May 26th, 2025 Monday Sunny
I like to think of life as a very long musical piece.
Like a musical piece, life has different chapters, each with their own keys and tempos. Some periods are on major keys, with a marching tempo – bright and uplifting. Some periods are slower and softer, still composed of major chords – serene with a sense of content. Other periods are on minor keys, melancholic and a bit dark. Of course, occasionally there is a movement with plenty of discordant sounds, as well as a driving pace that speaks frantic. It is a memorable experience, but we are unlikely to dwell on it for long.
Within each movement, there are bars – generally played at the same speed. The accents in each bar form a specific rhythm that carries the notes forward, forming a melody. In our life, the majority of days may have a similar routine – we get up, dress for office/school, spend waking hours working/studying, have dinner, relax before going to bed. Sunrise, sunset. Countless small tasks and achievements scatter throughout, yet none of them particularly significant. It is these tiny sections of a few notes and a couple of rests that make up the bulk of our music.
Sometimes I wish I could jump ahead and see what is in store for me, say, next year, or five years from now. Just like skipping the progress of a TV show or a novel and directly going to the finale, would not it be nice to know where you are heading towards?
Unfortunately that is neither possible nor advisable for a musical piece.
While in books, one could make lots of inferences about the entire story based on the conclusion (so many dramas nowadays develop in such a predictable way that these guesses tend to be mostly accurate), no one can listen to only the last few measures of a music piece that they have never heard of and immediately fill out all (or any) of the measures before. You have to process it beat by beat, at the rate designated by the composer, in order to fully appreciate the piece.
What if I just play it faster? Especially the downcast part?
If you try to squeeze in notes intended for the next phrase into the current one, it will disrupt the melody and make a mess. Most people would say “it does not sound right”, and you risk turning a fairly beautiful song into a…series of random notes.
If you endeavor to keep the rhythm but increase the tempo, you may find that, while the tune is still recognizable, the emotions expressed have drastically changed. Even funeral marches played at double the speed would sound jovial and cheerful. In theory you would reach the next chapter sooner, but what for?
In modern society, there seems to be a constant push to move quicker, as if arriving at the next destination in the shortest amount of time is a merit in itself. Nevertheless, what does that really accomplish? Getting to the new phase earlier just means you would need to face another set of challenges, without fully enjoying everything that the previous state had to offer. Yes, even in sad episodes, there are precious moments and valuable connections to cherish.
Follow the rhythm, and take in every day as they occur. After all, we only ride through our unique life once.