Imagine

John Lennon was an inspirational man to say the least. He came into popularity at a pivotal point in pop culture, just in time for a new emergence of art and music that became characteristic of the boundary-testing 60s.

First, he, along with the Beatles, performed simple, feel good, rock and roll, but as time went on, the maturation and evolution of of his style and music took a turn towards the political.

Songs like "Revolution" challenged the belligerent attitude in the late 60s and early 70s, "I am the Walrus" poked fun at those who over analyzed their songs, and starting with the ubiquitous "All you need is love", Lennon's push for world peace became clear.

When the Beatles broke up, the world was shattered. The pop icons that dominated the air waves, television broadcasts, and record stores everywhere suddenly dropped from the Earth, leaving a sonic void that would be hard to fill. However, this was not the end of Lennon's career. His successful solo career was the final step in his progression from simple rocker to world peace proponent., and no song captures the essence of what John was than "Imagine"

Simple in its production, the timeless piece sings of an ideal future, a future where world peace is actually achieved; while some may say that he's a dreamer, I can tell you he's not the only one.

Spring break

My spring break was pretty uneventful. I just went to Las Vegas, but while there I really didn't do anything. My uncle, aunt, and grandparents were there but most of my time was spent taking naps on the hotel room. But when I got back from Vegas I went to the pot of old music festival with a couple of my friends from pinnacle which was a cool experience to see them again. 

Alone Essay

Are We Alone?

Every social situation has them. There is always that one person that sits alone, obviously not enjoying whatever event is going on around him/her. People talk in hushed whispers asking, “Why is he all by himself?”, “His friends are here, why doesn’t he talk to them?”, “He looks so sad.” What many people do not realize, however, is that someone can feel alone in a room full of people. The word ‘alone’ does not simply mean being in a solitary state. Often, when people say they feel alone, it refers to the state of mind of crippling sadness tied to feeling unloved or unwanted. Those who say they feel alone or lonely do not wish to be alone, contrary to what their behavior implies. Rather, they feel they have to be alone. ‘Alone’ is word that is thrown about a lot, but many people do not understand how it feels to be truly alone. In today’s society, physical fitness and nutrition are widely practiced and taught throughout the world; however, there is a hidden epidemic that affects husbands, wives, friends, brothers and sisters around the world: the affliction of feeling alone.

‘Alone’ is a word that has its roots in Old English (“Alone”). ‘Alone’, in fact, is a contraction of ‘all ane’ which comes from the old english, ‘all ana’, which literally means unaccompanied or all by oneself; and by its simple definition, this is what alone means; that state of being solitary. Alone, ‘alone’ does not have a negative connotation. On the contrary, there are lots of people that prefer to be alone. The so called introverts of the world are by themselves not from crippling sadness or lack of social skills (although this may be a side effect); they are alone because they choose to. These people simply find social interaction to be both physically and mentally exhausting, and thus live in a self induced state of “aloneness”. Those of the more loud and gregarious type may find introverted people odd and sad, but it is only an alternate way of living. There is a social stigma with being alone or introverted where one does not have to exist. People see them as losers, loners, and something to be pitied.  Being alone is a preference, and there is nothing truly wrong with preferring to live that way.

However, being alone is not always a good thing. When some people think of the word ‘alone’ they think of a kid in his bedroom playing videogames in the dark, or an old person reading in a musty old library, or the so called “nerd” stressing about an impending exam in the wee hours of the morning. The other type of alone that I think about may only be understood by those who have shared the same feelings. When I think of alone, I think of keeping my head down in the hallways, feeling disconnected from those around me, burying myself in my work or hobbies because then I don’t have to think about how no one has talked to me for days, writing a text message then deleting it because that person probably does not care anyway. When I think of alone, I think of that oppressive sadness that pervades my mind and that inescapable sense of hopelessness that nothing I do will have any value or impact. When I think of alone, I think how no one cares about me, my aspirations, hopes, or feelings.

I am glad to say I have moved from that depressive stage in my life, for the most part,but one in four people will experience a depressive episode before the age of twenty four (“11 Facts About Depression”). Depression is more than a feeling of intense sadness, it is a serious mental disorder. In fact, MRI scans have shown that a depressed brain shows lower levels of activity than a healthy brain (NIMH).  Depression can manifest as general lethargy, fluctuations in weight, or changes in normal behavior; although, the general look of sadness on the person’s face can be a big giveaway. For the depressed, life literally feels lifeless. All things that once held joy now feel empty. There is this strange disconnection from the outside world, a quasi-existence not unlike the feeling one gets at the dentist when he/she numbs the mouth before an extraction. Mental health is an issue that does not cross the minds of many people on a daily basis, but it is a very real problem that affects more people than the average person may think.

Curiously, there has been a shift in popular culture that calls attention to this state of being. One quick search for ‘depression’ or ‘alone’ on google reveals a multitude of stories, moody pictures and inspirational quotes. Yet, I fear this exposure because it seems to me that there is a movement to romanticize being depressed or feeling lonely. More people are aware of depression and what being alone feels like, but now there is this idea that sad or depressed people need to be saved. Now, here exists an odd fascination with the chronically saddened because there is a desire to be the one to rescue them. Yes, this spreading awareness is good if only for the diminishing of ignorance, but can depressed people only be put together through love? No, human affection can be part of the solution, but those with the affliction of loneliness need medical help more than anything.

There are still times when I feel incredibly sad and alone, probably a holdover from my time in the gutter, but when I feel that way I think of all the things I would miss if I only focused on that. I remember the good times with my friends, meeting new people, forging new relationships, and the love of my parents. Everyone, I think, will experience this feeling of being alone to some degree; it is simply a normal aspect of the human condition. But in the darkest hour, I challenge everyone to think: Are we ever alone?

On the Title

In truth, I borrowed the title from one of my favorite songs. It's an uplifting tune by Colony House that teaches about hope even when things are not going our way. The cliche "it gets better" comes to mind. I think that the title is has a good message for life in general, which is partly why i picked it, but it also represents my love for music since it has such a large significance in my life.