Two Paths

Two paths, which one shall I go down?
Between a world of hate and a world of fate
I like to wake up with the sun and pants on the post
And the life I know comes with a bottle of beer

I was raised to go to church and work hard everyday
My mom made dinner while my dad worked in the yard
Us kids did our homework then biked up and down the block
Then at the family table we all were forced to talk

     Now it's all a part of me
     And it's getting so hard to see
     What can't be seen
     But what must be felt

As we all grew up, we all moved far away
But we still all called that old house home
And every winter, it felt good to be back together
And share a glass from my dad's old scotch bottle

     It's still all a part of me
     And it's been so hard to see
     How it was real
     And continues to be

Now we're all grown up and chasing our own lives
And the infinite choices can make us paralyzed
So I'm getting used to deciding on my own
How far I'll roam and where I'll make my own home

     It was all a part of me
     And I no longer can see
     Where I am
     Who I'll be

     I can't let go of me
     I am ready to see
     How who I was
     Defines who I'll be

Music is Happiness

Someone once asked me, “Are you happy?” I was, so I replied in the affirmative, followed by, “Why do you ask?” She told me, “Because you’re singing. People sing when they’re happy.”

Without even realizing it, I was singing to myself. I don’t remember if I was actually happy or I was just trying to float on a cloud for a bit. Regardless, the point stuck with me. Happiness and music were intrinsically interconnected.

Some might argue that pain and music can also be deeply linked. But that’s the link: pain, not unhappiness. What is closer to the truth is that unhappy people who make music are looking for a release to their pain. Music gets them there. It is an outlet for their pain. Perhaps these folks do not find happiness after finishing their music, but at the very least they are lost in the music while they make it. For example, guys like Peter Ham, Kurt Cobain and Elliot Smith were tortured artists at the time of their deaths (God rest their souls), yet they chose to pursue music. My suspicion is that they felt that release of pain – not unlike a drug – when they played.

I understand many may disagree with the above paragraph, but because music is so deep, complex, diverse, let us continue to find why music holds such a profound effect on us rather than its connection to happiness for the moment.

When I play, all of my body, belly, eyes, ears, mind and soul engage. I have felt nothing else in life that makes all of who I am feel alive at the same time. My fingers move, air rushes from my belly through my throat, I am both listening and creating something. When I finish, my music evaporates; therefore, I cherish each note as it occurs that much more.

When I listen to live music, the sight and sound of the music hits me at once, much like a movie. Everything else around seems to fade into the background as I watch someone perform. In hearing someone else’s music live, I get to peer into the musician’s soul for a moment. You hear the lyrics, you feel the emphasis of the notes, you see how carefully the music is crafted. It can tell a story, describe an emotion, show utter humor, or rejoice in the music, among many other objectives.

A party is a celebration of life. It is no coincidence that music is invariably found at all parties (with strange exceptions). And people dance – they dance because the sound and rhythm of the music dictates that their body moves. And there is where music transcends even the magic of the movies. Emotions can flow from the stories movies, but they don’t dictate how a body moves as well. Furthermore, a movie is a single story, capturing a slice of life. People sometimes ask what a song means. I answer them, “Whatever it means to you.” It meant something to the artist at the time it was written, but once it is in someone else’s ear it can be taken in any context a listener finds oneself.

The party description is also the argument for happiness. If a party is the celebration of life – and one is happy to be alive – and music goes hand-in-hand with a party, then music and happiness are, in fact, interconnected. One is happy, so one sings or listens and dances to music. One is listening to music, and it makes one happy because the soul begins to dance. If one is unhappy at a single moment, you will rarely – if ever – see that person singing.

I’ll give you dissenters this much: if you are unhappy with life, you will not be a huge music fan. For the record, vice versa is not the truth here. Look, I argue for those who are unhappy with life to listen to more music. I think if you do you will see, hear and feel more energy in your life. That energy may not cure your unhappiness, but it certainly will bridge gaps in your life. You will feel more humanity. You will be able to feel a connectedness with other people without having to explain yourself, without owing anyone anything.

Music is the celebration of life. Embrace it, sing it, share it. Let happiness ring throughout your being.

Life in a Nutshell

Life is hard. It’s tragic. It’s painful. But it’s also beautiful. And if we can just learn to receive it, it can be something amazing.

It’s the cry of a newborn. It’s the belch of a baby. It’s a dog licking your hand. It’s the breeze against your cheek. It’s sunburn from a day at the beach. It’s the smile of a sibling. It’s the laughter of a dear friend. It’s the arms of a parent around you. It’s the sense of accomplishment. It’s the generosity of a grandparent. It’s the kindness of a stranger. It’s the warmth of home. It’s the kiss of a lover.

It’s the cold of the rain. It’s the breaking of a glass. It’s the emptiness of loneliness. It’s the despair of hopelessness. It’s the uselessness of worthlessness. It’s the break-up of a relationship. It’s the sense of rejection. It’s the death of a loved one.

It’s the faith of God. It’s the companionship of Christ. It’s the breath of the Holy Spirit. It’s the sacrifice of service. It’s everything good and bad in the world wrapped into a single woven blanket of forgiveness. It’s what we take for granted and what we cherish each moment we stop to open our eyes.

We can believe we are being punished in our misfortunes, yet lavish ourselves with praise in our triumphs. We can curse bad luck, yet battle in preparation for opportunity. We can hate at the same time we love. We can long for a family, pine for a lover, hope for a chance, wish for a change, demand justice, kill in the name of life.

I have no great ambitions anymore but to love with every decent fiber of my being I have left. I wish only to recognize every blessing God bestows upon me at the moment He gives it. I alone cannot change the world. But with a lot of love, and a lot of help, I have faith I will create something good out of His blanket of forgiveness.

There is no call to action. Just listen and follow what moves in your heart. I know life will show you something amazing.

Thanksgiving

The opportunity to live is short. We have but a handful of moments to make use of it. We owe it to ourselves to use that time to experience all that we can, to love fully, and to share our joys and concerns. Do not guard your heart, but cast it to the wind in the hope it finds and spreads joy. Eat well and share what you can spare. Smell the roses and invite others to smell the good ones. Live for yourself; accept help that is granted to you; and give away as much time as possible. When you pass to the next plane, do not fear, for you have sucked as much out of the tree of life as you can stand. When you live life, you transcend death. Thank you for life.