That Thing You Do
I love the power and magic of live music. The interplay between the artist(s) and the audience, the mutual appreciation and even affection for each other. The invitation to journey together, one note at a time…
Though I’m a professional musician myself, I never cease to be amazed at the immersive experience of a live performance – no matter which side of the stage or mic I’m on. Last night, I had the pleasure of enjoying three different bands as part of Muse’s Will of the People tour and was reminded yet again of the power of being yourself and doing what you love.
Between the infectious energy of ONE OK ROCK, Amy Lee’s powerful vocals with Evanescence, and the sheer spectacle of musicianship and showmanship that is Muse, there was no shortage of awesomeness. More than that though was the through line of obvious delight every single performer had in what they were doing.
Whether it was singing, or playing an instrument, jumping, or shredding, or getting the audience to sing along, it was clear each performer freaking loved what they were doing. Even the light techs and sound engineers were rocking out and having a great time! And that palpable delight permeated the arena, impacting every single person there in a positive way.
There is something incredible about witnessing someone following their bliss. Something simultaneously visceral and elusive in feeling the force of their joy. And something profound in the shared experience of delighting in one another’s presence and expressions of self.
Joy is contagious.
And it’s no small thing.
Whether we are cognizant of it or not, we elevate each other through our own expressions of joy.
When we allow ourselves to enjoy whatever we are doing, we liberate others to experience their own joy. When we do things that light us up, we illuminate the way for others to do the same. In embracing what we like and allowing ourselves to delight in it fully, we encourage others to take ownership of their own desires and delight in them as well.
So, here’s to unabashedly owning and celebrating whatever it is we enjoy doing and to allowing our pleasure to infuse our ways of being. Our joy is contagious and liberating, and through expressing it, we all rise together.