It was inevitable that my seven-year-old would fall for Linkin Park.

The California-based rock band remains an integral part of my playlist and has now found its way to Messi.

We realized quite early that our son had an ear for music and we have encouraged him to find his tune over the years. One of my earlier blogposts deals with the matter - A Playlist for Messi. While he had shown an affinity for rock before, it was only recently that I noticed that he had taken to Linkin Park.

One fine morning, I caught him humming 'Somewhere I Belong'.

Linkin Park!

There's a special satisfaction when your child is fond of something you like. A song. A game. A football team (someday soon!). As such, as I saw him groove to this masterpiece from Linkin Park, I couldn't help a small smile on my face.

Growing up with Linkin Park

I still remember the first time I heard Linkin Park. I was watching a World Rally Championship Video, just cars racing through rugged country roads. Interestingly, 'In The End' was playing in the background. It was a different kind of music, revolutionary even, mixing elements of Hip Hop with traditional Rock. For the ones like us who grew up under the musical influence of AC/DC, The Eagles, and Metallica, among others, Linkin Park was something entirely different.

And it was good.

It was a perfect amalgamation of hard-hitting lyrics, hummable tunes, and catchy music arrangements. In the End was a source to vent your anger out at life, throw your frustrations into the wall, and watch them crumble.

I tried so hard and got so far, but it the end, it doesn't even matter.

And then we heard Numb.

I'm tired of being what you want me to be....

I'm sure everyone has heard Numb once in their life. At least everyone I know has. The song talks about being fed up with trying to be someone you are not. Of trying to live up to the expectations of others. Of losing your head and heart while trying to please others.

'Cause everything that you thought I would be has fallen apart right in front of you.

Breaking the Habit, Somewhere I Belong, From the Inside, Points of Authority, and Crawling, all speak of a familiar pain. And they feature prominently in my playlist.

So one morning, I sat down with Messi to try and see if I could make him an LP Soldier like his old man. Much to my frustration, my seven-year-old outright rejected Crawling, From the Inside, Numb, and Points of Authority. Breaking the Habit struck a chord, and In the End was accepted as well.

However, it was clear that Somewhere I Belong was his favorite.

Somewhere I Belong

Somewhere I Belong was released around 21 years ago in 2003, and was the first song of Linkin Park's second album Meteora. Yet the song remains as relevant as even in the present world. It speaks about self-discovery, about the troubles of accepting yourself as you are. It's the yearning for a sense of belonging, the search for a haven where you feel at peace.

These are grave issues addressed in the lyrics that are too tough for my seven-year-old to grasp. And so he plays with his toy cars in the happy confines of his home and sings Somewhere I Belong.

But not everyone is so lucky. There are people this song will resonate with, people who have struggled with self-esteem, who have struggled to fit in. People who haven't had the courage to open up to others.

When this began, I had nothing to say
And I got lost in the nothingness inside of me

I am sure as Messi grows up, he will realize the actual meaning of the words of his favorite song. Till then, though, I believe it is important that he finds his safe place in the songs he likes.

Chester Bennington’s view of Depression

Chester Bennington, Linkin Park's lead vocalist and songwriter passed away in July 2017 following a prolonged struggle with depression. What is sad is that he took his own life, a tragic end to a gifted personality. It would appear that all the darkness and insanity that he was so vocal about ultimately caught up with him.

In the song “From The Inside”, Bennington speaks about trust issues.

I don’t know who to trust, no surprise
Everyone feels so far away from me

In Crawling, Bennington seems to be fighting his own demons, a power that is eating his head inside.

There's something inside me that pulls beneath the surface
Consuming, Confusing. This lack of self-control I fear is never ending

Linkin Park apparently started off with the name Xeno, then went by the name Hybrid Theory, before finally settling on Linkin Park. The band haven’t made a new song since Chester Bennington’s death. They have released new editions of their old hits, but haven't managed to fill the void made by the departure of a close friend.

It is a testament to the powers of the mind. Of the curse of depression.

Depression is Real

Fear. Anxiety. Depression.

They are an integral part of the modern world, monsters creeping into our shadows without our knowledge. Depression will never be branded as a pandemic, because very few have the courage to step up and admit its existence. However, the impact of depression on the modern world cannot be ignored anymore.

We are gradually becoming a lonely race. As the world moves faster by the minute, as we hustle and bustle our way to our dreams, our targets, and our goals, we often tend to ignore our minds, as well as the minds of the ones closest to us.

As I watch Messi grow up, I can only hope I can be by his side when he needs me the most. I hope I can be a shoulder he can lean on. I hope I can be the ear that he can turn to.

This post is also an ode to the people who stay in touch. To the ones who reach out, lend a hand. The ones who offer to help without asking. The world needs more of such saviours. To such angels in my life, you have my eternal gratitude.

If you are reading this, make sure you enquire about the mental well-being of the people close to you. If you are reading this and need someone to talk to, reach out to a friend. Knock on my door if there's nowhere to go. And I promise I shall listen.

Sadness is more common than you think. It is okay to be sad. It is okay to feel bad, to feel blue. It is okay to feel like the end of the world. But, remember that you are not the only one who feels this way. Remember that it doesn't have to be like that all the time.

Once you open up, you will find that there's so much good in the world, in the people around you and that help is just around the corner.

But of course, Chester Bennington has already said it best in Messi's favorite Linkin Park song:

And I let it all out to find
That I am not the only person with these things in mind

Reach out. Talk. Remember, you are not alone. And you don't have to be.

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