Have you ever had a song that you’ve known for years and years and you know it well; the lyrics, the time, everything, but then you hear it one day and it hits you completely differently.
That happened to me this weekend with Jackson Browne’s In the Shape of a Heart, from his Lives in the Balance album of 1986.
It’s a song about love and loss that is a very personal song in an album mainly filled with political comment. Browne has described it in the past as one of his best songs and, while I’ve always enjoyed it, I probably wouldn’t have thought of it even in my top 5 of his. Then something happened when I listened to it again.
This line in particular…
We keep it up, we try so hard,
To keep a life from coming apart,
And never know,
The shallows and the unseen reefs,
That are there from the start,
In the shape of a heart.
I don’t know; somehow the pain in the lyric really got under my skin.
Anyway, I’ve listened to it a good few times this weekend as a result and I recommend you do too. I’ve loved Jackson Browne’s music since I was 16. The poetry and beauty of it. I’ve been very lucky to see him live a few times, particularly in 1994 at The Royal Albert Hall which was an important moment in my life.
Thanks for reading,
Richard
One of the hardest truths about human nature…
is that not everyone who smiles at you is celebrating your success.
Some people cheer for you…
only as long as you’re not doing better than they are.
The moment your life starts improving…
your confidence grows…
your opportunities increase…
their support slowly turns into silence.
Not because you’ve done anything wrong.
But because your progress reminds them of the goals they never chased.
Real supporters don’t disappear when you succeed.
They don’t compete with your happiness.
They don’t secretly hope you fail just to feel better about themselves.
They celebrate your wins as if they were their own.
That’s why success doesn’t just change your life.
It reveals the true intentions of the people around you.
Pay attention to who claps when you win…
and who suddenly becomes quiet.
Because envy rarely announces itself.
It hides behind fake smiles, forced compliments, and silent distance.
The right people will never feel threatened by your growth. They will be inspired by it.
🖤 Not everyone watching your journey wants to see you reach the finish line. Learn the difference between admiration and hidden envy.
#deepthoght
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