Relient K Philosophy (2)

I want to preface the following Relient K song with some of my own philosophy.

I believe everyone wants to be different: special, unique, better (or even worse) than any-and-everybody. It is obvious that people want to be better than others; and how many times has someone you know pointed out something they are really bad at (for example: i pride myself in my inability to cook... stuff like that); and there is no doubt that being "special" is something we are all taught by our parents, veggie tales, hollywood, and probably even the Bible. It is true that everyone is made different, but in light of some of the psychology classes i've taken, it is also obvious how similar we all are.

Yet we all want to be accepted or understood by others. The reason for this is mainly because we know if someone understands us, they will probably like us more (obviously this isn't universally the case); but people will go out of their way to be liked by others because they are afraid of being misunderstood... it is this fear that drives people into submitting to foolish peer pressure. On the other side of this coin, most of you should be able to agree with me from experience, that those who love us the most are those that understand us the most... and those whom we love the most we understand better than anybody. It is this being understood that can free someone to be themselves and cause intimacy (and i'm not only talking about a guy and a girl, but also a mom and daughter, or a dog and owner, etc).

This brings me to my favorite Relient K song throughout high school:

I Am Understood

Sometimes it's embarrassing to talk to you

To hold a conversation with the only one who sees right through

This version of myself i try to hide behind

I'll bury my face... because my disgrace... will leave me terrified

And sometimes i'm so thankful for your loyalty

Your love regardless of the mistakes i make will spoil me

My confidence is, in a sense, a gift you've give me

And i'm satisfied to realize you're all i'll ever need

You looked into my life and never stopped

And you're thinking all my thoughts

Are so simple

But so beautiful

And you recite my words right back to me

Before i even speak

You let me know... i am understood

And sometimes i spend my time just trying to escape

I work so hard, so desperately, in an attempt to create space

Cuz i want distance from the utmost important thing i know

I see your love... then turn my back... and beg for you to go

You looked into my life and never stopped

And you're thinking all my thoughts

Are so simple

But so beautiful

And you recite my words right back to me

Before i even speak

You let me know... i am understood

You're the only one who understands... completely

You're the only one who knows me yet still loves completely

And sometimes the place i'm at is at a loss for words

If i think of something worthy i know that it's already yours

And through the times i've faded and you've outlined me again

You've just patiently waited to bring me back and then...

You looked into my life and never stopped

And you're thinking all my thoughts

Are so simple

But so beautiful

And you recite my words right back to me

Before i even speak

You let me know... i am understood

The noise has broken my defense

Let me embrace salvation

Your voice has broken my defense

Let me embrace salvation

From the First American Poet

Poet: Anne Bradstreet

Context: before the birth of one of her children

All things within this fading world have end.

Adversity doth still our joys attend;

No ties so strong, no friends so dear and sweet,

But with death's parting blow are sure to meet.

The sentence passed is most irrevocable,

A common thing, yet, oh, inevitable.

How soon, my dear, death may my steps attend,

How soon it may be thy lot to lose thy friend,

We both are ignorant; yet love bids me

These farewell lines to recommend to thee,

That when that knot's untied that made us one

I may seem thine who in effect am none.

And if I see not half my days that are due,

What nature would God grant to yours and you.

The many faults that well you know I have

Let be interred in my oblivion's grave;

If any worth or virtue were in me,

Let that live freshly in thy memory,

And when thou feelest no grief, as I no harms,

Yet love thy dead, who long lay in thine arms;

And when thy loss shall be repaid with gains

Look to my little babes, my dear remains,

And if though love thyself, or lovedst me,

These oh protect from stepdam's injury.

And if chance to thine eyes shall bring this verse,

With some sad sighs honor my absent hearse;

And kiss this paper for thy love's dear sake,

Who with salt tears this last farewell did take.

___________________________________________________________________________________

This was an assigned reading I had for American History, and I thought it was great. This is the second time I've encountered Anne Bradstreet, and she not has disappointed me yet.

Relient K Philosophy

Relient K has recently popped up on the radar of my life. I think i like listening to their songs so much not just because i enjoy the style of music, but because i feel like they might be telling the story of my life (only from odd angles).

They, without a doubt, have better lyrics than anyone else i've ever listened to.

1. They are witty and clever (exa: "Wits All Been Done Before")
2. Spiritually Relevant (exa: "For the Moments I Feel Faint")
3. and I can relate to them easily (exa: "Over Thinking")

The writers are very poetic and honest about life's valleys and summits, wins and losses, and how to be both serious and ridiculous. They've written songs about important stuff (God), unimportant stuff (girls), and everything in between.

The following was the first song of theirs i really loved. It never loses relevance in my life, and probably won't in yours. It is a song about looking forward... keeping the faith... pressing on.

I think we're going somewhere

We're on to something good here

Out of mind, out of state

Trying to keep my head on straight

I think we're going somewhere

We're on to something good here

There's only one thing left to do

Drop all i have and go with you

Somewhere back there i left my worries all behind

My problems fell out of the back of my mind

We're going and i'm never knowing

(Never knowing) where we're going

To back to where i was would just be wrong

I'm pressing on, I'm pressing on

All my distress is going, going, gone

(Pressing on, pressing on)

And i won't sit back and take this anymore

Cuz I'm done with that, I've got one foot out the door

And to go back to where i was would just be wrong

I'm pressing on

I think we're going somewhere

We're on to something good here

Out of mind, out of state

Trying to keep my head on straight

I think we're going somewhere

We're on to something good here

Adversity, we get around it

Searched for joy, in you I found it

Somewhere back there i left my worries all behind

My problems fell out of the back of my mind

We're going and i'm never knowing

(Never knowing) where we're going

To back to where i was would just be wrong

I'm pressing on, I'm pressing on

All my distress is going, going, gone

(Pressing on, pressing on)

And i won't sit back and take this anymore

Cuz I'm done with that, I've got one foot out the door

And to go back to where i was would just be wrong

I'm pressing on

You look down on me but you don't look down on me at all

You smile and laugh, and I feel the love you have for me

I think we're going somewhere

And we're on to something good here

We're gonna to make it after all

A Simple Scent

A Simple Scent

Isn’t it amazing how just a simple scent

Can bring back vivid memories and everything they meant

Each time I wash my hands with that certain soap

Reminds me of the days when all I had was hope

Days of feeling nervous as I came around the bend

Of roads that were brand new to me and yet tried to pretend

Or wind before the winter when I’m outside to compete

It brings me back my childhood when staying up was a treat

I grew up on the cul-de-sac with my older brothers too

When dreaming in the woods or playing sports was all we knew

Now I wake up and it's time to eat my family shouts

I stroll into the kitchen smelling breakfast all abouts

I sit down to the table of the present and the past

For the closest of relationships are those that always last

And the time spent with each other is like one long holiday

Connected by the smells of both good times and company

Isn’t it amazing how just a simple scent

Can bring back vivid memories and everything they meant

Short and Sweet (Like the Sea)

I recently enjoyed reading The Old Man and the Sea.

I'm not sure exactly how to comment on this short book without giving away the content, so if you haven't read the book before, read at your own risk.

It is wonderful that there are only 3 characters in the book

• The Old Man
• The Boy
• The Big Fish

To be honest, i don't even remember the names of the old man or the boy, but that is because they are only mentioned once, and i don't think it is supposed to matter.

The two hold on to hope, and that is their best quality. Their hope may be in luck, but it is admirable nonetheless. And you might expect that from the boy, but the old man seems to have held on to the sincerity of a child that hasn't been beaten down by the reason of adults in this world.

Then there is the comparison to the old man and the big fish, the latter seeming to take on the role of the old fish in the sea. The drive each other to each other's limits...

The thing about the book that puzzles me is the ending. It ends so abruptly, and i'm not sure what to take away from the book other than a good story about hope and determination.

Maybe the message is supposed to be short and sweet: never lose hope and never give up.

The Cold Air

The breeze across my face

A chill goes in my heart

The smell of freezing air

Again the mem’ries start

I pull my hoodie down

And wrap up loneliness

My smile sinks to a frown

And fingers air caress

I miss the touch of skin

The warmth of a lover

I feel the pain of sin

Wonder and remember

-Anonymous