Saturday 30 January 2010

Where Words Fail, Music Speaks.

It always astounds me how music has the capability to influence our thoughts and emotions. How, without having a single word spoken or even thought, music can touch the heart and of every single person.

The reasons for why I still play music is not because I started learning when I was little. It's not because I can play it, and so I do. No. It's because when I play it - when I really get into it and let my mind go -, music touches my very soul in a way that I can't even explain. Everything just detaches itself from me. Problems cease to matter as much as they did before. Answers to problems often show themselves to me without me even thinking about it. And I always end up feeling better than before I started playing.

Yes, it's hard to practice on a regular basis, and yes, it's hard to not feel pressured by weekly lessons and expectations and concerts and business of life in general. But music isn't just a hobby; it's an entire way of life.

So, in terms of 'hobbies' and 'interests', there is nothing that I would recommend more than playing music. Nothing. It is one of the most beneficial things you can do, I reckon...

Sunday 24 January 2010

People People

Earlier, I made the mistake of putting some old photographs up on facebook from years ago, and one of my photos was one that somebody did not approve of, to say the least. They asked me to delete it in no polite terms, and when I apologised lightly on his facebook profile, they replied, and then completely deleted my comment off their wall.

And it actually hit me quite hard. There are people out there who are so obsessed about their reputations and what they look like to other people that they will go out of the way to be rude and inconsiderate to those who aren't in the same group or who aren't 'cool'.

The need to be accepted is such a tough one in today's society. It's everywhere... Walking down the streets, you'll find shops advertising what 'everybody's wearing'. Around school, it's so easy to spot the people who feel the need to be with certain people and doing certain things. And because it's so easy to spot them - and they're everywhere - it's so easy to get caught up in it.

I am so very blessed to have friends who I love for who they are and not what they do or what they look like, and who I know at least enjoy my company...!