Sometimes I hear a song and, from the first notes or the first lyrics, it moves me and makes me cry.
So was the case just now with a song used as accompaniment to an Instagram video uploaded by the Weltmuseum Wien (the World Museum Vienna) to celebrate World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue & Development.
A song I hadn’t heard before, but one I immediately went to look for, and a song, it turns out, that was written and is sung by a British artist called Tom Rosenthal.
And an artist with the most beautifully sad and touching voice, and someone who wrote something that, in just two lines of lyrics alone, says something we should all think about more.
Were they really worth it? All these woes, that come and go.
All these sad, hurtful, awful and terrible things that happen in our lives. Many caused by nothing more than a moment of anger or bigotry or racism or hatred.
Or hurt.
A moment that, if we calmed down, relaxed and were less quick to anger, in the grand scheme of things would not be that important.
But we don’t.
Instead, we let personal anger, or hatred, or racism or bigotry, or lack of self-confidence, or preferring to believe someone meant to hurt us when they really didn’t, rule how we react to things.
And to the people that supposedly caused those feelings in us.
Was it worth it for the view
It all looked good from up there
All the roses were in bloom
There was pollen in the air
It all comes and goes
It all comes and goes
All these woes
All these woes“Woes” — Tom Rosenthal
So, on this World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue & Development, why not look at things from a positive point of view?
Look for the best in people. And choose to believe that everyone has something wonderful to offer, regardless of who they are or where they come from.
Look for what brings us together, rather than what keeps us apart.
And, of course, watch the short video from the Weltmuseum Vienna that started me off down this path of thoughts today.
A day in which, feeling overwhelmed, sad, and missing the people I care about the most, it was also a video that introduced not-before-heard music and made me feel better.
As for Tom Rosenthal, you can find out more about him on his website, and on his YouTube channel.
The Weltmuseum Wien’s website is here.
The Weltmuseum Wien’s lovely little video is below, and Tom Rosenthal’s stunning music video for ‘Woes‘ is below that.
Have a happy World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue & Development.
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