Post # 42 - The Playlist That Carried Me Through This Year

Posted under: Creativity, Joy, or Expression | The Full Life Edit

Music has always been more than background noise for me. It’s a mood lifter, a time machine, a therapist, and sometimes even a quiet companion when words won’t come. Looking back at this year, I realize I don’t just remember moments — I remember the songs that carried me through them.

This year’s playlist isn’t polished or curated for anyone else. It’s messy, eclectic, and deeply personal. It’s the songs I played on repeat in the car, the melodies that helped me write, the beats that got me through hard days, and the tracks that made me dance in the kitchen.

🎶 Why Playlists Matter

We all collect memories in different ways. Some keep journals, others snap photos. For me, music is how I bookmark life. A single song can drop me back into a season with vivid detail — who I was with, what I was feeling, even the scent of the air.

This year’s playlist became a living journal. Each track marked a small shift: resilience in hard weeks, joy in playful moments, grounding when life felt heavy.

🌿 The Songs That Held Me

Here are a few types of songs that made the cut — though the actual playlist is longer and far less tidy.

1. The Morning Starters

These were the songs I played on slow mornings to remind myself to begin. Upbeat but not overwhelming, they gave me a gentle push into the day. Think acoustic guitar, warm vocals, or mellow beats that feel like sunlight.

2. The Work Companions

When I needed focus, I leaned on instrumental playlists: piano tracks, lo-fi beats, or ambient soundscapes. They created just enough rhythm to keep me steady without distracting me.

3. The Kitchen Dancers

Some evenings, cooking felt like a chore. But turning on a funk or pop track transformed chopping vegetables into a mini dance party. These songs were less about taste and more about joy — pure, unapologetic fun.

4. The Grounding Anthems

On heavy days, I returned to songs with steady rhythms and lyrics that reminded me to breathe, pause, and keep going. These songs anchored me when my thoughts spun too fast.

5. The Soulful Soothers

There were nights I just needed to sit in my feelings. Slow ballads, soulful voices, and songs that matched my mood helped me process instead of pushing emotions aside.

🧠 What This Playlist Gave Me

Looking back, I see that this playlist wasn’t just about music — it was about care.

• It gave me consistency. No matter how chaotic a day was, a familiar song grounded me.
• It helped me process emotions. Some feelings are too big for words, but songs know how to hold them.
• It sparked creativity. Many of my ideas came while a song played in the background.
• It made life lighter. Even hard days had moments of levity when a good beat came on.

🌸 Music as a Reflection of Growth

The funny thing about playlists is that they reveal your evolution. Songs I played endlessly in January feel different now. They remind me of who I was at the start of the year — what I worried about, what I hoped for. Other tracks came later, reflecting shifts in my energy, relationships, or mindset.

The playlist became proof of growth, not just entertainment.

🌱 A Gentle Invitation

If you haven’t made a playlist for your year, it’s not too late. Gather the songs that defined your seasons — the ones that played when you felt most alive, most challenged, or most at peace.

Don’t worry if they clash in style. Don’t worry if they’re “cool” enough. Just make it yours. Because someday, when you hear those songs again, they’ll take you back to the life you lived in 2025 — the highs, the lows, and everything in between.

💬 Tell me: Do you keep playlists for your years or seasons? What song carried you through this year? Share in the comments — I’d love to add your songs to my own list.

– M.E