inspired

My wife has been obsessed with BTS lately–you know, they’re the k-pop boy band that is all over the place lately. Apparently, they won five awards at some recent awards show, and though she can’t understand them when they speak Korean (though she is working on learning the language precisely for this purpose) she jumped up and down when they were announced as the winners. I joke with her about this obsession, but it’s nothing more or less than what I do for groups or artists that I like.

I think the reason I joke so much is because to this point she’s been largely more of a visual and not auditory person, preferring in down times to watch program on television than listen to music, but this group has inspired her to do many things that she hasn’t done with any regularity before. It’s fascinating to watch, so much so that I’ve committed myself to purchasing all of the group’s albums for her (even though they’re supremely expensive and only come in one format for each one).

It makes me think about myself. Have I changed at all? Have there been things in my life recently that have inspired me like this group has inspired her? These are separate questions, though, because I think I have changed, but my inspiration has remained the same as it’s always been. I have always been inspired by one thing–words.

From the time I was little I’ve had a love affair with words. I would look at signs and sound out the words, even if I had no clue what they meant back then, my chubby little cheeks puffing out as I smiled when I got the pronunciation correct. Then it was reading books, and they still inspire me as they always have. But the biggest inspiration has always been music, and specifically lyrics. A good lyric can keep me going far longer than a quote or words of wisdom can.

Then there are my own words. I’ve been writing for over thirty years, and while I haven’t always been satisfied with every single one of my own words, I’ve always enjoyed the process. There’s just something about words that speaks to me more than anything else ever has. I’m always quoting lyrics, saving quotes I’ve found, and relating my life to them.

But BTS… that’s an acquired taste. Perhaps if I have to hear them enough around here I’ll come around on this group. Or maybe it’s just enough that they inspire my wife.