Blog for February 12th, 2014
And the Band Played On
Yes, it did! I’m still feeling high from the concert last night. What a great show it was. One I was looking forward to for a while. But more especially in the last week when my head and my heart were still reeling with the whole new family and identity thing. Music has always been a go-to for me to clear my mind, heart, and help with anxiety.
Sometimes, I like to get in my Charger and take off and turn the music up. My music. Other times, I like to put on some classic, upbeat old rock and roll and clean house. Then there’s the chill and meditation music and of course, I do love my jazz and R & B. I like all kinds of music and it all has its place at certain times, for certain reasons. I’m sorry to say, I could never wrap my mind
around opera, I’m just not that sophisticated.
One of my favorite, most healing things to do is to cruise with my girl Monica and have her put on her playlist, I love it. It’s a variety of tunes from different genres and different decades. Anything from oldie but goodies to hard rock. But it all works. It’s healing and uplifting and seems to bond us even more, when we sing out loud together, yea.
I suppose some of you seen the halftime show on the Super Bowl, Usher and his surprise guests, Alicia Keys, H.E.R, will.i.am, Ludacris, Lil John. Weren’t they great, it was a good show. I’m sure the people there in Vegas had a blast. See, the music is uplifting.
Yet, other times I have listened to sad music on purpose, especially the old songs that bring back memories. Some of those old love songs, and with Valentines Day this week, I’m sure there will be plenty of people listening to that kind of music. Music can set the mood, bring it up, let it down, chill you out, set you free.
When I was new in recovery, I had to turn off certain music, certain songs that could trigger me to want to use drugs and party. I’m past that now, but there are still memories with them songs. And then there’s the songs that were played at funerals of loved ones. I remember being in a grocery store and one such song came on, it was one of my sisters’ songs, one she wanted played at her funeral. Right there in the store, I was stopped dead in my tracks and had to fight the tears and emotions.
For people who can play musical instruments, write songs or sing, the creativity of it all in and of itself is transforming and healing, taking you to a whole other sphere of reality without even moving out of your chair! People have been writing poetry and songs and singing to the Lord and lovers since the beginning of time. Refer to the book of Psalms and you’ll see what I mean.
As a recovering person I tend to listen for songs with deeper meanings of love, hope, care and spiritual experiences. There are songs written by recovering addicts, and many are pretty good. “Otherside”, by Mackelmore is intense. I attached a list of songs at the end of the blog.
Music is emotional and comforting. When I laid in the hospital for a week, far from home, I would put on instrumental Christian music, no words, soothing and transcending. I would put in my headphones and shut out all the noise in the hospital and my own head. I would do some deep breathing and prayer and meditation. It soothed and comforted me it was even healing. It was a very scary time for me, and I need God more than ever, and through music and scripture I was right with Him or rather, I could feel Him right there with me.
The band plays on is more than just a quote for the intention of this blog. For me, it also alludes to the thought that Life goes on, People come and go, people will do what they will. I feel it in the whole “oh hey, you have this whole new family thing”, like, what? When does this stuff ever end? Just when a person gets all situated and feeling like I pretty much found my place in life, the band strikes up a new tune and it gets all twisted again.
But that’s just the point isn’t it. The band played on, life goes on, with or without us, with or without my permission, it just does what it does. I have no control over that. But the one thing I do have control over is, I don’t use no matter what!
Question of the Week: What kind of music do you like? What tune is being played in your life right now?
Here are some songs about addiction and recovery:
- ‘Otherside’ by Macklemore X Ryan Lewis
- ‘Sober’ by Kelly Clarkson
- ‘Sober’ by Demi Lovato
- ‘It’s Been Awhile’ by Staind
- ‘The Needle and The Damage Done’ by Neil Young
- ‘Under The Bridge’ by Red Hot Chili Peppers
- ‘Amazing’ by Aerosmith
