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All You Need Is Now
The music of Duran Duran was a big part of my grief journey
Nearly nine years into my grief journey, I find it healing to read back through my early writing. This particular piece reminded me how much music helped me. Particularly the music of Duran Duran!
Two days after Patrick’s death I was driving my daughter to school. With the immense grief we were experiencing, I think she just wanted some normalcy so she went back to school. I insisted on driving her. On the way, the song “Ordinary World” randomly came up on my playlist. I don’t think I had ever really paid attention to the lyrics but suddenly the words jumped out at me. I felt and still believe that Patrick was sending me a message. The chorus is, “But I won’t cry for yesterday, there’s an ordinary world, somehow I have to find. And as I try to find my way, to this ordinary world, I will learn to survive.”
Those words have been my grief anthem since that day but I also had many other songs that I regularly listened to. These included “Yellow” by Coldplay, “Brighter Than Sunshine” by Aqualung, “Drops of Jupiter” by Train and “Who Knew” by Pink. Each song spoke to me for different reasons and even now, they are comforting to listen to.
As I was thinking about this article, I searched my book and was a little sad that I didn’t mention Duran Duran at all so I wanted to share this now!
February 1, 2018
My latest assignment was a paper about the creation of hope. Some papers are difficult to get through, but I enjoyed this one. Still, I am easily distracted. I took a break to fold laundry and sang and danced to “All You Need is Now” by Duran, Duran. I had a smile on my face, and I suddenly pictured Patrick dancing with me. I don’t think things like this are random. I know that not everyone agrees, but I get a lot of comfort from the thought that he is with me.
Later, I listened to the song repeatedly, which was exactly what I needed. I have not felt a lot of hope lately. I’m very in tune with my feelings, and I’ve been consciously struggling with depression. Things don’t always work out as I had hoped, and I spend too much time analyzing them. I know what is causing my depression, and I also know the things I need to do to get out of it, but I am…