"Happy Place" written by Devin Gackle, October 2015*

This is one of those ones that just came to me, while I was in a sort of...thinking place, if you will. For some reason, the term "happy place" came to mind and stuck there.

Sometimes I have trouble finding my happy place; sometimes, I instead get stuck in a depressive place. It sort of feels surreal, sort of a sleepwalk through life; there's so much that you see and feel, but so much that you miss. You know something is missing, and sometimes you know what that thing is, but its absence seems like a dream.

If you lose someone or something, it starts to feel like it never happened at all, and you wonder if it was ever real--sounds dramatic, but the source of the surreal feeling nonetheless.

So people use the term "happy place" when you're in a funk. They tell you to think of things that make you happy. But that doesn't really solve anything. For instance, what if you have happy memories that still make you sad?

And, a part of a happy place is that you're alone in that happy place. It's yours and yours alone. You can imagine people there, but they aren't really there. To get out of a funk that requires the use of the term "happy place," or any funk for that matter, you need real people.

You need someone to talk to.

Hence the line "Is there anyone listening." Because when someone tells you to think of happy memories, they mean well, and I'm sure they think that will make you feel better (which, in many ways, it does). But what they might not realize when they say that is they aren't really willing to listen.

Are they really paying attention?

So I guess I kind of wrote this to unite feelings of surrealism in life, feelings you get stuck with on your own. There are times where it's hard to see the good things, or how blessed we are, because hurt or loss overshadow the good. It's easy to feel like no one understands; even harder to remember that you have people who love you, who care about you. A lot of people feel this way--like no one cares, or alone in times of need or frustration, etc. So this song is for all of you.

You're not alone. I get you.

But you also have to remember: In order for someone to listen, you have to speak.

Lyrics:

I started out sleepwalking

My head was in the space between the clouds

Too much to figure out

Now I'm just dreamwalking

My heart still wants what it wants

Do I play my hand or play the odds

No one really looks at your face

They tell you to go to your happy place

So lift your head and dry your tears

Pray to God and hope he hears

Is there anyone listening

Sometimes love is not enough

What do you do when life is rough

Is there anyone listening

What would it be like

If we could get over ourselves

And love beyond a doubt

What would it be like

If we forgot our selfish needs

Let go of stubborn wants to see

Lift your head and dry your tears

Pray to God and hope he hears

Is there anyone listening

Sometimes love is not enough

What do you do when life is rough

Is there anyone listening

Listening

Listen and you will hear me

No one really looks at your face

They tell you to go to your happy place

So lift your head and dry your tears

Pray to God and hope he hears

Is there anyone listening

Sometimes love is not enough

What do you do when life is rough

Is there anyone listening

Sometimes we just break apart

So lift your hands, show off your scars

Is there anyone listening

Sometimes we don't get to say goodbye

Sometimes we're just left asking why

Is there anyone listening

Listening

Listen and you will hear me

*Originally posted in November 2015. I redid the video because I wasn't satisfied with the quality of the other one.