I did an experiment the past 12 months. I limited my time spent listening to popular music because I wanted to come out on the other side with a deeper appreciation for it. In rearranging furniture a year ago, I stuck the stereo and cd player in the closet, then forgot about it for about a week. That spurred me on to do the exercise of a short fast from popular music. I rarely played it in the car, opting for silence instead. I don’t usually have music on. I did listen to kirtan chants and indian devotional bhajans and ragas.
I heard pop music daily in the supermarket and post office, so I wasn’t without influence. But to play it simply for the joy of listening to it? It’s been 12 months since I did that. Pharrell Williams’ Happy encouraged me to break that fast. Last week, the stereo and cd player were moved to where they are easy to access. I placed some favorite cds next to the stereo. I began listening to them as I cleaned and as I painted and was reminded of the power of music. James Taylor, Carole King, Carly Simon, evoking good feelings and making me dance around the house like a maniac. Taking a break from listening to it let me hear with new ears and have new appreciation for it. I do these discipline experiments as part of my spiritual practice. I not only like to learn how my ego/personality reacts to having its habits interrupted, I like being made to see, and hear, the mundane things around me with new eyes and new ears.