Making Personal Moments Matter
In case you were wondering, this photo is a few years old, and definitely not what it looks like this winter.
If you had to choose three to five unforgettable moments in your life, what would they be? I’m looking for a moment, so instead of “your wedding,” what was a moment at your wedding that stands out?
My mindfulness practice has me thinking about these moments and really being present for them - like the time I skied down a mountain in the full moonlight, no headlamps needed. That moment made me appreciate the beauty of being fully present and alive.
Another epic moment was in 2019, belting out the words to "Piano Man" with Billy Joel (in person), and 20,000 people at Madison Square Garden. I finally got to see him live, and I have adored him since I was a child. The Stranger is one of the best albums of all time. I put my phone in my pocket as the familiar opening piano riff began because I didn’t want to miss a moment. Unbeknownst to me, I had hit record as the phone went in my pocket.
https://youtu.be/uxbvO6vM_hY
What struck me about that moment was how 20,000 of us had this intimate experience. Knowing all the lyrics, we joined together to sing. It felt hopeful.
In his documentary, And Soit Goes (on HBO Max), we learn about the story behind the song. Billy was in a bad contract with a record producer, and while he was trying to get out of it, he needed to work, but he wasn’t allowed to perform as “Billy Joel.” So he got a job at The Executive Room in Los Angeles under the alias of Bill Martin, playing the piano in the lounge. The Piano Man tells the story of the characters he got to know (“the regular crowd shuffled in”). His girlfriend got a job there as a waitress (the waitress was practicing politics).
He had no idea this song would become a hit. In fact, he tried not to play it at a few concerts and learned quickly that it was a non-negotiable (to play it). It struck a chord with people (pun intended!) because even though it was a song about his own experiences, seemingly mild or uninteresting experiences, it was a shared lived experience - “they’re sharing a drink they called loneliness, but it’s better than drinking alone.”
That’s where the connection happens. The experiences in our stories might be unique, but the themes are universal. If we do a good job connecting to that higher purpose, you’ll strike a chord with your audience. It may even surprise you.
You don’t have to be Billy Joel - you just have to be you. Tie your story in with a purpose, and you can have the same effect: not the singing part, don’t worry about that - just the hope part. The trust - the moment.