I’ve Got the Music in Me

 Music soothes the savage beast.  Music soothes the soul.  Music is magic.  I remember back when my kids were little I took a quiz to see what affects my moods.  I remember candles made me happy...and that I was sensitive to noise.  However, music was right up there with what could affect my mood in a powerful way,  I had a 500 CD holder and I insisted on having speakers in the ceiling of the house we had built in Arizona.  I didn't care about much else, but that was a must have for sure.  I have videos of my boys dancing from the time they could stand.  I love that my kids all love the oldies and know the lyrics of songs that a lot of kids (now adults) would not.

I once did a Facebook post asking people to post a song that reminded them of me.  It was a great experiment.  I am sure there are certain songs that automatically bring you back to a specific moment in your life, or a specific person.  With that comes a flood of feelings, some positive, some not so great.  I have made playlists labeled by people close to me and also a happy playlist and a weepy playlist.  I will try to link the happy ones here.  

Why a weepy playlist?  C'mon - haven't you ever needed a good cry?  I used to weep at the drop of the hat.  As I have gotten older and more hardened sometimes the tears just don't flow.  But you know that feeling in your throat and chest when you just know you need to let it out?  Hence, the weepy playlist.  I have been doing "brain dumps" lately more often then usual and the weepy playlist does the trick - I find myself writing things I didn't even know I felt through the tears and every single time I feel like myself when I am done.

Spotify made me a playlist called "Feel Good Classics".  I have been listening during the week at my desk and it makes my workday fly and I find myself dancing while I get another cup of coffee or have my lunch.  What a mood booster!  Even dealing with cranky guests or vendors my sing song voice is prevelant.  Powerful!

I am turning 59 years old tomorrow.  I was having a bit of a not so great day yesterday and this morning.  I didn't sleep well and woke up cranky.  That is not usually my personality and I was not having it.  So I decided to watch one of my favorite movies and then play that playlist and I instantly felt like myself.  Why haven't I done this more often?  The power in the lyrics and melodies is just magic.  It transports me to a place where life is just easy.  As I type this Sonny and Cher are singing in my ears---I got you babe! It's a time warp back to so many moments in my life.  Happy mostly...today I won't let the sad ones pop up.  Afterall - it is birthday eve and I am celebrating the gift of life.  How lucky I am to be healthy and be given another trip around the sun.  

So I challenge you.....the next time you are feeling down go to your favorite music and find that joy.  I can assure you that it won't let you down.  And when you feel better you DO better.  You can spread positivity around and the world just feels like a better place.  

It’s NOT just a day in the life!

Feel Good Oldies

Sing.....Sing a song...sing out loud.....sing out strong!

Music.....it is really just words put to a tune, but it is so much more powerful than just that.  Music has the ability to touch your soul in a way that few things can.  It can take you to another place, can take you to a memory in a mere instant.  Recently I have been listening to music consistently.  I remembered when I took a quiz to see which senses were most important to having me feel joy.  That's when I realized that candles and music were very important in allowing myself to have those feelings.  As always, I lose my way and I don't make time for those simple things, but I decided it was time to make it a priority again.  Singing and dancing can make me feel that happiness I felt when my kids were little and we would dance in the kitchen every day.  I know most people have that memory with their significant other, you always hear about couples dancing together in the kitchen.  I've never had that.  I've only experienced that with my children, but that joy was precious nonetheless.  It brings me a lot of happiness that my children have playlists that include those songs and their memories are just as special.

The other day I was driving and listening to a recommended playlist on Spotify.  The song "Cherish" by the Association came on.  My first thought was of my cousin Cathy.  It was her wedding song with her first husband waaaaaayyy back in the 70's.  It made me wonder where she is and if she was still alive. (she is one of the handful of cousins that no one really speaks to).  In a matter of a minute, my mind went from that to how fortunate we are to have not lost many cousins on that side.  My cousin Tommy, my cousin Robert - and I thought wow, same family, that's odd.  Then I remembered my cousin Cliff who passed away when I was so young, his sister Lenore that I believe has passed and hmm, what is Mitchell up to? and then, of course to my cousin Richie who was killed in Viet Nam and how happy I am to be back in touch with his sisters (my cousins Pat and Annette).  All of those thoughts within a minute, simply from a random song.  

It made me wonder----are there any songs that would make me pop into someone's head?  Does everyone do this when they listen to music?  This also prompted another conversation....about cooking, and when you put love into the food.

My friend's father is turning 94 this week.  He is the sweetest man.  I have been promising him Pasta Fagioli for the last few years and they were celebrating his birthday this week so I finally got to deliver on my promise.  I often get nervous when cooking for people for the first time.  My children think I'm the best cook ever, my ex husband's family loved my cooking as well, but I still always worry that maybe I am not as good as they think I am.  I also made a Vegan version for a big majority of the group and that really made me nervous!  So I dropped the Vegan version off the night before the gathering so it could be heated before I got there the next day.  My friend and his brother tried it.  His brother is not my biggest fan so I knew he would not lie about how it tasted.  His entire demenour changed after one spoonful.  He looked at me with different eyes, I was no longer a fiesty opponent but a "damn good cook".  Hmmmm....maybe the way to a man's heart truly is through his stomach. 

The next day I arrived with the regular version of my mom's infamous pasta fagioli.  The birthday boy was just as excited to see that crockpot as he was to see me!  It was really such a special day and I am so grateful I was able to be a part of it.  Watching him be the center of attention and share his memories of when he was a child was truly magical.  The topic of cooking came up and a few of us were discussing how some people can make the same recipe and it tastes differently.  My adversary turned friend agreed with me that when someone cooks with love it definitely makes a difference.  I think that is why a mom's cooking tastes the best to their children.  These batches of pasta fagioli were made with me dancing and singing at the top of my lungs throughout the whole process. I truly love the people I was making it for and knowing that the birthday boy was excited for it gave me such joy. It is no wonder there was magic in each bowl.  Last night I had some and my daughter (who does not LIKE pasta fagioli) asked if she could have a taste.  I said, "ew it's cold."  She took a spoonful anyway.....she is now hooked!  She loved it.  She said it's never tasted so good!  See?  Music=magic!

Here are my thoughts on this whole topic, you need to bring JOY into everything you do!  Whatever that looks like to you.  Music may not be your thing, then find out what is!  What makes your heart and soul sing?  Do that!  Find that!  It changes everything! And joy, changes what would just be a day in the life.