{*Did you know you can write on Elephant? Here’s how—big changes: How to Write & Make Money or at least Be of Benefit on Elephant. ~ Waylon}

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We went to an out-of-the-way store recently.

We had to pause on the walk while another group of shoppers went in through the front door.

As I waited, I heard a sound that I hadn’t heard since the snow started blowing last autumn.

Dee-deedee! Dee-deedee!

From one of the nearby trees, still barren and twiggy, came the gentle song of a little bird, home again after a long winter away.

Dee-deedee! Dee-deedee!

The other people had gone inside and the doorway was now free for us to pass through. But I was almost ready to just let the door click shut behind them and just stay outside and listen. Just listen.

Dee-deedee! Dee-deedee!

Why is it that some sounds just seem to hold us and hug us, or soothe us like a warm bath?

Some scientists out there wondered the exact same thing. So, they warmed the old MRI machine along with other sophisticated medical equipment and found out.

The method they used was pretty straightforward. They simply monitored the activity in each volunteer’s brain as they were exposed to various sounds, both natural and artificial.

What they found was that artificial sounds triggered the fight-or-flight or sympathetic nervous processes of the brain. These processes are the core of our survival. From this part of the brain, we get caution, vigilance, and forethought. It gives us the instinct simply to look both ways before crossing the street.

This fight-or-flight instinct is vital to our existence. But too much leads to worry, stress, and anxiety. Goodness knows we have way too much of that these days.

Yet, we spend our days being bombarded by the sounds that drive us to this anxiety. We start the day with a loud beeping or buzzing alarm clock specifically designed to interrupt our sleep. Then we spend the day listening to roaring traffic, screaming sirens, and unnecessarily loud advertisements.

So, what can we do about it? Turns out the scientists found an answer to that, too.

When they played sounds like chirping birds or trickling streams, the brain reacted in an entirely different way.

The fight-or-flight processes eased off and, in their place, the rest-and-digest system took over. The rest-and-digest, or parasympathetic nervous system, is responsible for feelings of calm, relaxation, and contentment. All those things that are all too rare in the world these days.

When listening to the sounds of Mother Nature, the volunteers experienced improved mood, less stress, and improved results when performing tasks designed to test attention span.

Of course, fight-or-flight instincts are a mandatory element of life. Without them, we wouldn’t be around long because we’d lack the instinct to jump out of the way of that oncoming car or stop and think before we make a big decision.

Yet, like everything else in life, moderation is the key.

Our brains and bodies need a break from the piercing roars, slams, squeals, and beeps of the modern world to heal, recuperate, and find the strength to carry on.

So, do yourself and your poor beleaguered eardrums a huge favor. Every now and then find a park or a garden or even an online video where you can hear the orchestra of Mother Nature. Seek out the chirping birds, whooshing breezes, buzzing bees, and gargling water. Find the place where the chickadees meet and the ducks murmur back and forth to each other.

Then stand still and listen. Just listen.

Trust me, it’s worth it.

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