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The Rolling Stones: A Journey of Goal-Setting and Joy

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Chapter 1: The Initial Disappointment

If Keith Richards continues his extraordinary run on this planet, I will finally achieve a long-held dream of witnessing the Rolling Stones live. I believe it will bring immense joy. However, the Stones have already infused happiness into our home — albeit indirectly — by canceling a concert two years ago.

In 2016, my wife and I were all set to attend a show in Las Vegas. Just as we were about to embark on our five-hour drive from Phoenix, an email arrived from the ticket service: “We regret to inform you that The Rolling Stones concert scheduled for Wednesday, October 19 at T-Mobile Arena has been cancelled. Lead vocalist Mick Jagger is suffering from laryngitis and has been advised to rest his voice.” There would be no rescheduled date, and our money was refunded.

Rolling Stones concert cancellation notification

This news left me feeling profoundly disappointed, while my wife experienced an overwhelming sense of loss. The emptiness lingered for days, akin to the sorrow following the death of a loved one.

Yet, in that moment of frustration, I realized something important: live music has an unparalleled ability to bring joy, yet we often neglect to make time for it in our busy lives. I resolved to seek out more concert experiences.

Section 1.1: Expanding Musical Horizons

I started broadening my musical interests, looking for artists we might enjoy, including classic rock acts as well as new talents I discovered on Spotify. I signed up for notifications and kept a close watch on ticket sales.

Our first outing was a no-brainer. My teenage son, who shares my love for Green Day, experienced pure joy when we attended a concert featuring Billie Joe Armstrong.

I took it a step further by securing tickets to a cozy venue in Phoenix, where we enjoyed an intimate performance by Milky Chance, leaving us with lasting happiness. Although I found the shows by Dan Auerbach (of the Black Keys) and Jack White (of the White Stripes) less thrilling, they still contributed to our growing happiness bucket.

Taking my son and his friends to see Mac DeMarco play in a small alley was, quite frankly, a definition of joy. Witnessing Greta Van Fleet perform in a small venue felt like a time machine to a hypothetical Zeppelin concert back in 1969.

Section 1.2: Rediscovering Shared Memories

Last night, my wife and I attended a Bob Seger concert, which transported her back to her Detroit roots. It was a night filled with nostalgia, and Bob's gravelly voice was as captivating as ever, despite a few high notes being skipped. The experience was unexpectedly fulfilling.

We don’t need scientific evidence to know that music elevates our spirits. However, studies suggest we are neurologically wired to respond emotionally to songs, whether joyful or melancholic — even infants can distinguish between the two. Music has been shown to alleviate stress, enhance immune function, and aid recovery post-surgery. Remarkably, it can also “awaken” memories in those suffering from dementia.

Sting and Shaggy performing at the Van Buren Theater

Chapter 2: Shifting Perspectives on Goals

However, the initial goal of seeing the Rolling Stones brought me disappointment rather than joy. By changing my focus to enjoying more live music, we entered a joyful era as a family that continues to this day.

Months after witnessing the unlikely duo of Sting and Shaggy from a mere hundred feet away, I find myself smiling at the memory of their duet on “Message in a Bottle” and “It Wasn’t Me” (yes, Sting tackled the more risqué lyrics — it was a strange experience!).

Research indicates that setting realistic goals often leads to greater life satisfaction compared to lofty aspirations. A recent study involving participants aged 18 to 92 assessed the significance and perceived attainability of various life goals, spanning health, personal growth, and relationships. They were then asked about their well-being two and four years later.

The findings revealed that the perceived attainability of a goal was a stronger predictor of enhanced well-being than its importance. Notably, goals related to health and relationships yielded greater satisfaction than other categories.

“A general happiness goal can leave a longer-lasting positive emotional imprint,” the researchers concluded in the European Journal of Personality.

In contrast to conventional wisdom, which suggests that specific goals are more beneficial, my own experience with the “see more live music” goal illustrates that broader objectives can sometimes be more effective for enhancing happiness.

In a study conducted last year, participants were asked to describe a recent significant purchase and its impact on their happiness. Those who framed their descriptions in general terms — focusing on increasing joy and happiness — reported greater long-term satisfaction compared to those who had specific goals related to their purchases.

“Our findings suggest that people can change the amount of happiness they derive from an experience,” stated Rohini Ahluwalia, the study's author from the University of Minnesota. “A general happiness goal can leave a longer-lasting positive emotional imprint.”

That said, I’m not abandoning my plans to see the Rolling Stones. Tickets are secured. Regardless of what happens, I’m thrilled to say that our family has embraced more live music and, consequently, more joy in our lives.

No matter what your musical preference is, please consider participating in my Happiness Survey, which aims to explore who is happy, who isn’t, and why. It’s completely anonymous.

Concert memories that bring joy Mac DeMarco's intimate performance

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