Need I say more. I’m grateful for my Happy Playlist and I strongly suggest you make one, if you don’t already have one. Am I dating myself to even have playlists, since I think the youngsters are all streaming music now? Oh well. Too late. I like to buy music, to own it, and to make my own playlists to insure that I have uninterrupted favorite tunes. I’ve cribbed this suggestion from a HuffPost 30 Day Happiness Challenge I did a few years ago. It suggested that you make a playlist of your very favorite, mood altering, joy-inducing songs and have it ready.
I did. And I love it. Bad mood — Happy Playlist. Rough day — Happy Playlist even louder.
At the risk of further disillusioning my readers, it must be said that I have the UNCOOLEST music taste ever. In high school, while everyone else loved the Doors and U2, I was rocking the Supremes and Top 40. I still love Barry Manilow, despite being mocked relentlessly about him when I brought and played a Barry Manilow album at a High School party. Later, I moved on to Boy Bands, Journey and Taylor Swift. You starting to get the picture?
So I’ll share with you some of the songs on my playlist just so you can get a feel for it. I play it several times a week when I’m in need of mood altering and it works every time. As I review it now, I thrilled that it is a rather eclectic mix. The unifying theme is that they are all up-tempo, they have a strong point of view and they make me happy.
Here goes the first ten:
- Caught Up in You — 38 Special
- Midnight Confessions — The Grass Roots
- Lips Are Movin — Meghan Trainor
- The Love You Save — Jackson 5
- Heartbeat Song — Kelly Clarkson
- Sunny — Bobby Hebb
- Crazy — Gnarls Barkley
- You Belong With Me — Taylor Swift
- Don’t Stop Believing’ – Journey
- This Love — Maroon 5
Actually, it might be time for Happy II. I haven’t tired of any of these favorites but as I look through the entire playlist I’m realizing that there are some gems that aren’t getting much airtime like I’m a Beliver by the Monkees, Like at Prayer by Madonna and Don’t Stop by Fleetwood Mac. There’s something about music that restores me and I’m grateful for that.
I’m also grateful for my health and some important lessons lately in humility. As I understand it now, humility isn’t thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less. I’m getting lessons in humility each time I see that I’m a very small part of a very big world. I’m humbled before nature, like standing before El Capitan at Yosemite. I’m humbled by the courage of friends walking through difficult times. I’m humbled by not getting everything I want when I want it and still being okay.
I’m not always grateful, but today I choose to be.
Boonedoggler 