, having a great time, and that made me wonder whether I really need all of these noisemakers, or if they are just distracting me from all the things that are really worth my time.
Will I give away my phone, throw out my laptop, and live a shoeless life hiking the Appalachians? Doubtful. But hopefully I'm now more conscientious about what's substantial, and what's nothing more than noise. I realized that I don't have to keep my nose buried in my phone, especially when I'm at a bar with hot bartenders and $4 Jagerbombs.
"When I finally did see something worthwhile (a whitetail buck standing ironically outside of a Gander Mountain)"
ReplyDeleteHa!
$4 dollar Jagerbombs? I need to hit up that bar or maybe I'm just going to the wrong ones. Ha. I believe that there is noise everywhere now a days especially at North Carolina basketball games.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I feel like more people need to sit back and smell the roses, appreciate what life has to offer, but I'm not about to give up my phone. or become a mountain vagabond.
ReplyDeletei def. think noise in some cases are actually good like before the gamne they get you pumped up to cheer for your favorite and get your attention when something big happens but in many aspects noise distracts you from the beauty that is truely around when we were kids we didnt really have this type of noise atleast for me i know i loved hunting and sitting in the dark on a cold morning feeling the frost bite my nose as i wait to see if the big buck would come. GOOD JOB
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