As I was researching symbolic literature last night for my upcoming workshop on “Unlocking Your Dreams”, A poem / song caught my attention. Soon I was YouTubing it to find a choral group that may have performed it recently. I wanted to hear it again. I remember singing this selection years ago in the Elmhurst College Men’s Glee Club. The song? “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost.
I enjoyed this poetic selection because I could picture the scene described by Robert Frost. A dark cold night where the rider took his horse into the woods and stopped. He stopped to see “the woods fill up with snow”… stopping to hear the soft breeze and the snowflakes falling quietly. Maybe he was stopping for a minute to consider life. Perhaps this song brought me back to that place too–to consider where I am in life, where I’m going and if I am on track.
The song brought back bitter-sweet memories of college days. I felt myself back in the practice hall with the guys, Mr. Austin (the director), and the pianist. Along with the melody came a feeling of melancholy. (a feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause). But more than that was a yearning to reminisce. Remembering simpler days. Times without heavy responsibilities. But they were also times of questioning and feeling lost. What would I be doing after college? When would I get married? Where would we live? How will I pass my next final exam? A mixture of memories and emotions.
I miss the times singing with the guys. I miss our director, Mr. Austin who is long gone. Singing with a group brings a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction. Singing draws your soul out. A poem with picturesque symbols draws you into deeper contemplation. It slows you down to consider some of the beauty of life.
With these thoughts as a launching place, my mind could go in different places. I could reflect on what I missed in those years long since passed and feel the sadness and regret coming on. Or I could reflect the rich times I had with fellow classmates and teachers; the events and clubs I joined where relationships were established; the philosophies I was taught that I considered and accepted or those I rejected.
Reliving a past experience can bring a flood of emotions. Those can be hurtful or helpful. I must decide what to let my mind dwell on. I must choose to forgive myself for what I missed, failed to do, or wrongly participated in. Forgiving yourself can be one of the most difficult things in life. I can dwell on the joy-filled times of the past with friends that enriched my life or focus on the regrets.
It’s not a waste to contemplate. Sadness is not always bad. It makes your heart more tender. Melancholy is OK as long as it doesn’t turn into regret. Both the sad and happy times of the past can help me grow now and make those adjustments in my life that will make it richer for myself and others.
What about you? Do you have a fond memory that has enriched your life?
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