I am feeling just a little melancholy today and it could be because I am unwell. When I am unwell my heads veers off in many directions and it’s hard for me to stay focused on any one thing. I’m normally happy, bubbly, and full of positive energy so this is quite a departure from my personality. And to add insult to injury, it is the end of the year which means both Christmas and New Year’s are a stone’s throw away. The holidays tend to bring out the melancholy in me because they remind me of loved ones who are no longer with me. Namely my sweet mother Jean, my baby brother Shawn, my ahead-of-his-time nephew Ahmad Sr., my endearing brother-in-law Alfredo, my beloved older sister Dana plus countless aunts and uncles way too many to name.
All that to say I like to play holiday Soul music interspersed with Rhythm and Blues around this time of the year. It alternately acts as both a mood lifter and memory generator. I put one song in particular “Happiness is Just Around The Bend” by The Main Ingredient on re-play. Why? Because this song is feeling much more relevant to me now than when I first heard it as a 12 year old girl growing up in the small town of Groton, CT. It is not surprising that it was a chart topper for The Main Ingredient back in 1974. If you have listened to this song and especially the lyrics you too will find it reminiscent of the world we are living in today.
To summarize: it is about finding clarity in chaos, about life feeling upside down and confusing and out of whack but despite that, not giving up, but hanging on because happiness is truly just around the corner – Love will win.
This song is so deep and I truly needed to hear it today – Fact: When this song was recorded by The Main Ingredient back in 1974 the world was struggling with the Watergate Scandal (erosion of faith in the U.S. Government) and the continued impact of the 1973 Oil Crisis which caused widespread inflation, gas shortages and “stagflation.”
Today in 2025 we too struggle with erosion of faith in our government, economic instability and as an added burden: inexplicable developments. Despite what is happening around us, I encourage my fellow TVFL readers to continue fighting the good fight, remain focused and positive and stay the course because I for one am choosing to believe that Happiness is truly just around the bend…
Sincerely,
TVFL