The sound of telephones ringing, televisions blazing, and cars honking resound throughout the air, and fill our heads with constant noise. Somewhere, covered by the modern noise that pollutes our surroundings, is an age old sound. The sound that most of us have forgotten as we rush through our busy, distraction filled days. But it has not abandoned us. It waits, lingering in the fields, forest, and seas, waiting for us to draw near and remember its beauty.

The sound is the simple serenity of nature in all of its effortlessness. It is in the wind that stirs the trees, the salty roar of the ocean’s waves breaking on cliffs, and even in the innocent chirp of a sparrow. They all contain something that our endless supply of modern resources does not. It is a simple, uncomplicated peace.

It is hard to believe that all the wonder and beauty of the natural world can be so easily disregarded and forgotten by the majority of people in our country. They become so consumed by work, school, and the abundance of technological distractions that they forget all that nature has to offer. From text messaging to ipods, we are able to supply ourselves with constant entertainment and distractions. There is hardly ever a moment when people are forced to be silent or to be still.

Noise is everywhere and most have become so accustomed to this invasion of the senses that they are not even bothered by it. Some are so used to it that they actually feel uncomfortable when the noise is not present. There is a sense of urgency in almost every American. There is a sense that we need to be in constant motion or be engaged in something. And one activity is usually not enough for most people. For instance, the majority of family dinners take place while the television blazes away in the background.

Whatever happened to relaxing evenings on the front porch or peaceful walks in the park while the eclectic sounds of nature sooth your senses? Whatever happened to listening? These things may seem foreign to many Americans. We have become so engaged and fascinated with the latest technologies that we forget the things that were already here. We forget the sense of freedom that washes over us when the salty air hits our face. We forget the utter sense of calm, simple peacefulness that the sun’s rays pour down on us, or the sense of awe that comes from gazing up at the infinite starry sky. These should not be forgotten, but treasured instead. So maybe, in this increasingly complex and technological world, we are losing much more then we are gaining.

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