Foreground Ambience

First, and more importantly, you need to set the mood.

Mad and want to rage? Sad and want to cry?

Want to be inspired? Dance till you drop exhausted?

You set your tone.

Curate your playlist, and let it ride.

(At least Disney got that part right.)

Sleeping Beauty slept because her hair covered the earbuds.

Soothing meditation music will keep you in dreamland,

Not the kiss of some strange, pedigreed calvary.

(Hollywood did not get that right.)

So much is out of control,

Terra via meteor in the corner pocket,

So set up your bubble of fragile emotion

To suit your taste.

Rage at the walls, flail your arms about,

Shadow box the darkness as it flows out of your heart.

Or cry at the injustice, scream at mental pain,

Shred that tear-soaked pillow, then eat ice cream.

Or binge your chosen shows, whatever suits your mood,

A comforting weighted blanket, and homemade nachos.

(The rom-com soundtracks do get that right.)

...Or get laid. Ed Sheeran’s got you “covered.”

Ahem.

What? I’m just eating ice cream here.

Or popcorn. You do you, folx.

Me? Champagne and honey-

If you know, you know.

But if you wish to be inspired, to run in the streets,

The turn to the musical soundtracks to gather your courage.

(At least Les Mis and Newsies got it right.)

Remember, some bad guys are not redeemable.

(Phantom did not get that right. Read the book instead.)

Let the music be your focus.

Let the music be your guide.

Surrender to the rhythm, the words, the vibration,

The channel and focus and chisel and hammer

In a world where surrender is dangerous and vulnerable

But is still one of the most powerful things alive.

It can sweep aside distractions

(What? Me? My commentary, a distraction?)

And allow you to focus

(Why? I wanna watch TV!)

And dance the pain away

(Are you kidding me? You leg is killing you!)

Or even shimmy in a chair

(What do I want for dinner tonight?)

As the music-mood flows through

(Did I lock the door? Did I turn off the iron?)

Let it take you places

(Who even uses an iron nowadays? Except when being ironic?)

And give yourself permission

(Look, I’m just gonna shut up, you’re not paying attention)

To feel your feels...