Of Headphones

Of Headphones

At Park-run and occasionally when I go around the lake by myself, some people use headphones. I have always assumed that the people who are wearing them are listening to music and that by some blue-toothy magic, their headphones are ‘feeding’ them inspirational noise to speed up their steps and quicken their heart rate.

But it occurred to me the other day that this might not actually be the case. What if these people use their headphones for something different and are actually using their headphones to block out all other noise so that they are deluged in syrupy silence? Is it not possible that the headphones can be used not only to supply noise, but also to block it out?

My pet theory is that we can access lots of noise, whatever noise we choose, as often as we like, and we don’t get enough silence to nurture and inspire us, in much the same way that music can nurture and inspire us.

The trick, I suspect, is to know when you need silence and when you need music. Then, to create the opportunity for what you need. Would it be a mortal sin if I got myself a pair of these headphones, slipped them on and played silence through them as I tottered around the lake? This might actually cause me to open my eyes afresh and gaze at the scenery that surrounds me. Good thoughts might come to mind. The tricky letter, the uncomfortable phone call might be thought through afresh, and ways forward may be found. Headphones, I have decided, can do lots of things that are not labelled on the box, and those who wear them may actually be doing more than just listening to the latest workout. Now what colours do they come in?