All is Well

Michael Writes:

Top 3 Songs from Bernice & Why:

Everybody Loves The Sunshine – Roy Ayers Ubiquity

Guys I think Bernice is spying on me. I had this song in my back pocket knowing full well I wanted it on a playlist! The warm yellow vibes of the cover entranced me and made me accept how eager I was to experience summer again. In fact, I ended up believing it was summer at one point. If you find me cooling on a picnic blanket this summer, you better believe this song was on a playlist that day!

As It Was – Harry Styles

I didn’t realise just how much I subconsciously knew this song through hearing it almost every evening at work! The melody definitely sticks out but I never stopped to listen to the lyrics. “In this world, It’s just us”, is a bittersweet part in the song for me. I relate it to growing up and the natural process of endings and beginnings. There’s so much pain within endings; there’s a vacant space that we have to accept being there. And it insists on being there. We have to learn to grow with what has ended while acknowledging just how important things were before any ending. To me, the positive side of this song signals the hope of an opportunity for growth. It’s moving forward and growing with grief; things will not be the same, but we’re glad they happened.

Blame It on the Boogie – The Jacksons

Bernice was all the way locked in when it came to this playlist! It’s as if she went through my pockets searching for the sweetest gems I kept hoarded for later on. I remember my first experience of this song being part of my primary school disco. That evening I genuinely laughed so hard that my cheeks became sore. The dancing, the sweets, the funny costumes and good vibes stayed with me. I’m sure during that day I wasn’t at all worried that I’d be starting a new key stage in my academic journey. I didn’t even worry about who I won’t be seeing for years to come, I didn’t imagine the people I’d never see again but, I just thoroughly enjoyed the moment knowing I didn’t want the moments to end sooner than they needed to.

A Memorable Moment to Remind You: “All is Well”:

It was a cold morning a few weeks after the turn of the year. I was still pretty young – maybe early teens. My dad and I used to enjoy commuting to the city, he was conducting his business and I was just glad to be around for the ride. That morning I was really apprehensive about joining him in the cold. But, I had a good streak of joining him and so I overcame my reluctance. We travelled and I think I skipped breakfast that morning, so of course, I was hangry. “Design a burger – design a burger!” became the siren call I needed on that chilly morning walking through the market stalls. My dad and I got the burgers designed to our specification. We got on the upper deck of the bus and sat at the front. The warmth of the greasy burger on my fingertips became just what I needed then. “Good things come to those who wait” he said, but I didn’t really care then. I had a huge TV screen at the front upper deck of the bus, and a delicious burger warming my hands. That satisfaction was all that mattered then!

Going forward, How can you remind yourself you’re in the right space and “All is Well”?

Recently, I’ve been more consistent with mindful walks. I took one during my lunch break and didn’t realise how much I needed it. In the mornings, I find a mindful walk lets me run through my checklist of senses. Sight, Sound, Smell, Taste and Touch. I’m sensing and I am experiencing the world around me. There’s my inner world of imagination and the fact I’m tuning in to my body and experiencing my senses confirms that on some level, ‘All is Well’.

Bernice Writes:

Top 3 Songs from Michael & Why:

Commodores – Easy

I feel like me and Michael were so intertwined in the selection of the songs on the playlist. Easy is so Magic FM coded! I remember when I was younger I used to listen to Magic Fm a lot even when I was out with my mum and my dad driving somewhere or in the house. I feel like this song always affirmed to me during times of sadness that my feelings are valid but hard times will pass and I will see the light on the other side, so this song has a special place in my heart.

Candi Staton – Young Hearts Run Free

This was another classic I heard my parents play a lot, aside from the love references I think the song really spoke to me in the sense of just reminding me to be present, enjoy my youth, feel comfortable making mistakes, decisions and learning from them. Overall, just being content with myself.

Alicia Myers – I Want To Thank You

Michael reminded me of this insane classic which was sampled on Busta Rhymes “Thank You”, so thank you! This song to me sounds like a sunny Easter Sunday, as a believer this song often stops me in my tracks. It’s so easy to get caught up in the fast paced nature of life; I can always take a moment to play this song out loud just to give thanks to God and all the great things he has placed in my life but also give thanks to all the challenges he helped me through.

A Memorable Moment to Remind You: “All is Well”

I experience this moment most days I often go on walks in the morning by myself or with my sister so we really bask in nature and how lovely our local park is and how blessed we are to have a nice park which has a great view of my area. I think a memorable moment is just being able to take a stroll on a sunny day and really stand at the peak of the park. I think in those moments I really get to be present, and just observe dog walkers and the parrots – I digress, but I have learnt to really appreciate nature I’ve just been present, sometimes I don’t take my phone or my earphones so for me taking a stroll in the park on a sunny day has been my memorable moment to remind me that all is well.

Going forward, How can you remind yourself you’re in the right space and “All is Well”?

I really do appreciate going on walks by myself to clear my thoughts in the morning. I listen to a lot of jazz playlists and meditation on Spotify, that really centres me and just spending time with family really keeps me grounded.

Track Listing

• Everybody Loves The Sunshine – Roy Ayers Ubiquity
• Daylight – RAMP
• Summer 2020 – Jhené Aiko
• Golden – Jill Scott
• Human Nature – Michael Jackson
• Easy – Commodores
• Free – Deniece Williams
• Young Hearts Run Free – Candi Staton
• As It Was – Harry Styles
• Sweet Disposition – The Temper Trap
• Paradise – Coldplay
• Fireflies – Owl City
• I’m Like A Bird – Nelly Furtado
• Let the Sun Shine – Labrinth
• Move On Up – Curtis Mayfield
• Lovely Day – Bill Withers
• Millionaire – Kelis
• I Want To Thank You – Alicia Myers
• Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye
• Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures) – The 5th Dimension – From the Musical “Hair”
• Give Me the Night – George Benson
• Express Yourself – Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band – Remastered Version
• Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing – Stevie Wonder
• Little Miracles (Happen Every Day) – Luther Vandross
• Blame It on the Boogie – The Jacksons
• Move Me No Mountain – Love Unlimited
• Let’s Stay Together – Al Green
• People Make the World Go Round – The Stylistics

Playlist image by H Fall on Unsplash