I suppose if one is going to steal, one should be completely shameless about it. The above graphic was – to the best of my knowledge – created by Belghast for his Mixtape Mondays series of posts. I have snagged it, because there is zero chance of me coming up with anything cooler than that. If there was one thing that very nearly dragged me back to my blog over the last several months, it was this. I feel like I’ve rediscovered a deep affection for music over the last year, and although I am forever making playlists, they’re usually these epic sprawling 6 hour monstrosities. But once in awhile, I get intentional about it. I pick a theme, and I make sure it would fit on a standard 84 minute CD (okay, okay, I know. Mix TAPE, Krikket, mix TAPE). Before I get into my very first Mixtape Monday, though, I would encourage you to go check out Bel’s 32 Mix Tape Monday posts. That man could certainly create a MOOD. And I hope like hell he’d be happy I’m attempting to carry on the tradition. #1 – A Warm Hug (Krikket’s Musical Pep Talk) Image links to a Spotify playlist. If You Can’t Find Hope – Able Heart I’ll Be There – Walk off the Earth Your Nonsense Make Sense – The 502s Life is Better With You – Michael Franti & Spearhead Burden – Citizen Soldier River – Myles Smith The Banjo Song – Mumford & Sons Fuckin’ Perfect – Pink Perfectly Broken (Duet Version) – BANNERS, Lily Meola Arms Open – The Script Love Is the Medicine – Lukis Mac, Londrelle Love the Hell Out Of You – Lewis Capaldi Lease on Life – Andy Grammer Stand By You – Rachel Platten Solid Ground – Vance Joy There Till The End – JERUB It’s OK – GnT Have It All – Jason Mraz You’ll Be The Proof – Forest Blakk, Joy Williams Proud of You – Brent Morgan While this playlist definitely leans romantic, there’s also some great tunes on here that don’t. These are all songs that help heal my emotional damage, and I hope you find at least one track that does the same for you. These mixtapes are yet another way I am trying to declare that I still live and am still trying to be a creative human. Belghast, February 16, 2026