White Noise

White noise is defined as 'a heterogeneous mixture of sound waves extending over a wide frequency range that has been used to mask out unwanted noise'. Usually this white sound is used by people to help them sleep. I often use the sound of waves or even a fan to block out the neighbourhood nighttime noises so that I can sleep. When I had to sleep during the day because I worked at night, white noise was crucial to me getting a good days sleep. Recently, I made a revolutionary discovery, I learned that you can turn almost any constant noise into white noise. No longer do you have to pack around a fan or a wave machine (okay, bit of an exaggeration since today you can get a white noise app for your phone). My ground breaking realization came, appropriately enough,  at the Self Realization Meditation Gardens.



Now I don't know about the rest of you but when I hear mediation garden the image I conjure up involves a very peaceful, serene, quiet place. A place for reflection where talking is done minimally and in whispers. I guess not everyone has the same idea. Apparently, for some it is a good place to use your best outside voice and gossip non stop with your friends. I wish I could tell you more about these ladies but even though I was privy to their very private business for over 30 minutes, not once did I turn around to glance at them. Instead of letting them interfere with my quiet time I just turned their voices into white noise (a skill me hearty practices regularly with me I am sure!). I didn't hear what they were saying but let their voices carry through the air along with the crashing waves from the ocean below. Strangely enough, I really owe these chatty women because they taught me a very valuable lesson. A lesson I now apply in all my hard workouts. When the voices in my head start complaining, bitching and gossiping I just turn them into white noise that flows in and out with each breath.