It's All in the Music

by Skip Cohen

​It's a typical Sunday morning, and I'm entirely off-track from marketing and business about imaging. However, another segment of the arts is on my mind...music. There's virtually nothing I do on any day that isn't accompanied by music. 

Over the last four years, we've accumulated six Alexas - they're all synced and on all day. Hooked to Pandora radio, we can pick an artist, and she plays everything in that genre...and whatever's playing tends to support the mood we're in. The day always starts out mellow and finishes louder, brighter, and often more vintage.

Sunday mornings always start with something gospel or more contemporary because that's what Sheila grew up with. And at noon today, depending on our mood, it'll be anyone from Willie Nelson to Crosby, Still and Nash, Jack Johnson, Adele...we never know.

Yesterday, Alexa was playing Pandora, and "Forever Young" was on. Rod Stewart recorded it originally, but the lyrics got to me and were so appropriate this time of year. Regardless of your beliefs, the words seemed so poignant at the time:

May the good Lord be with you
Down every road you roam
And may sunshine and happiness
Surround you when you're far from home

And may you grow to be proud
Dignified and true
And do unto others
As you'd have done to you

Be courageous and be brave
And in my heart you'll always stay
Forever young....

May good fortune be with you
May your guiding light be strong
Build a stairway to Heaven
With a prince or a vagabond

And may you never love in vain
And in my heart you will remain
Forever young... 

Although the route I took to get here was random, here's my point. It's often through music that I reinforce the mood I'm in and, in turn, channel my thoughts. The words to "Forever Young" encompass my wishes for all of you this holiday season.

It's been a year where nothing seemed easy, but here we are with 2022 coming to a close. For me, whether it was business or personal, I found my greatest resource for support and inspiration came from Sheila, the pups, and great friends. 

Wishing you a day filled with sappy moments like I'm enjoying right now. A day filled with time to cherish your family, friends and the ability to savor each minute. Go for those therapeutic eleven-second hugs with everybody important to you, and may you stay...Forever Young.