There are songs that speak to us in the moment and songs that speak to us over time. Today's song is one of the later. I first saw this video not long after I was first married and and the melancholy urgency of the song was exactly what I was feeling at the time. No, my marriage wasn't awful - it was and is a wonderful thing. That said, I just moved away from everything I knew to a country that was thousands of miles from my family and where the only person I could call friend and confidante was my husband. I wasn't working because I was going through the immigration process so I had a lot of time on my hands. My dog and I became best of friends and music and books became my emotional support.
I heard this song on the radio recently and I felt the same melancholy urgency but for different reasons. I no longer feel like a stranger in a strange land. What I'm struck by are the words of the song. There's an unconditional love through the words and I'm so glad I had that when I needed it most and when I wanted it least.
As we enter the new year, this song is a reminder to me to aspire to unconditional, non-judgmental love and acceptance. This doesn't mean there won't be tension or disagreements or fights. I'm not perfect. But I can aspire to be unconditional in my relationships despite my humanity. Ain't life grand that way?
Today I give you The Pretenders and their 1994 hit I'll Stand By You.
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