Another Song

Wow, I rarely do this whole “talk about my day” blogs. Here it goes anyway…
Recently, I’ve decided to change my ways and listen to music while I run. Before, I refused to plug those white buds into my ears because I felt that they prevented me from being one with nature (I’m serious.) I like listening to the sirens, the children laughing (this sounds so corny), and the birds and cicadas chirping away. It makes me feel alive! However, one day, somewhere out of the blue, I decided to try listening to music anyway.

The moment that the oneness of lyrical poetry and melodies started seeping into my wonderful ear canals, it was over. My life would be significantly different. Even with such minor alterations in my daily routine, it made me look forward to something new. On top of feeling like I’m Rocky Balboa or in some kind of music video, sometimes, running the same route everyday becomes a burden instead of something to keep pursuing. You see, the moment I press ‘Shuffle Songs’ on my five-year-old nano, [and I love the element of surprise, of not knowing what song(s) I’m meant to indulge in for the next 30 minutes or so] I am utterly convinced that it’s God’s way of whispering something sweet into my ears while I struggle to overcome quite possibly the most rugged hills of Spiceberry Lane (totally exaggerated, they’re okay.)

In other words, this ‘listening’ to music completely redefined ‘routine.’ Instead of having something I love turn into something mundane and obligatory, that shuffle key is now the driving force behind whatever it is that keeps fueling my passion to tread the potholes, asphalt, road, hills — to simply tread.

I suppose this is an ode to music or to running… or to Justin Timberlake’s Another Song…or even to Steve Jobs. Regardless of the purpose of this entry, having realized the often-taken-for-granted beauty of something as simple as trying something new, I’ve come to appreciate deeper the importance of change, growth, and even life’s crazy ways of changing our plans. As JT beautifully sings it, “please, give me another chance…” I’ve come to learn that this is something we always need to be ready to give because with every chance comes a possibility for something new, and, usually, something better.

Whenever I’m longing for some sense of stability, consistency, and certainty, I’ll look back on this and realize that indeed, it is better not to know the next song that’s to play. Sometimes, it’s okay to not be in control of what we hear, what we see because in that way, we become open to being taught something … and not because we wanted to learn, but because it is necessary to learn it.

Oops, I didn’t even really write about my day… talk about a change of direction.

:)