Playlist
I love music. I love listening to it, researching it and sharing it with others. My tastes are eclectic and it has always played a role in my life. When Kristen and I got married, our wedding favours were mixed CDs that we burned on our old PC desktop. I can tell you the first song I heard after each of my children were born, while so many other major life events and memories have songs attached to them. This new chapter in my life is no exception. There are already a few songs that have been on repeat these past few weeks, and I expect that there will be more that I discover and rediscover along the journey. Here's the ongoing list.
I first heard this one at a Rick Astley concert this spring (that's right) but it has new meaning now. A bit hokey perhaps but I like the sentiment and so many messages were pouring in from people with prayers, good vibes and positive thoughts that it was truly appropriate. At the time I said to Kristen that I felt both small yet also huge, lifted up by all of the support.
This was playing as we were walking through the mall before my surgery. I thought it was apt at the time. Mike Bushey trumped it with this: “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. “ - N. Mandela
Well played Bush-man.
As I was sending messages and keeping people updated, so many people replied with messages of their own, each of which had a nice personal touch. Some included prayers and intercessions, others had songs. This was one that was forwarded to me by Sterling MacNay that, surprisingly, I hadn't heard before.
A beautiful song that was shared with me by Denise Gariepy and another reminder of how surrounded and supported we are throughout all of this
A song from a long-ago fave. I feel like it speaks to how connected we are to both God and so many people around us, both near and far. It also reminds me of how positive and optimistic Kristen is all the time. She gets it.
My buddy Eric said I needed some wrestling content. Totally appropriate and relevant to the running theme and mindset.
This was playing at the gym while I was working out the other day. Good reminder of our mindset going forward. Plus, Tom Petty is an absolute weapon.
Two More Playlists
(A Note from Kristen)
Matt has always been good about sharing his musical tastes with friends, family and students. I wanted to try to capture this, both for him and for the kids, so I posted a survey on Instagram asking people to let me know what songs remind them of Matt when they hear them. As expected I got an eclectic mix in the responses, but I also got lots of songs that people thought Matt would enjoy, with requests to play them for Matt. Some provided explanations about why the songs remind them of Matt, and I've included the stories of those who gave me permission to share. I've been playing both playlists for Matt, but thought I would add them here so that others can enjoy the music and the stories too.
If you have a song you'd like to add to either list, let me know by filling out this form.
After sharing a few of these songs with friends, lots of people have sent links to songs. Feel free to share your favourites in the comments below.