May you live in interesting times!
Top of the weekend my friends! May you live in interesting times!! It's an English expression that researchers suggest could be a traditional Chinese curse.
The exposition is “ironic” since interesting times are usually times of trouble or maybe learning is more apropos. Despite being so common in English, the Chinese culture says it isn’t listed anywhere in their pearls of wisdom. Come a little closer class is now in session.
What goes around comes around? According to the Cambridge dictionary means the way that you behave now will affect how you are treated in the future. As the Godfather of Soul James Brown would say it’s “The Big Payback”!
Here’s another familiar viewpoint. “Reap what you sow” is based on a farming analogy. The act of harvesting after planting seeds in the right soil. Will generally produce a bumper crop of whatever you plant!
According to the Galatians “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows this he will also reap”. For he who sows to the flesh, will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit, reap everlasting life.“ Galatians 6:7-8. There will be a test later....literally!
“Mama said they’ll be days like this”. Brings to mind that classic song from 1961 by the female group “The Shirelles” out of Passaic, New Jersey! (Sorry old school DJ flashback!)? Nevertheless the reason why this song became a classic is because art imitates life.
Here’s where human nature will often suggest that things are fact. When the origin of this “fact” is unknown. A complicated scene to say the least. May you live in interesting times!
One of my best friends is a very prolific songwriter. He would always remind me that “a great song is when you can see the grievance through the eyes of the performer”.
Psychology Today featured a article titled “So, What are you listening to?. The article points to the power of "songs". For instance, Music takes us back to a carefree time that helped shape our future selves.
This is also why someone with Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, who may not know where or who they are on occasion. Can remember the words and? meanings of the songs they grew up with. Plus share a memory prompted by that song. In some wonderful and marvelous way "Music" has the power to reconnect us with our past.
In a similar study Dancing is good for your brain too! It can dissolve the differences that divide us. Anecdotally, you can corroborate that when you're on a dance floor with strangers. Even if they are from different parts of the world as the Jamaican reggae superstar Bob Marley says “it’s One Love”!!
It facilitates a unspoken cooperative of alliances across all races and genders. I might not like your politics but on the dance floor our point of view is like minded. This variable is out of your control. Our differences are unimportant when you are mentally romanced by song.
I’ll end this symphony of shared effort with a quote from American self help author Wayne Dyer, “When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It’s to enjoy each step along the way”. May you live in interesting times! Donut ever forget it!!