Soundtrack

Music is such a simple yet powerful thing.  I grew up with music being a part of my life in every single shape and form (my parents were both music teachers, to be exact - they were both MY music teachers).  I can say from those experiences I am not a performer but I do have an unbelievably deep appreciation for music.  Listening to music is where I found my passion for music to be.

For as long as I can remember I've used music as a form of escaping and also enjoying my life:

I'm a sucker for a good love pop song for sad and happy days.  There's nothing like an old school boy band group love song to help you remember how good love can be... or can't be.

When going out with friends, there's nothing like a good "club banger" to really get your night going.  Put on a song with a good beat and get everybody up and dancing.

On the first nice spring day of the year, I love to gather friends in a car and drive with no specific destination in mind with the windows down blasting hip hop and rap songs with everyone attempting to rap along - we all sound just like Drake and Rhianna right? RIGHT!

Having a down day? - no problem.  That's something that Britney, Christina, Mariah, and Whitney can help get you through by singing your heart out... GIRL POWER!

I also find music extremely influential for me.  There are certain songs that I come across and they have a way of making me feel invincible.  A certain song about love and adventure will make me ache for the same love and adventure they're feeling in the song.  I've always had the sort of imagination that allowed me to escape reality and become fully involved in movies, television shows, and songs.  I can feel what characters are going through or what songs are singing about.  As soon as they end, I'm sad... I want them to continue.  I want to feel more of what they're going through.

My point for this post is to find your very own soundtrack.  Music helps enhance every part of your life, not JUST the sad ones.  Make memories with songs so when they come back on your ipod randomly it brings a smile to your face and memories flow.

Music is therapeutic.
Music is empowering.
Music brings people together.

Listen and enjoy.

Listen and learn.

Listen and love.

Listen and live.

Pros & Cons

I'm sure we've all heard this saying in all different forms with it having many different meanings, "You only live once".  This 15 letter, 4 word sentence can apply to almost anything and everything in your life.  Everyone is always afraid  of the word "regret".  Afraid to regret doing or not doing something in your life with opportunity knocks.

Regret: to feel sad, repentant, or disappointed over (something that has happened or been done, esp. a loss or missed opportunity).

Regret is part of life.  But I'd like to "regret" the least amount of my life as humanly possible.  However, that's not always easy or possible.  So for me, the best possible way to try not to regret something is to lay out a "Pros & Cons" list.  

I have a potential opportunity coming up that would be a chance of a lifetime and quite possibly a life-alternating experience.  I've been verbally making this list via phone with my parents.  I plan to share what this said "opportunity" is as soon as it becomes more set in stone.  So fingers crossed things work out and I get to share it with you!

I feel as though many great opportunities are sometimes lost or given up because of money.  As much as we'd all love to have a life time supply, or just enough to pay the bills, money is unfortunately a HUGE part of our lifestyle.  So I'm treating this opportunity as a chance to really work hard, more overtime hours and Saturdays with one goal in mind... All this hard work WILL pay off and WILL be worth it!

So in conclusion:
Keep your dreams, hopes, wants, and desires alive because they are worth it!
Regret will happen but with hard work you can kick regret's ass and make your life whatever you want it to be!
Continue to dream and dream big!