It should be no surprise that I love music, not all, but most kinds and styles of music.  I have always leaned on music.  I have heard it said “those who lean on music grew up in an environment that couldn’t be trusted or relied upon, but music…music has ALWAYS been there.”  I agree full-heartedly, music has ALWAYS been there.  From the time I was a young girl, playing in my room, or going through teenage years with countless “broken hearts”, to now when I am an adult.  It has helped me connect with more people, some for just one night, and others for a lifetime.  It has helped me feel good in the down days, it’s been there to help me release feelings and emotions that needed released, and by all means, it helps me stay focused and MOVE when I feel scattered.  I am absolutely sure it has saved my life countless times and has contributed to my mental health journey every step of the way.    

So, I thought I would share a song each Monday that has helped me, the message(s) I get from it, in hopes that it can help you too in some way.

As I start this habit I of course am going to start with my #1 man at this time, Kenny Chesney.  I just heard “Here & Now”.  As I was listening to it, it struck me how amazing it is that something so very simple can be so profound. 

The lyrics in the song start by listing a number of experiences had, but his favorite place to be is “Here & Now”.  This makes me think back to when I first started by spiritual journey. I was reading “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle.  The book introduced me to the concept that all we have is the “now”.  This present moment.  This current moment.  Eckhart is even bold enough to say that “there are no problems in the present moment”.  How awesome is THAT? No problems at all?  Sign me up!  Let’s go!  When we focus on this current moment, we cannot be anxious, stressed afraid or a number of other negative emotions.  This is simply the “ego self” trying to pull us out of alignment.  Trying to cause us to be in disarray emotionally. When we focus on the now, the present moment, we have access to peace. 

And the song, catchy as hell by the way, really supports this way of thinking.  I feel like it takes this same message and puts it to music.  Let’s not forget how amazing it is to see Kenny perform it live, as he runs from the top of one side of the stage to the other, jumping and belting the lyrics out to all of his loyal fans!

Whether you read it, or listen it through music, the message is the same…staying in the here & now, the present moment and having gratitude for it.  I love that it also touches on how we may be tempted to wait on something in order to appreciate the here and now, but we “better get to livin’, cause all we’ve got is the Here & Now. 

You’re absolutely fricken right! 

So as you go about your day today, I invite you to open yourself up to this present moment, really focus on it.  Take a moment and answer these questions to help you get present:

• What do you see? 

• What do you hear? 

• What do you feel? 

• Are you in an office?  Are you at home? 

• How is your breath?  Deep and relaxed, or short and shallow?

• Is the air around you cold, or hot? 

• It the sun shining, or is it cloudy? 

Once you become aware and present of the now, you not only have the power to come back to it at any time, but you will also see just how much time and energy you are spending outside the present moment. Being present may take some practice, but the peace and gratitude you will be able to feel will open you up to so much more happiness in your life. 

If ya need a fun reminder, check out Kenny Chesney’s “Here & Now”  you can find it on YouTube, Spotify and I am sure on Apple music.

*this is not affiliated with Kenny Chesney, or Eckhart Tolle, and has not been generated by AI.