An echo is caused by sound waves striking a solid object and bouncing back the way they came. This is why in a valley or a cave (or certain NYC corridors!) you can shout “Hello” and shortly after hear your own voice shouting “Hello” back to you. Echoes, as fascinating as they are, can prove problematic not just for architects, but for everyday people as well.  When structuring any building a great deal of thought has to go into making sure the echo does not spoil the performance on display, as in a theater; or ruin the ability of the building’s inhabitants to concentrate; or, that the noise levels don’t rise to unbearable levels because of machinery or vibrations from heating or cooling equipment, for examples.

In life, I want to be a clear voice, not an echo. I want to not repeat, but originate crisp ideas and thoughts from my perspective, based on all that I’ve learned. There’s little joy in being an echo that recites what others think and say without applying personal thought and hard earned wisdom as well. Making the effort to establish an informed opinion is time well spent. 

Just something I’m thinking about as the noise from the construction next door is reverberating through the walls of my apartment and I turn off the daily news reports  to clear my head and form my own thoughts and ideas.

Doing so? I conclude that if I stay in the moment, stopping to take a deep breath as often as necessary, I can maintain my balance. And a balanced foundation is a strong one for anything we choose to build.  

I’m @DianGriesel aka @SilverDisobedience — a perception analyst & strategist; creative attitude disrupter & adjuster; author of 14 books; and the blogger & model known as @SilverDisobedience  Silver Disobedience® is a registered trademark.