Hey Team!
I hope this post finds you all doing well and hangin’ in there! Kids are back to school (whatever that means..) and the weather is slowly beginning to change. Who is ready for fall!? I know I am! I love fall, the weather, the drinks, the soups, the football. But what really excites me about Fall is that it just means we are closer to Christmas!!! And I loooooove Christmas. I love giving, decorating, singing Christmas songs, eating and then eating some more! Watching millions of holiday movies. I. LOVE. IT. ALLLLL!
Anyways, now that I got that out of the way. Let’s chat about meaningful songs.
These are the songs that we hold so close to our heart because they remind us of a special someone, a special moment, a special time of year, a hard time in our life when all that got us through those days was that song or that album, or a really happy and exciting time of our life and that certain song brings us back to that day and that feeling. We all have them right!? I want to know what they are and why. I love hearing other people’s stories about their special songs. It might even be that you don’t listen to that song anymore because the feelings it brings back are so intense you just can’t do it.
I would like to share a story about a song that I hold very close to my heart. Somewhere Over the Rainbow. I love this song. I always have. From watching the Wizard of Oz when I was little with my Grandma and Grandpa to high school when I discovered Eva Cassidy’s rendition that absolutely slays. To singing this song after my Mom’s best friend passed away unexpectedly, then when my dear friend died after his battle with cancer and then recently at that same Grandpa’s side while he was passing and ultimately at his funeral.
This song brings about complex and polarizing feelings. I love this song because it brings me so much joy at times. I love the way to feels to sing, it almost warms up my entire body and makes my heart swell. But with that joy comes some sadness and feelings of loss. I often take small moments throughout the song and think about the ones who are no longer with me. I send them love and sing for their spirits. I don’t sing this song very often anymore. I love it when I do but it brings about such strong feelings, I find myself a bit exhausted after. However, when I do, I put my whole heart in it and it is so special.
Meaningful songs can bring about such complex feelings and I think it is interesting to explore these songs and the way the make us feel. I would love to hear from you about some of your stories and the songs that have impacted you throughout your life.
Have a safe and lovely Labor Day my friends!
~Alison Smiley 🙂
Alison Smiley 