Music is my Therapy

Song: The Fullest Artist: Josh Groban (feat. Kirk Franklin) Since I listened to SO MUCH Josh Groban throughout the month, it's fitting he is my November "theme song" choice. 😊  The lyrics and message of this song really spoke to me this month. They are powerful and impactful and inspire me to be better. To start living again. At the end of my life, I want to know I really LIVED! Lately Underneath this darkened sky A spark has finally come to life And washed over me Steer me From out of this delusive night I got so much time for wild surprises I can't hold them anymore But how much this could mean to me I can only imagine Just how deeply we perceive All the colors that we found Would you follow me out on the thin branches? Going blind, trying to soak up the sun I believe, I believe that the space in between Is what we become Pеdal back through the fog through to second chances Gotta fly at thе end of the fall And when my hour's up I wanna say I've filled my...

Song: Homesick Melody Artist: Girl Named Tom feat. Scott Hoying Not gonna lie, November kinda sucked. That's mostly on me. I've been a lazy, selfish, brat for most of the month but still. There were a few, fun highs, like Thanksgiving but man. November was not fun, especially following October which was a FANTASTIC month. I want to try to live intentionally this next month, like I did in October. Wake up each day and immerse myself in the season. Find the good and the beautiful and allow myself to enjoy!  Enjoy the things that make me happy and don't feel ashamed or embarrassed about it. Allow myself to eat fun holiday goodies without guilt, watch themed movies, do festive activities, dress up, etc. I have a hard time embracing who I am inside. I always feel like I'm not good enough or my tastes and interests are weird. No more.  This song doesn't have any special meaning or connection for me. I just like it and decided it was a good send-off song for November as...

Song(s): Run & When I Get There Artist(s): Taylor Swift feat. Ed Sheeran  & P!nk Happy Heavenly Birthday to my sweet, funny Grandpa! 💕 🕊 I can't believe it's been two years. That life just goes on. Death has been on my mind a lot recently. Death and the way we're just suppose to continue living our day to day lives immediately after the deceased is buried in the ground. It doesn't seem right. I'm not good with death. I know that sounds weird, but it's been affecting me more than usual the past few years. I still cry because I miss my puppy dog all of the time. 💔 I don't believe I can really ever "go back to normal" whenever I lose anyone close to me. I feel forever changed.  I'm sharing these songs today because they remind me of my grandpa. The first song, Run, was used in the sweetest memorial video my sister made that included pictures and video clips of my grandpa's life!! 💓😭 She chose this song because, shortly before my ...

Song: Healing Artist: Avi Kaplan This song is dedicated to the family who is suffering their great loss and laid their son and brother to rest today. 💕 I'm not very familiar with this song but the title sounded appropriate. There is no timeline for grief. It may never fully go away...but eventually, healing does come. It won't fix what is broken or bring back what is lost, but it can help soothe the pain and provide the strength to endure another day...and then another....and then another. I was able to view the funeral via Zoom. I'm so glad I did. It was incredibly powerful. I was in awe of the faith and strength both of his parents had as they stood and shared sweet and funny memories of their first born child. The composure they both had as they paid tribute and gave their final farewells to their baby boy was awe-inspiring. I would have been a wreck and honestly probably wouldn't have found the strength and ability to even speak. How does a parent speak at their...

Song(s): I Can't Carry This Anymore, Hard To Be Human, Trying My Best & Keep Your Head Up Princess Artist: Anson Seabra I've had a bad day. All I've done is stress-eat and listen to music. I feel so ashamed and disgusted with myself. I hate myself today. And every day. I need help but I feel like I can't ask for it, that I'm unworthy of it. I'm so disappointed in myself and my life. And then I feel guilty. I feel guilty that I'm sitting here drowning in my life's failures while there is a family who is mourning the loss of a brother and son. His funeral is tomorrow and I don't think I'm going to go. Funerals make me uncomfortable and even angry. I feel guilty that I'm not going even if I didn't know him or his family. I still feel bad.  Anson Seabra is basically a "pop" version of NF. At least a little bit. He has a lot of sad songs that I relate to. Today is one of those "sad song" type days. I Can't Carry ...

Song: Pure Imagination/Christmas Time is Here Artist: Pentatonix It's another *NEW SONG* reaction video! I mean, I know both of these songs, but this is my first time hearing this mashup from my favorites, Pentatonix's   * BRAND NEW *  CHRISTMAS ALBUM!!  🎉 Ideally I would have done an album review before sharing any of the new music, and I still plan on doing one soon, but I'm kind of desperate for song choices right now. 😬 Yeah, still in my music funk. Since they just released the music video a few days ago and I spent the weekend putting up Christmas decorations and doing Christmas themed activities with my family, I thought this would be a fitting song to share as Christmastime is truly HERE!! I can't wait to hear this song!!  FIRST TIME LISTENING LIVE REACTION: OK seriously... WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?? 😭 I DON'T love it!! 😲😳😭 I don't know why!! There was just something off about it to me. I liked the little transition between songs but I didn...

Song: You're the Only Place Artist: Josh Groban In honor of Josh Groban's 20th anniversary re-release of Closer last week, and because it's still " Josh Groban Month"  and because I'm struggling to come up with a song I have any real desire to share because I haven't been listening to music much these past few days...this is what I came up with! I don't know why I'm in such a music funk right now. Nothing is appealing to me. I haven't even had a desire to listen to anything! How sad is that!? I'm not really even into Christmas music right now...help!! This is a crisis!! 😭 So, I'm going to share another *brand new song* I haven't listened to yet and provide my live reaction! These are always fun!! This may come as a surprise buuuuut...I didn't love it! 😲😳 I know, I'm shocked too! I think I preferred the verses to the chorus. Maybe it's because it's late and I'm tired. I don't know. Josh sounds perfect...

Song: Peace Artist: O.A.R. This song is beautiful and I love the message, especially at this time of year and for the ongoing circumstances of the world. Also for the current state of my mind. I'm trying to figure out what's best for me and how to move on from where I've been stuck for so long and I want peace. 🙏 And also, because this concert was one of the highlights of my year and I loved O.A.R. 😊 So glad they were the opener! I don’t wanna fight no more Only wanna get to shore Baby, don’t slam the door tonight We ran another off the tracks That’s time we can’t get back But, we can save tomorrow if we try Oh, 'til we make this right Oh, I won’t say, "Good night." I just wanna make you laugh I just wanna see that smile Babe, we’re only here, oh, for a little while I just wanna hold you till we fall asleep I want love, I want us, I want you, I want me, I want peace Everybody needs a place Somewhere that’s warm and safe A shelter from this crazy world we’...

Song: Gratitude Artist: Brandon Lake 🙏🙏🙏 I don't have much to say besides... I'M GRATEFUL. Grateful for my family and our health, safety and LOVE. Grateful for peace and security. I'm trying not to get too depressed and sad that another Thanksgiving has come and gone. Another year of stress cooking for two days straight (😅) and then eating all our hard work within minutes. Watching the Macey's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Puzzleing. Watching Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. It's all come and gone in a blink of an eye. It won't happen again for a year. And who knows where we'll be then. If there will be more additions to the family. More family missing and unable to be with us. I hate change. I'm grateful I had this day with so many of my family and loved ones present. This song is most appropriate for this day of love, thanksgiving and GRATITUDE!! 😌🙏 Above all, I'm grateful each and every day for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His Atoning sac...

Song(s): We Are the World/Heal the World, Peace, Joy, Love (feat. Ukrainian Chorus Dumka NY) &  Baraye - For Women Life Freedom Artist(s): Evynne Hollens, Peter Hollens & The Oregon Girl Choir & Adriana Ripley, Haley & Michaels, Jim Brickman & Mat & Savanna Shaw AND Taylor Hanson &  The Voices Project I've got THREE  beautiful songs to share that speak of unity, love and peace! Which are all Thanksgiving/holiday themes to me 😌🙏💗 During Thanksgiving, we focus on our blessings and what we are grateful for. As I do so, I can't help but think of those who aren't as blessed and fortunate as I am. Those who are in need. And that's why songs like these, among many others I have shared throughout the years, are so important and special. As we celebrate and reflect on our blessings and privilege's, let's take some time to pray for the world; where so many souls cry out in hunger and pain. It's my hope and goal to find ways to serve t...

Song: Light in the Hallway Artist: Pentatonix I found out some shocking and devastating news today that I haven't been able to stop thinking about. A young man in my neighborhood unexpectedly passed away today. I can't even begin to imagine the pain and shock and grief his family must be feeling. My heart breaks for them. It's so crazy to me because I just saw him on Sunday. I don't know him personally, but I've known about him and his family for years. My brothers knew him. This family has been through so much already. His mom was diagnosed with breast cancer about two years ago and although she's recovered, they were close to losing her. I just feel so sad for this family. I hate that it had to have happened the way that it did, I wish the family had some sort of time to prepare and say their good-byes.  It's moments like these that puts everything into perspective. That makes me realize that my problems really aren't as big of a deal as I make them o...

Song: CAREFUL  Artist: NF feat. Cordae I'M JUST SO RELIEVED AND HAPPY RIGHT NOW!! 😅🙏 I started panicking last night about something that was to happen today and, as always, the Lord blessed me more than I deserved and a HUGE weight of stress and anxiety has been lifted off my shoulders!  My work day is officially behind me and I have the rest of the week to prepare for and celebrate THANKSGIVING!! 🦃🙏 I am feeling SO GRATEFUL!! Not to mention I got to go to my first ever Tree Lighting Ceremony!! It was so magical and fun! Straight out of a Hallmark movie 😂 Sans a romantic interest...😢😬 LET THE HOLIDAYS OFFICALLY COMMENCE!!! 🦃🙏🎄 Of course NF has to be featured on one of my Grateful For Music posts because I am so grateful I "discovered" him this year! His music has been soul-stirring and made me feel alllll the feels!! 💓😭👊🔥😝🙏 I am grateful for his vulnerability and willingness to share his heart with us, it makes me feel less alone and also like ...

Song: Your Hideaway Artist: Josh Groban To the woman who introduced me to Josh Groban and his beautiful music,  HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM ! ! 🥳🎂 Seriously, its thanks to my mom that I know and love Josh Groban and his breathtaking music. I'm not sure how she was introduced to him, but she's played his albums for as long as I can remember (at least since 2001 😉). Josh Groban CD's were also a "go to" birthday gift for my mom over the years (another reason I associate him and his music with November so much...he seemed to always be releasing his new albums during this month!).  Today's song is one I discovered  this year,  a week ago,   even though it was released in 2013!! It's GOREGOUS!! 😍 I've been obsessed! See, my excessive, over the top tendency to go listen to every single thing I can find from one of my favorite artists always pays off as I'm constantly discovering hidden gems like this!! I love the style, message, lyrics EVERYTHING about th...

Song(s): Sunset Driver & What A Lovely Way to Go Artist: Michael Jackson HAPPY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY TO THRILLER 40 ! ! 🤩 Today I am featuring two unreleased demo songs from Thriller 40 that stood out to me last year when I did my LIVE listening party review of this special edition album! Sunset Driver This one is so funky and cool! Classic Michael Jackson song, it makes you want to dance! And his voice is FIRE! 🔥 (Hoo!) (Hee!) All alone, she's in the ego zone The word is out that you're doin' wrong On the move, got fire in your shoes By word of mouth, you are on the loose You're livin' on sunset time (You're livin' on sunset time) (Hoo!) Feelin' bad, you're livin' much too fast The truth, the truth that you're on the pass In the raw, they don't know what you saw From word of mouth, you're breakin' every law Sunset driver Midnight rider Friday's brighter Morning rider, you're a Saturday nighter (Aaow!) On t...