New headphones

One thing I wanted to buy myself for Christmas was a nice pair of headphones. Of course, that's not what I did... but I suppose I moved in that direction...

I've always wanted a 'nice' stereo again. I had a really nice one when I was in high school and early on in our marriage - receiver, turntable, cassette deck, and big speakers. I can still remember driving to Sterling, IL with Moose and getting it. I'm guessing I may have sold it when we moved to Ohio in the mid-1990s (or sooner).

Anyway, I'm not sure I would even know what to look for in a nice stereo anymore - what with everything digital, and running through T.V.s and all. So I figured a good, quality pair of over-ear, noise-cancelling headphones might be close enough (with an app to make personalized adjustments). 

I admit, I don't know much more about headphones than I do newfangled stereos... so I just googled "Best headphones for listening to music." Yeah... I didn't realize they could cost so much... and there could be so many different considerations. So...

I opted to start with this pair of Soundcore by Anker Q20i hybrid active noise cancelling headphones with wireless over-ear bluetooth, 40 hours anc playtime, hi-res audio, big bass, customizable via app, and with transparency mode.

Uh... I don't really understand much of that either, but these were rated fairly high on the "best over-ear, noise-cancelling headphones for music and exercise under $250." And they were only $45 (although now I see they're even cheaper at $40)! Whatever.

I've only used them a couple times so far, including as I type this I'm listening to meditation music called "Calm the Mind and Stop Overthinking." 

My goal at some point is to use them for the following:

• Meditation (I've recently started making a point of this in the afternoons again, with my tea)
• Trying to listen to more music, as 'listening to music time,' instead of while doing something else
• I may even try listening to an audio book (I've never done it, but lots of people do)
• Perhaps when I am forced to run on a treadmill (if it's more than 3-4 miles)

So, here I sit, typing this blog post, listening to relaxing sounds on my new headphones, feeling all sorts of mellow and calm and stuff (and maybe just a tad uppity privileged).

I suppose it's a process... ;)