If you think you are experiencing deja vu at this moment, you are not.
In a strange sort of way, it makes sense to listen to the same song both when I am happy and sad. Firework, is one of those songs that changes for me depending on my mood. When I am happy, it energizes me and makes me want to dance. But when I am sad, it can, and has, made my eyes water. I am not talking bawling, blubbering tears, but more the quiet ones that threaten to almost painfully squeeze out the corner of your eyes on the days when you have just had ENOUGH!
When this song first came out, Megan told me about it. She had read that it was dedicated by Katy Perry for the "It Gets Better Project". If you have not heard about this, the "It Gets Better Project" was a concentrated effort by all sorts of artists and businesses and everyday people to reach out to the youth of the gay community who were being bullied and exiled in their lives for being different, and to try to halt the rash of teen suicides that resulted from this treatment. If you search YouTube for "It Gets Better" you will find thousands of videos posted that show that no matter how rough things are, there is definitely hope for a better tomorrow. Some are personal testimonials, others are encouragements, but all testify to the fact that it is OK to be different and that you are not alone.
Back to Firework....this song was just a perfect theme song for the project. And it's message reaches out beyond the gay community to every person, kid or adult alike. The first time I saw the video, it gave me chills. It still does. And the song speaks to me.
I work in a factory. Not the most diverse of environments. I live away from home all week long. It gets kind of lonely. I am not exactly "closeted" at work, but I am not able to really share much about my home life with those that I work with. That bell cannot be unrung, once it sounds and I have found few there that I would be willing to trust to share my personal life with. It is easier to just keep things generalized and go about my business. My former plant was a little better, as I had some close friends there that I was able to share with. I cannot really convey how much that compounds the isolation. I have 2 supervisor friends who I have ran into out at the club, and we stay pretty tight, but the whole union/management dynamic keeps that at a minimum during work hours anyway. My point is, I understand the feeling of being "different" and an "outsider", so I claim benefit of this song as well. Lonely, sad, stressed, or depressed, this song reminds me that I will get through the bad days. I always do and always will. It definitely always gets better.
By the way, I promise no more repeats after today. If you have not seen this video, please watch it. It is awesome!
No comments:
Post a Comment