How can the visual of an inanimate object like a pair of penny loafer shoes invoke music memories from a soundtrack of my early life? The power of music appears in the most unique and unexpected places.
As our flight prepared to push back from the gate at Dulles International Airport, my husband and I settled back into our first-class seats, morning Bloody Mary cocktails in hand, ready for our brief getaway to sunny warm San Juan Puerto Rico. I caught a glimpse of our flight attendant and her smart attire with comfortable yet stylish penny loafers, and I immediately thought of Mama. In my mind’s eye I can remember seeing my Mama, Marie Smith, dancing around the house to her favorite music while wearing her penny loafers. Mama loved her music of all genres. I sat there in my airline seat, closing my eyes, with my noise canceling headphones on, and was whisked back to my childhood living room watching Mama go to her console hi-fi stereo and put on her favorite records. She’d stack 45’s of Elvis Presley singing T.R.O.U.B.L.E followed by The Bellamy Brothers singing Let Your Love Flow, Linda Rondstadt singing When Will I Be Loved, and Olivia Newton John singing Let Me Be There. I still have those 45’s in my home office. And every time I want to remember and connect with Mama I simply have to pull out and play those songs, and they take me back. Music has so many benefits and special powers to transport, heal, inspire, connect and so much more. Mama knew it and shared that special knowledge, gift, and life lesson with me. For that I will forever be thankful to Mama. She taught me how a song could turn a bad dreary day into something more lighthearted and happier. I also learned from her how music can touch the soul during the saddest times and help us to release our stuck emotions, opening up our spirits to grieve and mourn for what is lost and find the courage and perseverance to carry on with life.
Music has played an important role in my life, and I can recall different genres of music as the soundtrack to every stage of my life. Through happy times, major life accomplishments, times of change, loss, grief, sadness, joy, celebration and more, the power of music was at the epicenter. In our recent trip to Puerto Rico, we encountered different types of music that evoked numerous emotions and memories. In one part of the resort pool area, the DJ played a mix of 80’s, 90’s, and early 2000’s pop and dance music that reminded me of fun times and memorable moments with friends and family over the years. In another part of the pool area, the light jazz and contemporary music soothed my spirit and eased away the tension from a busy schedule of work and graduate school back home. The music calmed and relieved me of life’s daily stresses as I floated on my back across the pool, feeling the warmth of the sun against my skin. In the evenings in San Juan, we were treated to the Caribbean and Cuban sounds, jazz piano, thumping beats of club dance music, and more pouring out of the various nightclubs, bars, and cafes in the narrow cobblestone streets of Old Town San Juan, perched high above the sea and ancient city fortress walls. The music left me with a smile on my face and in my heart and inspired me as I thought about the new personal and professional adventures ahead of me.
As we returned to the Fairmont Resort, ready to retire for the evening, we were enticed by the Cuban music from a live band in the lobby bar. The lead vocalist was channeling her best Celia Cruz, and I loved every minute of her performance. We soon found ourselves sitting down for a nightcap to listen to the Cuban beats. It was an invigorating sound and physical as well as emotional experience that capped off a lovely evening in Old Town San Juan with my husband and two of our best friends. More memories created to a soundtrack of music that one day will be brought back to my memory when most needed through the power of music.
I’m also reminded through friends and family of the power of music in some of the most challenging situations, especially for caregivers. Both a close cousin of mine and another friend through social media are currently caregivers for their mothers who have advanced Alzheimer’s. While my aunt and my friend’s mother both struggle with short term memory and recalling significant long-term memories, when asked to recall a favorite song the power of the music breaks through the disease. Without missing a beat these women who normally struggle to recall other memories, can immediately begin to sing, and sometimes play an old favorite song on the piano without any sheet music. The lyrics, notes, and sounds of their favorite music springs forth, bringing a smile and joy to both the heart and face of their adult child as well as themselves. The energy flows from them as they sing their favorite gospel, pop, or country songs from the heart. The power of music breaks through the disease and memory loss to provide a bit of happiness in the midst of the difficult times.
No matter what stage of life I’m in, music will always play a major role. The music during this trip kept me motivated in my health journey too. It reminded me of how I felt when I was in a healthier state before, and the positive emotions I felt then as well as the ability to engage more actively with my husband and friends in hikes, kayaking, long walks in favorite destinations and much more. In my current health journey, this week, I didn’t gain or lose any weight while on vacation. I count that as a win. Even though I ate more than I normally do, indulged in a few foods I generally stay away from, and imbibed a bit with some favorite cocktails, I by and large marked time and kept a steady beat by making many healthy choices. And when I returned home, I immediately got back into my regular healthy rhythm. The music kept me focused during this vacation on what is most important about my healthier life choices.
Life would be so boring without a musical soundtrack. Sometimes it is human made music, and sometimes it can be music created by nature. The rhythmic sounds of the waves crashing on the shore, the steady beat of a Spring rainstorm, the movement of the winds rustling and whistling through the trees and reeds. These sounds are the music of nature, which are also an important part of the soundtrack of life, inspiring and comforting us just as much as our favorite human made music. What is your favorite music that you enjoy, human made, or nature made? What happens for you when you listen to this music at various stages of your life? We all have a different soundtrack that inspires us. I encourage you to reflect on your own story and musical soundtrack to life. And if you haven’t listened to it in a while, pull out those favorite musical sounds and find the healing, inspiring, motivating power of music to help you thrive! And as always, wishing you the very best in your journey, and remember that You Story Matters.
