Living Life Through Music
I fell in love with music when I was five years old. I was at camp when I heard the song “Stitches” come on the radio by Shawn Mendes (but it was the Kid's Bop version of course), and when I got home I just had to figure out which song this was so I could listen to it again. This led to my now ten-year-strong obsession with the singer. My admiration for Mendes inspired me to start playing guitar and singing. I found that, through playing music, I was given the rare opportunity to communicate to the world in a deeper way than just speaking. This then launched me into an infatuation with all sorts of music and genres. Music has supported me, taught me how to be a better person, increased my confidence, made me laugh, made me cry, and helped me connect with people in so many different ways. While most people love listening to music, I have always thought that I have a deeper relationship with it than most people.
Honestly, it is hard to put my love for music into words. Whenever I press play I just enter my own world– a world where fragments of someone’s life are put powerfully enough for me to relate to. Music makes me feel supported because I know that someone out there is feeling the exact same way that I am and is brave enough to speak up about it. Music also teaches me to enjoy simply being human. Many emotions that get locked behind closed doors like fear, hope, stress, love, and confidence can be normalized as human because another person gets it. They roughly understand whatever I am feeling or thinking. It also shows me that I can overcome certain challenges because the person I admire who is communicating through music their difficulties with the world can overcome theirs. Sometimes my biggest vulnerabilities and insecurities are perfectly captured in a song, and I feel like I’m not alone in what I am experiencing. The biggest message conveyed through music is that I am normal and that I can do anything if I try hard enough, just like my favorite super-famous artist can, and just like everyone else can.
Music, in the best way, can also be a distraction. I can get totally lost in the songs I am listening to or playing to get a break from the craziness of the world around me. It helps me relax and focus on the present moment because many times I’m either trying to decipher what the lyrics mean or sing a song the best that I can, all of which require my full attention. It is also so easy to get lost in daydreams when listening which takes my mind off my worries and busy thoughts. Music is something that I can lean on whenever I am tired or just need a break.
Music connects me to others. I love going to concerts; it makes me smile to see all of these people who are so passionate about a particular artist come together and have the best time. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you look like because, for one night, you can just be with others, not feel judged, and know you have at least one thing in common with everyone around you. Also, it can be an outlet for so many other things like dance, theater, and television. A fun party or a meaningful wedding would not be exciting at all without music, and both of these are events that bring people together and make us smile.
Looking back on all that I have to say about music, it is clear that it is fundamental for me. Without having it to connect deeper with the world around me and with myself, I don’t know what I would do. My relationship with music provides me with a profound sense of joy that truly enhances my life.
By Ella Marks