“Without music, life would be a mistake.” ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

Music is a major player in my life. A song can trigger vivid memories and emotions, so much so, that I don’t think my life would have happened the same way had that song not been playing on the cassette, radio, or CD at that particular time. Attending a music festival this weekend, I was reminded that musical connections are universal. I was not the only person sitting in my car twelve years ago, listening to John Mayer, wondering how his lyrics could so perfectly describe my pre-college fears. I looked around at the hundreds of thousands of people around me. The lyrics were the same for everyone. However, the experience was unique. Some closed their eyes to go back to that time and place (that was me). Others stared at the artist, attempting to freeze the image of the artist who had crafted those intimate words in their minds, or if they were lucky, with a picture on their cell phone. But upon the final stroke of the guitar, unique experiences melded into one eruption. Hands raised, fists pumped, voices squealed–desperate exertions to thank the artist for that moment, for that song. Because not having that song in your life would be a mistake.

Photo taken on September 20, 2014 at the Music Midtown Festival in Piedmont Park, Atlanta, Georgia