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Silence. It is something that I rarely find in my life. It seems that there is noise of some kind everywhere. At home, in the morning, there is the alarm clock. After the country music of the alarm clock wakes me up, it seems as though there is non-stop noise. The hum of my exercise bike, the whining of the dog, the shower, the television after I've awakened the kids. We leave the house, and then there is noise in the van on the way to school: the radio, the chit-chat about things happening that day.

Once at work, (I work at my youngest sons school) the noise seems to multiply. So many kids, so many things to say all the time. Even when the kids are quiet in the classrooms, there are still noises all around: doors shutting, phones ringing, brooms sweeping. So many things! And then, when lunch time comes around, the noise is, at times, almost unbearable. A large group of kids assembled together to eat lunch. With all the noise, you could easily wonder how they have time to finish their lunches.

Arriving back home after work and school, the noises change a little. There are the noises of homework being done, dinner being made, as well as outside noises. With the arrival of warmer weather, we spend a lot of time outside. The great outdoors brings it own set of noises: the wind blowing through the trees, cars, pets, kids playing, birds, airplanes. Silence outside is a rare thing.

Even at night time, when we are all in bed, silence still escapes me. I can hear the whir of the ceiling fan, a train in the distance, the sump pump kicking on and off. And before I know it, there goes that darn alarm clock again!

Sure, silence would be wonderful every now and again. But I could not imagine living my life in silence. The every morning noises at home are a great reminder of how wonderful my children are and what a gift it is to wake for another morning with them. As for the noises at school, well, school would not be school without all the "noises". Silence would never work at school for very long.

I could handle silence for a little while. Everyone needs a break from all the noise once in a while. And, yes, sometimes silence is golden. Sometimes, it's great to be able to sit in total quiet and just enjoy the moment. It is a great respite from everyday life. It is a way to recharge yourself and find the strength to deal with whatever life throws at you next.

But silence all the time is not for me. Yea, the noise drives me crazy sometimes. Yea, sometimes I wish people could just stop talking for a while. But the noise is also what makes life real. And, usually, it's not "noise". It's life going on. And what a wonderful thing that is!

Learn more about this author, Jannita Simpson.
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