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Writer's picturestephaniedefazio

No One Is Alone: a song of support and empathy



I never ignore the relevance of a song coming to mind these days. There are no coincidences. The most recent song is, "No One Is Alone," from the Stephen Sondheim 1986 musical, Into the Woods. I was in the ensemble in my high school production of the show 22 years ago, and to this day, the music has never grown old. It holds a much deeper meaning decades later as it somehow weaves its way into my life moments.

For me, and from what I've learned for so many of us, this year has been the toughest one yet with several unexpected twists and turns. It's been an emotional rollercoaster as I've struggled to grasp my own circumstances and how to best move forward. I've managed to still connect back to faith and find inner peace and healing, but it's a daily choice to make that's a challenge sometimes. I've often felt alone and isolated because I've believed that I have to be my own guide and couldn't lean on others for support.


The song "No One is Alone" is the realization that we need each other for support and there's power in banding together. When facing the unimaginable, it feels isolating, but the truth is, we are never alone. There are so many of us going through the same struggles, and once we realize that, there's an incredible opportunity for connection and encouragement. We can start to shed the burden of struggling on our own and feel more inspired to keep moving forward: "Someone is on your side."


This song universally brings us together in empathy and illuminates our similarities more than our differences. For years, we've seen the division caused by only focusing on our differences, and we've completely missed this truth: we are all humans trying to figure things out and do the best we can each day. Often, we make mistakes, say the wrong things, judge ourselves, or judge others. We can change the world with empathy by coming together to tell our stories, relate, and connect. And when we do that, we simultaneously encourage and feel encouraged. It's the catalyst that lifts us out of the darkness.


These lyrics are powerful for me: "Hard to see the light now, just don't let it go."

It acknowledges how tough it is to see that light, the end of what seems like a constant struggle in the dark, but at the same time, we must hold on and keep going. That determination to keep going will propel us towards the light. It doesn't mean that we won't experience some moments of darkness along the way, but by making a decision to not give up, we will discover more glimmers of light and hope.


This song emphasizes several times that it is our decision to make: "You decide what's right, you decide what's good." We make decisions about how we are going to define and deal with our circumstances, and part of that is to seek support. I've found an amazing amount of comfort when connecting with others this year, and that's why I felt so compelled to write this blog and share my cover of this wonderful song with you.

Even if this brings light to just one person today, I will feel like I've done enough. Friends, please know that if you ever need a listening ear, I'm here. You are not alone.


**For those of you who would like to learn more about this song and the musical, Into the Woods, I highly recommend this video!


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