I can tell you exactly where I was the first time I heard Florence Welch’s resounding voice sing those fateful first lyrics; “Happiness hit her like a train on a track…” It was the summer of 2010. I was sitting at work and watching the trailer for Eat Pray Love. I’d read the book and was inspired to redesign my life as many other women were. The fact that it was made into a movie didn’t surprise me, but the song used in the trailer was enchanting. I looked it up and found “Dog Days Are Over” by Florence + The Machine. I’d never wanted to be a character in a song so badly. I wanted to be the woman she described who left everything behind in pursuit of wild adventure. It practically felt like an instruction manual to do so with lyrics like, “Leave all your love and your longing behind you / Can't carry it with you if you want to survive.” I credit this song with pushing me to leap out of my comfort zone and run like mad towards my dreams.

-J. Jones