My mom moved this weekend, as she says for the last time, by choice, to a wonderful independent living community. I thought I might explore moving through song, creating a playlist of songs with the word Move or Moving in their title. Some moving song greats include Billy Joel’s “Movin’ Out,” UB40 or Bob Marley’s “Keep On Moving,” George Thorogood’s “Move It On Over,” Celine Dion’s “Love Can Move Mountains,” Carole King’s “I Feel The Earth Move,” James Taylor’s “Something In The Way She Moves,” Bob Seger’s “Night Moves,” and Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger.” Then there are several that want to actually make us get up and move, perhaps to the beat of the song, including “Move Ya Body,” “Move Your Feet,” “I Like To Move It,” “The Way You Move,” and maybe the song that started such songs, “Bust A Move.” I also took a little artistic license and included The Police’s “Every Breath You Take” given the very prominent refrain line “every move you make,” as well as included Rush’s “Red Barchetta” to represent their hit album Moving Pictures.
Moving is, I suppose, like change, death, and taxes, inevitable. Most of us have moved at least once or twice. Some many more times. As some of the songs suggest, with or without George, Weezy, Kermit, Fozzie, or Anthony – “Moving on Up,” “Moving Right Along,” or “Movin’ Out.” For many it might have been packing all our worldly belongings in the back of a station wagon or minivan and moving off to college. Or for others moving out of our childhood home to take a job. Perhaps we moved in with a roommate or two, or a partner, or even a spouse. Some of us stayed local, never leaving the town we grew up in. Others moved across the country, or even across the world.
As we move from place to place, we are typically confronted with sifting through our accumulated possessions to declutter and purge what doesn’t need to go or won’t fit in the moving truck or the new home and keeping that which has meaning or function. Often it is a time to reminisce about the past, recalling snapshots of memorable events that took place at the home we are moving from, and even previous homes, often triggered by photos or keepsakes of meaning and value in our minds and hearts.
As I contemplated moving from my last home, the only home that I, my wife, and children knew for 23 years, two-plus wonderful decades of cherished memories, my son commented something along the line of “Dad, you’ll never sell this house. You’ve put so much of yourself into it. You created our landscaping, built our rock walkways, finished our basement with a home theater room, game room, and home gym, installed all our bamboo hardwood floors. You have so many memories here.” And I told him that while all that was true, it was still just a house, a building, and home is truly where the heart is, wherever you make it – often where your family is, whether big or small. And happy, loving memories, assisted by photos and videos, will live on in your heart and mind forever.
This perspective was likely fostered when I lost my childhood home and most of my possessions, not to mention, more tragically, my younger brother, to a housefire when in my early twenties. Our surroundings and possessions can be replaced. Those we love can’t. Thus where we live tends to transition, sometimes with or without our planning or forewarning.
It is still so often bittersweet when we move, leaving behind a lifetime of memories and experiences, sometimes loved ones, careers, and favorite places. Though not without trepidation, it is often in anticipation of the new adventures that lie in waiting at our doorstep that we willingly make the change.
Moving alone, on our own, takes even greater courage and resolve. We are challenged with adapting to new surroundings, making new friends, finding new comforts without the support of a loved one at our side. But my mom is one of the most resilient, sturdy people I know, who I’m certain will deftly handle the task, with the assistance of family nearby.
Some poignant quotes to give us strength and comfort in continuing our journey to unfamiliar territories as we move, not just away from, but toward – something different, hopefully equally good, though perhaps even better:
Life is a daring adventure or nothing at all.
– Helen Keller
Moving on is a simple thing. What we leave behind is hard.
– Dave Mustaine
It’s not only moving that creates new starting points. Sometimes all it takes is a subtle shift in perspective, an opening of the mind, an intentional pause and reset, or a new route to start to see new options and new possibilities.
– Kristin Armstrong
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
– Eleanor Roosevelt
Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else
– Fred Rodgers
If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello – Paulo Coelho
Every day is a chance to begin again.
– Unknown
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
– Lao Tzu
It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.
– Confucius
Life is about how much you can take and keep fighting, how much you can suffer and keep moving forward.
– Unknown
Aging is an extraordinary process whereby you become the person you always should have been.
– David Bowie
Count your age by friends, not years. Count your life by smiles, not tears.
– John Lennon
You are never too old to start over. Every day is a chance to make changes to create the life we want.
– Karen Waddell
Have no fear of moving into the unknown. Simply step out fearlessly knowing that I am with you, therefore no harm can befall you; all is very, very well. Do this in complete faith and confidence.
– Pope John Paul II
Faith is what gets you started, Hope is what keeps you going. Love is what brings you to the end.
– Mother Angelica
With a little faith
Just a little trust
If you believe in love
Love can move mountains
Believe in your heart
And feel, feel it in your soul
And love, love can
Love can move mountainsLove Can Move Mountains – Celine Dion
Similarly, some videos of interest from the playlist:
Kermit and Fozzie – “Moving Right Along”
Olivia Newton John, Americas favorite pop darling in the early ‘80s here back in her Physical days with “Make A Move On Me”
Celine Dion, looking oh so young, with “Love Can Move Mountains”
OK, so I kinda wish I had seen my favorite Supergirl in 2018 performing the lead in the Broadway musical Beautiful – The Carole King Story. While I did see it at the Kennedy Center in 2016 with Abby Mueller, the sister of the originator of the role, Jessie Mueller, as well as in Boston, Melissa Benoist was rocking the role:
And here Carole’s good friend James Taylor, in his younger days, with “Something In The Way She Moves”
And Bob Seger working on some “Night Moves.” Watch for the cameos by none other than Matt Leblanc (long before his role as Joey Tribbiani of Friends fame) and Daphne Zuniga, perhaps most known for her roles in One Tree Hill, Beautiful People, and Melrose Place. Who knew? Evidently one of my coworkers 🤣
And Adam Levine and Christina Aguilera get us moving with “Moves Like Jagger”
And will.i.am provided the music for Madagascar with “I Like To Move It”
Or Poppy (Anna Kendrick) urging to “Move Your Feet” in Trolls
And here, my favorite guitarist, Stevie Ray Vaughan performing a Masterclass in blues guitar with Albert King with “I’m Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town.”
So when faced with a move, whether big or small, whether sudden or anticipated, take comfort in the words of wisdom above, and listen to some moving songs – listen to the music!
I hope that this music and my blog truly serve as a “revival: a new presentation of something old,” a springboard to return to the music of your youth, or perhaps to find artists you want to discover anew. Rediscover the passion of music in your life.
Live in the moment.
Enjoy the moment.
Love the moment.
Listen to the MUSIC!