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.