1) The biggest gift I could have given myself this year was reflecting on my year through music and I am giving it back to you to inspire you to do the same.

2) Birthdays bring up big feelings for me and I’m sure many of you can relate.

A lot of grief, even mourning, reflecting, but also brewing excitement for the year ahead.

3) I caught myself questioning… “what did I even do this year?!” I know, so dramatic and unreasonable because I, of course, did a lot.

Day by day.

4) But in all honesty, with the anxiety I was feeling heading into my 28th year, my memory felt blurred the idea of celebrating felt difficult.

5) The other morning I got a hit of energy and creativity. I decided to go into my music library and create a playlist of all the songs that got me through the year. A compilation of music that I listened to when I was

happy, sad, heartbroken, grieving, angry, confused, frustrated, neutral etc.

6) It was so cool to feel the rush of memories and feelings enter into my brain and body. I started to remember again.

7) And I realized something really important…

8) My 27th year - just like every year before and ahead - was a culmination of a lot of exploring, navigating, feeling, trial and error, trying on, letting go, accepting.

And this selection of songs were a part of that process.

9) I can’t explain why 5 hrs worth of music was meaningful to me but here are the 10 that feel most potent and worthwhile to share.

10) If you ever find yourself feeling like “What did I even do????” the next time your birthday rolls around, try leaning on music to remember again.

11) The music says everything you need to know.