Ok, so I have finally set myself to writing the first post. I'm not quite sure why it has taken me weeks except that I often feel too distracted or tired. All excuses aside, I am now committing myself to this venture. It is about time I get off my lazy arse and begin to tap out my thoughts somewhere besides the deep recesses of my mind. I'm tired of listening to the voice in my head.

One of the reasons for my delay was in trying to figure out what I would write about. In an effort to make it easy for myself, and in the process just get the job done, I have decided to elaborate on the title I created for this little piece of heaven. It does have a purpose, and I did spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about it. Basically, A Long, Loud Sigh is something that I find escaping from my own lips more and more often the older I grow. I know this is true of many women; therefore, I am not unique. Nevertheless, the reasons are not quite so simplistic.

According to an article posted on Discovery News, there is a scientific basis for sighing. It is a part of a necessary biological process that keeps our breathing in check. " 'So in times of stress, when breathing is less variable, a sigh can reset the respiratory system and loosen the lung's air sacs, or alveoli, which may be accompanied by a sensation of relief, Vlemincx said' " (O'Hanlon). http://news.discovery.com/human/why-we-sigh-breathing.html

Lori P. writes about how sighing is a language that has different meanings for men and women. In her humorous article she states, "Why do women sigh when humans invented words and verbal language? Maybe because we know that some feelings can’t be expressed—or shouldn’t have to be expressed—in words... Women sigh out of irritation, resignation, sadness, fatigue, relief, contentment, and sexual fulfillment. To tell where on this spectrum a particular sigh comes from, one must be keyed into the situation at hand, the sigh tonality, and the sigher’s body language that accompanies the sigh. It sounds far more complicated than it is. You simply have to be able to read a woman’s mind. " http://www.divinecaroline.com/22072/76375-language-sighs#ixzz1vWyamux6 

Peter Dewolf even goes so far as to define "11 Different Ways Your Girlfriend Will Sigh at You." http://thoughtcatalog.com/2011/the-11-different-ways-your-girlfriend-will-sigh-at-you/
 
If one were to perform a Google search using the keywords "women sighing," one would find about  2,930,000 results varying from humorous tidbits to questions posted on Yahoo and varying sound bites and song lyrics. I must admit that I did not go beyond the first page in my scholarly research. I already know the reasons behind my sighs.

I must openly admit that my sighs are usually the product of some frustration deep inside me. They signal that I have had enough of whatever is stressing me out. Whether it is my husband reclining on the couch reading a book while it is obvious that the carpet needs vacuumed and dishes are stacking up (and I am running back and forth scrubbing toilets, mopping floors, and dusting around him) or it is my son who is once again focusing more energy on his computer games and programs than his college classes and personal hygiene, does not matter. The sigh is the same. And they both know that a sigh from me signals trouble ahead. 

On the other hand, there are also those rare occasions when I sigh simply because I am content. The world is perfect that particular moment, and I have to release the warm fuzzies building inside before I explode. I don't mean to imply that I am this over-stressed woman working myself to the bone every day, nor am I insinuating that I am rarely happy or content. Quite the opposite is true actually. And there are times when a sigh is simply a sigh. Maybe I am tired or bored or who knows what. Most of the time I do not even realize that I am sighing, that is unless my husband points it out by asking me what is wrong or informing me that he knows I think he is an idiot.   

A sigh that escapes from my lips embodies so many things. It may be frustration, fatigue, annoyance, or pleasure. I can't explain why or how or when. I just know that it happens, and often. Therefore, I am going to try to embrace the sigh and write about those things that create these feelings within me. Maybe I will learn something about the language of my sighs.  

For another person's introspection into sighing, visit Laura's blog, Rebellious Thoughts of a Woman http://www.rebelliousthoughtsofawoman.com/rebellious_thoughts_of_a_/2009/02/the-art-of-sighing-.html. I found it enlightening.  

    Me

    Who am I? Just an average woman living an average life. There are many labels I would use to define myself: mom, wife, daughter, student, educator, American, etc. I have no professional experience nor am I claiming to be a writer. Sometimes I am brushing up on some skills I will need when I return to academia, and sometimes I am just sharing or venting.  



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