Inspired by Longpigs. (1996). Lost myself. On The sun is often out [Audio album]. Mother Records.

Photo by Lesli Whitecotton on Unsplash

This week’s theme considers whether we are living life waiting for something good to happen, or whether we are simply living our lives. The topic will be explored from the perspective of someone living their life waiting for their one true love, the theme of the 1996 Longpigs song Lost Myself.

Whilst on the surface the song is about someone waiting for the love of their life, more significantly, it is the tale of a person waiting instead of living. This is the story of someone who is postponing their life anticipating there is something better to come.

There is a strong sense of a need for mindfulness in this song. The need to be focused on experiencing the present rather than waiting for the future. Sounds really logical doesn’t it? But how often do we miss out on the things that are actually happening around us because we focused on a future event that might or might not happen?

Like the subject of the song, I also can relate to the sentiment that daydreaming about our ideals is easier than actually doing something in the present to live them. As the song suggests, to do something about our dreams often means recognising we are living just a shadow of life in the present, and that to do anything else might mean making some painful decisions.

For me, becoming more mindful in the way I try to live my life has been helpful with this dilemma. Chasing dreams can be exciting, but also painful and exhausting. It’s not that we needn’t have goals, dreams and aspirations. But it is important that our goals do not detract from the gift of what is going on in the present moment. We need the balance of journeying towards our future whilst really experiencing the present moment of the journey.

The song helps bring some reality to our pursuit of dreams. It speaks of godly going for what we want and the efforts this requires, but also the response when it doesn’t work out. This is the danger of focusing on the future, or unrealistic goals, often it creates a tendency to create a negative cycle of self-talk. When we are focused on the things we have no real control over, it is easy to unrealistically blame ourselves when we don’t achieve them.

So, this week, have a listen to the lyrics of this song, and take a few moments to consider where you are right now. What is going on in your life and what are you missing out on in the present because of your pursuit of the future.

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