There are moments in my life when I really question what we’re doing.
And by “we,” I mean humans in general. We have this phenomenal capacity to believe that just because we’re human, we are inherently great. And even though I want to believe that – I really do – I simply can’t.
Because we really don’t seem that great. And no amount of feel-good pieces that air for one minute at the end of the nightly news can change my mind right now.
There are people who shoot innocent humans, like in Atlanta last week. And, just a week later, a mass shooting occurred again, this time in Boulder, Colorado. On top of these already horrific situations, we’re suffering through a pandemic that isn’t over, even though many people are acting like it is.
I could try and list every problem in the world right now, but the list wouldn’t end. It would be a waste of time. You watch the news. You scroll through Instagram. You know it’s bad.
I am on the brink of an unfixable sadness. If I were to cross the threshold, I would never recover from the devastating heartache I’m feeling.
There comes a point – and I am not afraid to say this – when life does seem pointless. But it’s actually in that pointlessness where I’m starting to see some value.
Because none of us are really sure why we’re here, there’s no point in making someone’s life a living hell. Why make life worse for someone?
Instead of hating other people, I wish more people were more in awe of the fact that humans exist at all. There are seven billion breathing beings just like you going through the same experience, and that’s very cool when you take a moment to think about it.
When I have thoughts like this, which is more often than not these days, I can often only find solace in music. Because I’ve gone through spiraling moments like this so often in my life, I’ve realized over time that there’s really only one song that can help me through it: “Hey Jude.”
There’s just nothing like it.
The song is wrapped in a blanket of emotions. There are times when it makes me so sad I can’t listen to it. Other times, it’s so addictive and thought-provoking that – even with its simplistic lyrics – it’s the only song I can listen to. And that’s what makes it so perfect for contemplating every emotion and experience life has to offer. It is the most universal song I have ever heard.
Not only was its release potentially human history’s musical high point, but it was a societal high point, too. Watching a diverse crowd of people crawl up on stage and surround the Beatles as they sing arguably their greatest song is always a sight for my anguished eyes. It’s one of those moments that reminds me that being on this planet isn’t all too bad.
I hope this encourages you to step back and take a look at humanity’s existence as a whole. When you step back for a moment, you begin to appreciate other people a bit more. We can’t stay in this stepped-back, existential state forever, though. We have an abundance of problems to solve.
But do take a breather and listen to “Hey Jude.” I don’t have the space to make a laundry list of reasons why you should. I can’t force you to do it. But, for some reason, it’s just the song to end all songs. It simply makes me feel alive.
I can’t quite explain why it has such a strong hold on humanity, but it does. That’s the real beauty of it; it’s so undeniably captivating, gripping and gorgeous to so many people that I don’t even have to explain it.
It’s so beautiful, in fact, that in my worst moments, it often feels like the only thing I’m holding onto in this life. It somehow makes everything feel worth it.
