I walked into the University of Colorado Stadium in Boulder expecting what I was about to experience to be like any other concert I had been to. Boy, was I completely wrong.
Let me walk you through what happened the last 24 hours before stepping foot into the stadium. I was at my boyfriend's house and were talking about the regular things we talk about, what we want to watch on Netflix (Orange Is The New Black, obviously), what we want to eat (this is such a struggle between any couple ever, do not deny this), etc. Then he brings up the Dead and Company show that was occurring in Boulder on Saturday (keep in mind this conversation was taking place the day before). He had two general admission tickets and he wanted me to go with him, and I said why not? So, we packed the car and drove ten hours from Tulsa to Boulder.
What happened the next five hours kind of blew my mind. Everyone there was the epitome of the stereotype of "hippie." There were tie-dye t-shirts of every color combination possible, dreadlocks that were miles long (you think I'm exaggerating, I'm not), and the smell of a certain something billowing throughout the stadium (you get what I mean, right? Colorado?). I even saw multiple mothers openly breastfeeding and there was not one person complaining about it (so different from Oklahoma, I couldn't believe my eyes!). Despite all this I've never felt at home as I did then. Every person was so completely accepting and carefree. They were all here to see the Grateful Dead, and nothing was going to bring them down. That was something I had to respect.
Initially, I was a little uncomfortable because I am a relatively normal college sorority girl from Tulsa, Oklahoma. I figured that they would judge me for being too cookie cutter, but that was not the case at all. During the intermission, there were a circle of people sitting down, so we went sat down near them. Almost immediately, a guy within the circle said, "Guys, we need to expand our love circle and let these people in." These were complete strangers that opened up their circle for us. I had never felt so included in my life. I met many new people that day that I'll never see again, but the experience with them is a memory I'll keep with me for the rest of my life.
There was one guy that stood out to us especially. He had a relatively normal appearance and introduced himself to us as Matt. This guy had been to 300+ Grateful Dead concerts--now that's dedication if I've ever seen it. We talked with him for most of the intermission and there were a couple of things that he said that really resonated with me. Paraphrasing him, he said, "People never really can feel free and comfortable until they learn to let go. We're all hearing the same music but dancing differently. We are living in the same world, but living differently, and the great thing about the concerts is that people understand that. People are free and they know everyone around them are too, and that makes for a complete area of love and acceptance." That is some straight philosophical wisdom, isn't it? He literally blew my mind, put it back together, and then blew my mind again. Listening to him speak, I was so entranced by how at peace he was with the world.
The music started again, and I suddenly felt free to move however I wanted to, and dance however I wanted to. Everyone was moving their whole bodies, twirling, and dancing with complete strangers as if it was completely normal. What Matt said inspired me to let go and enjoy a once in a lifetime concert. I twirled and swayed my body to the music and had my eyes closed. For them, it was not about getting close to the band to take pictures so people knew that they were there. It was about listening to the music and letting go. I rarely saw a phone out to take pictures, because for them the experience and memory alone was enough. This was so unlike any other concert I have ever been to, and that's a good thing.
I walked in as a judgmental person who cared about what others thought, and walked out an accepting person who went with the flow. Every day should be like a Grateful Dead concert.
