Musical Interlude

Growing up my Mother used to always comment that she could follow the lights to see where my dad had been in the house … follow the trail of sound to find my brother.  Neither turned anything off when leaving a room.  I don’t think that’s changed - with either of them.  

Is this just my family?  Are you a lights on kind of person?  Need noise?  

I’m a noise kid myself.  Background noise helps me focus my thoughts … keeps distractions at arms length.  I always had music playing when doing homework, studying, I like music while I work, when I write.  I assumed Georgie Cat was the same and always left music on for her when I’d leave the house.

takes a moment to reminisce 

I like music … I tease my friend - who is a music snob - that she’s exposed to all sorts hanging out with me, luckily she’s uber patient and has a real talent for tuning out any music she finds distasteful or painful to listen to!

My musical tastes range from classical to punk to popular … It depends on my mood, activity, needs etc.  I’m also the kid that will sing and dance while washing the dishes, cleaning, etc. etc. I will car dance and sing while driving the littles around, will sing lullabies that consist of Christmas carols, basically any song I know and seems appropriate when rocking bebe’s to sleep or when they just need a cuddle.  

I’m always amazed how quickly singing at the top of my lungs or dancing or both can shift my mood.  Make me feel instantly happier.  I’m not sure anyone would ever say I missed my calling as a singer … but I don’t care.  I sing anyway.  

Slight left turn: in highschool, my best friend at the time scolded me once for singing … She informed me I was supposed to mouth the words, not actually sing.  Thankfully, I didn’t listen.  Not then.  Not now.  

I like that my kiddos see me dance, hear me sing, blissfully unworried about how I look and/or sound.  It reminds me of moments watching my parents dance - with each other, with us … I think those moments matter.  For me, they were small things, but they gave me permission to be me, because they were them.  I don’t know that I understood that in those moments, but, compound interest … 

Music, dancing, it’s like temporarily hitting pause on my brain … Pausing the noise and allowing me to focus my thoughts, my attention, my energy … I couldn't imagine working out in silence, music can push you right to the edge - helps you get more out of the walk, the hike, the strength training, the hard - pushes you past the “can’t” to the “can”.  

Certain songs connect me with moments, memories, people … It’s one of those things I love about it, how quickly it can evoke memory, energy.  When I start my day purposefully playing a playlist, it can set the tone for the day, help with my resilience, patience, creativity etc.  I’m not sure why I’m not more intentional about that as a part of my morning routines.  I should be.  

Note to self … 

I have a small speaker in almost every room - all of which are connected to my phone … except the bathroom … I actually have to move my bedroom speaker to the bathroom so I can play music while I shower, dress and dry and style my hair.  I don’t always want to wear my headphones, sometimes they bother my ears … Hence the speakers.  Also, I think how music fills a space hits different than when listening with headphones - there is a depth - maybe that’s just me.  Either way, it’s a thing, it’s my thing. 

Side note: I also think it’s one of the reasons I like working from home … I can desk dance and work without being told that I look unapproachable because I’m wearing headphones.  To be clear … I desk dance in the office … could care less about that.  But, I get the optics of always wearing my headphones.  It helps me work … it allows me to be productive … but workplaces don’t often - if ever - consider individuality and typically prefer conformity.  But I digress.  

I need music in my life … to those who can create it - I have the utmost respect and appreciation for that gift … whether you are a lyricist or create the melodies that pull the words together or both.  

Music is one of those mediums that connects us … to memory, to moments, to ourselves, to movement, to others. 

I understand why movies have soundtracks … my life wouldn’t be my life without the soundtracks that have accompanied me along the way … will accompany me … I considered titling this post “Soundtracks” … but I might do a post about the music that made up my year … my moments … that highlighted the highs and lows and all the moments in between … thoughts? What would yours look like … what would yours sound like?  Something to consider.