I miss my guitar

I’ve spent the past two weeks tucked away in my office, writing and researching and writing some more. And over the next couple of days, I’ll be done with, and slowly come out of, this writing session.

More than any other writing session before, I’ve felt very insular during this period; almost like nothing else exists except family, my Google Docs, and the box scores for Boston Celtics and Arsenal F.C.

It sounds crazy, and it is, but it’s also been very refreshing. Writing itself is only one-half of the refreshment.

Music is the other half.

When I write, I’ll usually have some classical music, film score, or old rap music playing through my AirPods. In the past few days, I’ve listened to the entire John Newton Howard’s Apple Music Essentials album, looped The Cinematic Orchestra’s Ma Fleur and Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt, and hummed mindlessly to soundtracks from Downton Abbey and season two of The Crown.

And as I wrap this session up, all I can think of is how well the sound of music engages my senses and creativity. And how it could potentially unlock even more than that for you and me.

Other than the idea that music can block out distractions when you’re trying to stay focused, I think music is really a tool that can help us stay grounded and connected to our unconscious selves; the parts of us that we tend to ignore but need to cater to every now and then. There aren’t many free tools that can help us do that really well, so we have to cherish these sounds and appreciate those who create them.

I write all this to say that I miss my guitar (She’s out there somewhere. I have an idea where she is, and I’ll get her back someday), but I’ll be getting myself a guitar for my next birthday. I haven’t strummed in two and a half years and can’t wait to do it one more time.

In the meantime, though, have a great May!