Stay Human

I first heard of Micheal Franti  in 2008 when I was living in Arkansas. I had a friend who was really into music and she mentioned that he, along with his band Spearheard, was going to be playing at the Fayetteville Spring Festival. I agreed to go with her. 

I remember it being a hot day- more summer than spring. Crowds had filled up the area near the stage, so we were some ways off when Franti arrived.  He had a presence about him even then and the crowd, which had been loud and raucous before, quieted down. 

I don’t remember exactly what he said but I’m sure it was something like “I’m Micheal Franti, this is Spearhead, and we’re gonna play a little music for you.” What followed was some of the most upbeat, joyful, and self-affirming music I’ve ever heard. I remember Franti jumping in and starting to dance, his dreadlocks flying around and slapping his face .

Cut to last Friday. My friend K and I were at the Red Rock Amphitheater in Colorado, our matching yoga mats spread out on the wooden risers along with close to 3,000 other people. We were there for a yoga jam benefiting Franti’s foundation, Do It For the Love, a nonprofit that he and his wife founded to provide the gift of music to terminally ill individuals. A yoga jam involved doing a little yoga and a little free style dancing while Franti played music. It was seriously the most uplifting and glorious experience I’ve ever had and was made all the more special by having K. there, my dear friend of 18 years. 

Words of kindness and affirmation were spoken during our time there. We were asked to hug a stranger, make as much noise as we could and do a call and response about being human, all while under the endless Colorado sapphire sky.

This event and my time with K. was, of course, too short. But I’m hoping to carry the gift of that energy, kindness and goodwill with me for days and weeks to come.

XOXO

KS