Wednesday Wisdom

Along the same lines as my "Monday Music" feature, I've decided to start a new weekly feature spotlighting some of my favorite quotations.  I truly believe that acquiring a collection of meaningful music and quotations is a great way to build up a layer of defense against depression.  In fact, I have a whole playlist on iTunes simply called "Happy," from which I've handpicked all of the songs I've featured so far on this blog.  Similarly, I have a Word document tucked away on my laptop containing quotations that I've come across that I find inspiring, motivating, and uplifting.  I always get a little thrill when I find a quotation that really speaks to me.  Taking a few moments to ponder snippets of wisdom amidst the demands and rush of everyday life allows me to center myself and ask: Am I living this?

So without further ado, I give you the first of (hopefully) many bits of Wemmy's Wednesday Wisdom, straight from a magnet on my fridge:

Via Quotable Cards

This quote is comforting for someone like me, who has struggled with excessively demanding and counterproductive perfectionism for as long as I can remember.  When I perceive that I've failed in some way - and this could be as stupid and trivial as not completing a scheduled workout, or not washing my face before I go to bed - it's unbelievably hard for me to start anew, to put it behind me and not let said "failure" bog me down.  The internal dialogue that ensues often borders on the absurd (a fact that I'm typically only able to discern later): "Ew, I didn't wash my face last night, now I feel disgusting... I'll have to spend an extra long time in the shower this morning scrubbing my face and I just don't have the energy... Ugh, I look terrible... I can't risk seeing someone I know at Teeter so forget running errands..."  And if this is the mental haranguing I endure for something as insignificant as not washing my face one night, imagine how I feel when I haven't exercised in months, or when I've put off applying for that job for weeks.  (Not trying to drum up sympathy here; just attempting to illustrate the inner workings of my dysfunctional mind.) 

I'm definitely still learning how NOT to constantly be at the mercy of my automatic thoughts -- how to command that obnoxiously large, stubborn "elephant."  Today's quote helps me shut those thoughts up, or at least become more aware of how silly they are.  No one, myself included, can live a perfect day-to-day existence, so why should I hold myself to some impossibly high standard?  What I can do is live mindfully and in the moment.  I can do my best today while forgiving myself for yesterday's "old nonsense."

Monday Music

My happy song for today, "Days Go By," comes from country artist Keith Urban.  This song truly makes me wish I were driving down a country road in the summertime with the top down (of my imaginary convertible, haha).  It's a fun, upbeat reminder to live mindfully and in the moment instead of focusing on what has already happened or what will happen.  We need to make sure that we're not overlooking and rushing through the most important part of our lives: right now.  I think he says it best in this line: "We think about tomorrow, then it slips away... We talk about forever, but we've only got today."  Here are some of the other particularly good lyrics:

I'm changin' lanes and talkin' on the phone
Drivin' way too fast
The interstate's jammed with gunners like me
Afraid of comin' in last
But somewhere in the race we run
We're coming undone

Days go by
I can feel 'em flyin'
Like a hand out the window in the wind
The cars go by
Yeah, it's all we've been given
So you better start livin' right now

Out on the roof just the other night
I watched the world flash by
Headlights, tail lights
Runnin' through a river of neon signs
But somewhere in the rush I felt
We're losing ourselves

So take 'em by the hand
They're yours and mine
Take 'em by the hand
And live your life
Take 'em by the hand
Don't let 'em all fly by

Monday Music

As promised last Monday, this week I'm featuring an undeniably American song (which couldn't come at a more apropos moment, seeing as our nation is jubilant today): "Happy Girl" by country singer Martina McBride.  This is one of those songs that is just bursting at the seams with utterly contagious happiness.  In it, McBride sings of overcoming a negative outlook and embracing life in all its complexity ("Laugh when I feel like it, cry when I feel like it, that's just how my life is...").  Simply becoming "a happy girl," however, is admittedly much easier said than done; as anyone who has ever been depressed knows all too well, depression is not something that you can just "snap out of."  McBride does give one piece of advice for overcoming depression when she sings: "Now every time I start to feel like that, I roll my heart out like a welcome mat."  To me, that speaks to inviting new people and experiences into your life instead of retreating and withdrawing into depression.  You have a choice.  What other people do and say is out of your control, but the way you respond and live your life is completely up to you -- and that is a powerful thing to realize.  Here are some other noteworthy lyrics:

I used to live in a darkened room
Had a face of stone
And a heart of gloom
Lost my hope, I was so far gone
Crying all my tears
With the curtains drawn
I didn't know until my soul broke free
I've got these angels watching over me

Oh, watch me go
I'm a happy girl
Everybody knows
That the sweetest thing that you'll ever see
In the whole wide world
Is a happy girl

I used to hide in a party crowd
Bottled up inside
Feeling so left out
Standing in a corner wearing concrete shoes
With my frozen smile
And my lighted fuse 

And I've come to know
That the world won't change
Just 'cause I complain
Let the axis twirl
I'm a happy girl

(Sorry for the not-so-great video... Sadly there was never a real music video made for this song.)

Monday Music

Somehow this past week has gotten away from me and it's already time again for my weekly lyrics post.  I'm glad that I came up with the "Monday Music" feature (despite its super boring title) because it keeps me coming back at least somewhat regularly to blog.  (Maybe I should think of another weekly feature?)  So, without further ado, I present to you (all my thousands of loyal readers, ha... ha...) the third "Monday Music" song selection: "Strip Me," by Natasha Bedingfield.

No, not as naughty as it sounds.  It's really about one person's ability to have seemingly everything taken away from her and still be able to express herself to make a difference.  I think it also speaks to the virtues of living simply (something I'm making more of an effort to do these days) -- how we can get rid of so much extraneous stuff our lives and still be OK, because what really matters (our thoughts, our feelings, our souls, our voices, etc.) are still intact.  I heard this song in the movie Morning Glory (decent movie, adorable Rachel McAdams) and liked the melody right away, so, as is often the case, I did a little Googling to find the lyrics.  Natasha Bedingfield seems to gravitate toward writing happy, inspirational songs (think: "Unwritten" and "Pocketful of Sunshine") and "Strip Me" is no exception.  It'll leave you feeling empowered and energized.  Take a look at some of the lyrics:

Every day I fight for all my future somethings
A thousand little wars I have to choose between
I could spend a lifetime earning things that I don't need
But that's like chasing rainbows and coming home empty

And if you strip me, strip it all away
If you strip me, what would you find
If you strip me, strip it all away
I'll be alright

Take what you want, steal my pride
Build me up or cut me down to size
Shut me out but I'll just scream
I'm only one voice in a million
But you ain't taking that from me 

I don't need a microphone
To say what I've been thinking
My heart is like a loudspeaker
That's always on eleven

'Cause when it all boils down at the end of the day
It's what you do and say that makes you who you are
Makes you think about it, doesn't it
Sometimes all it takes is one voice

(Just realizing now that all of the artists I've featured so far have been British!  Even the coach on my workout podcasts!  Weird, and completely unintentional.  Thinking of some real, good ol', down home country American music I can use next week...)

 

Monday Music

This past week I've been contemplating which lyrics I wanted to spotlight today, and although I came up with several good options, I decided to go with Leona Lewis' song "Happy."  I've adored this song from the moment I first heard it (on perezhilton.com, I'm ashamed to admit, but oh well).   Not only is her voice stunningly beautiful, but the lyrics in this song are a compelling reminder that no matter what life throws at you, it is within your power to make the best of it and find your own personal happiness.  We each have the ability to live in the moment and to constantly challenge ourselves to step outside of our comfort zones.  Here are some of my favorite lyrics:

I could stand by the side
And watch this life pass me by
So unhappy
But safe as could be

So what if it hurts me
So what it I break down
So what if this world just throws me off the edge
My feet run out of ground
 
I gotta find my place
I wanna hear my sound
Don’t care about all the pain in front of me
I'm just trying to be happy

Holding on tightly
Just can’t let it go
Just trying to play my role
Slowly disappear

But all these days
They feel like they’re the same
Just different faces
Different names
Get me out of here

So any turns that I can't see
I'll become a stranger on this road
But don't say victim
Don't say anything

Monday Music

Sometimes there's nothing more uplifting and inspiring than meaningful song lyrics. I stumbled across the song "Wonderful" by Gary Go when I was watching a trailer for Disneynature's movie Oceans (which looks awesome, by the way).  I immediately loved the melody but didn't know how great the lyrics were until I searched for them later online.  Here are a few that really struck a chord with me:

The person that you were has died
You've lost the sparkle in your eyes
You fell for life into its traps
Now you wanna bridge the gaps
Now you want that person back

And all your ammunition's gone
Run out of fuel to carry on
You don't know what you wanna do
You've got no pull to pull you through 

Say "I am," say "I am"
Say "I am wonderful"

If what you've lost cannot be found
And the weight of the world weighs you down
No longer with the will to fly
You stop to let it pass you by
Don't stop to let it pass you by
You've gotta look yourself in the eye

'Cause we are all miracles
Wrapped up in chemicals
We are incredible
Don't take it for granted, no...