September 15, 2025
Every day on Low Two Pair, I explore a Thought of the Day and Question of the Day, one to stretch the mind and one to open the heart. Today’s pair takes us into music, rhythm, and what it means to live out loud even when the world doesn’t quite get it. If you’ve ever sung too loudly in the car or danced like a fool at a wedding, this post is for you.
Thought of the Day: Dancing Where Others Can’t Hear the Music
“And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.” — Friedrich Nietzsche
Nietzsche was onto something here. Life is full of invisible soundtracks, those little joys, passions, or quirks that others might not understand. Maybe it’s your obsession with learning every useless trivia fact, or maybe it’s the way you light up when your kids belt out Frozen songs in the living room.
I’ve been on both sides of this quote. There have been times I thought someone else was “insane” only to realize later they were simply tuned into music I hadn’t learned to hear yet. And other times, I’ve been the one dancing, figuratively or literally, while others stood around wondering if I’d lost my mind.
But here’s the truth: the world is better when we choose to dance anyway. We waste too much energy worrying about how we look. The people who leave a mark are the ones who risk looking silly. If you want proof, just picture me once again stepping in cat vomit before dawn, muttering Nietzsche quotes under my breath, and then writing about it here. That’s a dance in itself.
On the opposite side of things, you might like another post I wrote about your favorite thing to do when you’re alone.
Question of the Day: What’s a Song You Can’t Help but Sing Along With?
For me, two songs always pull me in: “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” and “Come On Eileen.” Neither are easy to sing, one is basically a rock opera with baseball commentary, the other requires you to scream words you don’t fully understand, but I don’t care. When they come on, I’m in.
We all have those songs. Maybe it’s a guilty pleasure like Call Me Maybe. Maybe it’s a timeless anthem like Sweet Caroline (which somehow makes strangers in a stadium feel like lifelong friends). Music has a way of bypassing all the filters we normally put up. You don’t think, you just sing.
My kids remind me of this daily. They don’t worry if they’re on key. They just sing, loudly and proudly. I think that’s what Nietzsche was talking about too. Maybe the real insanity is not singing when you know the words.
From the joy of singing to secret sorrows, you might like Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not.
So, your turn: what’s your sing-along song? And do you belt it in the shower, the car, or only after a couple glasses of wine?
Bringing It Together
The Thought of the Day and Question of the Day both remind me of one simple truth: life is meant to be participated in, not observed. Whether you’re dancing to a tune no one else can hear or singing along to Meat Loaf like you’re auditioning for Broadway, you’re choosing to live fully.
And if people think you’re crazy? Good. At least you’re having fun.
If you’re ready for more daily doses of reflection, humor, and maybe even a song recommendation or two, sign up for my free daily email.