“Music was my refuge,” said Maya Angelou. And I couldn’t agree more.
During some of my darkest times, it was music that helped me keep my sanity.
Several years ago, life threw me a curve that I wasn’t expecting. I don’t have to tell you what I mean, because I’m guessing that you’ve been there yourself. Maybe losing a job, feeling betrayed by a friend, trying to figure out how to survive the loss of someone you love… whatever your challenge may be.
Well, that’s where I was. Trying to figure out how to make it to the next day. I just lost my 15 year relationship, had moved into a very small apartment with no furniture, and had no money. But what I did have was a boom box. Yes, a boom box (remember those?) It had a broken antenna so I couldn’t get any radio stations, but I could play one CD at a time.
One of the big hits at that time was a song called I Ain’t Settlin by Sugarland. I bought that CD and played it over and over again.
Then, in my darkest moments, when I felt like I couldn’t breathe and I just didn’t know how to move forward, I would blast that song as loud as I possibly could.
My small apartment had wooden floors, so I would put on a pair of socks, and singing at the top of my lungs, I would run and skid across the floor, pronouncing to the world “I ain’t settlin!!!”
And it helped – if only for a little while. I knew that I was going to be ok. I knew that somehow, someway, I would find the strength and the courage to move on, recreate myself, and find my way to a better place.
So, here’s my song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FA26RstqSnw. Just one of the many that made me stand taller, believe in myself, and not let anyone else define me.
Do you have a song you’d like to share – one that gave you strength, hope, made you smile? Who knows? Maybe we can gather enough songs to create our own Power CD to be played whenever we need a little helping hand.
Categories: Personal Development Positive Mindset Positive Thinking Professional Development
Tags: Dancing, Find Courage, Find Strength, I Ain't Settlin, Music
