The Game

When I met my best friend and the platonic love of my life, Cristen, I created a new game for us to play.

One night, as we always did, we hid away upstairs in my room and listened to CD’s on my massive CD Player- the speakers big enough and loud enough to let my angst be known. I rolled over to her on my bed and asked, “If your life was a movie, what would the current soundtrack be? What song captures this moment for you perfectly?” She answered, what that answer was is forever lost, and it became a game we played on the daily.

Eventually I would just look at her and say, “Soundtrack?” She would think for a moment, reply and then ask me. Looking back, it made our mundane suburban life like a movie. Each moment curated with the perfect song.

I think of the warm Summer nights Cristen and I drove to the city with some friends and would go skinny dipping in the James River, gross I know, but we were 17-19 and it’s no more disgusting than swimming in it with swimmers, so save the eye rolls and judgment. We would run around the city like the world was our oyster. "Soundtrack?"

Laying next to the pool with friends, sipping on a beer under a blanket of stars, “Soundtrack”? 

It made every moment dream-like and a welcomed escape from our realities. Both of us being pushed in different directions by our parents. Creative millennials encouraged to follow career paths that "made the most sense".

Twenty years later and it still one of my favourite games to play. To sit, connect with the moment, with my breathe, the scenery, the people surrounding me and the energy and choose the perfect song to encapsulate the moment.

Right now, as I write this, Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) by Green Day is playing in the background and it seems so fitting.

"Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road. Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go. So make the best of this test and don't ask why. It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time."

The past couple of days Cristen and I have been talking about honouring what was, going through needed grieving processes and how.the dream life we were sold as millennials left many of us feeling unfulfilled, wondering what our purpose is or who we even are. So many of our authentic selves being buried under shame, fear and other's expectations.

No matter the moment, there is always the perfect song. One that encourages us, helps us reflect, gives us words or melodies to give expression and release what we feel in the depths of our souls.

"What you feel is what you are and what you are is beautiful." Slide by The Goo Goo Dolls

I guess my question to you would be,

Soundtrack?