February 2025 Theme Mix Tape
The It’s Okay to Not Be Okay: February 2025 Theme Mix Tape (Side B) can be found on Spotify. Listen in-blog below for a more rich experience, or on Spotify for uninterrupted music. Please note below each song is a link to song lyrics for accessibility. Check out more details on how to best enjoy mix tapes.
Good day! You are listening to KMTJ-DB – Your Mix Tape Journey – Denver, Colorado.
I’m your host, DJ Ponyboy, coming to you from downtown Denver. I appreciate your patience with this week’s mix tape as I have not been okay! I have been dealing with mental health struggles, food poisoning, and other personal struggles, but I’m back baby!
I’m here, I’m queer, and I’mma bend your ear with some fantastic new tunes. Thank you again for your patience; I promise it will be worth it!
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay.
Mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, financially, or any other way – being not okay is not a reflection of your character, evidence of weakness, or a demonstration of anything else negative.
Every single human being struggles at different points in their lives with not being okay in one way or another – and that’s okay.
This next song is “for the people who just can’t break through”.
I’m DJ Ponyboy and here is American rock band Nothing More with “Stuck” on KMTJ-DB – Denver, Colorado.
“I’ve lost my sense of self, but don’t count me out. I don’t disappoint”. “Stuck” by Nothing More.
Mental health is health and there should never be stigma attached to taking care of your health. It is important to surround yourself with people who support you instead of bringing you down. It is downright toxic to be around people who do not believe in you.
Like our next song says, “‘they quit on me on Georgia, they quit when I got sick, they quit on me while lookin’ at me saying ‘men don’t quit’”.
I’m DJ Ponyboy and I have not quit on you, and I won’t. I will still be here, even through my own struggles, because we need each other.
Jonah Kagen makes the musical plea, “Don’t You Give Up On Me Yet” on KMTJ-DB, Denver.
Don’t You Give Up On Me Yet Lyrics
Jonah Kagen with “Don’t You Give Up On Me Yet”, followed by American folk-pop group Tiny Habits’ 2024 track “Wishes”, where our protagonist shared they “wish [they] didn’t feel like a burden all the time”.
If you feel like a burden all the time, I have three things to tell you.
Firstly, it is very difficult to quantify the impact you have on others. How many people do you interact with on a regular basis who brighten your day, but you never tell them? How many people regularly bring a smile to your face when you think of something they once said? How many teachers and family members and acquaintances have powerfully impacted our lives, but we have never been given the chance or taken the time to tell them?
In the words of Clarence from the movie It’s a Wonderful Life, “Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around, he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?”
Every week I post a mix tape and I rarely see engagement; most of the time it feels like I am just speaking into the void. But I continue to do it for you. If I touch just one person through my mix tapes, I have succeeded, even though I may never know of it.
My second observation is that it can be very easy to forget the times we have been reminded of our impact on others. I suggest starting an I Am Not a Burden Jar; every time you are able to identify some way that you contributed to others in a meaningful way, write it on a piece of paper and put it in the jar.
These slips might document an email a coworker sent thanking you for helping them with something. Or perhaps that one time your child told you unprompted how much they appreciate you or that they love you. Maybe someone made a comment in passing about something you did in the past that they appreciated.
When you feel like a burden, pull out the slips and remind yourself of the ways that people benefit from your presence here on planet earth.
Finally, even if you are unable to think of or document a single way you improve the lives of others, you benefit the world simply by existing in so many ways you will never know.
You are listening to KMTJ-DB – Your Mix Tape Journey – Denver, Colorado.
I’m your host, DJ Ponyboy, with a message just for you: “I see you fighting those demons inside. I will wait for you. I will wait for you”.
Jeremy Voltz reminding you that you are “strong enough to live this life. Just take it one day at a time”. Myles Smith before that with “Wait For You” on KMTJ-DB, Denver.
One thing that has been difficult to reconcile across my healing journey is that two seemingly conflicting things can be true. You can be angry with your father for the way you treated you while still recognizing that he did the best he could at the time. You can be grateful you are no longer with your abusive ex and still miss them terribly.
Enjoy Kelsea Ballerini’s 2024 track “Two Things Can Be True”.
Make It Through the Day Lyrics
American punk reggae band Bumpin Uglies reminding us to revel in the small things that help us make it through the day.
I’m DJ Ponyboy, and if my music brightens your day, please consider supporting Mix Tape Journey by signing up for my email newsletter, purchasing a product, supporting me on Patreon, or simply sharing your favourite mix tape with someone special. Thank you for your contribution; I appreciate you!
While it is important to celebrate the little happinesses that help us through each day, it is equally important to remember we will continue to have bad days. Two things can be true – you can be in pain and be on the mend,
Liverpool musician Banners – “It Hurts When It’s Healing” right here on KMTJ-DB – Your Mix Tape Journey – Denver, Colorado.
Hurts When It’s Healing Lyrics
I’m DJ Ponyboy and I have a special message just for you. Yes, you.
Wherever you are in your mental health journey, I am so proud of you and how far you have come. You are so strong and so brave, and I am so very proud to know you. You have so much to give and I cannot wait to see all you have to offer as you continue to heal day by day.
Don’t forget to join me next week for the February New Music Mix Tape, where I will be sharing the very latest and very best new music curated just for you. Make sure to keep coming back through the month of March as we explore themes of religious deconstruction.
The protagonist of our next song reaches out to a struggling friend, offering their support. “When you’re lonely and you’re needin’ a friend, you can call me; I’ll be there till the end”.
I challenge you to think of a friend who is struggling right now and reach out to share our next song with them, even if you are struggling yourself; often helping someone else stay afloat is the best way to help yourself do the same.
Musical artist Jerub with “There Till the End” on KMTJ-DB, Denver.
I’m DJ Ponyboy, looking to end this mix tape on a high note; while healing is painful, it is also such a very joyful journey as well, especially if we share it together.
I’m thankful you have chosen to share your journey with me and I am proud of you for continuing to make it through the rough times.
Please take comfort in the affirmation of our next song – a brand-new, just-released track from American rock band Michigander. Sing it loud and sing it proud – name it and claim it! Two things can be true!
“I’ll be okay, but I’m not okay right now. I’m knocked down and I’m still out, so if you see me on the ground, it’s okay. But I’m not okay right now”.
Thank you so much for joining me today and every week to share love, laughter, tears, and music.
I can’t wait ‘til the next time we will be together.
You have been listening to KMTJ-DB – Your Mix Tape Journey – Denver, Colorado.
I’m DJ Ponyboy reminding you to stay gold.