Noise as a mindful teacher
Cookie: “Dandy, wouldn’t it be funny if your armpits could fart? Ha ha ha!”
Dandy: “Silly Cookie, they don’t.”
Cookie: “How about your nose?”
Dandy: “No.”
Cookie: “Then what’s that noise when you blow your nose?”
Dandy:”Noise from your nose is called a SNORT. And I do not have a better word for armpit farts… “
A kid’s curiosity is capable of beating the Oxford English Dictionary — To them, a noise is just a noise, a fart is a fart, and anything is possible.
Now, let’s take a look at how adults react to unfamiliar sounds:
A cousin of mine, a devoted dog lover, visited us a while ago. She had never spent time with cats before, so when our purr machine—also known as our social butterfly of a cat—came up to greet her, she was startled by his loud purring. She thought he was growling at her, warning her to stay away!
Funny enough, I recently learned that cat purring isn’t just adorable—it can actually have positive effects on bone growth and healing. And speaking of soothing sounds, did you know that the ancient sages of India developed a breathing technique called Bhramari (humming bee breath), which mimics the sound of a bee’s hum? Science has now discovered that this practice increases nitric oxide (NO) in the nasal passages. The benefits? Everything from calming the nervous system and boosting immunity to easing digestion and relaxing the vagus nerve, which connects to all our vital organs.
Noise is everywhere, and what sounds like music to one person might be pure annoyance to another. In India, traffic jams aren’t just about cars—they’re about the endless honking! To combat this, the transportation minister once proposed replacing car horns with traditional Indian musical instruments. It hasn’t happened yet… probably for a good reason. Imagine hearing a flute instead of a honk!
But here’s something fascinating—science has found that people with dementia respond positively to music therapy. Familiar tunes can improve their communication, reduce agitation, and even strengthen relationships with their caregivers.
So, whether it’s music or noise, may the sounds you welcome into your life bring a smile when you need it most.
Mindfulness Exercise:
Take a moment today to observe the sounds around you. What feelings do they stir in you? My kid loves to froth his milk in the morning, pressing his ear close to the cup to listen to the bubbles pop—pure joy in the little things. Try finding your own playful sound to tune into today.
And while I did not find the name for armpit noises, I found this interesting collection of things which have names which I did not know.. There is always something to learn…
