Every day is a good day, but that doesn’t mean they’re all easy—the past 365 haven’t been painless for anyone, anywhere. But if you’ve been given the great gift of waking up each morning, it ain’t no sin to be glad you’re alive. Resilient New Yorkers have never wasted the opportunities presented by crises by returning to the way things were. This time, we’ll remake the city into a place that’s stronger, more compassionate, and more unified, so the rest of the world believes in New York forever.

These songs not only kept me alive during the pandemic; they are my prayer for the city I love. They remind me that we can always be better and that the city’s greatest days are ahead. New York or nowhere.

Sean Feeney is a Brooklyn-based restaurateur and hospitality entrepreneur. His restaurants include Lilia, Misi, MP, Hometown BBQ, and Red Hook Tavern