Music has the power to spread messages to a wide audience as a form of entertainment. Every few years, a certain song is released with avery important message about how to make our world better and bring more peace and kindness to society. The song that I think achieves this isTim McGraw’s 2015 hit “Humble and Kind” which was written by Lori McKenna. McGraw sings about remembering the small, but important parts of life. Today, it can be easy to get caught up in our own lives and what problems we have to solve at that moment and can often get absorbed in the status we want in terms of money, success and fame. McGraw reminds us that it’s normal and even good to have dreams, but never forget who and what got you to that place and how people treated you along the way. At the end of the day, people won’t remember how much money you had or what material things defined you, but they will remember the person you were. Below I have listed some of McKenna’s most poignant lyrics and how they can be applied to our world today.

"Visit grandpa every chance that you can

It won't be wasted time"

Grandparents and other adults may have lived through different events and society may have been a certain way, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t lessons that can come from spending time with those people. Older is often wiser and having the blessing of being able to talk to people from a different generation can teach you just as much if more about life than a day scrolling through your social media feeds or talking to people your age about the struggles of “adulting” for the hundredth time.

"Hold the door, say "please", say "thank you"

Don't steal, don't cheat, and don't lie"

It seems like common sense, but it’s amazing how many people don’t practice manners or honesty. Often it’s not intentional, but a simple please or thank you can change a person’s day. Kindness is not hard to give and everybody deserves it at first. If everyone treated each other like they would want to be treated no matter who they were, it would give everyone a chance to feel the respect that is deserved.

"Don't hold a grudge or a chip and here's why: Bitterness keeps you from flyin’"

Getting caught up in how people hurt you or took something from you will only hold you back. Often we want to blame our pain on other people because we don’t want to be responsible for what hurts us. However, we are the only only one who controls our happiness and we can choose to let our pain fuel us or keep us from doing whatever it is we set out to do.

"When the work you put in is realized

Let yourself feel the pride

But always stay humble and kind"

Achievements deserve to be celebrated, but somewhere out there someone has failed again. So instead of celebrating how amazing you are alone, let your happiness fuel others who are still struggling and encourage people that someday their chance will come too.

"Don't take for granted the love this life gives you

When you get where you're going don't forget turn back around

And help the next one in line"

We only get one life and I think everyone wants it to be memorable. So for all the happiness, hurt, successes and failures, remember to stay humble and spread kindness to everyone you meet, even if they don’t deserve it. People have a funny way of showing their emotions and sometimes all we need is a friend.

The first time I heard this song, it spoke to me in a way that few songs can. It said the words that I just want to scream “This is what everybody needs to hear!” The world can be a selfish place and people can be self-absorbed, but anybody can change.

So reader, keep on dreaming but, remember where you came from. It’s a part of you and it is what makes you unique.

Stay humble and kind always.

Lily