I’m taking you way back to your teens listening to the popular songs that you couldn’t get enough of. I was working at a local pizza establishment and each night we would watch for the minute the last customers walked out the door whether that was 11:00 pm or 12:30 am, so we could crank up the music to fill the entire restaurant equivalent to the size of a Texas Roadhouse.
There were certain guys whose resolute, quiet demeanor would suddenly transform into undeterred air guitar playing atop the cascading chairs in between vacuuming the floors. It is why I have this great affinity for hard rock music because we had so much fun closing down a restaurant.
We are more likely to listen to popular songs released in our early teens than venture out to find new music. It’s why there are songs that I will never stop listening to or tire of when I want to experience the nostalgia of when I played them most, “Don’t Stop Believin‘”/ Journey, “Rock of Ages” / Def Leppard and “Higher” / Creed.
A somewhat obscure song called “Zzyzx Road” / Stone Sour, I find interesting. The piano is prominent at first which isn’t usual in rock music. Listen, preferably in headphones, the over-the-ear kind that has become popular again but now wireless because it will enable you to more distinctly hear the levels of music. At least it does for me, but could be the titanium implant in each ear.
As you listen, focus only on the piano, not the singer’s voice (although he is from Iowa), not the lyrics, not the drums, not the dominating guitar.
In the beginning, it’s only a piano. It’s you as a baby, metaphorically speaking. As you initially grow, the only influence you have is the voice of your parents that eventually expands to include your siblings. The best part is from 2:40 – 3:07 because the external influences grow to include more family, friends, colleagues, those that are beneficial and balanced and you are still prominently heard above the mix.
Until the guitar becomes prominent, that it almost drowns you out. This is the moment when you allow external influences to dominate your priorities. It becomes a lot of noise. Who do you listen to and who do you ignore? The music becomes increasingly complex just like the conflicting priorities you have to juggle careers, dual careers, moving, money, family, friends, media, social media. All of the competing priorities that want to capture your attention and money. However, if you listen closely, you still hear the piano in the background. You’re still there just not distinctly heard.
As the song winds down, you are left hearing only the piano once again. It is you becoming focused on the priority of existing, preserving what you have, independence and enjoying the simplicity of life once more.
Most financial priority pyramids are the top half of the illustration below. I’ve never seen the bottom half until I drew it.
If you don’t experience the lower pyramid early in life, you will be catching up as you move towards the upper half. Many never move beyond the middle sections. Other priorities box out learning so implementing is skipped forcing you into managing without direction. Some never make the jump across the gap to building. Although you’re building, it can be difficult to maintain your position in accumulating (like the last few weeks.)
That’s why a broader understanding is beneficial.
That’s not to say you can’t have a rich and rewarding life. A rich life is not measured by the size of your bank account, but by the richness of your experiences, the depth of your relationships, and the impact you make on the world. -AI for a “quote on values and a rich life” This is what it gave me.
Ultimately, the richness of your life will be driven by what you value. If you really want something, you will find ways to get it or keep it. That will determine your priorities. It won’t fit exactly into what the world deems your priorities should be, but all the external noise will become a fading distraction to what you set your sights (and ears) on.
Other obscure but notable songs I re-discovered writing this:
“Run Runaway” / Slade (Heard this in the grocery store recently and didn’t Shazam it so completely forgot it again.)
“Kyrie” / Mr. Mister
“Sister Christian” / Night Ranger
“Runaway” / Bon Jovi
“Play the Game Tonight” / Kansas
“When I See You Smile” / Bad English
When you’re listening, read some of the comments on the YouTube versions.