This is an interesting topic to me. I have been reading about how some people are just so much more easily stimulated than others. Just by loud sounds, music, talking, TV etc. There is research being done and previously done for that matter trying to determine if this is a genetic trait having to do with how each individual nervous system works. As I am one of those 'easily stimulated' people, i.e. I get overwhelmed by too much sound or whatever I need more down time than some other people who maybe aren't quite so sensitive to this.

I am also a musician so playing music has historically been an outlet for me and a way to gain inner peace, since my life has changed drammatically I am not longer a practicing musician. Cycling has filled that void for me for now. I'm going off on a tangent but I find all your responses very interesting.