Louis Michael: Embracing the vivacity of loudness

I was born loud. I came into the world noisy and nothing’s changed. But after twenty years of being told to be quiet, being shot sideways glances, and hearing “I just followed your voice” more times in two decades than most people get in an entire lifetime, I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that my voice has more frequent flyer miles than anyone else’s.

Albeit entirely unintentionally, I seem to have created a name for myself as being loud. Somewhere between baby and child I missed the ‘quiet down’ memo and instead made a seamless transition from noisy newborn to noisy schoolboy. So when the baton was passed to my school teachers to contend with my voice I was exposed to a whole new range of attempts to dampen me down. I think the present volume and quantity of my voice serves as evidence for their effectiveness.

Speaking from experience let me offer some advice to teachers who are struggling with their own classroom loudmouths. Do not pretend as if they are the only ones talking when clearly they were not talking to themselves. At least be equal with your unfair punishment. And stop homing in on them amongst a classroom of talking children just because it’s their voice you happen to hear rising above the chatter. That’s vocal chord discrimination!

Somewhere between baby and child I missed the ‘quiet down’ memo

Just to set the record straight being loud is brilliant. Undeniably the guy who talks on his phone the entire bus journey is obnoxious, but viewing the topic from another perspective there’s an unquestionable vivacity to being loud. There’s an undeniable energy around loud people, an enthusiasm and an unfiltered zest for life, an intensity and a passion that I feel is too often labelled as excessive or overbearing. I can only speak for myself when I say my loudness comes from a place of excitement, but give a loud person half a chance and no doubt they’ll prove their voice comes from somewhere just as positive.

Despite the relentless school day scoldings of the past, and the ‘indoor voice’ reminders of the present, I wouldn’t change my loudness for the world. It makes me who I am and I love it. As with any trait you are made to feel self conscious about, take it and make it your own. Fit it into your armour and wear it proudly. I am loud. I’d bet I’m louder than you. I am Loudmouth Louis.