Since purchasing my ipod a little over a year ago, I have gradually become so accustomed to the warmth of the headset, and the wonderful cocoon of my own private soundtrack, that to leave the house without it now feels akin to leaving the house without my pants. In fact, as I walked down the street yesterday with nothing but a few dollars and my bus pass in my pocket, I felt so exposed that I kept having to look down to make sure that I was, in fact, fully clothed.
Dependency aside, I have come to appreciate my ipod for more reasons than just it’s ability to drown out the obnoxious, scratchy cellphone tunes teens love to blast on the muni (though wouldn’t this be reason enough?).
I like to keep my ipod on shuffle mode. Partly this is because I’m indecisive and the more albums I load into the system, the less I’m able to make a decision about which I want to hear. Truly, this is the American curse! But I also have a secret motive to keeping my music selections surprising and unexpected. You see, I am a big subscriber in the theory that the universe is constantly sending us messages. The problem with universe-sent messages is that they tend to be subtle, optional, and are seldom in our language. Rarely will you find a message in your inbox reading “So-in-so, you should should apply for ex-n-such job at this business. I have already taken the liberty of submitting your resume and drafting a cover letter. You should be hearing from them soon. Love, The Universe”. If only! Millions of people in thousands of cultures have crafted hundreds of thousands of ways to receive and understand messages from The Universe. But all of them have the same essential three components: a question, a method, and a person using their intuition to interpret the result. My version works as follows: When I get anxious or I’m unhappy, I go for a walk. Walking serves not only to release some of the physical tension of the stress experience, but it has always been a past time during which I am able to think more easily and with less distraction. As I think and walk I find myself zeroing in on certain problems, and wondering what needs to be done to solve them. More often than not, it is around this point that I will take a step back from my thought process to realize that my ipod is playing a song with suggestions for how I might deal with the current situation, or how I could change my perspective about it.
You can stop rolling your eyes. I realize this is a far cry from a true metaphysical experience. My point is not that my ipod is giving me a direct connection with some omniscient river of inspiration flowing through our universe. Rather, I’m expressing appreciation for a method I’ve discovered of accessing that part of mind that remains an elusive mystery, my intuition.
I’ve been struggling lately. Many people have been struggling lately. The economy doesn’t seem so much better than it was a few years ago. In fact, I had a job then, and only lost it once the economy experienced “an upturn”. I funded my college experience by working at a bookstore which qualified me for a customer service position at a publishing company. I’ve labeled myself as an ops branch office worker/retail employee and I’m baffled about how to break free of the mold in which I’ve imprisoned myself. Like many, I’m seeking inspiration and solutions anywhere I can find them and I have discovered that my limitations are often the product of my own self image. When I walk down the street, overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy and my ipod begins to play the opening chords of “Living Prayer”, I feel both chastised and hopeful. Perhaps, as many paranormal psychologists claim, this electronic device is serving as a communicator, connecting me with the infinite. Perhaps all the answers are here in an inaccessible part of my own mind. Perhaps this distinction doesn’t matter as long as this experience is giving me hope, inspirations and the strength determine and pursue my goals so I can lead a fulfilling life.
Thank you, ipod.