While scrolling through YouTube I saw a response in the comments that read, "Music is the Universal Language. "I wasn't sure of the meaning behind it until I realized that I was dancing to a song in French by Ben L' Oncle Soul and didn't know any of the words that he was singing in the song.
Music takes me away for a moment. The mini-concerts I have while driving in my car to work, let me know that I have time-zoned into a stage of thousands of people. ("It's not anxiety, Earth." You are just doing the most while driving.)
“Happiness is temporary if you're not willing to do the work.”- Ife Folami Mensah
These songs are more than just the beat and rhythm. These particular songs put me in a place of uplifted spirits, gratitude, and freedom. The lyrics seem to speak to depression and the feeling of hopelessness. It reminds me that I should live in my truth, get out of the rut, think about how golden my life is, and that I am light because things could be worse. I am learning to identify when I am having negative thoughts and collaborating them into positive thoughts and actions. I have found this to work for me as negative thoughts seem to dwell around longer than usual for someone with anxiety and depression disorders.
My Top Five Happy Music
"I am Light"- India Arie
"Golden" - Jill Scott
"Get Out"- Lauryn Hill
"It Could've Been Worse"- Lyfe
"True"- Lloyd
I remember going out to different nightclubs and depending on the song that was playing, I and others would dance and behave in a certain way to the song. I loved dancing in front of the mirror because it made me feel like I was the only one in the nightclub. One night, the song got really good and I turned away from the mirror and faced the crowd to start dancing. While dancing I noticed the others dancing and the lyrics became clearer to my ears. The song played through the speakers blaring, " F**k them other Ni**as." The crowd seemed to become more aggressive. They were flipping birds into others' faces and bouncing around as if they just didn't care what was happening. I looked down and my fingers were doing the exact thing I saw in front of me. Yes! I was flipping the bird to people I didn't even know.
At that moment, I realized that music and lyrics have power much like what we say about ourselves and others. I am learning to speak life and blessings over my life so that my actions and my behavior will follow my words and commands. I had to change the music I listen to that would help me in this process. Music is more than just entertainment for me, I use music for therapy to help cope with my negative thoughts and self-doubts about myself.
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