Honouring a Friend, Team-mate, and a Shine Out! Shout Out! Original

On August 12th, our hockey and Shine Out! Shout Out! community lost a team-mate and for many of us, a dear friend, Lana Hockey.  

For those who played with Lana over the years (and against her), she will be remembered as someone who enjoyed playing and equally loved the social connections that came with being a part of this sport we all love. Her kindness, generosity, and caring, her commitment, as well as her ability to bring the fun to those around her were but a few of her hallmarks. 

For us here at Shine Out! Shout Out!, as we get set for tournament day, Lana’s absence is very present. She was a part of our story from day one as a participant, an organizer, an encourager, a connector, the loot bag Queen, a good friend. She donated her time, talents & resources to help make SOSO a success and she played hard every game!  

This year, at the Shine Out! Shout Out!  hockey tournament on Saturday Sep 7th, some of Lana’s friends are honouring Lana by fundraising for SOSO & the Just Be You peer mental health program. 

When her hockey community and friends received the news that Lana was facing a bigger battle off the ice than on, they created a very special sweatshirt for her to show their love and support and to lift her spirits consisting of a logo of a heart filled with words that reminded them of her; crossed hockey sticks were behind the heart (see below). 

Dri-fit t-shirts with the Lana Logo on the front are available for purchase. On the back is ‘Live Loud’ - words that Lana lived and reminded us all to do. The T-shirts cost $45 with proceeds donated to SOSO in Lana’s memory. 

Details are available on the order website below:

https://fm19.hind-smith.com/fmi/webd/Lana

Orders submitted & paid by WED. AUG 28th at noon will be ready for pick up at SOSO (or other arrangements can be made if necessary) 

You may continue to order shirts after AUG 28th, with additional donations made to SOSO - but shirts will not be available for pick up until after the tournament. 

All of us here at Shine Out! Shout Out! hope that you can support the Hockey family’s wish to ‘pay it forward’ in memory of our friend & team mate Lana . 

Fundraising, Yes! Mental Health Awareness, Yes! And, So Much More

 

 

 

After three years, on September 10, 2022, Shine Out! Shout Out! supporting youth mental health and the Just Be You peer support program returned. And what a return it was! This year was a sold-out event, with many teams returning for their 8th year.

 

People played hockey, read and picked up mental health material, and donated and supported. They listened to the why of the tournament and the impact of the pandemic on youth mental health. And they talked, smiled, laughed, told stories, shared their own experiences with mental health personally or in their families, and connected – something we all felt was often missing over the last 2.5-plus years. 

As Shine Out! Shout Out! 2022 took place on World Suicide Prevention Day. We were pleased to host the Halton Suicide Prevention Coalition's (HSPC) Garden of Peace rock painting as part of our recognition of the day. After the event, we passed on to the HSPC beautiful messages of hope. Thanks to everyone who took the time to create these pieces of art. We also created a Hope Board and cards of Hope. Young and old alike filled the Board and cards with positive messages for youth dealing with mental health issues and to let them know they are not alone. 

 

A big thank you to Vanessa Blumer and her team from Liberty Utilities for being a part of our day. Liberty Utilities provided us with a photo booth where we saw groups and individuals strike fun poses when taking their pictures and creating lasting memories of fun, friendship, and community.  

 

Also, a thank you to Champagne Floral Designs for their donation of the player of the game flowers, Dr. Paul Hackett and Dr. Henry Candelaria from Athletacare for providing our occasionally needed first aid, Jacob Danque from TRNSFRM Athletics for providing some needed stretching, and Andrew Needham from the HSPC and the Oakville Public Library for the materials on community mental health resources, as well as CMHA Halton, CMHA Ontario, PCMH Oakville, and Support House for their displays and materials.

 

And how many of us saw that great hockey stick touchless donation display from tiptap, equipped with our Shine Out! Shout Out! logo? We can’t say thank you enough for tiptap being a part of our day, and for providing an easy way for people to make payments and donations.  We look forward to working together at future events.

 

A massive shout out of thanks to the facilitators and youth of the Just Be You program who shared their voices with us at the tournament and told of the difference the program has had on their lives. The pandemic had caused us to pause our Shine Out! Shout Out! for a few years, but the work of the Just Be You peer program at Support House continued. During the pandemic, the program went virtual, which allowed youth to stay connected, not only with friends but also with community resources, and to have a place to hang out and have fun. The pandemic showed us the harsh impact of isolation, loss of social connection, and inability to do things that are part of everyday life (like school) on a young person's mental well-being. The constancy of knowing Just Be You was there allowed youth to find a safe space, be there for each other and just be themselves while being supported, especially during the pandemic when life was anything but normal and youth often felt lost and overwhelmed.

 

As I said when starting this letter, after being away since 2019, what a return we had! We are blown away by the support. Thanks to the coming together of everyone - the teams, the organizing committee, the Canlan Ice Sports facility team and the many volunteers, as well as our sponsors and donors (of time, goods, and services), the Just Be You youth and team - Shine Out! Shout Out! 2022 truly shone out! I am so pleased to shout out that thanks to the tournament's funds and the matching funds from Kindred Foundation, we can donate over $45,000 to the Just Be You Peer program. When we add this amount to other Just Be You Fund monies this year, more than $60,000 will be given to the Just Be You program in 2022; indeed, a moment of WOW! 

 

Thank you for supporting the Just Be You program and the youth who attend the program. You are truly helping to make a difference. 

 

See you next year! Follow us on social media at @ShineShout on Twitter, Instagram, and Shine Out! Shout Out! on Facebook for our latest updates and happenings.

Be well,

Michele

Michele Sparling, Founder

Just Be You / Shine Out! Shout Out! 

 

ABOUT JUST BE YOU

The Just Be You (JBY) peer support program was started as a means to fill the gap for youth for whom there is no effective transition from the youth to the adult mental health system. Co-designed with youth, JBY is unique in its offering as a weekly social-recreational peer program that runs all year. JBY provides a space for youth ages 15-25 to hang out, have fun, without fear of judgment or stigma, to socialize on their terms, and to just be youth. To know that they are not alone at a time when they feel alone. Youth do not need a diagnosis to attend. Access is drop-in based.

JBY reaches youth that are socially isolated and/or facing multiple barriers of stigma, financial challenges, illness, or transportation. For some youth JBY is a safe entry point in seeking support for their mental health. Transportation is provided for youth that would otherwise not be able to attend and who would therefore remain isolated. Often there are barriers to accessing mental health programs such as where you live or whether you have a diagnosis; we didn't want to do that for this program. Youth choose what activities they want to do whether it is having someone to come in and speak with them; a community event; or even just hanging out, having fun and chatting with each other - all at no cost for the youth. Staff trained in mental health and peer support are available for check-ins and one-on-one chats.

The key source of funding for JBY is raised at Shine Out! Shout Out! and supplemented by funding from individual donations and grants from organizations like Kindred Foundation. The program is run in partnership with Support House and is also connected to other community organizations such as ADAPT, and ROCK in Halton.

Thanks to the Shine Out! Shout Out! tournament we have been able to provide 7 years of peer support to youth in Halton – that is 450 drop-in sessions.  As well, Just Be You has assisted with numerous connections/referrals to mental health, addictions, housing, or social service supports.

For more information about the Just Be You program, go to www.shineshout.com or www.supporthouse.ca .

  

Help Us Shine Out for Youth Mental Health this September

Shine Out! Shout Out! for Youth Mental Health Is Back After 3 years!!

by Michele Sparling,  Just Be You | Shine Out! Shout Out!  

After an absence of nearly 3 years and at a time where the demand for youth mental health services are greater than ever, we are happy to have Shine Out! Shout Out! return on Sep 10, 2022 at Canlan Ice Sports in Oakville. We are thrilled to announce that not only has our event sold out, but we even have a waitlist for people who are interested in getting together to play a sport they love and to support youth mental health.

This year will see 22 adult recreational hockey teams coming together in support of the Just Be You peer support program for youth dealing with mental health and addiction concerns. Just Be You is run through the Centre for Innovation in Peer Support at Support House in Oakville.

Programs like Just Be You are needed more than ever. And this is where you come in. We are asking you to help make a huge difference in the lives of youth by making this our most memorable fundraising event and allowing us to make the most of the Kindred Foundation’s pledge of matching up to $15,000 in donations! We would love to achieve a fundraising goal of $50,000 this year and make this the best Shine Out! Shout Out! ever. We know we can do it with your help.

Teams involved in Shine Out! Shout Out! are challenged to raise funds and compete for the top fundraising team. The top three teams will receive a prize pack and team recognition at the tournament and in social media. Individuals and Teams are asked to make donations to the Just Be You fund and note the team name in the comments to allow us to track the total for the team. Teams are also encouraged to have family and friends and colleagues, and organizations to donate on their behalf. Tax receipts are issued for donations of $20 or more.

For those not playing hockey, there are many ways to support the event and raise funds for the Just Be You Peer program:

• ●  Donate to the Just Be You Fund. All donations raised in connection with Shine Out! Shout Out! Go directly to support the Just Be You peer program. Tax receipts will be provided

• ●  Donate prizes for the draws or silent auction, or consider sponsoring the event

• ●  Come to the arena the day of the event and make a donation in person (there will be tiptap touchless devices on site)

  Participants and members of the public will also have the opportunity to:

• ●  Bid on our silent auction items online or in person or participate in one of our draws

• ●  Learn about mental health and addiction supports and services with displays from community resources

• ●  From 2- 3 p.m. join in for the presentations from the Just Be Youth and event organizers, as well as the winner of the VICKI award, in recognition of a person or organization who is making a difference in the mental health system.

  ABOUT JUST BE YOU

  Like many organizations, the Pandemic caused us to pause our Shine Out! Shout Out! fundraising event for the last two years. But, while our fundraising was paused, the work of the Just Be You peer program for youth dealing with mental health concerns continued. During the Pandemic the program was able to run virtually which allowed youth who came to the program to stay connected, not only with friends but also with community resources, and to have a safe place to hang out and have fun. The Pandemic showed us the harsh impact of isolation, loss of social connection, and inability to do things that are part of everyday life (like school) on a young person’s mental well-being.

  The Just Be You (JBY) peer support program was started as a means to fill the gap for youth for whom there is no effective transition from the youth to the adult mental health system. Co-designed with youth, JBY is unique in its offering as a weekly social-recreational peer program that runs all year. JBY provides a space for youth ages 15-25 to hang out, have fun, without fear of judgment or stigma, to socialize on their terms, and to just be youth. To know that they are not alone at a time when they feel alone. Youth do not need a diagnosis to attend. Access is drop-in based.

  JBY reaches youth that are socially isolated and/or facing multiple barriers of stigma, financial challenges, illness, or transportation. For some youth JBY is a safe entry point in seeking support for their mental health. Transportation is provided for youth that would otherwise not be able to attend and who would therefore remain isolated. Often there are barriers to accessing mental health programs such as where you live or whether you have a diagnosis; we didn't want to do that for this program. Youth choose what activities they want to do whether it is having someone to come in and speak with them; a community event; or even just hanging out, having fun and chatting with each other - all at no cost for the youth. Staff trained in mental health and peer support are available for check-ins and one-on-one chats.

The key source of funding for JBY is raised at Shine Out! Shout Out! and supplemented by funding from individual donations and grants from organizations like Kindred Foundation. The program is run in partnership with Support House and is also connected to other community organizations such as ADAPT, and ROCK in Halton.

Thanks to the Shine Out! Shout Out! tournament we have been able to provide 7 years of peer support to youth in Halton – that is 450 drop-in sessions and a cumulative attendance of over 5,000. As well, Just Be You has assisted with numerous connections/referrals to mental health, addictions, housing, or social service supports.

READ MORE ON OUR WEBSITE or CONTACT US

           www.shineshout.com 

Contact us at 1-800-637-1108 / information@shineshout.com

Shine Out For Youth Mental Health

  

August 2022

Shine Out! Shout Out! Tournament in Support of Youth Mental Health to Return Sept. 10th

The Pandemic has had a significant impact on youth mental health, and Just Be You has continued to be there for youth who are struggling by providing much needed peer support.

And now, we are asking you to be there for youth on September 10, 2022, a date that coincides with World Suicide Prevention Day. 

It has been over two years since the last Shine Out! Shout Out! fundraiser because of the pandemic but the work of the Just Be You peer program for youth dealing with mental health concerns continued. During the Pandemic we continued the program virtually, given how important it is for youth to stay connected, not only with friends but also with community resources, and to have a safe place to hang out and have fun. The Pandemic showed us the harsh impact isolation, loss of social connection, and inability to do things that are part of everyday life (like school) on a young person’s mental well-being.

The Just Be You Peer Program

The Just Be You (JBY) peer support program was started as a means to fill the gap for youth for whom there is no effective transition from the youth to the adult mental health system. Co- designed with youth, JBY is unique in its offering as a weekly social-recreational peer program that runs all year. JBY provides a space for youth ages 15-25 to hang out, have fun, without fear of judgment or stigma, to socialize on their terms, and to just be you(th). To know that they are not alone at a time when they feel alone. Youth do not need a diagnosis to attend. The program is run in partnership with Support House through their Centre for Innovation in Peer Support.

JBY reaches youth that are socially isolated and/or facing multiple barriers of stigma, financial challenges, illness, or transportation. For some youth JBY is a safe entry point in seeking support for their mental health. Transportation is provided for youth that would otherwise not be able to attend and who would therefore remain isolated. Often there are barriers to accessing mental health programs such as where you live or whether you have a diagnosis; we didn't want to do that for this program. Youth choose what activities they want to do whether it is having someone to come in and speak with them; a community event; or even just hanging out, having fun and chatting with each other - all at no cost for the youth. Staff trained in mental health and peer support are available for check-ins and one-on-one chats.

 And the feedback shows the success the program is having.  JBY Participants have told us:

• “I have gained strong friendships...Those connections often carry me through the day because I get to remember the laughs we have...”
• “This group means a connection between friends, support, and welcoming, safe space."
• “This is the only place I have connections”
• “I look forward to JBY every week”
• “I never had friends or hung with people my age, I always thought I was weird, until I came to JBY; people are fun and welcoming. Plus, I love the staff they make it a safe space for me to just be me”
• “I love hanging around and just chatting....a positive anchor point in my week - especially a week when the bullying has been intense and my anxiety high “
• “JBY is the reason I am trying to better myself”

Parents/Health & Community Support have also told us:

• “My child talks about JBY all the time” (Parent)
• “This is such an important and amazing program...so happy it is available in our community...we have seen a real impact and the very real difference it makes. Thank you.”(Parent)
• “JBY is having a profound impact on youth” (Parent)
• “I am doing 35% of the work, you are doing the other 65%” – (Psychiatrist, Acute Care)

Tournament is key source of funding for JBY 

Funds raised at the annual Shine Out! Shout Out! adult recreational hockey tournament are the primary source of funds for JBY, and are supplemented by funding from individual donations and grants from organizations. 

Thanks to the Shine Out! Shout Out! tournament JBY has been able to provide 7+ years of weekly peer support to youth in Halton – that is more than 450 drop-in sessions. As well, JBY has assisted with numerous connections/referrals to mental health, addictions, housing, or social service supports.

Our Ask

Programs like JBY are needed more than ever and why we plan to grow this program. And this is where you come in. On September 10, 2022 we will be running our 8th annual Shine Out! Shout Out! hockey tournament at Canlan Ice Sports in Oakville to raise funds and raise awareness for youth mental health and the Just Be You peer support program. 

We are asking you to help make a huge difference in the lives of youth by making this our most memorable fundraising event and allowing us to make the most of a pledge of up matching up to $15,000  donations!

How can you Shine Out for Youth Mental Health?

Be a part of our story. Donate to the Just Be You Fund at the Oakville Community Foundation. Funds raised during Shine Out! Shout Out! are donated to the Just Be You program. 

Sponsorships still available.  By supporting our event, you will be recognized in all written material, including the day of the event, as well as on social media. Approximately 300-400 people attend the event in the past, including community leaders, and we have been covered by TV, radio and newspapers. This is a great way for you to be recognized as a community leader for youth mental health.

Be a part of our story, make a donation today to the Just Be You Fund in support of youth mental health and the Just Be You program. 

To contact us about sponsorships or donations, or if you would like to know about other ways you can contribute to this event contact us at 416-277-2767 or 1-800-637-1108 or information@shineshout.com or by visiting our website at www.shineshout.com.

Thank You to All Who Shined and Shouted

Hello to all the teams from Shine Out! Shout Out!  2018,

Where to start ....

In my email of September 9th I talked about how the Shine Out! Shout Out!  tournament is a day with filled with many emotions from all that the day brings, and how this year it was a day where our hearts were heavy with the absence of Jo Evans, someone who had been an institution on and off the ice of her own making, who had been an amazing team mate, mentor, and friend to most of us, and who had participated in Shine Out! Shout Out!  since the start. After our first tournament Jo and I had a chat about the day and she talked about what a great thing it was that we were doing.  And Jo was right ... it is a great thing that we are doing.  I don't mean the organizer we, but WE in all of us  - organizers, volunteers, teams, friends and families, donors, and sponsors, coming together for a day of socializing, for playing a sport we love, and for helping to make a difference for youth who are struggling with their mental health. 

And what a difference WE have been making...Thanks to You!!

• Thanks to you we have been able to take an idea we had and create a grassroots social-rec program from scratch, where youth struggling with mental health issues can talk with someone their age who has been where they are and can say "me too"
• Thanks to you since 2014 the Just Be You peer to peer program has been providing a space for youth to go, hang out, have fun, to socialize on their terms, while feeling supported
• Thanks to you 20 youth on average a Friday night get together without fear of judgment or stigma, and help build their self-esteem and self-confidence, their coping and resiliency skills, to get socially connected, and to just be youth
• Thanks to you the cost to run the program is entirely covered by Shine Out! Shout Out!  and is run for us by Support and Housing Halton
• Thanks to you having the cost to run the program being entirely covered by Shine Out! Shout Out!  means we can let youth from anywhere participate. So often there are barriers to accessing services for mental health based on where you live.  We didn't want to do that for this program.  Youth currently are from Oakville, Burlington, Mississauga, and northern Peel Region
• Thanks to you we can provide transportation to youth who need a way to get to the program 
• Thanks to you the youth can choose what activities they want to get involved in whether it is having someone to come in and speak with them, or whether it is to go to a movie, go paint-balling, or bowling, or even just hang out and have fun chatting with each other
• Thanks to you 2 part time staff have been hired for the program 
• Thanks to you parents/caregivers are talking about what a tremendous program it is for their youth and the difference it is making
• Thanks to you we have a program that healthcare and mental health care providers are seeing as a model of success
• and most importantly, Thanks to you lives are being changed; NO, lives are being saved (in the words of the youth)....Thanks to you.

When we decided to hold our first Shine Out! Shout Out!  in 2013 (just 5 years ago) our view was if we could make a difference for one or a few youth how great would that be.  And now, here we are - $250,000 later, after raising over $45,000 (net) this year  - and we are now talking about sharing the program with others in the province to help more youth get connected. 

My heart is truly bursting - THANKS TO YOU!!

Much love and hugs to all of you on behalf of the entire Shine Out! Shout Out! team - myself, Darcy, Stacey, Lynne, Lana, Cari, Pam H, Jane, Jen A-C, Liz, and Sherri. 

We hope to see you on September 7, 2019 for Shine Out! Shout Out!  (aka 7th on the 7th).  The ice has been booked and now you just need to mark your calendars.

One final ask - next week is Mental Health Awareness Week.  If you still have your ConvoPlates, can I ask that we make it an extra special week for the Hansell Foundation by sharing pictures of your plates on their journeys as they are passed on amongst family, co-workers, team-mates, etc. on social media - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn etc.  Just use the hashtag #ConvoPlate and the number found on the back of your plate when you post your picture. It is that easy. 

Michele

Michele Sparling

Founder | Team Member

Shine Out! Shout Out!  

Sage Words and Wise Advice - But Only If Needed and Asked For

As a parent of a transition-aged youth (TAY), you know, the age between being a teen and being a full-fledged adult, it can be difficult to stand back and watch as your child deals with life in all its harshness and lessons. This is a time when they head out on their own for a job, college or university, to some other new adventure  that will hopefully lead them to the life they want.  For a parent of a child affected by a mental illness, the time can be even more worrisome.

No longer are you able to go with your child to talk with the teacher, coach, etc. about issues and concerns and, where needed, give input to come up with a plan of support. Now it is about your TAY advocating solo for themselves, and you hope that over the years you have given them the means and opportunities to develop the critical skills to do this (which by the way are skills that are important not just for a person dealing with an illness or disability but everyone).  As a parent, at this stage of life for your child, all you can do is impart some sage advice and wisdom  - should they ask for it - while taking into account their perspectives and thoughts, and hope that the advice is indeed still sage and wise.

A recent event this week made me think about some of the advice we as parents have had to give to when things may not have gone as hoped or needed:

• Life is not  always fair  (I know …" Gee, thanks Mom!") even though you try and make it fair for everyone you encounter.  Unfortunately not everyone sees the world the same way you do.
• When you are doing team or group work, sometimes not all the team /group pulls their own weight and you will have to figure out how to ensure each person does pull their weight, or how to share the work if they do not so that you are not taking on the extra burden alone. When setting up your group processes at the beginning, talking about what to do should someone not do their part will help alleviate strife (as life can get in the way sometimes and even though "that's not how [they] do things"). If needed,  use your prof, boss as a mentor, ask them for advice on how to manage these things.  
• Those who are often the busiest are given more work to do.  Why?  An old adage says it's because you will get things done. That could be true, but it may also cause you to become overwhelmed and impact you mentally, emotionally, and physically.  It's OK to ask for help creating a priority list of what is practicable and by when. More importantly it is also OK to say NO.  Trust me, you are not letting people down when you say NO, rather you are keeping yourself up with self-care and mental wellness.  
• Even when you prepare to the nth-degree the unexpected can pop-up that can throw off the best laid plans of mice and men.  Plan Bs are made for these moments but there isn't always the option of a Plan B.  Maybe you missed something that could have adverted the unexpected, but don't waste time on what wasn't done, focus on what you can do differently in the future, what you learned from it, and how to move forward from this moment.
• Create a communication plan for sharing details - who needs to know what and by when. Make sure contact information is shared among those who need to know, include in it how to reach different people.
• When things go wrong, own it if you are responsible, but don't own it alone if you are part of a team/group and it was a team/group responsibility.  Equally, don't "throw people under the bus" if you were the one responsible. 
• Apologize with sincerity when an apology is needed.  A sincere apology can go a long way in making amends. - whether it is done in person, through a note, an email, a call, or some small token of apology (a coffee), or offer to help in other ways.
• Now about some of those adults you may encounter:  Sometimes they are leaders, mentors, coaches, and teachers, other times they are takers, blamers, lamenters, and harsh critics.  Some don't always think about what they are saying or how it can be received or perceived (and I will put myself in this mix on the odd occasion) and the harm that words cause people, especially if the receiver of the words is struggling internally. Yes, sometimes they like to gaze at their own belly-buttons and not take ownership for things they may have been aware of, or could changed by effective communications or actions on their part. 
• Some adults can sometimes forget that you are still learning.  Reading a text book or writing a paper or exam does not make you an expert, it makes you a student, a person who is still growing.  The true leaders, mentors, coaches, and teachers know this and will use both the successes and the mistakes to help you learn and find opportunities to grow.  Figure out who these people are in your life; learn from them.
• People can sometimes jump to conclusions and not ask for the other side of the story before reacting.  Make sure you give yourself a voice.  Seek the opportunity to explain so that both sides of the story are known and understood. It may not change the outcome, but with any luck it will ensure the complete picture is seen. 
• Remember that communications plan?  Share it with those adults who are involved in the things you are working on so that they too can be part of solutions or point out where you may be going off track.  Make them ad hoc team-members of the team,
•  Ask for help if you are not sure.  Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign of strength and courage, and it provides the opportunity to create understanding for those involved.
• Be polite, respectful even when you feel you are being attacked.  As Michelle Obama said recently, "When they go low, [you] go high." Stay above those who try to pull you down.
• Know that you are loved, and believed in - and yes, I know I am your parent and you think I have to say those things … which I do … but I say it because it is true. 

The Never-Ending Song

Some days are hard; some days feel impossible.
Even when you are doing so much right.
Even when you are shining so brightly.
Even when the world is filled with possibility.
Deep inside, that little voice sings out its nagging song
that makes you feel that you are not good enough, you don't fit in,
you will never achieve anything, that you'll make a mistake.
It is relentless in its singing of the song.
It is like a tape recorder on a continuous loop, playing over and over.
You try to shut it off, and you may be able to pause it for a short while,
and somewhat enjoy the moment, but as soon as the moment is done,
the song starts again like an ear-worm of the Never-Ending Song.
It calls out to you in the dark, it interferes with your sleep.
It stops you from  thinking and deciding, as the lyrics and refrain wrap themselves around
your synaptic pathways and ensure you can't move from where you are.
Its booming base causes your heart to match its rhythm, and your lungs to quicken their
pace of intake.
The song is annoying, and loud, and the beat puts you out of pace with your natural step.
You try and find the stop button to the song, or even the pause button to give yourself
the chance to have quiet, to rest for a second, and to breathe.
And when you do, the singer pulls back, hides under the pathways, and in the dark
recesses of the mind, waiting for that moment when it can sing again,
while you work hard to ensure the silence endures and the peace remains.