I used to be very clear about my single favourite band or book or movie. As the years have passed, I find that the number of my “favourites” have expanded.

At any given time, I may have several favourite musical acts, because I like a lot of different musical genres. So, I may have a favourite folk, punk, or classic rock group. Same for movies: I have favourites in the categories of comedy, animation, and documentaries, which are the main kinds of films I tend to watch. Books are similar, with poetry collections, fiction, and non-fiction topping my reading lists. Then, I can further break things down into author nationality and time period.

However, there is one thing that stays constant with regard to my favourites: what I liked years ago, I tend to still like now. I still listen to the same music I listened to when I was a teenager, the evidence of which is my recent attendance at one of The Tragically Hip’s concerts in Edmonton. The Hip’s music was literally the soundtrack to my high school years, and it was bittersweet to have finally gotten to see them in concert on what is their farewell tour.

I also like to discover music, and often come away with new favourites after attending music festivals during the summer, like the Folk Fest or Interstellar Rodeo.

While I am not much for re-reading books or viewing movies over and over like some people do, it has been known to happen. I would much rather expand my universe with books and films that are new to me. I look forward to favourites of the future.