One of the good things about learning and growing is that I keep getting clearer about what nourishes me. On the spectrum of sound, I prefer silence. On the spectrum of movement, I prefer stillness.

These preferences are not just reactions to an overly busy life, they have been with me since childhood. I’ve learned to accept that these choices make me different from most other people. I’m also grateful that my privilege allows me to arrange my life. Sounds are followed by long periods of silence; busy days are followed by still and peaceful evenings.

And I’m ever mindful of balance, of the yin and yang in the Tao. Silence needs to be punctuated with sound, with music, song, laughter, conversation. Stillness needs healthy movement to stretch muscles and joints, to raise the heart rate. Yet the silence and the stillness are the vessels. Without a holding place, the joy of music and movement cannot arise.

Question: Where are you on the noise spectrum? Do you prefer to have music and sound around you always, or do you need occasional silence in which to take a deep breath? Share your perspective in a comment below.