Recently I went to an event that featured a "silent disco". The event was a festival of sorts, with bands playing all day into the evening, and your typical display of freaks, artists, hippies, old heads, and people just out to have a good time. I can't really categorize myself as I don't fall easily into any one category, except maybe a person out for a good time, but that was everyone, really.
So in the evening, say 11 pm or so, the band goes "silent". That is to say, it is silent to everyone around but those who choose to wear a pair of headphones. It's definitely not a "disco" in the traditional sense of the word. This particular evening, the band was a fusion of electronic based jam band merged with dance music and trippy sounds. It's really awesome stuff you can dance your butt off to.
So before the "disco" portion of the evening, I was having a conversation about how freaking cool I think the silent disco is. It's just really hysterical to walk up to a group of people dancing, and to see a band jamming out on stage, but hear no music. It's weird, and in a sense, it's other worldly. But then, you put the head phones on—and you are literately tuned into the same frequency as everyone else. You hear the music, and you relate with the smiles and you begin to dance and jump around as manically as those around you.
So that concept, of putting on a pair of headphones to be able to experience the same thing as other people, the concept of tuning your ears onto an actual frequency being sent out into the atmosphere, well it made me wish that was real life. Ever know a person that was so un-relatable to you that all you could say was that they were not on the same wavelength? Of course you do, these people can be your family, your co-workers, and at times, even your friends. You hear them talk and you are just like, wow, I can't believe that is how they perceive the world, or maybe yikes, I would not have reacted like that.
It's hard for us to be connected and share experiences. In some circles, my particular nature is sometimes described as being an empath. I am very empathetic and can easily put myself in someones shoes and feel what they are feeling. I guess what makes me an empath is that often I do not try to do this, but I pick up on feelings and feel sadness when those around me are sad, or feel anger, or joy, excitement and so on. Despite this connection to feelings, it doesn't mean I understand where other people are coming from, but I really wish I did. And I wish the same for me too. How frustrating it is to feel so misunderstood your whole life. Even in my adult life, my quiet strength is mistaken for passive shyness. This could not be further from the truth, but once in a while, people say something that casts a light on how I am perceived. Ahh, if only they understood where I was coming from. My intelligence, my wisdom, my knowledge and experiences... All reduced to being a scared shy girl?! What?!
So with that said, would it not be just AMAZING, if like the silent disco, we could somehow just simply tune-in to other people. What would happen if we all got on the same wavelength, if we all understood each other on some basic level? Happiness, forgiveness, fuller hearts, world peace, and ultimately love? Somebody please pass the humanity headphones, I want to plug in.