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I could have tried to come up with a clever headline, but why be anything other than direct? This post is about music making me happy.
Yesterday morning, I found myself with a cup of coffee and some free time. My wife was still in bed, and my kid was watching Minecraft videos, playing Minecraft, or otherwise doing something related to Minecraft. So I threw on my headphones, opened up an eBook on my phone, and fired up some music. I let the shuffle gods do their thing, and before long I came across a playlist of lesser-known grunge and 90s alternative hits. I may be primarily focused on metal these days, but I graduated high school in 1996, and as with all people of my vintage, 90s rock is part of my very DNA.
I listened to songs that I hadn't deliberately heard in years by bands like Stone Temple Pilots, Meat Puppets, Smashing Pumpkins, The Toadies, and of course, Nirvana. And it was, to put it lightly, fucking amazing. Having some time to sit back along listening to songs that are deeply engrained in my memory put me in an amazing mood. But, of course, things needed to be done. So I headed out to do the weekly grocery shopping with my headphones in tow. I kept the music going in the car. I kept the music going in the store. I felt elated. Almost high. I listened to music for hours, and it made me happy. Very, very happy.
Sometimes, things we tell ourselves become such common refrains that we start to wonder if they're actually true, or just things we've repeated enough times that we started believing them along the way. I've found myself wondering (usually at a show that's not completely clicking with me) if my love of music and concerts is just an affectation that I picked up, something I would be just as happy without. But then, like yesterday, I find myself connecting to music on a deeper level and allowing myself to feel the emotions that come up. And then I realize that loving music isn't an affectation for me - it's something that brings me pure, deep, simple joy.
Some days, all you need is good coffee and good music, and all is right with the world.
I listened to songs that I hadn't deliberately heard in years by bands like Stone Temple Pilots, Meat Puppets, Smashing Pumpkins, The Toadies, and of course, Nirvana. And it was, to put it lightly, fucking amazing. Having some time to sit back along listening to songs that are deeply engrained in my memory put me in an amazing mood. But, of course, things needed to be done. So I headed out to do the weekly grocery shopping with my headphones in tow. I kept the music going in the car. I kept the music going in the store. I felt elated. Almost high. I listened to music for hours, and it made me happy. Very, very happy.
Sometimes, things we tell ourselves become such common refrains that we start to wonder if they're actually true, or just things we've repeated enough times that we started believing them along the way. I've found myself wondering (usually at a show that's not completely clicking with me) if my love of music and concerts is just an affectation that I picked up, something I would be just as happy without. But then, like yesterday, I find myself connecting to music on a deeper level and allowing myself to feel the emotions that come up. And then I realize that loving music isn't an affectation for me - it's something that brings me pure, deep, simple joy.
Some days, all you need is good coffee and good music, and all is right with the world.
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