“Some days there won’t be a song in your heart. Sing anyway” – Emory Austin
I simply love when my favorite songs comes on the radio. As a child, my parents introduced me to R&B, jazz and a few other genres. One thing I will never forget, is how it made me feel. Listening to music is absolutely one of my most favorite things to do. I can no longer say what my favorite genre is because I listen to so many different types now. It probably depends more on what I’m doing. If I’m running or hitting the weights it is most definitely rap or something with a very fast tempo. It has a way of keeping me focused when I want to end my workout prematurely. As I sit to write my weekly post it tends to be “Zero 7 Radio” on Pandora. My “go to” will always be gospel or inspirational music, just because of the sheer message it conveys to my spirit. But one thing is certain no matter what I am doing or facing, music plays an important part of my life. It truly does soothe the savage beast in me or better yet, calms my spirit when the time calls for it. Whether we find ourselves raising our hands up in the air when our favorite jams comes on, commencing to engage in some form of line or group dance, singing our favorite song in the shower or car, or perhaps we’re just completely making a fool of ourselves with our on version of the “Running Man”, sometimes allowing the music to do what it does to our soul is just what the doctor ordered.
I believe this is why music resonates with me so much. It’s the being free part that I have often struggled with during the course of my life that my favorite song tends to allow and encourage. No fault to anyone else, but my own propensity to be rigid, too analytical and often over thinking with any given situation. Music has helped me to learn, welcome and appreciate the beauty of a good song and how it relaxes me, inspires me and takes me to a place that often liberates my cluttered brain. The sound of one of my favorite songs playing has the similar impact as the smell of fresh-baked bread. It brings good thoughts, pleasant memories which usually leads to a smile or good thought.
In these times when our lives are often complicated, full of stress and inundated with various types of pressures, I feel it is essential to have a song in your heart. The complexities of life’s pressures will drown us if we allow them to. There will always be something to do; a deadline to meet, a hard conversation to have and a bill to pay, but how do you spell relief? For those old enough to remember, it’s not R-O-L-A-I-D-S. Even the Bible tells us in Philippians 4:8 to ponder on things that are pure, honest and just. In other words reflect on things that don’t perpetuate confusion or turmoil. It’s not always easy to do, but a good song with a positive message or simply a good instrumental can certainly help to foster the environment essential to maintaining peace in our lives. So maybe the melody is the sound of the ocean or the wind blowing across your ears. It really doesn’t matter as long as you understand what it is and become more intentional about the importance of maintaining your peace and how to achieve it.
Music will always be a significant part of my life and as I am reminded of my childhood and the positive impact that my mediocre listening devices had back then, I will never forget the powerful impact of what came through the speakers. It was indeed magical, edifying, stimulating and uplifting. It was like a miracle was happening right before me. I could take the worst situation and detach from it temporarily. I never realize the power in that until I got older, and today it is simply a part of my daily life.
Often my best thoughts come intertwined with a song. It can feel like everything in the moment or perhaps just a nice beat, melody or combination of instruments. Whatever the case, let us never take for granted the miracle of music. We don’t need to fully understand why it impacts us, just know that it does, and when you allow yourself to connect to that favorite song, enjoy it, the moment, and how it inspires you.
Keep Pressing,
Hank G