What’s a song that changed your life?

View all responses

The question of a life-changing song is actually quite difficult for me to answer. Most days, I listen to music because silence lets my thoughts wander in too many directions. I tend to connect with certain songs only when I am going through emotional turmoil or standing at a crossroads in my life.

“Take One Step at a Time” reminds me that my pace is different from everyone else’s, and that is perfectly okay. It does not have to match anyone else’s because I am not competing with anyone. I am on my own journey, and the path I follow is the one that is right for me. The song reassures me that things will fall into place when the time is right for me.

“Unwritten” reminds me that often the only thing holding me back is myself. The thoughts in my head can become barriers that restrict my dreams. It teaches me that when I finally let go of worrying about what others think, I can truly be myself and pursue what I have always dreamed of. No one else can make my choices for me. My life is my responsibility, and I have to decide what I want and run toward it with confidence.

“Dark Side” resonates with me because it hits very close to home. It gives a voice to the insecurities I carry about the parts of myself that I do not always like. It represents the side of me that questions every relationship in my life. Even when someone says they love me, a part of me wonders: do they love me only for the good parts? If they see me on my worst day, will they still choose to stay?

There are many other songs that I love and constantly replay, but these three are the first ones that come to mind. Each of them has, in its own way, shaped how I see myself and navigate different chapters of my life.