The American Psychological Association defines resilience as “the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands.”

If I were to give an online definition of resilience, I would just post a picture of Mavis Staples along with playlists of my favorite songs. There are few things that can help me bounce back from adversity like music and Mavis Staples is a living soundtrack of resilience.

At 84-years old, Ms. Mavis is still letting her light shine by recording in the studio, collaborating with other artists, and touring internationally. This musical icon still lives up to her mother’s nickname for her: Bubbles.

Ms. Mavis is determined to make 100 because 99 ½ won’t do! If the rest of us could only have half her enthusiasm and optimism, I think we’ll be OK.

That’s why you’re invited to my listening party.

First, let’s hear a little about the adversity Ms. Mavis overcame as she tells the story about when her family went to jail, with the grim probability that things could have turned out much worse.

With that background, dare we travel with Ms. Mavis as she reflects on the hunting habits “Down in Mississippi”?

“They had a hunting season on the rabbit,
If you shoot ’em, you went to jail.
Season was always open on me,
Nobody needed no bail”

Of course, to appreciate Ms. Mavis, we have to celebrate her family. Despite the perils of their Southern roots, the Staples sought to take everyone to a place where “ain’t nobody cryin’” and “ain’t nobody worrying.”

However, their belief in future deliverance of Jesus didn’t make the Staples complacent about here and now. For example, they agitated for reparations with “When Will We Be Paid?”

Tough times can take a toll on our self-image and Ms. Mavis was no exception. When you’re feeling down, loop this funky anthem of self-affirmation as you look in the mirror and sing along, “I Like the Things About Me.”

Feeling good about one’s self makes it easier to feel good about “Tomorrow,” even though the sky might turn gray and “sometimes things just won’t go your way.”

Ms. Mavis has been singing for almost 20 years longer than I’ve been alive, so how can I do her catalogue justice in one column? Since that’s impossible, I’ll conclude with some collaborations that show off even more of her personality and musical flexibility.

“Blood is Thicker Than Time” was written by Prince and dedicated to the Staples family, based on lengthy personal letters from Mavis Staples to him. They were true fans of each other’s music and became good friends. Because nobody gave a satisfactory answer when the Staples sang it, Prince covered “When We Will Be Paid?” out of admiration for the family and to advocate for the cause.

Let’s debate for a moment before we finish: Which was better, the original or the cover?

I had to ask that since we don’t seem to be ready for the real debate: Why can reparations be paid to everyone except Black Americans?

Ok, we’ll lighten the mood. . .

With another cover.

As I learned in Norah Jones’s podcast, Playing Along, she and Mavis Staples already had a years-long “Friendship” before performing this tribute to Pops Staples together. Even if they hadn’t, they would have been friends after this duet.

Mavis Staples and Ben Harper harmonize so well in “We Get By” because Harper seems to have a soul as old as Ms. Staples. I encourage you to look for an adorable video of them performing live in concert, where Ms. Mavis shares how the backstory to this song involves Kermit the Frog. I linked the studio version because it has better sound, but the concert has more charm.

In order to finish strong, I saved the most unexpected (at least to me) duet for last. “Give We the Pride” perfectly syncretized the vibes of both Mavis Staples and Chuck D. I was hoping for a whole album after hearing it the first time. Can Ms. Mavis keep Chuck on good behavior for that long? Can somebody please get them back in the studio?