MAY ALL YOUR FAVORITE BANDS STAY TOGETHER

Can a text message achieve the title of “Best Moment of the Day?” I believe it can.

I returned home after a very productive but seemingly long day at work, and I was feeling worn down and slightly overwhelmed by the long list of challenges that lay ahead for the next day.

I slowly emptied my pockets, took a seat at my home desk, and loudly exhaled a deep breath as I began to focus on my plans for the rest of the evening. At that moment my cell phone buzzed with the familiar sound of a text message alert. I picked up my phone and found a message from my lifelong friend Casey Coulter, who I haven’t seen in person in nearly 3 years.

The message read,

“Every time I hear “All Your Favorite Bands” by Dawes I think of my homeboy Greg. If you’ve never heard it, watch the video on YouTube. Can’t wait until we hang again.”

I was not familiar with the song by Dawes, so I clicked on the YouTube link Casey included in his message. For the next 4 minutes I sat and listened to an incredibly beautiful, sincere, and emotional song about love, hope, humor, and friendship. I can only imagine the smile on my face stretched ear to ear as I watched the video. My mind was flooded with great memories of our friendship, the crazy situations we’ve experienced together with our collective group of friends, and the reminder that no matter where life takes me, my family & friends always have my back.

Casey’s simple text struck a chord and it was delivered at the perfect moment. My temperament immediately changed from tired and anxious to energized and grateful. The fact that he took a minute to share a sincere message of friendship meant the world to me.

I honestly got a little emotional and I might have even shed a small tear from feeling an overwhelming spike in happiness and appreciation as I listened to the song. I believe it’s true that even the smallest acts of kindness have power beyond measure. Even a simple text that creatively shares a message stating — I’m thinking of you, I appreciate our friendship, I hope good things are ahead, and I can’t wait to see you again.

Who can you connect with to encourage, compliment, or appreciate? Your action might just the best moment of their day.

To ALL my friends and family, and especially to Casey,

“I hope that life without a chaperone is what you thought it’d be

I hope your brother’s El Camino runs forever, I hope the world sees the same person that you always were to me, And may all your favorite bands stay together.”

Originally published at https://www.livetpg.com on September 22, 2020.