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I love 1990s and would go back in time to that decade if I could. I know most people would say, “No, no. I wouldn’t go back in time. What if I wouldn’t learn the lessons I’ve learned? What if my life would change drastically?” My response to that is, “If I could learn then what I know now my life would flow smoother and be easier.”
One of my favorite bands from the 1990s was and is The Verve. Their hit Bitter Sweet Symphony sums up how life in the 21st century can be. It can be like a “Bitter Sweet Symphony.”
I’m like many people who ‘woke up’ in the 21st century and understand that my life is my responsibility. As an adult, I have the power to change what I don’t like about my life. I’m no longer a child. I don’t have to listen to former teachers, parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents, bosses, co-workers, etc. However, some of us still get ‘sucked into’ family drama that rips us out of the vortex. It’s a vicious cycle that can be stopped with focus, determination, and time.
Let’s take a look at lyrics from The Verve’s Bitter Sweet Symphony
‘Cause it’s a bittersweet symphony, this life
Trying to make ends meet
You’re a slave to money then you die
I’ll take you down the only road I’ve ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places
where all the veins meet yeah
No change, I can’t change
I can’t change, I can’t change
But I’m here in my mind
I am here in my mind
But I’m a million different people
from one day to the next
I can’t change my mind
No, no, no, no, no, no, no,no,no,no,no,no(fading away)
Well I never pray
But tonight I’m on my knees yeah
I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah
I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now
But the airways are clean and there’s nobody singing to me now
I think this song can be and is the anthem for most people today, me included. Working in a career you don’t like can suck the life out of you. I’ve been there and done that. There’s absolutely no joy. You become a worker bee. You can’t wait until Friday and dread Sunday. The only reason you stay is for the money. Today, I’m trying the entrepreneurial route and it’s not paying off like I thought or expected it to be. Then again, maybe I need to be patient. This isn’t my strong suit, but I’m open to becoming more patient.
Perhaps your relationships are in turmoil. I’ve worked and continue to work on myself! I must have every self-help book that was ever written. Okay, that’s an exaggeration. But, I have a lot of books and podcasts. What isn’t working? I think it’s me. I think I’m like a lot of people — I get in my own way. I know and understand the message each author conveys but there’s a part of me that’s still holding on. Why? It’s probably fear. Fear that I’ll be alone, fear that success will change me, fear that success will disconnect me from my mom and sister, fear that my work will be in vain, and just plain old fear. Isn’t it amazing how a four-letter word can have power over you if you allow it?
What’s the cure to the Bitter Sweet Symphony known as life? Feel the fear and do it anyway. Get clear about what you want. What are your hopes and dreams? Throw caution to the wind and take a risk. Don’t look back or listen to the naysayers who try to talk you out of your dreams. What’s the worst that could happen? You become successful, you attract investors to your business or film project, you attract a lover that’s meant for you, and you attract the life you always wanted and wished you had. That’s not too shabby.
Rebecca
Related articles
- The Verve – Bitter Sweet Symphony (lyndonology.com)
- Bitter and Sweet Food for Thought (englishforteenagers.org)
