It all started with a song called Liberty by Anette Askvik. It’s just one of those songs that pulls you in and surprises you; one that doesn’t sound like anything you’ve heard before.
A friend suggested I listen to Liberty to see how music on the Tidal streaming service sounds better than on other services, which then made me realize that one of the impacts of the pandemic has been the loss of much of my music listening time.
Under normal circumstances, I’d have music on in the car on the way to the airport. After boarding a plane, pretty much immediately I would put in my headphones and listen to music during the flight. Then, getting to my rental car and finding my way to a hotel, more music.
So, music turns out to be one of those highly positive things that just slipped out of my repertoire. Too bad, because it made me more resilient and my life better. It gave me more enjoyment. I never made a conscious decision to make it less a part of my life, but the changes that have happened around us conspired to make it so without my even noticing until very recently.
Fortunately, once we notice we have left behind something that matters to us, we have the opportunity to correct that oversight.
Music can be relaxing or uplifting. It can be intellectually stimulating, or it can simply create a positive space in which to work, think or socialize. And yet, if you asked me a few years ago whether music was important in my life, I’m not sure I would have said yes. But once it all but disappeared, I have come to realize that it’s more valuable than I gave it credit for.
Is there something positive that’s slipped out of your life over the last year? If so, this might be a good time to spot that loss and rectify it.