When times are tough, rough, exhausting, never-ending… We all turn to something (hopefully not the bottle or pills)  to escape for a moment, an hour, or a day.  Music has been one of my favorite ways to go to another place without really leaving.  I’ve always been able to feel the music; the heartbeat of the song.  I move to it naturally as if I’m on a cloud; no walls or things to hold me back.

I don’t play an instrument.  I can’t read notes.  But I feel in my heart and soul the music being played.  When I’m facing a difficult situation or dealing with some of the things I’ve written about, I put on my music and I choreograph and dance in my head.  My small apartment doesn’t give me the space I need to really move around and dance as the music fills the room, but I’m definitely in another place for the 3 minutes that the song is playing.

When I was  younger, much younger, to help erase some of the bad things that had happened to me, I would put on the vinyl.  The crackling sound as the needle touches the grooves; all part of the experience of listening to great music.  Besides my faith in God, I would have to say that music has been my saving grace.  Poetry set to  music.  There is nothing better; at least not for me:)

I have been fortunate in my life to have had a few great friends who have introduced me to a plethora of different artists and sounds.  I have one friend who continues to send me great music as he finds what moves him.  We share back and forth.  Thanks to technology:)

Sometimes a song can speak to you like no other.  I often times think that God put certain songs into my life to send me a message.  Some make you think, relax, laugh, smile, or cry.  Music can do all that.  It has always been uplifting to me.  My mood can change just by listening to a song.

So when you’re feeling down or depressed, play a song, listen to one and let it light up your soul and put a smile on your face.  Let it take you to your happy place, like it does for me.

The music is all around us.  All you have to do is listen.

Keep hiking to the top!

Kimberly Rae