Luke Combs made me cry.

I am not even a country music fan (sorry).? One day this August, I was doing a run for my marathon training.? I am embarrassed to say I still use my Pandora app for music when I run because I have been throwing those ‘thumbs up’ for so long, when I hit play on various channels, it just flows.? Music has always had a strong connection in my life, I think to escape bad feelings, memories or to get me through tough times.

When I run, it is the time I take for myself where I have no demands other than those I am placing on myself as my feet hit that pavement and the miles unfold, something builds in me and I think and ponder as different songs play.

That afternoon, a new song was mixed into my regular songs from an AI related matchup that says “this dude has liked 100’s of sounds like this so let’s mix it in” and see if he gives it a thumbs up.? I never take my phone out of my pocket when I am running, but I did that day.

When the song played, I did not know who was singing the version, but it instantly took me back to a place from years ago. For some reason, at that moment, I was overwhelmed with emotion as I ran listening to it play as my feet hit the pavement.? I cried.? Not a little bit, but I was crying ugly, which is not a common emotion for me.??

When I finished that run, I sat down on a curb near my home and just sat in disbelief.? What happened back there?? I googled who sang that version and it was Luke Combs.

I thought to myself,? Luke Combs made me cry.??

How the hell did a country singer do that to me? I don’t even listen to country music.? Why did I become overwhelmed with emotion at that moment?? I quickly googled when Tracy Chapman’s original version was released and it gave me a clue.? It was written in 1986, which was a time in my life when I was still processing a lot of grief.? An early life of multiple traumas and also my Dad diying by suicide in August of 1985.

So I am running in August 2023 training for a marathon I have done for the last three years and a song comes on that sends me back to a complex and emotional time in my life.? Bingo.? This is why I was sobbing as I ran that day.? On subsequent runs, the song would play and I would not be over-emotional, but I would replay it and begin to really listen to the words.

I did some research and found a piece on her song on OldTimeMusic.com and here is an excerpt from the article:

The lyrics speak to a universal experience of wanting something more out of life, and the struggles one may face in achieving those dreams. It’s a story about the human condition and the pursuit of happiness.

But more than just a personal story, “Fast Car” speaks to a larger societal issue of inequality and the limitations that may be imposed on someone’s dreams by their social and economic circumstances. The song has been hailed as an anthem for the working class and a call for greater opportunities for all people.

It is an anthem of sorts, maybe mine. Maybe it is yours too.

The purpose of this article is not to delve into my early childhood life, struggles and challenges.? Maybe I will save that for another time.? The purpose of this article is to put a spotlight on how complex our mental health can be.? How intertwined our life experiences and memories are, especially when you experience trauma in your early life.

When something triggers a memory or a connection that was on the back burner, it can flash right back in an instant and create overwhelm. For me, I was really grateful for this connection and signal because it reminded me that there is still more to that time I need to deal with and having the signal on that day in August inspired me to really think more about my own mental health challenges and to continue to do that work to detangle my complicated life experiences.? Our early life experiences, if not processed, can spill into our everyday life and patterns.

Many people that know me refer to me as the mindset guy.? I post so much about the #mindsetshift, it may soon be trending and I have seen others that follow my content begin to post their own posts with that hashtag and it is just wonderful.? Another person once asked, where do I get the ideas for my content and such, and I sat back and smiled and then replied, “from my life and my own complicated brain.”

Truth be told, many of my #mindsetshift posts are curated from inspiration I need for myself for that day.? Many of you also may benefit from it.

As the lyrics close on the song, “I had a feeling that I belonged, I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone.”? It is a brilliant song and if you are inspired, pull up her version or Luke’s version.? You’re welcome.

I am sure grateful to have experienced my life unfold as I have over the many years since I first listened to that song.? There was no way to know at that time that I would accomplish so much and make the life for myself that I did.

I am not perfect by any means, but I have daily aspirations to improve myself, work on myself and to do what is necessary to be the best version of myself that I can be.

If this article or my content resonates with you, please share it for reach.

If you would like to contribute to my fundraiser via #movember, I will attach the link in the comments section.? My goal in fundraising is to spotlight the need for more mental health and suicide prevention programing among men.? My Dad, David, did not get the help he needed at the time he needed it the most.? I want better for the current and next generations of men.

-Chad James