Navigator: Noise vs. Sound

The 15-minute walk from the bus stop to my office is a chaotic symphony of noise: incessant honking, wailing sirens, and—worst of all—the intrusive pounding of jackhammers. My office, meanwhile, sits on the Potomac River not far from an airport, an Air Force base, and the Pentagon. The rumble of jets and military choppers never quite goes away.

At the same time, I’m surrounded by all kinds of other sounds that aren’t so grating. Some are even comforting: the chattering of fellow pedestrians, the clacking of sandals against the sidewalk, and the ding of a cyclist’s bell.