Music Drives Us II

My son is now 12 years old.

It's wild.

I do this technique where I think back to that age, that year, and what I was doing back then; physically, emotionally, etc. It makes my life easier because I don't overreact as much, or I go "Oh riiiiiiight." A lot. 

But, let's focus on WHY I began writing this post. Music.

He's now asking for MORE music. He listens to all the current things; eg, Rosalía, KarolG, BadBunny, etc... But he's asking about Food Fighters, Pearl Jam, Blink 182, Metallica, etc.

I have held myself back because if you know me. That's me. That's me all over. But I can't scare him away.

I've started to say, OK, you are 12 years and 7 months.... In August 1995, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness came out. 

...and that's why he now likes Smashing Pumpkins, his favorite is Bullet with Butterfly Wings.

I do notice patterns, he likes the fast, alternative rock. He hasn't trained his ear to Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, he doesn't enjoy melodic tunes like Radiohead or Blind Melon. In other words, he's more of a Soundgarden, than a Chris Cornell fan; Pearl Jam, than a Eddie Vedder fab.

Isn't it amazing how life comes back.

I always said Music Drives Us.

It isn't different for my son 

He sleeps with music in loop (girls too).

Music drives his soul.

Not Enjoying The Moment

I caught myself thinking about the title of this post two weeks ago. 

I was at a concert with Lety, family, and friends. It was a great concert - one of those that have the perfect set up, you know? It isn't wild, it isn't boring, it wasn't too hot, it wasn't freezing, the acoustics couldn't have been better (Anfiteatro de Chavón), and the stage was on point.

Here is when it hit me.

As soon as it all began I noticed something shocking. The majority of the people took out their cellphones and began filming. Normal? Sure. However, they were not filming the concert.

They were filming themselves - at the concert.

They took selfies. 

They were not filming themselves with the singer behind them, they were not taking selfies of themselves with the stage as their backdrop. 

Just Them.

The concert, basically, did not exist to them. 

They sang along without looking at the stage.

I felt they could have just stayed at home listening to their favorite artist on Spotify, YouTube, CDs, or whatever it is that they might have. One lady streamed the entire concert (I felt) on Instagram, camera pointed at her. Her eyes staring at the hearts and thumbs up she was getting.

-----------------------

The world is moving so fast that we have forgotten to enjoy the moment, enjoy the actual beauty of it all. Why are we looking at our experiences through a lens. Why are we spending the majority of our energy on the recording, rather than living.

Now. I am not perfect. I am not saying that I do not do this at times. It's just that this past experience did keep me thinking. How can I do better? Am I living my moments? Am I enjoying it as best can be? Am I so enveloped with work that I don't live the now? Are the several screens that dictate my life becoming my center?

Something to ponder. Definitely.

Enough to return - here.

PS. Thanks DrZ