Perspective shift

I hope the posts I’ve made here have at least implied the site’s mission and have been relevant.  On one hand, the process of listening happens regularly, and is often difficult to point out and comment on, but on the other, there are times when things really profound happen, so much so, that the experience remains with us, yet it’s difficult to even describe as time goes on.

With The Post Offer, I opened the door for others to share their stories, and I’m posting one today from Ken, who, as promised, got a free copy of the Physical Changes LP/CD/DVD.  Here is his story about a time that struck him where the act of listening became something beyond simply hearing:

i’m reminded of when i graduated from the world of crappy stereo equipment.   i’m not an audiophile by any stretch of the imagination, and honestly, if i had the money, i still couldn’t justify spending the kind of money that you can on really great stereo equipment.   so when i decided that i would spend, really spend some money on a pair of speakers, i was slightly intimidated.  i went to a shop that was recommended to me by a friend, and it was basically in a house with a devoted showroom.   they had set up a few different pairs of speakers for me to demo, placed at the perfect distance from a very nice, and very comfortable couch.   they recommended that i bring a favorite recording, and i did so.   i honestly don’t remember what it was, the title escapes me, but that’s beside the point.

so i decided on a pair of speakers, and i still have them, but what struck me was the act of sitting down and really listening.   i found myself very critical of the sounds i was hearing, for possibly the first time in my life.   music has always been important to me, but it suddenly was more so, probably due to the fact that i was about to drop the most money on one thing (well, a pair of things) than i had since buying my last car……ok, so the speakers probably cost more than that car, but who’s keeping track.   anyway, it kind of changed the way i listened to music from there out.   up to that point, i would generally throw something on the turntable, and give it SOME attention.   but i had never really sat and listened to records (music, etc.) and done nothing else.    i began to listen intently to my other favorite recordings and hear new things…….partly due i’m sure to the fact that these were very nice speakers, but equally i believe, due to the fact that i was now giving the music my full attention.

there are a lot of distractions in life, to be sure.   but i do try to devote some part of every day if at all possible to just LISTENING to music, and nothing else.

For me, what’s interesting about Ken’s story is the act of becoming critical of what he was hearing; where hearing just wasn’t good enough anymore. He became actively involved.  This is something I try to consider when in any situation that has my attention – what is my place in this?  what does it mean to me?

Thanks for sharing, Ken, and keep the stories coming, folks!