Music!!!

 As a kid, I was not the kind that appreciated music the way I do now. Even though I was excited to listen to certain genres of music, it was limited to what I got to hear. Thanks to not having a TV at home till i was 14 (trust me I do not regret this part) and literally living on the streets playing with friends, I hardly found time to think about anything else. I was so bad that I was stupid enough to walk out of a Pt. Bhimsen Joshi concert in my middle school (yes, I actually did that I wanted to go play gully cricket), which makes me kick myself to date 😖. Little did I know those aalaaps will grow on me and I can spend time with my eyes closed just listening to them 😇

Music has a magical way of healing, expressing, motivating, and relaxing. I can't think of anything else that can help with all these things with such ease. Some songs bring back childhood memories and innocent days where I and my cousins had to divide a song paragraphs and write down the lyrics as it was played on the radio (I can still sing 'Meri bheegi bheegi si' thanks to that). Some bring back old teenage crushes and heroines I admired (Manisha in Bombay 💓). Some take me back to the crazy dancing numbers during my college and early working days. Some still give me goosebumps and feel patriotic, I do not know how many times I have heard of Swedesh and it played an important role to keep me motivated to return to India 😍. Some devotional songs make my heart filled with faith, some songs make me feel human, miss the good times, and also appreciate the world around me. 

Of late, songs have become an integral part of my life with humming while traveling, dancing in the shower, relaxing on the bed, to working out. So much so, it has inspired me to do whatever little workout I can manage and start enjoying it. Yesterday one good song pushed me to go from the normal 20 push-ups to 50 and trust me it is a big deal for a sloth like me 😅 which inspired me to write this blog.

I envy today's kids for the exposure they have to almost all the music that is produced in the world and also feel bad that many still do not appreciate it. I just hope I keep this momentum going and keep exploring new and old music. I would love to explore Indian classical, jazz, and other genres to make this a never-ending learning experience. 

One of my biggest regrets in life is not learning music (instrument or singing) which would have given me an incredible way to spend time and express myself. That said, I have the second half of my left to learn it. I am sure I will get there one day and appreciate it even more. Cheers to that hope 😁

I would like to close this by thanking all the musicians, lyricists, producers, composers, technicians, singers and people who inspired them to get there. You have definitely made the world a better place and given hope and life to billions of people. Just keep it going and keep inspiring 🙏