random is my playlist.
I was doing some thinking yesterday while out running in the mountains. I was thinking about sources of unhappiness and frustration in my life. Consequently, I was thinking about how to change my life for the better. That all started while listening to my iPod shuffle and thinking about my music listening habits. I’ve never been one to make playlists. That takes time. Yuck.
On my computer, I listen to my music on what iTunes calls “shuffle”. I made a pseudo rule for myself some time ago that If I hear a song I don’t like, I should delete it. Well, I haven’t been to good about that rule, because I had/have a block in my head, that there must be some benefit to retaining entire albums. Ummm, why? On my run I decided that notion was just plain stupid. Most albums have plenty of songs that suck, I never burn cds of albums. So screw it, songs are getting deleted. Somewhere along the way I figured I ought to be a total convert and load my ipods with random songs too. While I’m listening on a run or on the bus, if I don’t like the song just hit next. And bam, just like that, no more organization for me. And given time, I should wind up with a library that I can proudly call “straight dope”.
Somewhere else along my stream of consciousness, i started thinking about how how I, ryan roth, interact with other people and with ideas. How very nebulous, right? Well as most people know me know - I like to be in control of conversations, I like to have the last word, I like to be right. I decided that that was plain stupid too. Of course, I’ve known this for some time, but never fully centered my attention on the subject. I started wondering what my life would be like if I relinquished said control and decided instead to feverishly participate. To participate in conversations, thought, movements and the like. I think it’d be different, that’s for sure. Such change will take some effort, no doubt - I’ll see what i can do.
Thus the last 24 hours have yielded these results: random is my playlist, control often unnecessary, and participation simply grand.
Filed by ryanroth at December 7th, 2007 under Life
The one thing that you are overlooking is that “what is the point of all this pseudo mid life crisis?” I think that choosing a different career path and a new way to organize your ipod are fine things. But you’ve also discussed a lot of changes to how you interact with other people on this and previous posts. Why? Are you looking for more friends? Deeper relationships with those you have? I guess I’m just curious if these types of changes are being thrown in b/c you’re changing everything else, or if there is some reason that you want to change. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m friends with you for a reason, try not to change too much, or I (and others) might not appreciate the new and improved? you. Anyway, keep pushing yourself and challenging yourself as always.
Comment by McG — December 20, 2007 @ 11:28 pm