The Music That Moves Us

City Voices, whose tagline is “bringing smiles to people on their mental health journey”, hosted a music listening circle event on Saturday, April 18th in the Fountain House living room. One after the other, participants took turns sharing a special song and together reminisced about how each song made them feel. The music brought back memories, memories of high school, like Prom, and memories of people. The music made us dance and sing.

It is funny how people with their individual lives and experiences can have a moment moving in tandem with another individual, speaking the same words in the same language. They say music brings people together. I believe in this statement. I believe music moves us until we become one. It has the power to move us without thinking. A good tune makes our feet start tapping. Instead of telling my limbs to move, I like that it surprises me. I feel relieved. That instead of being at the mercy of my thoughts, burdens, and all of my worries, I can actually feel light. So light that I am moved by a gust of wind or a line of song.

There are so many genres of song and they each have their own feeling. Sometimes we associate a song with a feeling because of how we were feeling when we heard it. But songs come with their own feelings. Certain notes when played together sound happy. Certain notes sound like leaving behind everything you know and starting a new life. That is all to say, it is its own language. People speak through music; we speak through feeling. Many things get in the way of our feelings and I know that even sometimes we would prefer not to feel. For me, my worst days used to consist of me trying to feel as little as possible. Because without feelings I don’t have my thoughts, worries, and burdens. Now my worst days are the days I feel emptiest, because on those days I can’t find the joy either. I listen to music just to be able to feel something again.

Like the event at City Voices, coming together in music is an integral experience. It gave us a way back to ourselves and to each other. Even on days when feeling seems impossible, a song can gently open the door again. And sometimes, that small return, to a memory, to a shared lyric, to a moment of lightness, is enough to remind us that we are not alone, and that the journey toward healing can still hold moments of joy.

If you would like to join us for events that bring a smile to your face, please contact Dan Frey at daniel.frey@fountainhouse.org or text 929-884-3564.