Imagine this…the sun is just beginning to set in a sky painted with soft shades of orange, pink and dusty purple, the air holds the sweet smell of summer, the vibe is one of anticipated joy and excitement and nothing but smiling faces to be found. Does this sound like someplace you’d like to be for the evening? Me too. And I was!!

There’s nothing like hearing your favorite artist jam at an outdoor theater in the summertime – especially during that short sunny season of the Midwest. I don’t know about you, but I’m completely impatient waiting every year for outdoor music and can’t get enough!

But I’m not your average attendee – not surprisingly, my behavior is just a little different…

I suppose everyone has their own reasons for attending a concert. But I would hope that the most universal is to experience joy. Straight up JOY. That delicious feeling of being lost in the harmony and lyrics of a favorite song. One that you can never hear too many times.

Joy Is/Was The Plan

So let’s keep working under the assumption that joy is part of the plan. But let’s add a few caveats of challenge to keep it interesting…

Caveat #1 – You have bleacher seats at the venue. The ones with the numbers painted on the seats that are notoriously ignored when it comes where you actually sit per the tickets. On Ticketmaster the seats at the end seemed divine, but you quickly realize that there are a couple of issues. On top of being squeezed like sardines into a tin can and barely fitting on the bleacher seat, you also have 2 poles that are in your direct line of sight to the stage. Two poles that conveniently block the very artist you are there to see. And newsflash…you will find later that these 2 big old poles are much appreciated by the fans under the roof they support when the RAIN starts. The roof that you are NOT under!

Caveat #2 – There are video screens. So that seems to help this annoying pole issue. Whew. Great, okay… But what it doesn’t help, is the 6 foot something guy and his broad shouldered, equally tall, rugby playing friend who end up right in front of you. Of course, blocking multiple screens. So much for the screens.

Caveat #3 –  The final straw for eliminating joy? Rain, the rain, oh beautiful rain. What’s an outdoor theater near the lake without rain?

Big Bucket of No Thank You

Well don’t those caveats sound like a big bucket of …”no-thank-you”.

Unfortunately, these caveats were an accurate depiction of my most recent concert experience.

But remember how I said I was just a little bit different than your average concert goer?

And if you don’t know where I’m headed, you might be a first-time reader of my blog…because of course, I’m predictably talking about mindfulness.

But what does mindfulness have to do with a concert or even music for that matter?

Everything!

 

That delicious feeling of being lost in the harmony and lyrics of a favorite song. 

 

Getting Past Those #$@* Distractions

Admittedly, I was bummed out by caveat #1 with the bleacher seat situation and obviously ridiculous architecture. (I mean, are those poles really that necessary to hold up a roof? Please.) But with a little positive self-talk I recovered.

Then came #2 with the screens. Okay keeping it together. I’m here for the music, I’m here for the music, I’m here for the music. Not going to lose that joy.

But then #3. Rain! Seriously?! Now I’m beginning to lose the joy, moving toward irritation and dangerously close to pouting.

What to the rescue? Mindfulness.

Mindfulness With The Music

As each of these challenges added to my pile of disappointment against the ideal evening I had imagined, I noticed what was happening internally. Yep, you guessed it – that runaway brain of mine. Tons of negative chatter attempting to ruin the concert.

Well I wasn’t having it. Nope. No way.

I knew what I wanted and was determined not to let my brain ruin it for me.

Surrender To It

For me, mindfulness at a concert looks something like this… I am fully immersed in the music. The sound, the vibration and movement. Most times I don’t even acknowledge those around me. It’s like I’m in a meditative trance, but with my eyes open and my body dancing. Pure joy.

If you’ve never had this kind of experience, it’s about letting yourself go, keeping the negative thoughts at bay and being open to the sensations of joy. And it all comes from a decision to surrender to the moment and be in the music. One of the best feelings ever in my book.

 

And it all comes from a decision to surrender to the moment and be in the music.

 

Please Don’t Stop The Music

You don’t actually have to be at a live concert to experience this kind of mindfulness. In fact, you can do it anytime you listen to music. By focusing on the music instead of your thoughts, you are instantly transported into the moment. It’s great. And a super simple mindfulness practice. I hope you give it a try.

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