New Experiences Can Unite Families with Contrasting Interests
By Reagan Greenwood
I have always been a concert fan. I love the thrill of having the arena go pitch black and feel the low bass rumbling through my body. I live for the moment when the artist is finally visible and the entire crowd yells with excitement. Concerts are the one thing that I spend money on like it is nothing more than green paper. My family had never really understood. My siblings would usually poke fun at me for complaining about how much I missed an artist only a couple days after the show. My parents would roll their eyes when I told them about each minute in excruciating detail. None of them saw the point in paying money to see a concert when they could just listen to the music online for free.
This past summer I was able to attend the Kansas City show of Imagine Dragon’s Evolve Tour. Now, don’t get me wrong, I liked Imagine Dragons before the concert. I knew all their songs and the names of their albums. However, they were not a band that I followed very closely. But when my younger brother told me that they were the only band he would pay money to see, I jumped at the opportunity. I told to my dad, and the two of us ordered tickets for the entire family. My brother and I sat closer to the stage, while my parents and older sister sat in the high level.
At first, my brother seemed unamused. He didn’t really dance or move. He didn’t yell or react much at all, but as the concert went on, he began to loosen up. Before long, I could hear my brother singing along at the top of his lungs. He clapped his hands and nodded his head with the beat. He even chanted for an encore!
Once the concert ended, my brother and I met up with the rest of our family. My sister gushed about how great the show was and that she was really involved throughout the show. The entire hour and half drive home consisted of concert talk. Everyone shared their favorite songs and what impressed them the most. We even played some of their music and danced just as the lead singer had on stage.
This concert had a lasting impression on my family. For the first time, they were able to relate with something that I hold dear to my heart. Everyone has different interests, even within the same family. For example, my brother loves video games, my sister loves baseball, and my parents really get into NASCAR. I don’t necessarily find all those things interesting, but I know they do. Each one gets excited and their eyes grow wide as they explain something.
A lot of families struggle to connect, but all it takes is one event. For my family, it was a concert. For others, it may simply be sitting down and listening to a story from a family member or playing a game together. It is important to notice the things that interest those around you. Take the extra time to listen to your loved ones. Maybe even try to learn more about the subject and make an effort to engage. It may seem small, but having an open mind and a willingness to learn about new things can really make a difference.
Edited by Klancy Hoover
By Reagan Greenwood
I have always been a concert fan. I love the thrill of having the arena go pitch black and feel the low bass rumbling through my body. I live for the moment when the artist is finally visible and the entire crowd yells with excitement. Concerts are the one thing that I spend money on like it is nothing more than green paper. My family had never really understood. My siblings would usually poke fun at me for complaining about how much I missed an artist only a couple days after the show. My parents would roll their eyes when I told them about each minute in excruciating detail. None of them saw the point in paying money to see a concert when they could just listen to the music online for free.
This past summer I was able to attend the Kansas City show of Imagine Dragon’s Evolve Tour. Now, don’t get me wrong, I liked Imagine Dragons before the concert. I knew all their songs and the names of their albums. However, they were not a band that I followed very closely. But when my younger brother told me that they were the only band he would pay money to see, I jumped at the opportunity. I told to my dad, and the two of us ordered tickets for the entire family. My brother and I sat closer to the stage, while my parents and older sister sat in the high level.
At first, my brother seemed unamused. He didn’t really dance or move. He didn’t yell or react much at all, but as the concert went on, he began to loosen up. Before long, I could hear my brother singing along at the top of his lungs. He clapped his hands and nodded his head with the beat. He even chanted for an encore!
Once the concert ended, my brother and I met up with the rest of our family. My sister gushed about how great the show was and that she was really involved throughout the show. The entire hour and half drive home consisted of concert talk. Everyone shared their favorite songs and what impressed them the most. We even played some of their music and danced just as the lead singer had on stage.
This concert had a lasting impression on my family. For the first time, they were able to relate with something that I hold dear to my heart. Everyone has different interests, even within the same family. For example, my brother loves video games, my sister loves baseball, and my parents really get into NASCAR. I don’t necessarily find all those things interesting, but I know they do. Each one gets excited and their eyes grow wide as they explain something.
A lot of families struggle to connect, but all it takes is one event. For my family, it was a concert. For others, it may simply be sitting down and listening to a story from a family member or playing a game together. It is important to notice the things that interest those around you. Take the extra time to listen to your loved ones. Maybe even try to learn more about the subject and make an effort to engage. It may seem small, but having an open mind and a willingness to learn about new things can really make a difference.
Edited by Klancy Hoover
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