GONG Jae Ok

Right now, I am listening to the wonderful song Jerusalema while heading out for new adventures driving. Even though I feel grief for the loss of someone close to me, my god father to be precise, I can still feel the beat of this song. The music, melody, the lyrics and the beat effortless shifts my feelings towards brighter and lighter feelings. 

It makes me feel like I want to dance and my body is without thinking of it bouncing up and down. The effect on me is profound. If I hadn’t been driving I would be clapping my hands high up in the air. 

I can feel the heartbeat of this song which initially was intended to spread some hope due to the corona virus all over the world affecting the everyday life of us all. Noone was out of the spotlight. Not even the presidents.

When thinking of slowly losing someone close who still remains in his physical body is tormenting. And losing someone with dementia is heartbreaking but perhaps, if you and I whoever is reading this, and listening to this song, we could both be bouncing up and down with our shoulders and even clap our hands lifting them above your head. 

Only then, we might ease the burden and intense feelings, if only for a fraction but a fraction is better than nothing at all.  

 And while we are at it, maybe even stand up and take one step in front of each other. Tap the toes of the left foot four times and then tap the other toes of your right foot and now we do everything together.  

 Bounce, shoulders steady, clap your hands and chant as high as you possibly can and jerusalema. Jerusalema and if you are too embarrassed you might hum to the melody because I have no idea what the lyrics are but I am certain positive that it is something soothing because we can all feel it in my bones. It speaks to everything that has been holding me back. 

If we just keep standing up, close our eyes and feel the beat and what it is doing to your own heart beat.  

  If you by any chance are not able to feel it, then you might listen a little bit deeper, a little bit deeper than your mind can stretch, even go as far as exceed what your mind allows you to go but your soul urges you to. Which is to get out there and make sure you constantly are one step closer to that secret dream of yours.  

 Before you know it or not, realize it or not, the words of the songs (even though the fact that I do not understand a single word) carry me through earth and fire, through thunderstorms, tsunamis, hurricanes, monsun rain and pain and agony, through sorrow and grief and every other reason there is to live and not.