Honoring the Journey: The Soundtrack of Healing
A Life in Genres
Standing in the glow of the stage lights, I recently found myself in a deep reflection of how I got here. My love for music started on a dining room table with a hairbrush microphone, channeled through the country hits my mother loved. As I grew, my brother introduced me to the heavy, fast energy of Metallica and Tool. High school brought the rule of Rap and the "Top 40," before I eventually found the booming bass of electronic music.
The "Unprepared" Metaphor
I remember my first music festival—40,000 people and a campsite 15 feet from the main stage. Looking back, being "unprepared" for that level of energy was a metaphor for my life at the time. My PTSD was undiagnosed, my symptoms were unchecked, and my lifestyle was unhealthy.
A Symbiotic Relationship
As I continued to attend festivals, my taste morphed again into the "jam" and instrumental sounds of bands like Papadosio and Sound Tribe Sector Nine. During this decade of music, I was also deep in the work of therapy. Looking back, the festivals and the therapy formed a symbiotic relationship—one provided the space to release, while the other provided the tools to process.
When the Song Changes Meaning
Music is more than entertainment; it is a healthy escape, a way to release energy, and a practice in mindfulness. We all have those certain songs that carry heavy emotions. Recently, I stood at a show hearing a familiar tune that used to hit my heart with a specific kind of pain. I realized that this time, it felt different.
The answer came to me in the stillness: I healed the part of me that song was written for. A smile came to my face as a new, lighter meaning was birthed upon that old melody.
Grateful for the Groove
A decade of healing and a decade of music festivals are now on my "resume." I honor each performance and every friend gained or lost along the way. Music has carried me through every stage of my life—metaphorically and physically—and for that, I am endlessly grateful.
About the Author
Sarah Lacy, LPCC is an EMDR Specialist and Life Coach based in Rocky River, Ohio. She provides in-person support to the Lakewood, Westlake, and Bay Village communities, as well as Telehealth sessions throughout the state.
If these words resonate with you, reach out to take the next step in your healing journey.
