Grateful for my hearing, also grateful for silence, provision of safety and the rhythmic cadence amplified in life. via /r/gratitude

I am so grateful for my hearing, to hear another's voice, to hear someone approaching when I am walking, to hear a car coming, to hear birds, to hear the wind, to receive instruction and assistance, for a fast split second warning, to hear another's emotions, to hear a puppy/baby/person cry, to hear laughter ETC….so many reasons for safety, connection, comfort, connection.

It is the weekend and my focus is on few sounds – all provided needed restfulness.

I am delighted to hear the rain is descending, tapping on the leaves outside my window and splatting on the concrete sidewalk. The sound of rain is soothing, invigorating. And then a sound I hear more rarely…. the boom,….. the sound of thunder, so commanding of my attention, jolting me from my lulled state into alertness, making me feel alive. This is reminding me too of the unknown neighbors blocks away, so committed to every festive even to where I can set my clock and wait for them to provide the excitement, the scintillating sound of snap and band, the pop pop pop of their fireworks. I am grateful for these sounds and many more. I am so grateful for my hearing.

But it is not a festive day, that was a July 1 memory and back now to the beauty of the rain drop rhythm, coming ever faster, ever harder just broken by a stark sudden kaboom.

And it slows.

All sounds so much more quite.

I've been reading, the rain has left a soothing light feel and all is silent.

I can enjoy it so much because it is not the constant, not absolute, but a reprieve from the sound of constant motion, loudness, stressors and activity etc.

That is why now, in this moment, I find the silence, simply so loud, with all stopped and no sound at all. The soothing nurturing sound of silence is so delicious and beautiful, so quenching and needed.

I remain conscious to be grateful I can hear and the silence wont be always and forever, though in this moment it is all I want to remain, interrupted only by rainfall.

I am grateful for my hearing and for silence, – big gratitude that I was granted hearing in this life over deafness. Very grateful for hearing, the variety of sounds, the experiences and safety it can bring, and the multilayers contrasts of sound, including moments of silence. Hard to imagine many things. experiences, such as nature…without sound, yet the pauses and silences are such a vital part of the cadence, rhythm in life. Thank-you for my hearing.