Details In the Fabric

While reading this blog post, please indulge yourself in listening to the song which this blog post is concentrated on.

Lyrics

Calm down
Deep breaths
And get yourself dressed instead
Of running around
And pulling on your threads
And breaking yourself up

If it's a broken part, replace it
If it's a broken arm, then brace it
If it's a broken heart, then face it

And hold your own
Know your name
And go your own way
Hold your own
Know your name
And go your own way

And everything will be fine

Hang on
Help is on the way
And stay strong
I'm doing everything

Hold your own
Know your name
And go your own way
Hold your own
Know your name
And go your own way

And everything, everything will be fine
Everything

Are the details in the fabric
Are the things that make you panic
Are your thoughts results of static cling?

Are the things that make you blow
Hell, no reason, go on and scream
If you're shocked it's just the fault
Of faulty manufacturing.

Everything will be fine
Everything in no time at all
Everything

Hold your own
And know your name
And go your own way

Are the details in the fabric (Hold your own, know your name)
Are the things that make you panic
Are your thoughts results of static cling? (Go your own way)

Are the details in the fabric (Hold your own, know your name)
Are the things that make you panic (Go your own way)
Is it Mother Nature's sewing machine?

Are the things that make you blow (Hold your own, know your name)
Hell no reason go on and scream
If you're shocked it's just the fault (Go your own way)
Of faulty manufacturing

Everything will be fine
Everything in no time at all
Hearts will hold

-Jason Mraz-Details in the Fabric-Feature James Morrison

In order to understand this song, you need to hear the lyrics and read them at the same time. Honestly, this may be one of the most relaxing songs I have ever heard. In addition to the slow strum of the guitar and the soft chords, the lyrics echo the message of the song. I have yet to hear a song that matches the lyrics and the tune more perfectly.

It is in the lyrics that I find the most meaning in this song. In a sense, it is very carpe diem, "
If it's a broken part, replace it. If it's a broken arm, then brace it. If it's a broken heart, then face it." This is lyrical in the less than subtle undertones that one can change whatever they want in their life if they put their mind to it. Although this is an excellent philosophy, I no longer subscribe to it because there are many things in life that are intangible and not able to be changed.

But later in the song Mraz sings, "Are the things that make you blow. Hell, no reason, go on and scream. If you're shocked it's just the fault. Of faulty manufacturing." In a semblance, he is accepting that no one is perfect. Which isn't true. This acceptance of imperfection is what builds our lives as humans. One can go throughout their day thinking everything is, "hunky-dory" and that they never make mistakes or are infallible. But in fact, they are either ignoring the truth or they are actually perfect. But in fact, no one is perfect. Everyone has flaws, and it is in the confrontation of these flaws which humanity thrives. We must accept our flaws; for they are things which we must learn from.

To conclude the song, Mraz sings, "Everything will be fine.Everything in no time at all." Which in fact, in the juxtaposition, means that things were always fine. It is this interpretation of the final lyrics of the song which I indulge. As stubborn as one (or I) may be, one must accept that everyone makes mistakes. And, it is in the confrontation and either conquering or being conquered by these mistakes that we live out our lives. In the end, one must know that, everything will be fine, or, "if it's not ok, then it's not the end."-Unknown






I sincerely hoped you enjoyed this journey through my form of "wisdom" and the anaphora(?)


-Scott

This I Believe: Change.

I believe in the power of change as a driving force in life.

As the years drag on and one’s life passes before one’s eyes, change stays important. This is not merely the change of the day to day, “oh that person has a nice new haircut,” variety, but instead occurs over an extensive passage of time and has a momentous impact on life. The change I am discussing is not always the most apparent, but it does have the most profound effect.

            Such monumental change took place in my life when I had a parasite on my forehead in my junior year of high school.  While spending the previous summer in Israel, I had contracted Leishmania major via the bite of a sandfly on my forehead. As this eventually developed into an open ulcer, it became obvious that this deformity was here to stay. After months of little change in the condition of the quarter-sized ulcer and innumerable methods exasperated, my parents and I decided to try a radical treatment.

            After receiving this new treatment for 15 days, the parasite finally began to slowly improve.  By the time I had my final infusion, two months later, I finally noticed a huge difference in the condition of my forehead

            For months on end, I had endured a barrage of questions from those around me on what the situation was on my forehead. For months on end, I would constantly repeat, “I think it’s getting better!” with a hopeful smile. But the truth is, I was lying. Even then, change was slow to come. During the winter months of my junior year, I had feared that it would never go away, and I would perpetually have this abhorrent ulcer on my forehead. But two months after the last infusion, I woke up one day, looked in the mirror and realized that the ulcer was gone. Even now, I still hear remarks on how much it has improved. What I gleaned from this adventure is that change is slow but certain, and one of the most crucial part of life. Change was not something I was able to see day to day, and only at the conclusion of this part of my life could I truly appreciate that change is the most vital aspect of life.

            While this all may seem superficial to one who hasn’t had this experience, the lessons of the story go much deeper than the surface, pun intended. While many things in life change, there are many that go unnoticed. As I come to one of the largest crossroads of my life, graduating high school, I look back on my last 17 years. It’s absolutely amazing, everything that has changed in that time, even down to the last week or month. Ferris Bueller once said poetically,“ Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” This is the statement that I believe in the most. 

(This was an assignment in my Senior English Class) 

Change, how bout it?
Make it.