How I Relax

Stress. A simple word for a complicated feeling. Stress can invade every aspect of your life if you don't find a way to deal with it. This is where finding relaxing hobbies come into play. The last year has been pretty stressful in my world and I've found that there are only a few things that I can do to keep myself going. Writing helps me focus and understand why I feel the way I feel. Watching the Detroit Pistons dominate a basketball game keeps me in the moment and gives me a sense of elation. Trying out a new roller coaster or riding an old fave like Millenium Force gets my adrenaline pumping and has me waving my arms in the air. However, there is only one thing that allows me to do all of these things at once: immersing myself in music.

Ever since I was little I have been fascinated with all kinds of music. Madonna's "Like A Virgin" was my first album at age 4 which subsequently had me declaring that I would be a world famous singer when I grew up. My parents took me to see Michael Jackson when I was 5 and I was overwhelmed by the whole concert experience. I loved the noise, the lights, the enthusiasm of the crowd and the way the videos and songs I'd been obsessed with were coming to life right in front of me. For years to come I would dress up and put on my own concerts in my backyard with my friends. Eventually I gave up on my ambition to be a singer realizing that I'd overrated my talent, but I never gave up my love for music.

Today music plays a big role in my life. When I was a student, I found that the only way I could study was with a song playing in the background. When I need to take a nap, music helps me relax and block out the outside world. When I am stuck in a traffic jam or taking a long trip, music is there to distract me. The same is true when I am hard at work on something. Music gives me the focus I need to get the job done. As a writer, most of my articles and blogs are geared towards the music industry. I write reviews on concerts I've been to, new cds I've heard and songs I can't stop listening to. Many times poignant lyrics from one of my favorite artists have been the inspiration for a poem or short story.