Beauty & Thee Beat

Any given day on the University of Illinois campus is pretty routine for me. School, work, eat, sleep then wake up everyday to do the process all over again. Pretty monotone right?! But something was different about this day that I stood waiting in front of the union to take me home. It was this song.

I constantly keep my ears plugged with the tunes of my iPod. One day, I mistakenly cracked the screen, on the inside, so I can’t see what’s playing. EVER. (Bummer. Lol)

Consequently, it’s forever on shuffle so I never know what to expect. Sort of like my daily box of chocolates.

So, as I stood there, I heard the guitar strum of Benny Benassi produced “Beautiful People” sung by Chris Brown. Simultaneously, my insides began to dance and a smile imprinted on my face.

It’s always something in the tempo and sound electro-house music that makes you want to move. Even more so, this song and it’s message makes me think about life and wanting to simply, live it.

Just watching the video and seeing how much fun he had, just doing what he loves was so intriguing for me. The video gives a great glimpse into Chris Brown’s life as a performer and the excitement it holds.

Aside from that, I enjoy how he makes me believe that every moment is a party. Not just a mere moment that you experience, but a cherished memory that should be captured and appreciated is what it says to me.

From his dance rehearsals and recording songs in the studio, to partying in the club and simply riding down the street on a scooter; He makes himself appear so full of that stuff we often call “life”.

In result, I started to think of my life and how truly blessed I am. To have the opportunities I have and to have met the plethora of people I have. None of it should be taken lightly, because quite simply it didn’t have to be me.

Just having the chance to get a grade A education at a Big Ten school in a diverse setting should make me more thankful than I am. But instead I, as do most students, relish in the moment of just being because quite frankly the funds aren’t coming out of our pockets.

There’s so many people and things in this world to meet, do, enjoy, laugh at, hug, love, and so on. But many of us, including myself at times get caught up in all the wrong things.

Worrying about the opinions of others, concerning yourself with business that is NOT yours, and wanting what you can’t or shouldn’t have to name a few. It’s all a distraction from the life we should be living and and engaging in everyday.

Don’t get me wrong, life has never been and never will be peachy ALL of the time. But that’s the beauty of the whole thing. Recognizing what makes us different; be it an undesirable attitude, a tainted outlook on life, the extra pounds you’ve been carrying around or the drunken uncle that messed up your fifth birthday party.

Learning to accept these things, having the will to change what you can, and eventually growing to love the flaws is what’s important.

Taking the time to truly know yourself for the good, the bad, and (everyone’s favorite) the ugly, and STILL being able to fancy every part of you and YOUR life at the end of the day.

I imagine how much better the world and we as a society would be if we lived everyday like it was a party. Not in a sense of literally going out to the bars everyday, but living as if each second was enjoyable.

Cutting out all of the gossip and reality TV shows that make everyone so pressed to know every celebrity in Hollywood’s business would alleviate the pressure of everyone wanting to be THEE somebody instead of just being themselves.

Disregarding boundaries that are constantly acknowledged by society such as race, gender, sexual preference, and economic status would allow people to know that life is more than the title people place on you based off of what they see.

Listening to this song has challenged me to do more than just be and live with complacency. The inspiration I found from listening to this song, on that day, has opened my eyes to the world around me that is waiting for me to indulge myself in it.

Everyone on this earth has a purpose that drives you and a passion to share. It’s what makes you, you.

As I continue to learn and grow in who I am, I hope that you too are able to find, love and cherish the beauty deep inside yourself.