While the second semester of my sophomore year rolls in, I can’t help but reflect all too often on all of the events that have taken place in my life here at college, and all the unforeseen things I know will come. I’m sitting right in the middle of my four years here, and already so much has changed. I’ve found so much of myself here through my independence, my meditation, my friends, my major and more. Right now in school is where I get to create who I am. As the years pass, I will grow on this foundation I’m building for myself now. These past two years here have been the best years of my life, and heading into the next two will be a challenge and an adventure.
Yet lately, everything seems to be changing. Friends are graduating, family members are transitioning, and people I love are separating from each other. Life happens and things will never stop changing. It’s something we all have to constantly adapt to. A few people in my life have undergone some changes recently. Here at school, back at home and even myself. And as I was listening to this particular song by Regina Spektor, called “The Party”, I made sense of these changes a little better.
If you haven’t heard this tune, I suggest you play the song while you read these lyrics. I dedicate this song to the people I love and the changes they face now and forever.
“You’re like a party somebody threw me You taste like birthday You look like New Years You’re like a big parade through town You leave such a mess but you’re so fun Tell all the neighbors to start knocking down walls To grab their guitars and run out to the hall And we’re coming out right along to sing them my new song For every place there is a bus That’ll take you where you must Start counting all your money and friends before you come back again For every road we can retrace For every memory we can’t face For every name that’s been erased Let’s have another round May I propose a little toast? For all the ones who hurt the most For all the friends that we have lost Let’s give them one more round of applause But you’re like a party somebody threw me You taste like birthday You look like New Year You’re like a big parade through town That leaves such a mess but you’re so fun”
As I listened to this song, I felt all of my thoughts and feelings toward these good and bad changes develop into a beautiful mess. Life is about change, and accepting that change, and moving on, and reflecting, and remembering, and loving how life is irregular and beautiful and strange. Sometimes I do want things to be different or to slow down. I’ll miss the people that come and go and the things that once were and no longer are, but life is mysterious; I accept that. We just need to be thankful for what we have/where we are and excited for whatever lies ahead.