I need my time, and my space, and perhaps one reason I love listening to music is that it is a solitary hobby. This was more of a need during my first unhappy marriage. The 'problem' with being happily (re)married is that I feel guilty if I shut out my wife too much. Fortunately we have the same musical tastes so I do a lot more listening with her as we read together
Being alone with your music
I’ve always enjoyed being alone. Being alone with my favorite tunes playing adds a new layer of ‘Being here NOW’.
I remember well the first time I heard ‘In my room’ by the Beach Boys. That wonderful angst of being young and not knowing my future overwhelmed me. Those emotions we’re trained to suppress burst forward, changing me forever.
From that moment forward music became a personal thing. A private wonderful world that I had control over. It was 1966, I was 13 years old.
When we’re young, very little is under our control. Now music could set us free. It was up there with the first time, 3 years later, when I drove my car alone the first time. In preparation for the big moment, I installed my first car cassette player (by Norelco). Now I was truly free to be me.
Your stories would be much appreciated.