Peace

I have this idyllic image of summertime as it exists immediately after Y-Corps during the pristine sunset that I spend finishing my journal.  I sit in the green Adirondack chairs in my front yard that look out towards a black back, a cow field and the awe-filled sunset reflected in those two ponds.  Conveniently, while I journal, I play whatever music fills me with joy and peace and really makes me the kind of person I want to be.  Because music somehow allows me to feel strong and weathered, assertive and relaxed, passionate and logical, all at the same time. Here's a version of that playlist:

1. "Salvation Song" by the Avett Brothers- With this band's continued tribute to bluegrass/folk, the Avett Brother's pull at my heartstrings as they remind me of Y-Corps.  Literally the two most endearing, changing weeks of my life.  In fact, I first heard this song on the very same trip (a common theme of this music).  Filled with proven brotherly harmony akin to the BeeGees, this song slows me down and re-focuses me on the true, underlying goal of my life.  Just listen to the chorus.  This song solidify's its long-term place on my "Peace" playlist with the line, "If I'm walking through the rain and I hear you call my name, I will break into a run without a pause." The simplest, most vivid expression of true love.

Y-Corps 2010: Henderson Blues Festival

2. "Only a Song" by Ben Sollee- this strong and passionate Lexington native has rocked my world since... Y-Corps last year.  The simple instrumentation and lighthearted, yet powerful lyrics pull this song onto my list.  Taking a leaf out of Walt Disney's book, Sollee spells out these incredibly complex themes gracefully and colloquiolly.  Added bonus?  He played this song as an encore during his May 5th concert at the Kentucky.

3. "For the First Time" by the Script - Something epically freeing lives in the dramatically dissonant repeated chords.  I want to run around giggling and dancing while screaming out these perfect-love-story lyrics with those special HC Track 2011 friends of mine with whom I gained such an affection for the releasing power of this song.  It's like the background noises of the first fall football game: you have to smile when you hear it.

4. "The Story" by Brandi Carlile - This rockin' chick has begun to take up a particular slice of pie in my airwaves-chart.  This song in particular entices a young lady: a story of struggling but strong love that coexists with a female's beautiful, rough-around-the-edges sort of life.  The passion of her unrefined vocals (in other songs as well, such as Turpentine) empower me to come up fighting and to embrace all the gorgeous difficulties in life.

5. "Wagon Wheel"  by Old Crow Medicine Show - I think this song means something to alot of people, but it has to be one of the single most impactful, melt-in-my-shoes sorts of songs for me.  Likely the most played song I own, if you account for the fact that I recently switched iTunes accounts, Wagon Wheel - again - comes from Y-Corps.  It connects me to my roots and creates a mental slideshow of those people that mean so much to me.  It, too, has this ragged-around-the-edges bluegrass feel that screams of the quirky southern girl who I hope to be for my entire life.  When I hear this song, I just close my eyes a breathe extra deeply.

Writing this journal entry has truly provided me with the most cathartic homework experience I've ever had as I listened to each of these songs while writing about them.  I see peace like this: Embodying strength and passion as you saunter sweetly through this roughed-up sort of life, doing as much good as possible.  Each of those songs breathe message into me.