“After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.”

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ENYA – How Can I Keep From Singing?

My life goes on in endless song
above earth’s lamentations,
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
that hails a new creation.

Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear it’s music ringing,
It sounds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?

While though the tempest loudly roars,
I hear the truth, it liveth.
And though the darkness ’round me close,
songs in the night it giveth.

No storm can shake my inmost calm,
while to that rock I’m clinging.
Since love is lord of heaven and earth
how can I keep from singing?

When tyrants tremble in their fear
and hear their death knell ringing,
when friends rejoice both far and near
how can I keep from singing?

In prison cell and dungeon vile
our thoughts to them are winging,
when friends by shame are undefiled
how can I keep from singing?

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What about you?

How do you handle the inexpressible? What do you do when the things you want to say (or write) cannot, or should not, be expressed? Do you believe, as I do, that hell hath no fury like a muse refused? Do you say it anyway?

(Photo Credit)

Inspiration from Aldous Huxley: The Inexpressible is a post from: Quest for Balance

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I know, I know… you don’t have time… you’re at work… you’ve heard the song a bunch of times… who the heck cares about idealistic, hippie crap, like World Peace? Not like it will make a difference, right?

You never know. Music is magic…

Original Lyrics by John Lennon:

Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today…

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace…

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world…

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one

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Are YOU a dreamer? Or, am I the only one?

Just this once, Imagine… REALLY IMAGINE:

All the people living for today, in peace, sharing all the world.

AS ONE.

Music Therapy: Jack Johnson “Imagine” is a post from: Quest for Balance

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I’m not always happy… not even close. Like most, I have a darker side.

I recently wrote a post called Depression: The Long Dark Road, in which I shared with you that I used to suffer from depression. In reality, I will always suffer from depression, but now I have learned to live with it, to work around it, to be happy in spite of it, and not to give in to it.

David Cain, from Raptitude, recently wrote a brilliant article about How To Keep Bad Moods From Taking You Over, in which he says, “Remind yourself that your perspective is currently limited, and that your faculties of wisdom are currently impaired or dormant.”

This is something I had to learn the hard way.

I used to believe my depressed brain when it told me that everything in my life was terrible. Now, when my brain says these things, I treat it like the crazy person standing on the street corner, shouting meaningless, incoherent things that have nothing to do with real life.

And yet… I can’t block it out entirely. I still hear the words, even if I don’t believe them.

Recently I found a great song I had never heard before, which pretty much sums up what that gloomy brain says to me on those dark days. If you suffer from depression, these words will be familiar to you. If you know someone who does, this will give you an idea of what they feel on a fairly regular basis.

The song is Mad World, by Tears for Fears. I found a beautiful version performed by Adam Lambert and included the lyrics below for you to read while you listen to the song.

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All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
And their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tommorow, no tommorow

And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I’m dying
Are the best I’ve ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It’s a very, very
Mad world… mad world

Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy birthday, happy birthday
Made to feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen, sit and listen
Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher tell me what’s my lesson
Look right through me, look right through me

And I find it kinda funny
I find it kinda sad
The dreams in which I’m dying
Are the best I’ve ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It’s a very, very
Mad world… mad world
Mad world… mad world

Music Therapy: Adam Lambert “Mad World” is a post from: Quest for Balance

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“Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” –Berthold Auerbach

Today I want to share a music video with you because I feel like this song has a beautiful message about how we should live our lives. It also has a nice “palm trees swaying in the breeze” feel to it, so you can pretend you are in Costa Rica with me. The song is called “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz. I’m not entirely certain whom he was singing it to, but I like to imagine that we each sing it to LIFE.

“Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.” –Maya Angelou

I am including the lyrics below the video to make it a little easier to follow along. There are several wonderful phrases that really speak to me, that I would like you to pay special attention to, so I underlined my favorites.

Enjoy 3 minutes and 41 seconds of Music Therapy!

“I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz

Well you done done me and you bet I felt it
I tried to be chill but you’re so hot that I melted
I fell right through the cracks, and now I’m trying to get back

Before the cool done run out, I’ll be giving it my bestest
And nothing’s going to stop me but divine intervention
I reckon it’s again my turn to win some or learn some

I won’t hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait, I’m yours

Well open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you’re free
Look into your heart and you’ll find Love Love Love

Listen to the music of the moment people dance and sing
We’re just one big family
And it’s our God-forsaken right to be loved loved loved loved loved

So I won’t hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait, I’m sure
There’s no need to complicate, our time is short
This is our fate, I’m yours

D-d-do do you, but do you, d-d-do
But do you want to come on
Scooch on over closer dear
So I can nibble your ear

I’ve been spending way too long checking my tongue in the mirror
And bending over backwards just to try to see it clearer
But my breath fogged up the glass
And so I drew a new face and I laughed

I guess what I be saying is there ain’t no better reason
To rid yourself of vanities and just go with the seasons
It’s what we aim to do, our name is our virtue

But I won’t hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait, I’m sure
There’s no need to complicate, our time is short
This is our fate, I’m yours

Come on and open up your mind and see like me
(I won’t hesitate)
Open up your plans and damn you’re free
(No more, no more)
Look into your heart and you’ll find that the sky is yours
(It cannot wait, I’m sure)

So please don’t, there’s no need
(There’s no need to complicate)
There’s no need to complicate
(Our time is short)
‘Cause our time is short
(This is our fate)
This is, this is, this is our fate
I’m yours

Music Therapy: Jason Mraz “I’m Yours” is a post from: Quest for Balance

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