be free.

our class discussion on music really made me re-appreciate music and how powerful it is. so much of my testimony has been strengthened through music and the spirit can teach so much through it. countless times of joy have been accompanied by a song to describe that perfect moment. bitter tears have been shed while listening to a song that captures the feeling of sadness and despair.

this summer i had a new experience (new for me, i'm sure others have experienced this same feeling) with a song. i had recently gone through the worst break up i've experienced (yes i will admit that i was that girl--so distraught, confused, and incomplete after a breakup). it had been months and i was seriously fed up with feeling stuck and unable to move on with life. i took up running about a month after the said moment and really found that i was able to channel a lot of my anger, confusion, and frustration into running. it felt good and gave me something to do. i only ran to the same playlist which was gavin degraw's album "sweeter". gavin's music has influenced my life in many ways over the course of the last nine years. needless to say he's one of my favorites. i (kinda) switched it up one day and put all of gavin's albums on shuffle when i went running. at the very end of my run a new song that i had never paid attention to came on. it was called free and it seemed to capture every emotion i was feeling at that moment. i was exhausted (physically because of my run, and also emotionally because of current life circumstances) and as i finished my run i laid on the grass, looked up into the sunshine, and felt an overwhelming feeling of hope, strength, and determination to be who i wanted to be and work towards becoming the person i knew i could be. it sounds silly but i treat this musical moment as one of the most spiritual moments i've experienced in my life so far. tears streamed down my sweaty cheek and i felt god's love for me and my testimony was once again strengthened that he had a plan for me and i had the ability to accomplish it. it was a life changing experience.

in class dr. coyne asked us to think of a song that describes us right now. this one was a no brainer for me, simply because i am still receiving strength from this particular song. i loved having the time to reflect again on how it has influenced my life. not only did it give me strength during a break up, but now i can listen to it and think of myself becoming more well-rounded, keeping the commandments and becoming a better disciple of Christ in order to be free from worldly troubles, and i can commit to give my Heavenly Father everything i have--to truly make His will become mine. i'm not sure gavin degraw knew that his song would have such a profound effect on me and my commitment to god. how grateful i am that he wrote this beautiful song and shared it for everyone to enjoy.

i am so grateful for music and the power it has to bless lives, give strength when it's hard to find, invite the spirit, and so much more.

*excuse the loud crowd and weird videography from this video. here is a recording of it as well but there's something about live performances that i just love.*