Are you sad?

On a dark November evening, I was biking through the rain. It was no longer clear where the rain ended and where my tears begun. I have just biked away from the situation where I felt immense attachment to, but ultimately decided for the greater good, to walk away. And it took all the strength in me to do so.

At that time I was dabbling into learning how to play guitar. And the vibrations and movements of my sadness reminded me of moments of strumming a chord and feeling the vibrations of the guitar’s body against — and even within — my own.

I was feeling great sadness emerging in me, I caught myself thinking that maybe sadness is like that minor, sad chord, on a guitar. I get to enjoy its beauty, without judging the instrument for its ability to create it. I can strike the strings of my soul – and listen to the music they produce.

It became clear to me then: I’m not the music – but I’m the one who gets to listen to it. Let the music move me. Let it move through me. And so the journey began – whenever I was confronted with the heaviness of my feelings – I reminded myself that I’m the one listening to the music.

But I am not the music.

I am not the strings.

It took another few months to understand that my ears can stand a variety of chords – sad ones and happy ones.

In this episode I share more on this prospective – hoping you can, too, learn how to appreciate your abilities to feel. Whether sadness, grief, loss – I wish you learn to appreciate the music your soul can produce.