I am grateful to have slept through Sunday night’s fireworks. I have not always been so lucky. Before I went to bed at 9:00 pm, there were several loud booms that sounded as though they were no more than a foot away from my door. I even thought I heard one hit the side of the building that I live in. July 4th is my least favorite holiday. The suffering that this yearly event inflicts on our pets and on thousands of wild species, is carried on with complete disregard for them. Dogs often turn up missing the day after fireworks have been set off, because they flee in terror from the deafening and frightening noise. My cat, in his fear, squeezed himself underneath a chair that sits only 4 inches off the floor. When our pets are panicked by this yearly pandemonium, there is little we can do to console them.
I fail to understand this fascination that so many people have with explosives. The nerve racking whine of motorcycles, the earth-shaking rumble of loud music, the hysterical yelling at sports events, and the piercing pop of guns being fired is not bothersome to many people. Like smokers, they wish to do as they please with little or no regard for those who do not like these things. They are selfish and think only of themselves. Their behavior is ignorant – and ignorant people are dangerous people.
Loud noise is not my friend. I crave the quiet in the same way that a cat craves a sunny spot to lie in and nap. I like listening to subtle noises, to birdsong, to nature. Some people are okay with “white noise”, but that is nowhere near the same as pure quiet. In order to really listen, you must be entirely present in the moment. You cannot be lost in thought or thinking about your life or your problems. True listening requires your complete attention. If you have a dog, observe how he listens. If you practice, you will be surprised at what you hear. You will hear life itself.
