The importance of music in my life

Feeling troubled? unsettled? There are only three things I need in life to help me conquer anything: good health, close and supportive relationships, and music.

Sometimes when my family and friends are busy with their lives, I turn to music for affirmation, inspiration, and motivation.

Lately, I’ve been battling between my go-getter, I-can-do-it! self and my la-la-la, daydreaming self.

It’s the internship application season a.k.a. high stress season at Ryerson’s MJ program.

Realizing our future career is at stake here in getting these internships, everyone is working overtime to land their dream placement for next summer.

I’m guessing my classmates are probably madly churning out cover letters addressed to the  different media companies and editing their resumes for the twentieth time on a Friday night like tonight.

What am I doing in the midst of this chaos? I’m on YouTube watching and listening to music videos to escape reality.

If you need an immediate cheer up or a distraction from the real world, check out the movie soundtrack “Love a little” by Wang Lee Hom and Zhang Zi Yi from the latest Chinese romantic comedy ‘My Lucky Star.’ This song has been on replay on my phone since today morning.

Music is like food for my soul. It replenishes my spirit and fills me up with the fuel I need to transform into my go-getter, I-can-do-it self at crunch times like this.

Whenever I hear a good song, my mind would immediately conjure up images to form a story set against the atmosphere illustrated by the song’s tune and overall feel. Those are the times when I’m lost in my La La Land, painting happy endings to my imagined future life.

I close my eyes, and the voices, chords, beats, and the fusing of background instruments work together to transport me into another setting as I free myself to enjoy the mini-film that’s being played in my mind’s eye.

Such is the power of music combined with imagination.

Whether you are feeling lonely, sad, stressed, uninspired, or unmotivated, getting involved with music is a fast and easy way to get unstuck from these negative modes. It will reassure you that you’re okay, calm you down, and boost your creativity and mood.

So close your eyes and listen to a laid-back song, dig out your grade-school harmonica and make some noise, continue to sing in the shower, and dance to those catchy tunes in the privacy of your room the next time you need that extra boost.