I think it's safe to say that music is one of those universal things that almost everyone enjoys. Whether it's used as a form of self-expression, venting, or something to bond over with another person, the power that music holds is indescribable.
Picture this: there's someone you care about in your life whether it's a family member, friend, significant other, pet, or anyone/anything you can have a relationship with. Sometimes the two of you have a similar taste in music and enjoy talking about it with the other. Sometimes a certain song will come on the radio that makes you think of that person or thing. As a result, you start to associate the two with each other.
Due to unforeseen circumstances (whether it's death, a lack of communication, a terminated familiarity, etc.), something happens to affect the relationship. Life goes on and you try to pick up the pieces. In search of solace, you turn to music to cheer you up. However, once that certain song comes on, you find that you can't enjoy it as you used to because it is now associated with the pain of the past. What are you supposed to do now?
Honestly, I'm not quite sure how to deal with this problem. I have songs I grew up listening to, songs I were introduced to by people I met, and songs that came out of nowhere that just reminded me of someone or something I cared about that I have a hard time listening to now because all it does is remind me of the pain that I've worked so hard to leave behind. Then again, those songs are great pieces and I miss the simplicity of just lying back with headphones on and listening to all the different inflections behind the lyrics and background music.
Even if I'm not sure how to go about coming up with a solution, all I know is that I'm not ready to give up these songs. They're special to me and I'll be damned if they slip out of my grasp just because life can go astray. I don't care if I have to work to associate happy memories with the songs or even create new memories entirely. I will have my day in the sun with my favorite songs.
