Contrary to belief we are embarking on a special time when it comes to music and culture. It can be hard to see when we are living it, but it’s true. One hundred years from now, the world will look back at our generation and not remember the billboard top 100 or award shows like the Grammys but the festivals we all know and love. In an era that’s expanding on the consciousness of the sixties, music festivals have become a haven for self-expression, exploration, togetherness, new ideas, and more. Music festivals are not just an excuse to party in a field but serve as a revolution for thought and a celebration of music and art. Not only is the festival scene an incredible and necessary escape from reality for dreamers and music fans alike, but it can teach you quality lessons you can take with you into the real world.
Check out The Daily Frequency‘s 10 life lessons you learn from music festivals below.
Patience is a Virtue
Sometimes the best things in life are worth waiting for, and of course, that includes music festivals. While festival life is full of parties and celebrations, it also comes with a lot of waiting. Like it or not, no matter how small the fest is, your patience will be tested. From 12-hour lines to get into the campgrounds to waiting for food, showers, and entering the pit, you will have to spend a good amount of time stuck in limbo. However, it is not how long you wait but how you react to the inconvenience. The quicker you accept those long lines, the better your overall experience will be.
Community is Everything
One of the best things about camping at a music festival is the community it attracts. For one long weekend, the festival grounds turn into a utopian city where everyone lives in true bliss. There are no problems to deal with, no work to attend to, or news stations flooding our consciousness with negativity. Everyone looks out for each other, gets along, and spreads peace and love regardless of religion, race, age, or creed. If we could bring just a fraction of that festival mentality into real life, the world would be a much better place.
Be Present
As GRiZ recites at the start of Chasing The Golden Hour Pt. 3, there is “k(no)w time like the present.” Why spend your life worrying about the future or regretting the past when you can bask in the all-encompassing beauty of the current moment? With shitty cell service and no distractions from the outside world, there is nothing else to do but enjoy the now. Whether you are lost in the sounds of your favorite artist, tripping through the grounds on a psychedelic adventure, or simply laughing with your friends at camp, music festivals are the epitome of living in the present moment.
Stop Taking Life So Seriously
Why so serious? In today’s society, especially in America, we tend to take life entirely too seriously. From school to work, money, rules, and more, we spend most of our days stressing and worrying about what “we are supposed to do.” We get lost in the hardships of life instead of celebrating all that is good. Festivals serve as a friendly reminder that sometimes we need to let loose and have a little fun once in a while!
Money Comes and Goes, Memories Last Forever
We live in a world where money tends to be the end-all-be-all, which is the furthest thing from the truth. Of course, we need money to survive, but music festivals remind us there is far more to life than riches. From an outsider’s perspective choosing a music festival over a job may seem irresponsible and immature, but the reality is that there will always be another job. However, there may never be another chance to see your favorite artist or experience that festival with your friends at that point in time. When you look back at your life, will you regret not working that one week or will you wish you had bought those tickets? Music festivals teach us that we must lean into life, take chances, and do what makes us happy! As Bob Marley would say, it’s not possessions that make us rich but life itself.
Open-Mindedness
One of the most beautiful aspects of life is that we are not all the same. There are tons of different cultures, languages, and ways of living that make us all uniquely human. In order to have a memorable festival experience, it is essential to keep an open mind. You’ll be exposed to strange music, crazy outfits, and people enjoying the festival in ways that may be different from you. The only way to fully embrace the festival life is to fully immerse yourself in the weirdness without judgment. You’ll quickly realize that our differences do not set us apart but, in fact, bring us together.
Be Yourself
In a society full of conformity and judgment, it can be a challenge to always be yourself. Luckily, music festivals are the exact opposite, and self-expression is not just tolerated but encouraged. From the clothes, you rock to the dance moves you bust, and everything in between, festivals allow you to be your most authentic self. So get ready to dance like no one’s watching, let your freak flag fly, and be free.
Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
There is no growth in comfort. One of the best things about music festivals is that they teach you the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone and experiencing new things. Whether it’s waking up early for a sunrise yoga session, checking out an artist or genre you’ve never heard of, or mustering up the courage to make friends with strangers, music festivals provide you with plenty of opportunities to experience something you never have before.
You Don’t Always Need A Plan
Sometimes you need to lose yourself to find yourself. From an early age, we are taught to always have a plan, but in life, that is not always the case. Worrying too much about a course of action can lead to missed opportunities that could have profoundly affected your life experience. Sometimes it’s best to just take a back seat, trust the universe, and let life take you on a ride. With music festivals, you may have a few set artists that you can’t miss but ditching the schedule and going with the flow is the best way to experience the festival in all its glory. By allowing yourself to get lost, you’ll never know what you might discover, from new artists to secret sets, immersive activities, and more.
Things Don’t Always Work Out The Way You Intended
Last but not least, music festivals teach you that everything doesn’t always work out the way you intended. You never know when your favorite artist might drop out from the lineup or when a storm will turn your campsite into a mud puddle. It’s not the unpredictability of the festival that matters but how you react to the situation. The quicker you can accept what you can’t control, the better your festival experience will be.