On Saturday February 11th, 2012 – the world lost one of the greatest voices it’s ever heard. Whitney Houston, an artist known for her smooth voice, high notes and wicked power ballads passed away.
Now you may be wondering:
How does the death of a singing superstar have anything to do with a backpacking blog?
Please, humour me by simply hearing me out on this. I promise it will make sense and not seem like a tabloid.
Music is a pretty influential aspect of my life. It plays a part in pretty much everything I do.
When I have work to do – I listen to music.
When I need to relax – I listen to music.
When I need an energy boost – I listen to music.
When I’m doing, well, anything – I listen to music.
For this reason, I will admit everything takes me longer then it should because I’m constantly returning to my computer at the end of each song to find the next most appropriate tune for whatever task is at hand.
But I digress…
Of the millions upon millions of songs out there, a select few find themselves played more frequently.
Ike & Tina Turner’s ‘Proud Mary’ is my mood lifter.
The Jackson Five’s ‘Blame it on the Boogie’ is when I need an energy boost.
Tont Bennet’s ‘The Way You Look Tonight’ helps me mellow out.
But when I need inspiration and that push to live life to it’s fullest, my song of choice is Whitney Houston’s ‘One Moment In Time’.
Even if you just winced, please, do read on.
Each day, my intent is to live life to the upmost. To soak in every experience, tiny wonder and interaction I come across. In life we want to achieve our best, live wholeheartedly and make the most of the short time we have on this planet.
One of the ways I do this is through backpacking and travelling in general.
Yes, sometimes I leave home without my backpack…
Through exploring the world, other cultures, foods and landscapes I learn more about both myself and my neighbor, and from this, I get fulfillment.
As Oprah says:
Live your best life.
Travelling helps me achieve this.
But wait…wasn’t this article about Whitney Houston?
Right. When I was on my first big trip around the world, there were MANY a time the circumstances I was faced with were attempting to push me over the edge. Indian train rides, scam artists, food poisoning.
There is certainly more to travelling then the fun experiences like relaxing on sunny beaches in Rio, renting apartments in Glasgow or another city you’ve fallen in love with so you can stay awhile, or even tubing down the Nam Song river.
On many occasions when I felt like throwing in the towel, it was Whitney’s tune that carried me through. In saying that, I guess you and I have Whitney Houston to thank for me not ending my trip and subsequently stopping this blog. Ha!
If you’ve never listened to the words, they are very simple. Below are a few snippets for you to read:
Each day I live, I want to be, a day to give, the best of me. I’m only one, but not alone. My finest day is yet unknown…
I’ve lived to be, the very best, I want it all, no time for less. I’ve laid the plans, now lay the chance, here in my hands…
Give me one moment in time, when I’m more than I thought I could be. When all of my dreams are a heartbeat away and the answers are all up to me. Give me one moment in time, when I’m racing with destiny, then in that one moment of time, I will be free.
These words became my mantra. I too would have my great moment in time. In fact, personally, I feel I’ve had many great moments in time – but you get the idea. 
There has been a great deal of messy media around the passing of Ms. Houston, as is the case for most scenarios like hers.
But as a thank you to a woman who’s voice and songs carried me through countless points in my life (many that I have not even touched on in this post) I want to honour what she contributed to society.
As a person, Whitney Houston had her own demons and struggles – as we all do.
But as a performer and vocalist she was a symbol. Many of her songs, like ‘One Moment In Time’ shared the message of love, achievement, personal struggle, and of course letting loose and dancing around your living room singing like nobody’s watching.
I will not specifically miss Whitney Houston the person as I never met or knew her personally. I will however, miss what she represented.
I truly believe the world is a better place having being graced by the voice of Whitney Houston and although she is no longer walking on this planet, I know her music will continue to play a role in my life and the lives of many others.
On that note, I’d like to leave you with the following video. It is of Whitney Houston performing “One Moment In Time” live at the 1989 Grammy’s.
It is without question one of her best performances and truly one of the greatest live performances of all time.
She sings effortlessly and truthfully.
Thank you Whitney Houston.
