I believe that music is like a spiritual thread that links humanity. I have always loved music. Music can be an experience that changes a life, motivates you, or even brings comfort in hard times when life doesn't seem to take a break.

I had the good fortune of growing up in a loving family. While loving, my childhood had its challenges. Both of my parents struggled with chemical addiction. Alcohol and other pharmaceuticals were a way of life for them and our family. Under the influence, my parents became different creatures. Physical violence, drunken stupors, attempted overdoses, and police/ambulance intervention were no strangers to our home.

My escape from this chaos was music. I could go to my room, flip on the stereo and escape into someone else's world through musical notes. It became a safe place for me to experience my emotions in a different way. When I would have to leave my dysfunctional home and stay with a sibling for days/weeks, there was always a stereo at each destination. It was the one thing that was a constant dependable source of coping.

Sometimes music would evoke tears, sometimes comfort, sometimes smiles, sometimes just downright joy. To me, music created a mental picture of a better life.

By age 14, my parents were both eventually blessed with the gift of recovery. I thank God for his divine intervention!

Those childhood experiences became the impetus for my career choice in counseling. My hope was to possibly touch the lives of other people who struggled with emotional difficulties and provide them with the tools for a better way of living.

Today, music is an integral part of my existence. There is hardly a day when I don’t listen. Since my first Elvis Presley concert at age 7, I've been hooked.

Think about this, what do you see when you attend a live musical event? Smiles, joy, dancing, clapping in unison and sometimes tears of sheer joy.

That’s the power of music. So whether you turn it up, or turn it down, take time to revel in the ever powerful presence of music.

- Roger Wohldmann

"Sometimes a song or set of songs just sounds like it was specifically written for you, in that very moment you needed it. I experienced this when going through a breakup. There were two songs from the same artist that almost mimicked my emotions of being so low and down and then coming out of that dark place and emerging into light, being fearless on my own. I think I went about three weeks where I listened to both of them in a row, walking to the tube every morning, and it completely reset my mood and attitude for the day."

‍- anonymous

These words helped me through the worst of times:
"At first I was afraid, I was petrified. Kept thinking I could never live withoutyou by my side. But then I spent so many nights thinking how you did me wrong. And I grew strong and I learned how to get along".

- Heather

The song Bad, Bad Leroy Brown takes me back to my family home at 9696 Queensbury Lane.  We were a family of 6, ready to take on The world together! We didn’t agree on everything as a family but we all agreed on one thing: Bad, Bad Leroy Brown was one of the best songs we had ever heard!! Life was simple then and when this song came on we were all happy! 

- Kathy

I'm going through training to be a hospice volunteer. At yesterday's session, the teacher said that often when someone who's dying is in pain, or can't breathe, music literally heals the pain ... the musician plays something that harmonizes with the patient's labored breathing, and then gradually slows it down or speeds it up, or whatever is needed, and their breathing becomes natural and rhythmic.

I went once to hear and watch John Scott Musician sing and play at a memory care facility. It was heart-warming ... some of the patients who appeared unresponsive, curled over in a wheelchair, heard a song that clearly evoked memories, and they would sit up, dance in their chair and sing.

- Laurel

Isn’t it crazy how we can’t remember what we had for breakfast but we can sing every word to a song that we haven’t heard in 40 years? Maggie’s spot on. It’s like a soundtrack to our lives.

I hated taking piano lessons as a kid. I have since realized what a gift my parents gave me. Even though I have terrible performance anxiety, I can still play for myself when I need an outlet for stress, need to lift my mood or offer up praise and thanksgiving.

- Carolyn

Music heals us ! 

- Tony

Anytime I don't have the energy to do something that I know needs to be done, I just crank up some Skynyrd, especially Freebird, and by the end of the song I'm literally bouncing off the walls. Rock on!

- Mike

Music, for me, is a time capsule - many different genres for different times of my life. Sometimes a song can move me to tears just by the wave of a past memory, usually the remembrance of youth.

- Madge

The Dance-Garth Brooks..takes me right back in time when I had my pops and love, hanging at the ol tavern. I miss them, but they taught me well, this thing called life! 

- Michelle

Too many to list. Music has always been a part of my life. Whether hearing something for the 1st time or hearing something new in a song you have heard a thousand times, music continues to inspire ,challenge,and amaze. Nothing can spark old memories, elevate your mood and stimulate the intellect like music.

Someone (don't know who) once said "Music is what feelings sound like. "I agree.

- Harry