So, there I was, enjoying life and savoring a beautiful evening. It was dark outside, but the light guitar riff of Two Door Cinema Club was whimsically floating about my dorm room, like lyrical birds flittering through a perfect spring sky.
And then, I realized something:
”In a few weeks, I will get time to realize it’s right before my eyes. And I can take it, if it’s what I want to do. I am leaving, and this is starting to feel like it’s right before my eyes. And, I can taste it, it’s my sweet beginning!
And I can tell just what you want! You don’t want to be alone. [x2]
And I can’t say it’s what you know, but you’ve known it the whole time!
Maybe next year, I’ll have no time to think about the questions to address. Am I the one to try and stop the fire?
I wouldn’t test you, I’m not the best you could have attained… but why try anything? I will get there. Just remember, I know!
And I can tell just what you want! You don’t want to be alone. [x2]
And I can’t say it’s what you know, but you’ve known it the whole time!”
- What you Know by Two Door Cinema Club. Listen to ‘dat bidniz. (To quote a friend: “That song is awesome! It’s bumpin’!”)
When I say “I Realized something,” I mean far more loosely “I heard on an amazing song some words that happened to pretty much sum up everything that has been on my mind for the past few weeks and somehow managed to provide that needed boost and confidence I needed to power me through to the summer months.”
Which is silly, really. You’re probably muttering to yourself “Geez, I thought you were better than that. Getting motivated by some silly indy song you heard on the Hype Machine? Pffft.” And, yes, it is pretty silly. But don’t you see the wisdom behind the song? I mean, there’s a whole bunch there.
And no, I’m not insane. Trust me on this. Let’s work through a few of the key points. Bit by bit. Delicious morsel of wisdom by delicious morsel of wisdom.
”In a few weeks, I will get time to realize it’s right before my eyes.”
- It’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. Just like it’s far too easy to hike with your head down (and not see the scenery around you), it’s far too easy to let exams and all of that other garbage pile up around you and prevent you from seeing the future. Sometimes, you just have to wait until you have time to look up, to see out from the jail you have imprisoned yourself in, and get a fresh breath. (A new perspective? A new chance? A change of pace? Something.)
“And I can take it, if it’s what I want to do.”
- And, really, you can get that breath of fresh air, if you want to. I know too many people who try to hide behind their “busy schedules”. “Oh, I don’t have time to read/explore things I’m passionate about/ get coffee and ponder/ look at the sunset / cherish the beautiful things around me,” says any Busy-Bee, “because my schedule is full!” Well, maybe you need to do those things. If you want to do it, you can. ‘Nuff said.
”I am leaving, and this is starting to feel like it’s right before my eyes.”
- To be honest, as a college student, I always feel as if I’m leaving. I’ve been a student for less than two semesters, and I’m already feeling like I don’t really have a single place to call “home.” But, in a larger sense, college student or not, aren’t we always leaving? Leaving our past behind? Leaving our mistakes in the meticulous care of our memory so that we don’t falter further in the future? I think there’s a positive sort of aspect behind that all. If we see that, don’t we also see how the future is wide open, simply ready to greet us with good tidings and success, if we only try?
“And, I can taste it, it’s my sweet beginning!”
- Isn’t that just what it is? A sweet new future, just waiting to be gobbled up?
“And I can tell just what you want! You don’t want to be alone. [x2]
And I can’t say it’s what you know, but you’ve known it the whole time!”
- Duh. I don’t need to explain that bit. Who really wants to be alone?
“Maybe next year, I’ll have no time to think about the questions to address.”
- Maybe next year, I won’t waste my time asking questions that never need to be asked. Maybe I won’t waste my time worrying or over-thinking or over-analyzing or dreaming of things that can never happen.
“Am I the one to try and stop the fire?”
-For me, that’s one of those questions. But, more generally, do I have to fix everyone’s problems? Do I have to save the world? Or, do I just need to live life happily and compassionately?
“I wouldn’t test you, I’m not the best you could have attained… ”
- Really, though. I can’t expect anything more from you than what I’d expect from myself. Doing so would be seriously unfair. Besides, I’m not the best either. I have problems, flaws… but fortunately, we all do.
“But why try anything? I will get there.”
- “But, why try anything,” asks the pessimist. “I will get there,” replies the optimist.
(See? Pretty deep stuff right there. I told you so!)
That’s all, for now. Go enjoy some good music. (Let me know if you find anything wonderful!)
Yours,
Tom.
