No Worries November

Instead of No shave November, I decided to participate in No worries November.
The premise?
Don't care about anything.
Okay. I mean, don't get worked up about small things. You know, life goes on, blah blah blah.
Basically I figured it would be healthy to have a stress free month before finals, which will, of course, be out of control stressful.
Anyway.
I was thinking about the month of November. Mainly I was thinking about Thanksgiving...which happens to be on my top favorite holidays. Aside from food, family, and Black Friday, I just love how much nicer people get this time of the year. Everyone is more giving, more family oriented, more grateful.
So I concluded:
In order to have No Worries November be a success...to keep myself stress free...I should focus on the things I'm thankful for. The things that bring a smile to my face. When I concentrate on those things, I in general just feel like life is better. And thus, I decided to make it a blogging project. (Since I've been slacking...) I'm going to try and post as often as possible one thing I'm thankful for.
And so, today, I'm thankful for music.
Not just any music, but soulful, passionate, expressive music.
The music that sends shivers down your spine. That leaves you with goosebumps.
The music that brings tears to your eyes.
The music that leaves you speechless because you're overwhelmed with emotion.
That music.
Because sometimes music isn't about showing off. I don't need you to flaunt how well you can trill your voice. I don't need you to play arpeggios to show how fast your fingers can move.
I need you to feel it. To show passion.
I didn't understand that when I was younger. Back when I took piano lessons, my teacher always told me to "put the icing on the cake." In other words, add dynamics, play with the tempos...be expressive. (By the way, shout out to Mrs. Grinstead--she taught me everything I know.) Because that's what makes or breaks a song. I would do what she said, because she said it, but I never really understood the difference it made. As I got older and more experience in the music department I started to really "get it."
There's no better than playing a song that moves someone to tears.
Because although that is a reflection of your performance, obviously you did something right, it's the idea that you made someone feel something. They felt something on a deeper level...they weren't analyzing the structure of the piece or how complex it was. They were experiencing the music.
And that's when it's good.
It's killing me right now that I don't have a piano in my home. I'm craving it so badly now. But, a girl from church asked me today to accompany for a girl singing Ave Maria. As a result, I listened to a billion versions of Ave Maria on youtube. So good. Just. So good. I have no clue what the words are. The lyrics could be describing poop and I wouldn't have a clue. But the passion of that song? So good. Then, earlier today during a Sunday nap sesh, a friend of mine played some music by the Moleni Brothers. Just some polynesian brothers singing acapella. And it was so good. The harmonies just blended so well together, and such simple songs were so enjoyable.
And it brought a smile to my face.
Because, today, and always, I'm thankful for music.