Long intros are cool because there's a little bit of

When Miranda Lambert muses, “Long intros are cool because there's a little bit of anticipation, you know?”, she touches upon a truth that resonates not just in music, but in all of life: that anticipation is a vital part of human experience. It is in the moments before something significant happens that we feel the full force of expectation, the suspense that makes the arrival of the desired moment even more powerful. Lambert’s words reflect an understanding of how the build-up—the waiting, the preparing—shapes the experience itself. Anticipation turns a simple moment into something memorable, something that stirs the heart and the soul.

The ancients were keenly aware of the power of anticipation. Consider the story of Odysseus, whose journey home took years and was filled with countless trials. The prolonged wait, the endless obstacles—these were not merely setbacks but part of the grandeur of the story. The Iliad and The Odyssey are filled with moments of suspense, where the hero is constantly approaching his destination but never quite there. It is in these pauses, in these moments of delay, that the real meaning of the journey is revealed. For Odysseus, as for all heroes, it was not the arrival that defined him, but the anticipation of his return.

Similarly, the great philosopher Aristotle believed that a work of art is not just its resolution, but the tension that builds up to it. The slow build-up in music, in art, and in life, is where the greatest emotions stir. In the symphony, it is not just the finale that moves us; it is the entire composition, each note leading to the next. So too, in life, it is not the end but the journey, the moments of waiting, of hope and yearning, that often carry the most power. Lambert’s insight into long intros is a reflection of this principle: that the space before the climax—the suspense—is as vital as the moment of release itself.

We can also look at the example of Leonardo da Vinci, who spent years building anticipation in his own work. When he painted the Mona Lisa, he did not rush it, nor did he reveal it too soon. Instead, he allowed the mystery to grow around the painting, adding layers of complexity and intrigue to her enigmatic smile. The anticipation surrounding the painting’s unveiling only added to its mystique, making it one of the most iconic works of art in history. Da Vinci understood that waiting—the building of suspense—can transform a mere moment into something legendary. Like Lambert, he knew that the longer the pause, the greater the impact.

This principle is also true in the storytelling of the ancients. The storyteller’s art lay not just in the plot, but in the artful weaving of tension. Homer, in his epics, would build anticipation throughout the tale, leading the listener to wonder what would come next. The hero’s journey is never quick—it is filled with twists and turns that heighten the sense of suspense, making the ultimate resolution all the more satisfying. Without those long, tense moments, the final victory would lose its grandeur. Lambert, in her understanding of long intros, connects with this ancient wisdom: the build-up is just as important as the moment of release.

The lesson here, then, is profound: anticipation adds value to the experience. Whether in music, art, or life itself, the moments of waiting, of preparing, and of building suspense are not to be dismissed. Life, like a song, is not only about its peaks but also about the spaces in between—the pauses that make the eventual resolution all the more powerful. Miranda Lambert teaches us that sometimes the long intros are the parts of life that build the most meaning, the moments that make the arrival worth waiting for.

So, as you go through your life, embrace the moments of waiting, the spaces before the breakthrough. Do not rush the process, for it is in the anticipation that you will find the deepest sense of purpose and fulfillment. Allow the journey to unfold in its own time, savoring each step, each moment of suspense, for in the end, it is the path you walk that gives meaning to the destination. Just as a long intro in a song creates a beautiful tension that makes the release all the more sweet, so too do the pauses in life prepare us for the moments of triumph and joy that await us.