During my train ride back to the city today I put in my headphones to help me think, as I often do while working on tasks that require deep concentration. I recently found an app called noisli that is an excellent productivity tool. It allows you to select any number of ambient sounds and mix them into customized “combos.” Mine is a mix of soft waves, wind, nightime nature sounds, and intermittent thunder. I found this quite relaxing and conducive to getting work done.

Getting off the Amtrak at Penn Station I decided to continue listening to the serene sounds of nature as I swerved through the Friday afternoon crowd to get to the 1/2/3 to Times Square, and the to the S to Grand Central. Observing the world through the eyes alone, the sounds drowned out by noise canceling headphones, can be an inspiring experience if you want it to be. You see thousands of people, going wherever they’re going, interacting with the world in their own way. You realize you’re completely in control of your judgement of others. The meaning you place behind the people pushing past you to squeeze onto the train; the person who fishes a dollar from her pocket to give to the talented and underappreciated acoustic guitarist riding the S back and forth between Times Square and Grand Central, the rush of suits, briefcases and leather shoes moving unending through the turnstiles, unaware of who might be waiting his or her turn to swipe their metrocard.

Is there a moral here? Not really. Only the realization that we have the power to make our own interpretation of what we observe of humanity. And on the toughest of days, that little piece of wisdom might help, just a little bit.