Over the last few years, I have become more conscious of the music I listen to and how it quietly shapes nearly every part of my day.
I wasn’t always someone who appreciated music the way I do now and I was quick to judge the tastes of others without taking the time to broaden my own. It wasn’t until I challenged those assumptions that music shifted from something I barely noticed to something deeply personal and meaningful.
Now, music is something that is rarely absent from my day. If you know me at all, I am always listening to something, whether it’s when I’m delivering papers or in moments where I would otherwise be alone with my thoughts.
I constantly switch between genres depending on my mood, the time of day, or the pace of what I am doing. I find myself switching tracks even based on the time of day or even the pace of what I am doing.
Even now, while writing, I find myself switching from artists like Weezer and Faye Webster to help keep myself on track.
What once felt like something that was just there for background noise or entertainment has become something grounding for me. With streaming services like Spotify, music feels like a constant presence that makes everyday routines feel fuller and more intentional.
Over the last six months, I have found myself intentionally exploring music I once overlooked or assumed I would not enjoy. I cycle through R&B, indie, folk, alternative rock and hip hop without limiting myself to one sound or era. I have started revisiting older music while also seeking out new and lesser-known artists.
I have started finding excitement in taking a chance on music, really giving the artist a chance before forming an opinion. Finding a new artist or getting a recommendation from a friend is another way I stay connected to music. I look forward to that feeling, hearing something new for the first time that instantly resonates with me.
This shift in how I listen to music has also changed the way I think about other people’s tastes. I recognize how unfair it was to form opinions so quickly, especially when music is such a personal experience.
Spending more time listening instead of judging has made me more open, not just to new sounds but to the idea that enjoyment does not need justification.
Music does not have to be universally liked to be meaningful. That understanding has reshaped the way I engage with both music and the people who share it with me.
It is no longer something that I passively consume or dismiss without thought. Music has become that steady presence in my life that I can rely on, filling quiet moments and offering a connection where there otherwise might be silence.
Learning to listen more openly has not only expanded my taste but also challenged the way I approach opinions and the people around me. As my relationship with music continues to evolve, I find value not in deciding what is good or bad but in remaining curious and staying open-minded. I can honestly say that shifting my listening habits has helped me take a step back in everyday life.
I find joy in simpler moments, like a quiet morning with a song that perfectly fits my mood or a new artist who surprises me with something I didn’t know I loved. Music has taught me to stay curious and to listen without judgment.
Music has taught me to embrace both the familiar and the unexpected. It has become a reflection of who I am. Someone willing to explore, learn and grow. Every day, I carry a little of that openness with me, trying to let it shape the way I experience the world and the people around me.