As we continue to process Cooper’s death, navigate grief, and struggle our way toward, through, and around healing, I am leaning into music.

I’ve never been a huge music guy, but I am finding that music touches me in places other mediums do not. My soul, man.

I tear up listening to certain songs, but they are good tears. I lean my head back and show my whole face to Creation and let the tears stream down my cheeks.

I learned about lifting my head up and proudly showing my crying face while watching the documentary The Work.¹ I highly recommend this documentary. I wish there had something like this when I left the fire department; it would have been healing.

It would be healing now.

I do think sometimes men just need another man standing in front of them, staring them in the eyes, saying, “I got you. Let’s go pick up the coins in the deep places.”

Here are two more songs to add to my growing playlist:

1. McLeary, J., & Aldous, M. (Directors). (2017). The Work [Film]. The Orchard. ↩︎