On the Radio by Regina Spektor

by Diana
(Portland, OR, USA)

Regina Spektor Picture

This quote is by Regina Spektor off the song "On the Radio" from the album "Begin to Hope."

"This is how it works
You're young until you're not
You love until you don't
You try until you can't
You laugh until you cry
You cry until you laugh
And everyone must breathe
Until their dying breath."

The reason this quote has inspired me is because it helps remind me what I am in control of and what I simply must accept. There are many things in our life that we can control, our actions, who we choose to spend time with.

Even though as humans we are truly autonomous, we must also respect that some things are beyond our control--everyone must breathe until their dying breath. Clearly we cannot control every one of our emotions and this song reminds us to let bygones be bygones, you love until you don't, you love until you can't.

We are not expected to be perfect, but rather we are expected to be humans. As humans, we grow and we mature and we love and then we change. Then it happens all over again.

The experience is not a static one but rather a dynamic one, where we are constantly evolving, growing, and changing. This song inspires me to remember what I can control and what I can't.

Another one of the best parts about this lyric is that it shows the brotherhood between everyone. Everyone must breathe until their dying breath: this is something that unites us together as people.