Music & Mood
Some days, my mood walks in before I do—and the music just catches up. Other days, it’s the song that arrives first, slipping into the room and changing the light, the air, the way my body wants to move. I’ve learned that if I pay attention, the right music can pull me out of a slump, turn routine into ritual, and make even washing dishes feel like a scene in a movie instead of a chore.
I’ve always been sensitive to sound. As a kid, music was the first place I ever felt fully heard—lyrics became my little diary entries, sung out loud. If I was hurting, you could tell by what I had on repeat; if I was feeling bold, the volume and the beat gave me away. I loved disappearing into ’80s and ’90s alternative pop—The Cure, Erasure, Depeche Mode—dancing around like the truest version of myself. Now, in this chapter of my life, I get to choose my own soundtrack—no permission slip required. On low‑energy, achy days, I might start with something soft and nostalgic, the kind of song that feels like a warm bath for my nervous system. When my spirits finally start to lift, I’ll nudge the playlist into something with a little more beat, a little more hip sway, a little more attitude.
Music shows up in my creative work, too. When I’m driving, styling a necktie necklace, or even just cleaning the house, I almost always have something upbeat playing in the background. I love the rush I get from Taylor Swift—her energy and talent light me up and keep me moving. A lot of the time I’ll just throw on my Spotify “Liked” playlist on shuffle; it’s over 2,000 songs deep with all my favorites, from new pop queens like Chappell Roan to iconic classics like Madonna. The vibe shifts with each track, and somehow that mix of old and new always finds its way into whatever I’m creating.
There are also songs that flip a very specific switch in me—the “Barbara, circa 1975” switch. You know the ones: a bass line that makes you walk differently, a chorus that makes you want to dim the lights and light a candle for no reason at all. That’s the mood I love to bring into my content and my life: a little bit retro, a little bit naughty, a lot more “main character” than I used to allow myself to be.
If you’re reading this, I’d love to know: what’s your go‑to song when you need to change your mood? The one you put on when you’re getting ready, cleaning the house, driving at night, or trying to seduce a better version of yourself out of hiding. Drop it in the comments or send me a message. Maybe we’ll build a shared playlist—a little community soundtrack for all of us who are still learning to let our lives feel like they deserve background music.
Until then, I’ll be here, coffee in hand, dog nearby, music on, making tiny little treasures and tiny little moments feel just a bit more cinematic.
