Letting Go Of The Past
Where does inspiration to do something comes from? It never ceases to amaze me.
I’m having an incredibly productive day and all sorts of thoughts are coming into my head. So much so that I need to focus on just one thing at a time to get it done. For some reason something that I used to do when I was studying years ago came to mind.
Put some music on. I can’t remember the last time I listened to music while I was working but I thought I’d give it a go as it used to help me study because it stopped my mind wandering off onto things I’d rather be doing! (Let me know your thoughts on this - leave a comment on this post, I’d be really interested whether you find some background noise / music etc helps or hinders your concentration).
Now, this is where the amazing thing about inspiration kicks in. Thinking about music at work reminded me of a job I had as an Assistant Manager in a bank years ago. I ran a small section, managing a group of lads aged about 20. On a Friday we played a game where one of us would name an artist and all day we could only sing / whistle / hum tunes by that artist - I know pretty sad but it took us away from the mundane 9-5. Why not do the same today, I thought.
One of the guys was a mad Eric Clapton fan (along with me) and so I thought I’d find some of his tunes on FoxyTunes and listen while I worked today.
I played the video for Layla (naturally) then Bell Bottom Blues and thought I’d mellow and listen to Old Love (I defy anyone not to enjoy that opening guitar): -
Eric Clapton Old Love
[via FoxyTunes / Eric Clapton]
Although I’ve listened to that song a thousand times the words kind of had a different meaning today and were the inspiration for the title of this post. - Take a listen - click the start button on the video while you read.
The song is essentially about an Old Love who has gone but Eric can’t let go and still hankers after what is no more.
“…it makes me so angry, when will I ever learn”
This is very similar to the position loads of people find themselves in - not about an old love but about something in their past. Maybe it’s fear of moving on into the unknown, fear of change, fear of the change not being better, whatever the reason they hanker after the past and just cannot move on.
That is a real burden, especially when you know you want to move on with your life but something is holding you back. Sometimes, you just have to let go - what can be worse than living in a twilight zone wishing for something that has gone and won’t come back? Whatever the reality of the change that will come it has to be better than that.
Listening to some of Eric’s songs (olden days music as my son calls it) reminded me of some great times had with some great friends. What I like those times again? For sure, but that was at a different stage in our lives if we went back it wouldn’t be the same. Enjoy the memories but move on.
What inspired you today? Hopefully, something I’ve said! Have a great weekend.
I really need to bring more music into my life again. I’ve always felt that my love of writing is both a joy and a curse. A curse in one sense because in order to be in the “zone” I have to have almost complete silence.
You’re so right - one song can instantly change your entire mindset and help you to see your world in entirely new way. I love when that happens!
Whether it’s the music itself of the memories a particular song evoke I find my whole mood can change in seconds. A bit like looking up at the sky and breathing deeply when you feel a bit down (which can snap you out of it immediately) so the lesson for me is to use music to motivate if I ever need a buzz to keep me going.One of my boys is about to change school and on a visit the a new one after I wrote this piece one school actively encourages the kids to listen to music on MP3s during the lesson as it helps them concentrate. Either very interesting, bearing in mind my thoughts on the matter or a cop out by the teachers! Mark
Comment by Christine OKelly | October 9, 2007
I am enjoying your blogs. They are very real and inspiring. Thank you for the reminder about music. I don’t listen often enough when I am working but as I write Eric Clapton is playing in the background and you are so right. It makes a real difference. Thanks for sharing. Kathy
Hi Kathy, thank you so much for your comment - it means a lot to me. I’ve found recently that the phone has been interrupting both my concentration (stopping the flow) AND my music. So I’ve taken advice of Tim Ferris (see posts) and now put phone on voicemail during certain times of the day. It’s saving me time and stress!! Mark
Comment by Kathy Strong | October 29, 2007