7 Reminders of How Exquisitely Beautiful Life Can Be

A thing of beauty is a joy forever

— John Keats

When the world seems like it’s going to hell in a handbasket, when the dreadful events of 7th October in Israel and the ensuing chaos make us despair at the depths humanity can sink to, it’s easy to forget how beautiful life can be.

In the most affluent countries where billionaires abound and flourish, many struggle to meet the daily cost of survival.

Legion are those disaffected by their leadership, who no more trust the political elite than we do a dog to look after our dinner.

The spectre of COVID lurks, pushed off the front pages by the war in Ukraine but you know it never went away.

Climate change is a looming global catastrophe with no credible solution in sight.

Amidst this maelstrom of misery, it may seem trite to evoke the power of beauty

Absolutely not.

On the contrary, it’s more important than ever to marvel at the magnificence of a heavenly sunset.

To let great music send chills down your spine. To fondly remember treasured moments with those you love. To delight in the innocence of a baby’s smile.

This isn’t to say the issues don’t matter. Of course they do.

But beauty reminds us of why we face up to them.

Beauty makes life worth living

It gives meaning to adversity, beyond the selfish gene imperative to ensure the survival of the species.

Beauty makes me so grateful to be alive, to be drawing breath on this pebble hurtling through space.

When touched by the sublime, an inevitable consequence is the desire to share the bliss.

On that note, pun intended, sorry not sorry…

I’d like to play you 5 pieces that always remind me of how beautiful life is

You’ll likely know at least a few, widely considered as masterpieces by the most gifted talents of their generation.

If even one is new to you and you like it, it’s a small step to repaying them for the immense joy they’ve given me.

Each still enchants with their elegance, even after many years and countless repetitions.

Already spellbinding when merely considered as an arrangement of notes in a particular order, their backstories elevate their standing to stratospheric levels.

The ‘Life’s Beautiful’ Playlist

Dedicated to the teachers who gave me wings

#1

I stumbled across this on Youtube (42 million views and counting), composed and performed by a 22 year old blind from birth Japanese prodigy, and instantly thought “I need to learn this”.

Its simplicity belies its depth and I was transfixed by its tender melody, an elegy to the victims of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, as he wept throughout his recital to a transfixed audience.

#2

The redemption opus of a musical genius.

When his First Symphony was panned by critics, he sank into a great depression and could see no way out, lost in the greyness for three years.

Then friends recommended him to a psychiatrist who specialised in hypnotherapy and the repetition of positive mantras. He wrote this and the rest is history.

Generally regarded as one of the greatest concertos of all time, its premiere rocketed him back to the adulation his talent deserved.

The opening of this, the second movement, makes me think of a blue whale gliding majestically through the ocean depths, or a cosmic entity soaring between the stars.

#3

“A romantic song in which the romantic partner is the idea of romance. This song’s popularity is such that it has been used as a test sample in a study on people’s memories of popular songs.“

I played this at the wedding of one of my wife’s dearest friends, as they signed the register. The memory of being able to contribute to their special day, someone who has done so much for Jade and me, is beyond priceless.

#4

A fabulously funky yet somewhat subdued, thoughtful ode to love. The first smash hit for one of pop’s great icons that catapulted his already burgeoning fame into superstardom, it was the second piece I played at Kirsty and Rob’s wedding.

#5

Another divine love song from another of the greats, sadly departed too soon. This was the first band I followed as a teenager, and it takes me back to those years when I was first finding my place in this world.

Treasured Memories

#6

The piano is intimately related to the third date I went on with Jade.

We’d had our first kiss on our second date and its memory was vivid as I excitedly ironed my shirt and made sure my shoes were clean.

Clichés about soul mates and finding the One swirled around my mind throughout the day. At night it took me hours to fall asleep as I replayed every sentence of our conversations.

I arrived at her mum’s house where she stayed when in Manchester, butterflies in my stomach, excited like a kid on Christmas Eve, but nervous in case I somehow messed things up.

As we caught up on what had happened since we last messaged an hour ago, my eye was drawn to the violin lying in the corner of the second lounge.

“That’s my brother’s - do you play?“

I’d not picked up a violin in 21 years, but prior to that enjoyed a decade of first class training by exceptional teachers.

I placed it under my chin and muscle memory took over.

Jade was delighted and the effusive praise from She Who I Already Adored had me walking on clouds.

Could things be any better? [RIP Chandler]

Memories I’d pushed away for over two decades came to the fore.

I didn’t have many friends at school. I was an Inbetweener, and the three kids I hung out with went to a different school.

Alone but for my books and fantasies of finding a girlfriend, I often came in early to play the grand piano in the assembly hall. The old piano we had at home was out of tune and practising on it was a chore.

When I left home for university, I left as much of my ‘old life’ behind as possible. The violin and the piano were replaced by turntables as dance music (EDM to our American friends) displaced classical, and I gave them little thought until Date #3.

I suddenly realised what a life changing gift I’d carelessly abandoned.

That weekend, I downloaded the music for a piano arrangement of Pachelbel’s Canon and set about learning it.

I would eventually play the Canon at our wedding.

Playing the piano helped me get through the pandemic lockdown.

To this day, where others might meditate, journal or write a morning page, I immerse myself in the beauty of rich harmonies and delightful melodies.

I smile as I thank the universe for the teachers that taught me and Date #3 that rekindled the flame.

The Circle of Life

#7

A few weeks after the birth of our daughter Lyra we registered a Gmail account for her.

This is to email her messages, photos and videos from birthdays and other life events. One day, she’ll log in and see a timeline of the greatest love.

I played the Playlist and more to Lyra while she was in the womb, and my first email to her was this article and the video.

If she’s sufficiently inspired to also learn a musical instrument it will be one of the proudest achievements of my life.

My parents also delight in directly messaging future Lyra. They’re in the twilight of their years, and were overjoyed when she was born.

They see raising the next generation as the pinnacle of meaning in life but until I met Jade, were resigned to the fact I was unlikely to have children.

To say Lyra makes them happy is something of an understatement.

*Their birthday cards this year (2023). Dad framed his and hung it up in the lounge.*

Every day I send them photos of her, and every day my mum tells us how happy Lyra makes her.

What is beauty?

If you ask the Merriam Webster dictionary,

“The quality or group of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or the mind.”

I can objectively say Lyra is beauty personified.

Whilst I can’t help but worry on her behalf at the trajectory of world affairs, she gives meaning to the challenges ahead.

In an increasingly ugly world, she is the beauty that helps me make sense of it all.

7 Reminders of How Exquisitely Beautiful Life Can Be