My Invisible Friend
by See Change Ambassador, Tim O’Connor
Just before I finished Secondary School a close friend said to me “You’re okay Tim – you have music”.
That was completely true. But he was the first one to say it to me.
All through the 1970s music was my hobby. I would follow up on the music press to find out who had a new release, or who that musician was influenced by, or…
In that sense I am sure music was a non-stop puzzle of going into the past and then listening to music from the present.
And I went to whatever music gigs (always rock music) I could get to.
I read gig reviews for the enjoyment and laughs.
One reviewer finally brought a big smile to my face with the final line of one review:
“It’s hard to make up your mind about these gigs all on your own”.
(Maybe he meant: when you like a band you like them – no excuses to anyone.)
These were the days before any portable music (i.e. the Walkman).
What my friend from school meant was – there was always some song or thought of a song in my head.
Music – probably over everything else – got me through.
Anytime I was feeling very down in mood I lost interest in most things.
When I was coming back to day-to-day life – music was the first interest to re-surface.
Today I lift my mood by listening to music on my own.
My hobby has somehow got me through. When I feel well – music helps me to feel more grounded in myself. I know what I like in life and I what I do not like.
And that is important to me.
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