What's this? A post about music? Why yes, it is indeed. Unfortunately that'll happen with me a lot; I tend to associate a lot of my life with music. Certain songs have helped me through bad times; certain songs have kept me alive! This post isn't really about what lessons we can take from music, though, its about a band. Linkin Park.
I came across Linkin Park when I was ten years old. My brother and I were watching one of those music television shows, and One Step Closer came on. For some reason, we both totally fell in love with it, and for the remainder of that day, we would scream, "SHUT UP WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU" at each other. As you can imagine, my parents didn't like that in the slightest.
Nearly twelve years later, I'm still a massive fan of their music. And I still count One Step Closer to be among my favourites, especially their Live in Texas version. If you haven't heard it, it's because there's a whole section added to it. And it just fits in so well, and sometimes I put it on just to hear it...
These are the places that I can't feel...torn my body my flesh it peels...during this ride we can cut off what we like...waiting alone I cannot resist...feeling this hate I have never missed...please someone give me a reason to peel off my...face...blood it is pouring...blood it is pouring...blood it is pouring...blood is pouring...shut up when I'm talking to you!
That can also be found in their version of One Step Closer on the CD Reanimate. Which, by the way, is very interesting and worth a listen to if you haven't already. Anyway, I'm totally going off topic here, which, unfortunately, is another thing that happens. When I start writing, my fingers do the thinking; my brain does not.
So earlier this evening, I was editing one of my novels. Of course, I can't watch television when I edit - tried that, I get too distracted - so I turned on shuffle and just let my music play. I came across a song I actually hadn't listened to in a long time...From the Inside, by my good old friends Linkin Park.
Now, From the Inside...its a bit of a funny song for me. Whenever I used to listen to it, I got sad. Of course, that never stopped me from listening to it. Why, I hear you ask? Well, it's because of the words...
I don't know who to trust, no surprise...everyone feels so far away from me...heavy thoughts sift through dust, and the lies...trying not to break but I'm so tired of this deceit, every time I try to make myself get back up on my feet, all I ever think about is this, all the tiring time between, and how trying to put my trust in you takes so much out of me...
Those words made me so very sad. Why? Because I didn't know who to trust. When I started to really, really like that song, I really had no idea who to trust. Now, I had friends at the time...but I didn't trust them. I know it sounds odd, to say I had friends but I trusted no one, but it was true. I didn't tell anyone anything personal. Too much had happened and, at the time, I decided the best thing I should ever do would be to distance myself from everyone. Because I had been hurt by those I called my friends in the past. I'd want to scream those words out as I was walking. I'd think of those words at work, when everyone ignored me because I was a lowly casual and they were all full-timers. And do you know what would run through my head? This: would I ever find someone to trust?
I decided that the answer to that would be no, not at all. The thought of actually finding someone who liked me, who I could actually trust...well, I thought that was as made up as my books are. These sorts of thoughts came through in a lot of those older Linkin Park songs I'd listen to. For example:
What I've done, I'll face myself - yes, I will, because no one will ever want to face it with me.
I wanna run away, never say goodbye - and no one will ever notice me going, because no one cares.
May your love never end, and if you need a friend, there's a seat here alongside me - HA who would ever give me that seat?
I watch how the moon sits in the sky on the dark night, shining with the light of the sun, the sun doesn't give light to the moon assuming the moon's gonna owe it one, makes me think about how you act to me, do favours and rapidly just turn around and start asking me abut all the things you want back from me - well, yes, that's what people are like, right?
I dreamed I was missing...you were so scared...but no one would listen, because no one else cared... - hey, at least this person was scared. I wouldn't even have that. No would ever give a crap if I went missing.
And the one that would annoy me and make me the saddest:
I wanna heal, I wanna feel like I'm close to something real, I wanna find something I've wanted all along...somewhere I belong - I will never find that.
So those were the thoughts I had when I would listen to Linkin Park. Not the happiest set of thoughts in the world, am I right? I had to stop listening to them when I was suffering through my depressive episodes, they would make me feel a hell of a lot worse. But despite that I'm still a strong fan and I still love them.
But they still make me think. For a band to be able to provide such thoughts, I think that's good. I mean, some music can be mindless. Linkin Park is not. Back then, I had such negative thoughts...but at the time, I was alone in the world. My friendships were shallow and not meaningful. I was used to people flaking out on me. Now that I've experienced a true friendship, now that I know how the world can really be - and yes, it's hard and not by any means perfect - and now that I have experienced happiness and trust, my thoughts have taken on a different quality. Now, when I hear some songs, I think a lot more positively.
Instead of thinking, pfft, no one would care, I think, my best friend would care. Instead of thinking, I really have no one to trust, I think, I know I can count on my best friend. This person came into my life last year and since then, my thought patterns have slowly changed. Which can only be a good thing, right?
All this came up because something happened the other day, something that made me think of all those past failed friendships and people who have backstabbed me...and from there, my mind just jumped to From the Inside. I don't think the way I used to but I still associate some songs with some feelings...in this case, feelings of loneliness and not trusting others. I've moved on, I'm not hurt anymore, but I haven't fully forgotten. I don't know if I ever will.
And maybe that's a good thing. Because I look at my life back then, and then look at it now...and it just makes me feel so much more grateful for what I have now, it makes me feel so thankful that I got through that, that I survived, that there is light at the end of the tunnel. So if you're reading this and have felt the same as what I did, back in the way, then just know: if good happened for me, it will for you too.
Peace out! Stay safe!
May your love never end, and if you need a friend, there's a seat here alongside me.