By Cheryl Clark with Clark Strategies

EVERY single night if you were close to my bedroom area, you’d hear me say “Alexa play nature sounds for one hour”. 

The beauty of Alexa is she switches it up for me! 

Some nights she’ll say, ‘here are brook sounds for one hour’, or ‘here are canyon sounds for one hour’.  She has said ‘here are wave sounds for one hour’ as well as ‘here are forest sounds for one hour’.  This is my constant go to every night.  Frankly I think it’s the only play list I really would claim to have.  I end my day and drift off to this without fail. 

I don’t remember when nature really started to be my go-to for relaxing, enjoyment and zen-ful moments.  I have always liked dogs, cats and been intrigued by those who have hamsters, fish, and critters.  At one point I had 6 dogs in Arizona.  There is just something about the love and enjoyment their wee personalities bring into a home.

The outdoor aspect though – that is a new feeling to me.  The trees dancing, grass growing, and yes squirrels wanting some food and water is all feeling pretty new in being something I am interested in.  I do think being detained for 295 days had some more ripple effects on me than I give it credit for – this may be one.

Detained – 5 different facilities for 295 days.  Some just for a mere 24 to 48 hours, others longer periods of stay.  All 5 however had barred windows, closed windows, very limited outside time – if any at all.  You watch the breeze without feeling it, you see the birds without hearing them, if you are lucky the rain will pelt against the window and not just come straight down to the ground.  Maybe, just maybe this is what made me love the sounds, the feelings, and the freedom associated with ‘nature’ and mother earth. 

Don’t get me wrong! I love me some old time Melissa Etheridge, can sing every word to White Lines by Grand Master Flash and would be amiss if I didn’t tell you I saw Michael Jackson on his Thriller Tour, but they do not hold my attention like my playlist of nature that is listened to every single evening before sleep.  

What does my playlist say about me?  It says I crave peace and connection in my opinion and thankfully I have many means of connecting and feeling peace – my playlist is just one.

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By Jamie Allen Bishop with Jamie Allen Bishop Coaching

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When it comes to music, I am an emotional basket case. I laugh. I dance. I cry. And possibly all three during the same song. I love everything about the journey music takes me on with the storytelling aspects of lyrics, the highs and lows of the chord combinations, and the emotional influence a thoughtful composition can inspire in me. In fact, I regularly enjoy ALL the different genres of musical inspiration. (I mean that literally… all of them!) You can catch me, singing, shaking, and tapping my toes to the beats of just about any song ever made.

But if I had to choose one type of musical playlist as the only type of music I could listen to for the rest of my life (much to the horror of my brother and my teen), my heart belongs to the theatre.

I love everything about the theatre. I love the sets, the props, the lighting, the costumes, the choreography, and the (sometimes overly dramatic) acting, but mostly I love the music. There’s something so fun about being fully immersed into the experience. The stories move me at a soul level, and the music centered around those stories invokes an emotion I am often too hesitant to express. I allow myself to become emotionally invested in a theatrical performance, and the music makes all the difference in the world.

The first live performance I attended was at The Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, California, in 1979 to see Sandy Duncan star in Peter Pan. The event was incredible. We dressed up like we were going to a red-carpet event. After all, The Academy Awards were held at that very venue. When we approached the building, we were treated like royalty – doors held for us by white-gloved men in suits, kindly women handed out programs at the door, and the smell of the building was rich with history. I remember looking down into “the pit” and being in a state of awe over witnessing the orchestra tuning up their instruments. (One of them winked at me – I was 8 years old at the time.) I could feel the notes dance through the air, and when the actors came onto the stage and they were children (like me), my whole world felt alive with possibility.

I still get that feeling of wonder and hope when I am magically transported into the scene and onto the stage. I am mesmerized by the whole experience. A few years after my Pantages visit, I started acting on stage in that very play – Peter Pan. I can still recite the entire script by heart, and I know every lyric to every song – forty years later. The theatre fills my soul with warmth and tenderness. It makes me feel that sense of safety and serenity you might get watching a sleeping baby. The connection between the storyline and the music fills me up in a way that nothing else ever has. And the musical score brings me right back to each show – all 222 of them (and counting).

What does this playlist say about me? It says I am a storyteller. It says I feel the story’s emotional intention at a deep and soulful level. It says I am a theatre addict. It also showcases the idea that I am, like so many people in the world, a beautiful dreamer who finds the connection in us all through storytelling.

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By Wil Becker with Turning Leaf Solutions

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I love music and if I listen to it often, it fills my mind all the time. It pushes out all other thoughts and ideas. Because of that, I tend to stick to classical music …because there are no words, and I can think and allow my mind to wander and work on problems.

In truth, I have two playlists that I listen to when needed. The first is my life playlist, songs that hit the high and low points and remind me that life is a journey (or a dance). It’s something that we can chose to enjoy or not.

The songs in my life playlist are:

• One by US,
• Hallelujah by Rufus Wainwright,
• Smile by Natalie Cole,
• Try by Colbie Caillat,
• A Common Disaster by Cowboy Junkies,
• Stone Child by Catie Waters,
• Life’s a Dance by John Michael Montgomery,
• Faithfully by Journey,
• One Woman Army by Kate Earl, and
• I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers.

These songs are to remind me that I have to take the highs and lows with patience and “in stride”. I have to keep my head about me.

In my past, my emotions controlled me, and I let them run amok … it caused me and too many others pain that could have been avoided with a little pause and thinking. I’m really embarrassed by those past mistakes. However, I have used the best books, audios, mentors, and quotes to re-write my negative character traits. No, I am not perfect … I am better than when I started!!

There are also days where I am not “feeling it”; where I don’t feel like putting in the work. That’s when I get out my second playlist, my solutions playlist, and listen to it.

The songs in my solutions playlist are:

• I will go to War by Tessa Thompson,
• I’m Gonna Make it by Catie Waters,
• All We Have is Now by Lundyn Rae,
• The Battel Belongs by Phil Wickham, and
• Dream Life, Life by Colbie Caillat.

These songs help me remember my goals and dreams. These songs help me to push through the harder times. I know that I will achieve those goals … even if it takes me longer than I would like. These songs remind me that I never quit.

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By Marion Knaus with Raise the Bar Fitness & Nutrition

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What does my playlist say about me?

Playlists. So much music to choose from. So many different styles, moods, genres. Do I have a specific playlist that I gravitate to? No. Do I like to discover new music? You bet. Do I have a large selection of music that I enjoy? Yes. I tell people the types of music I dislike is a much shorter list than the music I enjoy. For me music can conjure up a variety of memories, lead me into new territory, or just keep me going in a good groove. I enjoy change and forward motion, and this is where my music choices often take me.

I also enjoy listening to music in multiple ways.

At home one of my favorites is Radio Paradise, Listener Supported Internet Radio. I’ve been a listener for many years and what I love is that I’m introduced to music I would never choose for myself, plus the interesting combination of genres they put together. I have my vast music collection that I keep on my computer. The HomePod is my friend with making my listening choices. I can call up any song, or artist, or have it surprise me. I often choose the latter.

In the car, I turn to SiriusXM with about a half dozen or so favorite channels, a local radio station, or I play music from my collection on my phone. The choice I make there depends on the length of the trip I’m making.

I prefer to leave my music choices to another resource as I make a multitude of decisions every day. Many responsibilities at home and at work means that I’m happy when I can leave that decision to someone else. And this decision is a simple one that doesn’t have any negative consequences. Only positive ones.

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By Rose Ficco with Rose’s Fiscotti Gifts

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Music is a form of therapy for me. Each song represents a moment in time, whether it was my first dance, first kiss, first breakup, or a big Italian wedding, of which I’ve attended too many to count. Just listening to a playlist of old songs brings me back to so many good memories. I am that girl who gets goosebumps and shivers when the song makes me feel the music… there’s no better feeling as you get lost in the moment.

My favorite playlist depends on what I’m doing. If I am going on a road trip, the music can range from Otis Redding, Steve Miller Band, CCR to Cat Stevens. If I’m doing household chores, we (hubby and I) are pumping up the dance tunes, listening to Michael or Janet Jackson, Tina Turner, Pitbull, or a Latin dance remix. If I am in working mode, it’s usually instrumental music, whether it’s a violin (Vanessa Mae), saxophone (Kenny G), or an orchestra (Yanni or Enigma), it’s what inspires my creativity. If I’m feeling nostalgic, it’s old Italian tunes.

I have my dad to thank for this as he introduced me to music. He taught me how to dance when I was five years old and boy, I have never been able to find another dance partner who had his moves (no offense to hubby as he’s not big on dancing). Dad used to dance like Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly (please tell me you know who they are!!). It’s been over thirty years since Dad’s been gone, so trust me, when I press one of the many songs on my playlist, you can find me waltzing around the room with a broom pretending to dance with Dad. God forbid ‘one of our songs’ comes on when I am grocery shopping as I will groove up and down the aisle while hubby runs the other way pretending not to know me.

You laugh and while you’re at it, dance like nobody’s watching and enjoy the song!

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By Katja Chen Independent Consultant with Isagenix International

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My favorite playlist is called, “Katja’s Good Mood List.”

Currently, there are sixteen songs on that particular playlist ranging from Bon Jovi to Michael Bublé.  I love the variety of performers and musical styles; the common theme of happiness and encouragement.

The songs get my head right in the morning, wake me up, and leave me humming all day.

On days when my job is challenging and I feel frustrated or annoyed, playing these songs on my 20‑to‑30‑minute drive home makes all the difference in how I show up for my family once I step through the doors at home.   

Can music really have that much of an impact in just a short time?  Absolutely yes!!!!  It’s been scientifically proven how certain sound waves affect the cells in our body, creating a higher or lower vibration.  Our body can’t help but respond to that!  You don’t believe it?  Listen to Shakira’s, “Try Everything” from the movie Zootopia and tell me how it made you feel.  Did you smile or tap your feet?  Careful when driving…. J 

Having a playlist fits in with my mantra of “Joy through Choices” as I can add or delete songs to my liking.  

If you would like to hear the songs from my list, just reach out, I would be happy to share the link!

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By Jill Vater with Jianna Studio Designs

I currently do not have a playlist but hope to put one together soon.

I like listening to a wide range of music: old country, new country, rock-n-roll, jazz, and classic rock. I also love listening to Santana, Michelle Branch, Adele, Fleetwood Mac, and music from the 80s. Anything with an upbeat that you can dance to. I love to dance. I plan on learning how to line dance.

And… I listen to Christian radio every day.

I have had the opportunity to meet several musicians over the past 30 years: Reba McIntire, Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Charlie Daniels, Juice Newton, and Blake Shelton – to name a few. Meeting each one was an experience I’ll not soon forget.

I also like to listen to soothing sounds, like the sound of the ocean or rain, which helps me to relax while I meditate.

Music relaxes the mind and the soul.

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