My Job

In my thirties I worked in data input for a large company that had branches throughout the United States. During this period of time I struggled with the challenge of noise sensitivity (misophonia). This means the slightest repetitive noise could make me angry and mean. 

 

Besides the irritating noises all around my cubicle, the number one noise irritant sat next to me in my open cubicle of me and “Molly.” This job was repetitive work that required detailed analysis of what I input into the database from the various electronic documents provided on the computer.

 

Molly was a high producing worker. She was also hard on her key board (as she typed). The incessant clicking noise rang through my ears for eight hours straight. Although I tried to block the noise out by listening to audiobooks, it didn’t work. Eventually, I complained to the right people, and got moved to a cubicle all by myself. There was noise peace at last. 

 

The humorous conclusion to this story happened years later (after I was retired) with my adult daughter, Allena. My daughter also has noise sensitivity just like I did then. I became her Molly as she had to leave our living room whenever I started to type something for this blog.  I finally realized that neither Molly nor I could control the sound of our typing. (I later apologized to Molly.)

During the time I was dealing with my noise sensitivity, I wrote the song, “Why Not Shut Up?” Below are the lyrics:

 

Chorus

Why not shut up,

And let me do

What the boss pays me for?

Why not shut up,

And get a job on another floor?

Why not shut up?

I’m askin’ you pretty please.

Why not shut up,

And make my job a breeze?

 

Verse One

At work my job

Needs thinking carefully.

Yet all around

Some think it’s one big party.

I wish they’d stop,

And think of those around.

Take to heart this lesson I’ve found.

 

Chorus

 

Verse Two

Those I work with

Irritate in varied ways.

Mrs. Psycho talks to herself all day.

Mr. Band drums and sings his tune.

Mr. Mad gripes until about noon.

Chatty Kathy laughs and talks like a queen.

Someone please stop this before I get mean.

 

Chorus (2X)

 

Tag

Why not shut up, and make my job a breeze?

 

The PsychMind.com describes misophonia this way: ”Misophonia is a condition in which you are easily annoyed or angered by little things such as a person who eats or breathes too loudly.” If you suffer with noise sensitivity, get help from your doctor (as soon as possible). Being angry all the time at everyone is no way to live.