Feel the Music in You

Music and song can evoke feelings and emotions like no other medium. Music is played at weddings, graduations, life-changing celebrations and funerals. Music allows us to connect better our feelings to the circumstance. If we are happy, we play happy music and songs; if we are somber, we prefer more solemn music.

Lola Fayemi, author of the blog Real World Spiritual and Personal Development, recently wrote a post about the power and significance of music in her life. Her article was inspired by fellow blogger Tupelo Kenyon who provides free music on his site, Tupelo Kenyon.com. In fact, Kenyon greets visitors with the following message: “The articles include links to original streaming music with relevant lyrics to help illustrate the ideas.” Both Lola and Tupelo understand the enormous inspirational impact music can have on our lives.

Lola has asked the readers of her site and other bloggers to share the music from their lives which has been the most inspirational for them. By sharing these songs and music, Lola hopes we can find even more inspiration.

Thank you Tupelo for helping us remember how spiritually important music can be in our lives; and thank you Lola for this invitation to share.

Recovery

Many of us have experienced, or will experience, a watershed time in our lives – a time when we have “gotten it,” when an answer to a lingering, and sometimes painful, question begins to reveal itself and we start the process of changing, healing and growing.

My turning point occurred almost five years ago when I attended a spiritual and personal formation seminar conducted by Dr. Paul Fitzgerald and HeartConnexion Ministries.

Separated from Mary Beth and emotionally distanced from my children, my life felt broken. I felt broken. For too long, I had been living with the belief I had to be perfect in everything I did. I had lost the heart of a child and I had forgotten how to let loose, be free and just play.

There is a very special moment in the seminar when the attendees are invited to begin the process of tearing down the walls and barriers which have held them back for much too long. We are invited to take a significant step outside of our comfort zones and into the life we deserve.

Music, of course, is a very important component in this exercise. Dr. Fitzgerald’s staff thoughtfully selects the most appropriate songs for each participant. The songs chosen are intended to speak to each person and deliver a personal message of hope and renewal. The song picked for me was It’s My Life by Jon Bovi. These words from the song touch my heart the most:

It’s my life
And it’s now or never
I ain’t gonna live forever
I just want to live while I’m alive
(It’s my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said I did it my way
I just want to live while I’m alive ‘
Cause it’s my life

Better stand tall when they’re calling you out
Don’t bend, don’t break, baby, don’t back down

While allowing my heart to hear the words to the song, it occurred to me that I did indeed own my life. Regret and shame were just pieces of garbage I had been carrying around long enough. But there was still plenty of time and there was still plenty of hope and fight left in me. Dr. Fitzgerald called me out and I didn’t break.

I just didn’t fully understand this ownership piece – It’s My Life. What a difference this realization has made in my life and in the life of others.

Commitment

Love is a choice and love is a commitment. However, love is not an object or possession that can be owned. We are fortunate when were able to enjoy its joy and pleasure.

When love comes into our life, we need to allow it to cover us with its passion. However, the cover can be removed and put away at any time – there are no guarantees. Every day I’m thankful for Mary Beth. I don’t take her or her love for granted.

Life is precious and so are the people we get to love. When my last day on earth comes, I won’t be thinking about what kind of homes I owned, the cars I drove or the amount of money I made. I will be thinking if I reminded my wife often enough of her value and importance.

The song I Will Cover You from the musical Rent by Jonathan Larson expresses this sentiment perfectly:

Live in my house
I’ll be your shelter
Just pay me back
With one thousand kisses
Be my lover - I’ll cover you I think they meant it
When they said you can’t buy love
Now I know you can rent it
A new lease you are, my love,
On life – be my lightWhen you’re worn out and tired
When your heart has expired
I will cover you

Insurance
There’s always a danger when we use words that end in ”ed.” Words like learned, or healed can set up unrealistic expectations that our lives will always be good and on track. However, things happen. People get sick, company’s shut down and sometimes we find ourselves falling back to old behaviors.

Life is indeed a journey. A different way to look at your progress is to use words that end in ing. For example, phrases like, “I’m learning to love again, or I’m healing from the pain,” take on a completely different meaning. These words will give you grace and comfort on days when you do not feel as strong or confident in your progress.

These words will remind you that we don’t have all of the answers, nor do we pretend to have all of the answers, nor do we need to know all of the answers. But rather, we are moving forward, making progress, and growing each day. And that’s more than enough.

Sometimes in life we just need a little insurance, and reassurance, when we are feeling hopeless. Sometimes we just need someone to pick us up and tell us everything will be OK. Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors encourages me to keep going in spite of the obstacles. Her song tells me to keep being Alex because no matter what; there is a place of unconditional love just for me – and for each one of you, too:

You with the sad eyes
don’t be discouraged
oh I realize it’s hard to take courage
in a world full of people
you can lose sight of it all
and the darkness inside you can make you fell so small

But I see your true colors shining through
I see your true colors and that’s why I love you
so don’t be afraid to let them show
your true colorstrue colors are beautiful like a rainbow

Please share the inspirational music from your life. You may leave a Comment below or send me an email at calexblackwell@aol.com. I invite the following bloggers to participate in this inspirational music meme in order to keep the conversation, and inspiration, going:

Albert at Urban Monk
Ellesse Chow at Goal Setting College
Karen Lynch at Live the Power
Peter at I Will Change Your Life
Tina Su at Think Simple Now

Do you need to find music lessons in your area? If you are into music and want to learn how to make your own music, sign up for educational guitar lessons and so much more! Learning how to play and read music is a talent you will carry with you for the rest of your life. Sign up for your piano musical lessons today!

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