SOMETHING ALWAYS
"Even in the mud and scum of things, something always, always sings."_Ralph Waldo Emerson
Hello,
EMERSON'S WORDS
Emerson summarized in one line the certainty that, if we pay attention, there is always something good to look forward to, even when we think as though our world is crumbling into pieces. His words clearly remind me that life doesn't stop after a calamity _ there is always a ray of light in the dark. Life's moments resemble a rubber band, stretched almost to the point of breaking, only to be released at the last moment, just as we feel it cannot longer endure, testing our deepest and most hidden skills for survival. And so, Emerson’s words remind me that something beautiful always, always sings.
IN CONSTANT CHANGE
Ever since I can remember, it has always been difficult for me to adapt to a new schedule, a new city, a new job, a new situation. I like being in my comfort zone, my space, my easy life. I am not opposed to change, though I prefer things the way they have always been. Yet the world, in its constant transformation, often surprises me with its changes so rapid they leave behind an unsettled state of mind that makes me feel dizzy.
Change can represent pain, danger, or compromise. I don't know why things happen this way or that, but they do, and when I look back at my past, it brings an extra dose of painful nostalgic yearning for simplicity. We live in a world that is always dying and renewing itself, yet what's gone is truly gone. And strangely, despise these strong yearnings, I find that there is singing everywhere I look_ whether I turn to my past with nostalgia or to the future with excitement.
THE LIST
I tend to remember my past with a sense of awe_ perhaps because I choose not to recall the bad memories, or perhaps because I feel completely healed from the unpleasant experiences. I do not know. What I do know is that when I was younger, it was easier to adapt to change. The decade of the 80s proved to be marked by upheaval, and yet I lived through it all with ease.
Everything was changing, and technology was not an exception. New models were introduced to the masses at lighting speed, changing not only the world but also the way I saw it. Suddenly, and to my advantage, I was able to used modern innovations_ never seen before_ to isolate myself when difficult times struck.
I have made a list of some of the most innovated technologies from the 80s that left a lasting mark on my life. Throughout all of my childhood and adolescence, their use helped me filter the mud and scum of things, and even after all these years, the fond memories continue to do so.
- LONG PLAYS
- ATARI
- WALK-MAN
- CASSETTE TAPES
- VHS
As the years rolled by, the memories of this technology became a healing ointment for my wounds. The changes I experience then shape the comfortable life I recognize now. Yet more than the devices themselves, it was the endless hours of entertainment and education they brought into my life that defined part of who I am. It is not about the technology itself, but about what it represents in my life. And because of that, if today all hell were break loose, I would still be singing.
SINGING IN THE WORLD
As we continue heading toward an uncertain future, we must be prepared for the changes ahead. But that is a topic for another day. For now, I hope you will listen to the piano-cello piece I've composed. It tells the story of all of us who, in some way, wish to make the future our past_ a piece meant to comfort the senses, for as we grow older, we cannot help but long for a simpler life.
As you listen to the music, I remain optimistic that you will hear the singing in the world, and I also hope it moves you to dance. Yes, somehow, the excitement of the future becomes the nostalgia of our past, and despite the beauty or the ugliness of the world, something always_ always_ sings.
Music INFORMATION:
- Key: C Major/A Minor
- Parts: Cello and Piano
- Duration: 2:42 min
- Measures: 48
- Pages: 4
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