The lyrics of the infamous “Listen to your heart”, a song written, arranged and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman for Sonia’s debut studio album, Everybody Knows (1990), jumped into my head when I pondered the topic that pulled so deeply at my heart as I considered what to write about.
I didn’t understand why at first, but as I sat with it, it took me back to my final year of school, a memory that has come and gone over the years. It was such a FUN year. But I’ve been thinking about the person I was back then…. I wasn’t a very outgoing child, not because I wasn’t outgoing, but because I had a very strict parent who would not allow me to “party”. When I started grade 8, many of my primary school friends came to the same school, but before that first year was over, I wasn’t part of the friendship circle anymore.
I often wonder if that was a good or bad thing. Would I have felt influenced to do some of the things I heard they got up to? I guess I’ll never really know.
But today, as I sit here, taking this trip down memory lane, remembering that version of myself, the quiet, cautious one with big dreams, I realise that she is still very present in my life. Sometimes, she can be found whispering questions like “Did I miss out?” or “Did I do enough?” to me and other times, when I take a bold step or do something that resulted in a win, she’s been my biggest cheerleader, shouting, “Just look at you!” proudly as if to say “we’ve come so far”. I think we all carry a little piece of our younger selves around with us; sometimes, they speak to us in ways and times that we least expect. I guess today, she’s asking me to listen, really listen.
Who knew those lyrics would come to mean so much when I sang so flippantly all those years ago and subsequently over the years when they appeared on the radio? At 17, I definitely did not know how to listen to my heart. Did you?
Of course, I’ve listened to rules, expectations and, of course, my fears! But maybe my heart was guiding me even then, guiding me to stay true to myself even if I didn’t realise it. They say hindsight is foresight, and I can now see the value in those quiet choices. Maybe that’s what the song was trying to teach me all those years ago. To trust the quiet nudges and whispers that came from within. Our hearts often know the way, even if we don’t understand it.
Do you ever take the time to pause and listen to your heart or the nudges that you feel every day? Maybe what’s on my heart today is the realisation that every step, even the uncertain ones, shapes who we are.
So here’s to my heart today! For the journey I’ve walked, the friends who shaped parts of it, and the moments that taught me how to hear my heart a little clearer.
Perhaps a reminder to all of us to trust the wisdom of our past selves while holding space for the possibilities of today.
Thank you for the trip down memory lane, Deirdre. Not just the song, also having shared some of these childhood experiences with you. Seeing the amazing things you’ve accomplished along the way is inspiring!
Thank you Allison. Little did we know when we were just some teenieboppers LOL!
As the end of another year comes hurtling into view your post is perfectly timed.
We are too quick to look at what we haven’t achieved, where we think we need to improve, evolve, looking externally for validation and yet we have a wealth of wisdom already, if we just stop and reflect. I love the final sentence ” trust the wisdom of our past selves while holding space for the possibilities of today.”
Thank you for your kind words Louise xx
I love that phrase Deirdre of trusting the wisdom of our past selves, (maybe before we became too worldly wise?) Also important when reflecting to be kind to our past selves if we see things as Louise says that were not perfect. We always do the best we can with the knowledge and resources we have available at the time.