Just Listen to Music

When I was young, I was always perplexed when my mother shut off the car radio. I'd try to crank it up. She'd politely turn it down. Or off. I knew she loved music, so I didn't get it.

Now I do. As a music aficionado, I never saw myself choosing silence, or NPR, over melodies. But that's exactly what I've been doing! I'm not sure when it happened. It sort of snuck up on me. And while I have always been somewhat geek-ish (even before my mom days), I decided something this week. I have completely amped up my boring-factor. I need more music in my life.

It's intuitive to crave silence after a hectic day. And keeping current on the news is obligatory after a certain age–31, I think. Music slipped from my priority, which is nuts if you knew me when I was young. I had top five lists almost every week. Top five artists. Top five songs. Somewhere along the line, I stopped tracking my top five.

Not that I'm a complete ignoramus when it comes to music. Lucky for me, I have a son who hijacks the radio to get his dose of Shawn Mendez or Drake. It keeps me hip. Along with the NPR, of course. And I could probably whip up a quick top five artists list in a pinch.

When I tread on my treadmill, I often watch The Office to get my twenty minutes of laughter. For the next ten minutes, I switch to I Heart Radio. I've been very faithful about keeping my cardio to 30 minutes max. But I'm thinking of increasing my music ratio, which means more exercise minutes. I know what you're thinking. More than 30 minutes of exercise? Crazy! I think I need it though. I've been rotating between Imagine Dragons and Coldplay radio–and with only ten minutes of airplay, I often fail to hear Clocks. A definite top five song.

Today I chose a rock workout station which began with Awolnation and ended with Journey. Diverse. And awesome. As I lip synched to Don't Stop Believin, I realized how much my soul needs music. I felt my pulse revving and my optimism edging up. Certainly working out contributed, but I happen to believe it was more about the music. After imagining myself on stage, belting out a duet with Steve Perry, I definitely felt happier and less distracted from all of the day's minutia. I don't even like Journey that much! I didn't think. Maybe I do.

I've been brainstorming New Year's Resolutions that don't involve eating better, losing weight, or getting organized. So here it is. It's a good one: Listen to more music–and absorb it completely.

The Year of Happy

Despite the new year and the fabulous January weather in Iowa, it seems I've been surrounded by a wave of negative vibes lately. I just don't get it. Take yesterday. A friend of mine told me she was tired of coming to work every day and saying good morning to coworkers who only acknowledged her with glum expressions. So, she was going to quit offering her chipper address. Sad. Very sad. So, you know what I've decided to do? Make a point to give EVERYONE a joyful salutation. No matter how many times they choose to ignore me. Because I've been blown off quite a bit in my life time too. (Not all of us are morning people...or afternoon people...or evening people...) But I think we gotta keep making an effort to tell people they matter to us–no matter what their disposition.

Too many people love to play the victim. Myself included. Here's a very trite example. When is Doug EVER going to hang that NYC picture he gave me for Christmas TWO years ago? Darn him. Well, the other day a voice entered my head and said, "Do it yourself." (It was literally my husband's voice.) But he was right. When I dug into the project and lifted the two pound picture with its easy hanger, it actually was quite simple. And you know something else? I felt accomplished! Now, I'm thinking of other home projects I can do. Like an IKEA bookshelf to span the basement. Too ambitious? It is the new year.

I'm reading a book right now about the 1994 Rwanda civil war when the atrocious genocides took place. It certainly makes every complaint I hear seem trivial. And while it makes me feel a great sadness for all the travesties that occur (and have occurred) in the world, I feel a great happiness for my life.

For 2012, my resolutions take a semblance to marketing ploys:

Say hello...like a Dodge Neon.
Just do it...like some tennis shoes.
Don't worry, be happy...like Bobby McFerrin. Now you can sing that song in your head all day.

Happy Batgirl

You're welcome.

Cole loving the world.

My Single Resolution

I haven't posted any blogs for awhile, despite the incredible amount of material that flashes before me everyday. No, I'm not sick or even too busy. The truth is that laziness has overcome me. Nervous energy has evaporated. A fidgety mind has been laid to rest. My physical drive dutiful performs necessary tasks to function, but not much more.

Seriously. I've spent more time laying on the couch, leisurely glancing at periodicals, reading books, dabbling with my writer's pen, playing board games with the kids, and even watching TV. It's been heaven.

For the past week, in one of those 'staring into space' moments, my brain has toyed with a few New Year's Resolutions. Eat healthy? Too prosaic. Exercise more? I get my thirty minutes a day in, usually. Get organized? Yeah right. Read more? Not bad, but it's still the same ole, same ole.

Then, in church today, it came to me. Be lazier. Perhaps the Holy Spirit or some saint whispered it in my ear. No matter, it just might be the best resolution in my 39 1/2 years! I'm really excited about starting on this one. I imagine my "to do" list will look something like this:

1. Glance over the Wall Street Journal. Skip all business-related articles.
2. Read.
3. Watch Oprah -- be careful not to become too motivated.
4. Write about anything that flutters through my mind.
5. Read some more.
6. Flip through my Lucky magazine. Pick out clothes I want but can't afford.
7. Visit with my kids about The Dark Knight or vampires.
8. Watch any movie with Doug, even if we've seen it 500 times.
9. Read some more.

It might not be easy to fit all this idleness in, but I'm willing to give it my best shot. There's some wash to do, so I think I'll cozy up on the couch and read.