Music & Lyrics

"Music is a moral law.
It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind,
flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to
life and to everything."
-Plato


There is something magical about the crisp autumn air that channeled its way through the city today. So much possibility rested within it. There was the desire to dance along the street as the rain sang its song....if only I wasn't immobile due to this migraine. :( Its been two days now. Two days of feeling my head swell in pain, but I kept thinking of how soothing that rain was. There was so much beauty between the pitter-patter. Once the sun-less sky grew a deep hue of purple, I gathered my things and caught the next train into the city. I wanted out, I needed to find peace in my thoughts and warm my mind with a cup of joe so I went to the nearest Starbucks and grabbed the usual- tall bold, and began to write my dearest Hope. Randomly, my 'home-base' of a Starbucks was closing at 9h30pm v.the usual 1am due to renovations. So once more, I gathered my belongings, and held my warm coffee close to my chest as i strolled about Union Sq in search for a place to cozy up and continue my writings. I followed the tunes of the 3 cuties playing their ukelaylee (sp?) on the stairs edge. I was attracted to not only their style, but their great spirits. I continued their, amongst a crowd of fellow New Yorkers, and continued to write. About 5-minutes into my "alone time," a man turned to me, reached out his hand and asked for my name. "Kristin," I replied.
"Emanuel."
He was an italian man, 31yrs young, and filled with many interesting words on politics, religion, philosophy, and above all- of music. Emanuel and I exchanged our thoughts on all of the above for hours. Before I knew it, it was already 1am, and I was still sitting on the stairs with a man who was no longer a stranger to me. He came to the city around the same time as myself, and has one more month to fully grasp it before he heads back to Sicily. He is a musician, plays classical guitar, and came to learn and grow and hopefully gain inspiration through the music of the city. -- He's not too impressed, to say the least. But I certainly was with our conversations! Together we devoured all the topics, and really dug deep into the beauty and the language of music. The most amazing part of it all, was when he couldn't find the exact translation for his words, so I asked him to speak it in his native tongue. I said that perhaps there would be a chance I could help in finding the right word through his italian. So italian he spoke, and my eager ears listened intently. It was so beautiful, and to both of our surprise, quite simple for me to translate. I was taking his italian, translating to french, and then going from french to english. You know what the irony behind all this is, is that music is the same in every language. :) It was truly remarkable to be sitting on the cold steps at late hours of the night in NYC, with a perfect stranger as he spoke to me in italian, and I to him, in english. We challenged one another on the topic and found comfort in the the endless directions we could take it. He believes that there is no other music more pure and beautiful as that of classical music. there is a certain knowledge that lies within its notes and allows your mind to speak for itself. I'd have to agree. We are forced to allow our imaginations run free, and our minds get to work when we are carried by the melodies of Mozart and Bach, we are taken places that not even Lady Gaga herself can take us. I'm listening to Mozart myself tonight, and I plan to keep it going as I lay in bed. I want it to serenade me into a deep sleep and cradle my dreams.
I've been inspired by Emanuel, in more ways than one, and I want to challenge you to join me in this. But for this week, listen only to classical music. See where it takes you, how it speaks to you. If you can, throughout this challenge, keep (at least, if not something else) a pen and paper at hand...close your eyes, and translate in your own way the "lyrics" to this symphony. May it be drawing, or writing, or creating in some form, allow the music to take control. I'm so inspired, and I hope you are as well.
All the best,
Kit

Almost

This morning I woke up nearly in a panic with the thought, I'm almost 23. I'm not sure of all that I had dreamt last night because I wasn't even aware of how I felt about this single thought. But it got me thinking about who I am, what I've done... am I contente? I've been teetering with my answers all day long, and here I am, 3h30AM and I find myself unable to sleep and still debating my very thoughts. My feelings on this matter are layered, yes, no, yes, no. On the surface, life is incredible, it has the ability to have meaning and to constantly surprise us. I want to live life having no regrets... but does that mean that I'm not really living? I want to be a prime example to friends and family, and to my kids. As children we are always being told what not to do so that we are protecting all our values, - our interests, our bodies, ...our hearts. It's easy to cave in, but it's harder to stand your ground. I want to be an example, I want to be a good example, but I can't say that I am. Like everyone out there, I have my personal struggles-- my daily struggles. And I'm working on becoming a stronger person, but as the days go by, I feel I gain strength in one aspect of my life and grow weaker in another. Some times I really wish I were more rebellious, but I know that I'd regret the rebellious impulse, whatever it may be, some time down the road.

I keep and maintain a forever growing list of Things To Do Before I Die, and I can't even begin to tell you how happy this makes me. Some of the things listed are the amongst the simplest to accomplish, but its just the little things that make me smile, and some are so obscure and seem out of character, but when presented the opportunity, I refuse to turn away. I want to try everything, I want to do it all, I never want to stop learning, and I always want a good story. I refuse to die until this list is complete... and the irony behind it all is, there is a handful of "things" on this list that just might be the end of me. Ha. I have checked off a lot, and added just as much since I started this list nearly 7 years ago. So when I woke up this morning with the shortness of breath, I calmed myself down when I thought of this list. I thought of all the things I have done thus far, at only 22, and all the things I have ahead of me. I thought about my family, and just how beautiful they all are, and about my friends, my life- all that I have, I am so blessed. I am nearly 23, and when I close my eyes, a smile begins to grow across my face. Life is beautiful, and I want to embrace it. I feel I do. and though I know I shouldn't care of what others think of me, I'm beginning to realize that so many people don't think that I live. Me. Because I don't rely on substance to loosen me, and because I've never been in a true relationship or slept with anyone... that, in their eyes, means I've never lived. I am discovering my true self as the days carry on. Of course there are things that I desire to have or to be... things that I've never done or experienced that I someday hope to. Do I do them now? I'm nearly 23, this is my prime- and that, right there, scares the hell out of me. If this is my prime, then how come I've never had that opportunity? What's wrong with me? (-- and see how the teetering occurs? ) I have so much, I've done so much, I've seen so much... but at the same time, I am only just beginning. I'm going to try and see the beauty in this, and try not to get hung up on all that I lack. Someday my time will come, someday I'll get the chance... right?

So for now, I am nearly 23, what am I going to make of it?