Sara Bareilles & Jason Mraz - "You Matter To Me"

“It's addictive the minute you let yourself think
The things that I say just might matter to someone”

So today, with a little more meaning in the moment, I choose Sara Bareilles & Jason Mraz’s "You Matter To Me" as my, each little step, small miracles, daily growth, song for a, progress made, one inch at a time, binds snapping with each step, Wednesday.

Avocuddle - "Do I Wanna Know? (Lofi Hip Hop Remix)"

Just the right mix of beat and lo fi. This artist has a way of stripping away the superfluous and crystalizing the essence of a song.

What can you take this year and strip away of it’s excess to let it’s simple essence shine through?

So today, letting the rest be rust and stardust, I choose Avocuddle’s "Do I Wanna Know? (Lofi Hip Hop Remix)" as my, do i?, one more try, begin today now, song for a, water off a duck’s back, simple truth, complicated explanation, Tuesday.

Jóhan Jóhannsson - "The Dreams That Stuff Is Made Of"

As we know, dreams make things real. What dreams are you planning to make reality this year? Here’s to more hoping they all come true.

So today, with stardust on the wind, I choose Jóhan Jóhannsson’s "The Dreams That Stuff Is Made Of" as my, on the wind, in your heart, in his eyes, song for a, with gold dust and memories, like songs through the trees, waves on my soul, Monday.

Johnnyswim - "I'll Be Home For Christmas"

As every Holiday Season, this month I’ll be choosing only Holiday Songs from as many holidays as I can.

I think we’ll all be home for Christmas this year. So while it may feel less than glamorous, let’s all take a moment to be thankful. There have been many years when we haven’t been able to be home for the holidays, and while this year you might not be with the one's you love, you are loving them by keeping them safe.

Stay home, stay safe, stay happy.

So today, from home, I choose Johnnyswim’s version of "I'll Be Home For Christmas" as my, look on the light side, silver linings, golden edges, song for a, home is where the heart is, next to you is where I want to be, hold them close, Thursday.

Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson - "Wintersong"

As every Holiday Season, this month I’ll be choosing only Holiday Songs from as many holidays as I can.

Some days all it takes is belief. Belief that beyond the darkness there is light. Beyond the cold there is the warm and bright.

Believe.

So today, belief like a prayer, I choose Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson’s "Wintersong" as my, with your whole heart, like a star, with dreams for making, song for a, onward & upward, like little hearts sparkling with promise, diamonds in their eyes, Wednesday.

Burl Ives - "Holly Jolly Christmas"

As every Holiday Season, this month I’ll be choosing only Holiday Songs from as many holidays as I can.

He has the quintessential voice of Christmas. The kind of man who inspired by his humility and talent. When I hear him come through the speakers I feel like the holidays have fully arrived.

Ives began as an itinerant singer and banjoist, and launched his own radio show, The Wayfaring Stranger, which popularized traditional folk songs. In 1942, he appeared in Irving Berlin's This Is the Army, and then became a major star of CBS radio. In the 1960s, he successfully crossed over into country music, recording hits such as "A Little Bitty Tear" and "Funny Way of Laughin'". A popular film actor through the late 1940s and '50s, Ives's best-known film roles included parts in So Dear to My Heart (1948) and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), as well as Rufus Hannassey in The Big Country (1958), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Ives is often remembered for his voice-over work as Sam the Snowman, narrator of the classic 1964 Christmas television special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, which continues to air annually around Christmas.

So today, with the sound of the holidays filling the house, I chose Burl Ives’ “Holly Jolly Christmas” as my, with a little laughter, we’re almost there, more light from here on out, song for a, open softly, speak truthfully, live open, Tuesday.

Rosemary Clooney - "Christmas Mem'ries"

As every Holiday Season, this month I’ll be choosing only Holiday Songs from as many holidays as I can.

Her voice, lit up a room. It was iconic. She was a master interpreter of song, and she had an uncanny knack of being able take a song that had been recorded time and time again, and making it seem brand new. Most importantly though, she infused each performance with a passion that was infectious.

Rosemary Clooney was an American singer and actress. She came to prominence in the early 1950s with the song "Come On-a My House", which was followed by other pop numbers such as "Botch-a-Me", "Mambo Italiano", "Tenderly", "Half as Much", "Hey There" and "This Ole House". She also had success as a jazz vocalist. Clooney's career languished in the 1960s, partly due to problems related to depression and drug addiction, but revived in 1977, when her White Christmas co-star Bing Crosby asked her to appear with him at a show marking his 50th anniversary in show business. She continued recording until her death in 2002.

So today, memories lingering in the air, I choose Rosemary Clooney’s “Christmas Mem’ries” as my, hold on the golden moments, light up your life, look to the dreams, song for a, don’t linger where it hurts, love everywhere you can, shine back like a mirror, Monday.