The Music Is All Around You, All You Have To Do Is… Listen

*”You know what music is? God’s little reminder that there’s something else besides us in this universe; a harmonic connection between all living beings, everywhere, even the stars.”* August Rush

I love music. I love how it can make you feel something so profound and so personal. I love how a specific lyric can speak directly to you as if you had written it yourself or how a song can explain down to the smallest detail how you felt at a particular time in your life. The happy times. The sad times. The times that make you want get up out of your chair, Vodka Collins in hand, and head on over to that dance floor to shake your booty to “your song” and show the rest of the world how to dance in your pretty pink pumps. And most importantly, I love how music soothes during the times when the only thing keeping you breathing is that song and how because of it you know there is at least one other person in the world who has felt your pain and who has made it through a comparable situation with a miraculous song to show for it. I love music.

What I especially love about music is the lyrics that accompany the cords. Words have always had such a strong pull on my heart and combining them with musical notes, melodies, and harmonies makes me feel more alive than I ever thought possible. I love that part in a movie- you know the one- when the couple finally realizes that they are falling in love with each other. They look right into each other’s eyes and right before they kiss, the music escalates and leaves you feeling as if your own breath has been taken away.  I love that. I love how it makes me feel. I love how it makes me long to be in love. And, often times, I love theses songs because they can bring me back to the particular movie and make me believe again, even if just for a few minutes.

My love of music is something that drives me daily, often literally for the two hours it takes me to get to and from work each day. With an Itunes library the length of the Great Wall of China, I have a particular artist, song, or playlist that can shape my entire attitude for the day. From my “Drivin’” playlist to my “Relaxation/Sleepytime” mix. I can wallow in my heartache to “Always Midnight” by Pat Monahan and think about loved lost. Or I can jump out of bed strummin’ my own air guitar to “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey (that was remade on my favorite show GLEE) because Lord knows that song was written for me!  I could pick out a song for every emotion, life changing event, favorite movie scene, the list could go on… Music is so overwhelming and powerful. Sometimes it’s pure chaos as the notes collide while other times it’s the music that calms the craziness within me.

I am so thankful for all of the talented artists who give so much of themselves and put their heart and souls into their music (Damien Rice, The Fray, Vedera, Donny Todd- just to name a few of my favorites). It is these artists that I admire with a twinge of jealousy as I listen to their perfectly worded lyrics, unmatchable harmony, and amazing melodies. I have always wanted to be a musician. I just don’t have the musical talent, vocal ability and range, or drive to compete in such a hard industry (maybe in some far off *shining lights* Broadway dream, but for me, not a reality). My musical talent is shared within the safe walls of my bedroom into my hairbrush or during my time on the Sunday worship Living Praise team at church. But music speaks to me in a very intimate way. It’s almost impossible to explain, but I feel it in my heart much like I feel the inhale and exhale of each breath I take. Music is amazing. It’s powerful. It’s life changing.

A good friend and I compiled a list of our favorite songs and created our own life soundtracks. I spent hours searching through my music library to find the perfect song for each stage of my life. My soundtrack includes everything from a theme song, fight songs, songs about falling in love, and ending credits. Some of the songs have changed over the past year and I am sure some will change again- because I am everchanging and the way music touches my heart changes as well.

What songs would make up YOUR life soundtrack? Think about it… It may be kind of fun!