And when I say “feel” I mean really really FEEL. Like, get goosebumps. Or a lump in your throat. A sudden awareness of yourself. As I was driving through town the other day I happened to drive by a large church that started ringing its normal hourly bells and quickly got goosebumps all over. It was in that moment that I realized that I can name a handful of things that cause that immediate reaction for myself. After thinking about it, I realized that they are all very powerful events or sounds that cause this reaction. Church bells being the first one that I realized, the second being bagpipes.
I don’t know what it is. I remember working at a bakery in town a few years ago while a parade was happening. During the parade, a huge group of bagpipers made their way down Broadway. I was clearing a table and caught myself getting choked up. On tears! real tears! I have absolutely no reason for why this happened. I still think about it! All of my coworkers must have thought I was such a weirdo. But I didn’t care. It was just raw emotion caused by an event. Or maybe it was the kilts.
Another (probably more common?) instance that I have noticed this happen is when listening to music. One instance in particular was when I went to listen to the 1812 Overture and watch a firework show that they do together every year at SPAC. I almost always have an emotional reaction to this one. I don’t know if it is the extremely powerful music, the cannons themselves or the fireworks. Probably some crazy combination of the three.