The role of music

                            

The role music plays in my life?

    

Music becomes important in Moore's life in the book because it gives him a sense of purpose and direction. When hip-hop became popular in the 1980s and became the "sound" of the generation, it also became Moore's "validator," helping him gain credibility with the kids in his neighborhood. Moore stated that hip-hop music helped people overcome their fears, anxieties, and dreams of wealth, power, revolution, and success. He believed that the music provided an exaggerated/complicated version of their lives to the outside world, making them feel less alone. Music is a form of art that you may enjoy in both sound and silence, and for some people, it's the only thing that can lift or lower their spirits. You can utilize it to escape problems and tensions in your life while also finding pleasure. I find that music enables me to think effectively and freely communicate my feelings and emotions, without words. I almost always listen to music especially when I leave the house in the morning because it makes me feel better and uplifts my soul. Music is a universal language that may be utilized to communicate across cultures and as a means of escape. When I was ill, I turned to music to distract me from my worries and to help me remain calm and optimistic. Music is a potent sound that may be heard in many various contexts, even in nature. Nature produces sounds like chirping, singing birds, whistling winds, and pit-patting rain. Because I am aware of how music affects my activity and increases my willingness to work and complete chores, I always carry headphones with me. Listening to music enables my body to move in sync with the tunes or beat of the music, occasionally shaking my head or tapping my feet lightly. Because it organizes the brain, music has the potential to improve my mood, promote social interaction, and stimulate my appetite. I use music as therapy because it helps me maintain awareness of my surroundings while also providing a secure and comfortable setting. Moore used music to establish connections with his peers in his community in the book. I use music to convey my feelings. For instance, I listen to slow, depressive music when I'm disheartened or depressed. Since I was little, I've enjoyed listening to music on the radio, my iPod, and other devices. On my worst days, it gave me hope, and I still rely on it since it illuminates the world. I've also employed music in my academic life. I discovered at a young age that listening to music while working on tasks and studying helped me perform better because it kept me focused and prevented me from getting easily sidetracked. It also improved my memory and made it easier to remember for upcoming exams. In conclusion, music can benefit all facets of your life, including your mental health, study habits, and productivity. It can also positively alter your outlook on life while making you relaxed. 

The Other Wes Moore Part II Assignment

How I cope with difficult situations

    Moore remembered the time he went to the court to play basketball in the book "The Other Wes Moore one name, two fates." He gives descriptions of his surroundings while he is on the court. He came to understand that the courts served as a gathering place where the neighborhood's young men could join to form a "circle of trust." They could socialize, have fun, and unwind there. It served as their outlet for dealing with the "fence" or reality they were in. 

Like Moore, I have a hobby that helps me get through challenging circumstances. When I'm stressed out and in a challenging circumstance, I tend to listen to music and knit. By doing this, I can have peace of mind, stay optimistic, and avoid spending too much time in my thoughts during challenging times. I've come to understand that pausing or taking a break has helped me get through many challenging circumstances I've encountered and helped me come up with solutions. Life is a rollercoaster, I've discovered; sometimes it's up, and sometimes it's down. However, how you respond to such circumstances ultimately determines who you are. I've found that knitting and music have allowed me to keep a happy attitude, take lessons from my experiences, and plan out my next moves. The only genuine method to avoid acting erratically and making a decision you would later regret is to remain optimistic. When dealing with challenging conditions, you would have to recognize that there isn't always a way out or a means to modify your circumstance, but that understanding your circumstance can assist you to avoid repeating the same error. For example, when I had an important surgery scheduled that would determine the fate of my future, the stress of the situation could have discouraged me and made me want to give up, but instead of panicking, I chose to stay calm, listen to music, and not dwell on the negatives. Instead, I focused on all the things I wanted to do after the surgery, such as live a healthy lifestyle and avoid fatty and sugary foods, become more active and go to the gym, and so on. If I had concentrated on the negatives, I would have reacted in a way that exacerbated the situation. I also accepted that there was nothing I could do about my situation and that it was my only chance to improve. I've distracted myself from the situation and escaped the feeling of being overwhelmed by meditating, listening to music, and knitting. These are some of my coping mechanisms for shutting out the world for a few minutes to several hours at a time. When I put on my earphones, I hear nothing but music, which helps me relax by blocking out my thoughts. On the other hand, meditating gives me a sense of calm and peace. It allows me to keep my focus and redirect my thoughts.

Are we a product of our environment or expectations?

 Are we a product of our environment or products of our expectations?

The only thing that separates the two is choice, you could live in the worst environment and still become successful just by being dedicated and motivated to having a different path. That’s why I believe that we are products of our expectations because when people put their expectations on you, you make it your own. Wes stated that, “We do what others expect us to get a job, we will get a job. If they expect us to go to jail, then that’s where we will end up too. At some point you lose control” I resonated with this because it is the life I live now. Everyone has an expectation for me whether it’s family, friends, etc. From my family they place their expectations on me whether good or bad such as college. My mom expected me to go to college and earn my degree, anything other than that was seen as a failure in her eyes because she believed that that was only way you could be successful in life is with a degree. Even though I was already fixated on going to college anyway, her expectation influenced me to stay on that path and also made me think that was the only way to be successful as-well. Her expectation made me think of  life as a one way straight path, and of course I didn’t want to disappoint my mom so that is the path I stood with. Someone that has an expectation of you, can be a burden as the it can have a strong impact on you. You are unable to have free will as you won’t be thinking for yourself but for other people, you will start to live off of other people’s judgement. On the other hand, being a product of your environment to me is more of a choice. You don’t have to be a product of your environment, you can have different views, talk differently, etc your environment doesn’t have to shape who you are as a person. For example I grew in what people would call the “ghetto” or “lower class” living in those neighborhoods people always has their expectations thinking it was “dangerous”,“unsafe”, and “dirty”. Their expectation for the kids is much worse as they think most will end up in jail, dead, or selling drugs. But these expectations didn’t define who we were as many of especially ones who graduated from high school not only graduated college but created businesses and achieved other great things. One way to not be a product of someone’s expectation is to have your own aspiration and goals, and sticking to them. Sometimes parents often live their dreams through their children, hence why they pass on heavy expectations to their kids. It is best to avoid this as everything you do will become for them resulting in losing yourself.