I am Most Important
"Find a way back to then" - Jeff Bowen
These lyrics are from a clichéd musical theatre song about rediscovering one's passion. Cliché or not, let's go with it for now.
As you may recall, I began writing this blog when I left Australia in 2013 to document my travels. I've updated weekly ever since, often delaying sleep, work, socialising (I remember one particular evening where my friends were over, and I excused myself to finish typing away). It's become as regular as religion; my once-a-week routine that keeps me sane. It's a very personal thing, and thus my readers trust me. They see a friend in me. Sometimes, I hear from them and their responses are encouraging and valuable. Sometimes, I don't, and it feels like I'm throwing my life into a void without any consequences. It feels like nobody's reading, so I am free to share whatever I feel - often at the risk of oversharing.
And of course, there are consequences, but even more than you would think. Rather than just hearing from random friends out of the blue, I get a bit morose thinking about all the people who haven't bothered reaching out, who haven't been reading, people that I'd love to keep in my life, people that are so valuable to me yet so far away.
"I sure hope the road don't come to own me; I'd rather spend it being close to you" -Carole King.
I think that's where music grounds me. With one lyric, written by one person in a time disparate to my own, I can connect to someone external to me. I can connect to someone who knows nothing about me, and I can imagine the plethora of people undergoing the same experience, resonating the same feelings, listening to the same lyric. It's like we're harmonics of a guitar, located on different strings, sounding as different pitches, but being moved by the same source.
"Everybody's got the right to be different.... Everybody just hold tight to your dreams" -Stephen Sondheim
What I've found, is that even though we are all desperately trying to connect, we all have an inherent desire to be the focal point, to somehow emerge from the rest as greater, more important. Most Important. When living for our own desires, we find an inner balance, not being swayed or discouraged by other people. When living for others' recognition, that balance is skewed.
So I guess this is a longwinded way of me saying: I felt a bit skewed this week.
These lyrics are from a clichéd musical theatre song about rediscovering one's passion. Cliché or not, let's go with it for now.
As you may recall, I began writing this blog when I left Australia in 2013 to document my travels. I've updated weekly ever since, often delaying sleep, work, socialising (I remember one particular evening where my friends were over, and I excused myself to finish typing away). It's become as regular as religion; my once-a-week routine that keeps me sane. It's a very personal thing, and thus my readers trust me. They see a friend in me. Sometimes, I hear from them and their responses are encouraging and valuable. Sometimes, I don't, and it feels like I'm throwing my life into a void without any consequences. It feels like nobody's reading, so I am free to share whatever I feel - often at the risk of oversharing.
And of course, there are consequences, but even more than you would think. Rather than just hearing from random friends out of the blue, I get a bit morose thinking about all the people who haven't bothered reaching out, who haven't been reading, people that I'd love to keep in my life, people that are so valuable to me yet so far away.
"I sure hope the road don't come to own me; I'd rather spend it being close to you" -Carole King.
I think that's where music grounds me. With one lyric, written by one person in a time disparate to my own, I can connect to someone external to me. I can connect to someone who knows nothing about me, and I can imagine the plethora of people undergoing the same experience, resonating the same feelings, listening to the same lyric. It's like we're harmonics of a guitar, located on different strings, sounding as different pitches, but being moved by the same source.
"Everybody's got the right to be different.... Everybody just hold tight to your dreams" -Stephen Sondheim
What I've found, is that even though we are all desperately trying to connect, we all have an inherent desire to be the focal point, to somehow emerge from the rest as greater, more important. Most Important. When living for our own desires, we find an inner balance, not being swayed or discouraged by other people. When living for others' recognition, that balance is skewed.
So I guess this is a longwinded way of me saying: I felt a bit skewed this week.
My Day Off
Thursday was My day. With a slovenly start, I stayed in bed all morning and caught up on many a personal matter (as you do). But then I pampered myself. I enjoyed biking in the humidity and heat, so rare in Wales. I got my hair trimmed and styled and proceeded to go shopping. I found the perfect shade of foundation. I spent the evening singing, and I did this all braless. True bliss (except for the fact that I felt it was socially unacceptable to have left the house without bra or makeup, but somebody's got to bite the bullet).
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| I have a feeling I won't be able to sit down in this dress. I feel like Sofia Vergara. |
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| Okay, Maybe A Less Bodacious Version of Sofia Vergara.... .... Or maybe not. |
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| Right out of "The Light in the Piazza" I feel like Kelli O'Hara. |
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| See What I mean? .... .... Or maybe not. |
One Thing's Certain
"You can't stop the beat" -Marc Shaiman
This week, I listened to a handful of new musicals, most of which are "classics" that I should've known for a very, very long time. It's contagious. I love listening in my downtime, and I love accruing all of these gems into my knowledge bank, feeling how I do when I listen. Have any suggestions for me? I'll forever be listening until "all the seas gang dry".
Robert Burns. Legend. (1759-1796).
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