Beyond the Notes | 08. Seasons of Life
On a journey of never-ending change, of growth, of development, of hard times and good times, we all crave those constants, those people or things which build for us a solid foundation.
In this series, I share some of the pieces of music which have meant the most to me in my life, and the stories behind why they resonate so strongly within a life lived slowly and simply.
I wonder if you’ve ever been on a mystery outing, or maybe been the recipient of a surprise party or celebration? On our way out the other day, we passed a coach driving into Lichfield with a large poster in the front window proclaiming ‘mystery’. In one sense, the idea of a mystery day out doesn’t really appeal to me. I’m a planner, and I like to be organised, perhaps retaining a degree of control over our chosen destination. What is certain, is that we have all been on journeys, and indeed, life is one never-ending journey. That comes with its own degree of mystery and surprise. Where are we heading? Where is our destination? Does that sense of surprise and mystery excite us, or does it make us anxious?
Our lives are dominated by phases, distinct periods and stages, and a never-ending cycle of growth and change. We observe the rising and setting of the sun, the phases of the moon, the changing seasons, the rising and falling tides, birth and death. Some of these can be predicted with a certain reassurance, yet others come as surprises, or even shocks. If we were honest, none of us really know what tomorrow will bring. We might set out in a particular direction taking particular path. We may never reach the destination, and even if we do, will we like it when we get there?
What I have learnt over the past 40 years, is that in an uncertain and unpredictable world, where destinations are never guaranteed, there is solace to be found in accepting and enjoying the journey. We can still grow and change in each phase of our life, on each leg of the journey.
Perhaps life is one long mystery day out?
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People play a big part in our lives, for better and for worse. As we traverse life’s pathway, we meet people at different stages, both of our lives, and of theirs. Some stay a long time, yet others walk beside us only momentarily. Each encounter offers us something. When I look back over my life, I realise that people have come and gone with alarming regularity, but those whom I remember most, were there right at the time I needed them. Somehow, each did or said what was needed in that particular life phase.
These encounters aren’t always positive. Such words and actions were not always what we wanted at the time. Words and actions hurt, and the wounds can lie open for long periods after. Sometimes we can ignore them, but at other times, they ache, and they trip us up as we tread the pathway before us. But in retrospect, even I have to admit, that as hard as it was at the time, these taught me exactly what I needed to learn at that milepost on life’s journey.
Just as with people, life moves through different phases, and these come and go. Some are short, some are long, and many overlap. Some legs of the journey are quick. We stride ahead, our feet hardly touching the ground beneath us. Others are long and arduous, each step heavy and burdened. Our likes and dislikes, our interests, our loves, our friends, our beliefs, and our philosophy on life change over time. Nothing truly stands still. Our experiences and the people we meet along the way mould and shape us. Nothing is fixed, and we grow and develop in response to the world around us.
American composer, Steve Reich, wrote a lot of what we might term to be ‘experimental music’. He was particularly interested in the way the simplest fragment of melody or rhythm could be manipulated and exploited in a way which transformed it. In his Violin Phase, two violins are recorded, and played back together, initially at first. One recording is then deliberately made to go out of sync with the other, creating exciting new melodies and ideas, all from the initial fragment. It’s a mesmerising and hypnotic piece.
If you like, we are all a tiny fragment. Sometimes we work together in unison, sometimes against each other, and sometimes in harmony. All of our different phases of life weave in and out of each other. The people we meet come and go, and just as in Violin Phase, some ideas stay for only a short time, whilst the original fragment never changes.
On a journey of never-ending change, of growth, of development, of hard times and good times, we all crave those constants, those people or things which build for us a solid foundation. None of us truly know what life will bring, and however many signposts we hope to find on our journey through life, we have to remain open. Our hands need to be outstretched, to embrace a different direction, to take another path, and sometimes, just sometimes, to turn around, and head home.
Home can mean so many different things. It can be a place, a location, a feeling, and a whole host of other things. It’s all those thing for me, but I also find a sense of home in those things in my life which I cherish and hold, those constants which accompany me through every phase of life’s journey; those things which build for me a solid foundation on which I can tread. Amidst the change, the mystery, the surprises, and the heartache, I can find solace in returning home: a true homecoming.
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This is an interesting piece of writing David. It's very true how people come and go from our lives. Some stay just for a short time while others remain for a long time. I believe some of these connections happen for a reason. Perhaps a lesson to be learned or a message to be heard.
This is gorgeous, David! Beautiful piece of writing ✨