A Birthday Playlist Idea!

It was my Birthday this week :).  

To celebrate and to honor myself and my own life experiences, I decided to make a special BIRTHDAY PLAYLIST for myself.

I chose a song to represent EACH YEAR of my life…all 46 of them!

It is a MUSICAL TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE…and so HEALING!

I highly recommend trying this process for yourself.

From Melissa Manchester’s “Through The Eyes of Love” (fun fact - my parents named me after her - note the alliteration and all); to Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Lionel Richie in my 80's childhood; to the hip hop and R&B of my teenage years - into first love (Jodeci and Notorious inclusive); to Jack Johnson and sweet lullabies of young married life and parenting little babies; through songs I loved singing loud in the car in harmony with my three girls while raising them and running them to and from in my Mom Taxi era; songs recognizing my journey in and out of divorces and new loves; falling for Indie music, creating my own music, and of course some musical theatre in the mix (never without Sondheim).

Bottom line, the playlist is private on my Spotify - because it is too tender.  (Does anyone else feel it is like someone finding your journal and reading it for all the world to share some of your playlists? I find it much too vulnerable for public consumption - this one.  But, not to worry!  I already have some public playlists I have curated on my "MelissaMichels" Spotify and my YouTube, and there shall be more to come!)

I wanted to share this process because it was so healing for me.  It took me back to my inner child, to remember and honor her.  It honored my loves.  It honored my motherly heart.  It honors and remembers and fuels me towards my dreams.  Surely, my traumas are in the mix…those songs I played and sobbed to and belted out in my healing.  It makes me feel heard, seen, and loved.  

I highly suggest making yourself a Birthday Playlist to honor yourself and your journey.  I would love to know if it helps you!  Write me back, if so!

It can’t get any better than curating the soundtrack of your life in your own “jukebox musical” fashion!!  

Now, go press play on a playlist that makes you feel good today!

Much Love,

Mentor Melissa Michels

PS:  You could even try this process by helping a loved one make one of these birthday playlists as a birthday gift idea!!!