Vibrant Nation

DAY TWO---WHAT DO YOU LOVE TO HEAR....WHAT IS 'MUSIC' TO YOUR EARS?

Just like the sense of smell--what we hear bypasses our rational brain and takes us straight into our limbic system, where all our innermost feelings are stored. That's why when we hear a certain song, we can recall every detail of the experience linked to it. Powerful stuff. It provides instant access to the moments in our lives when love was online.

By focusing on those warm and fuzzy moments or those times of passion which are linked to what we have heard, we are going to re-access, instantly, the times you have loved most. That's why I also suggest, as you follow the series of posts this month, that you keep these LOVE NOTES together, in one place, for those days when you might need a "pick-me-up" or a reminder of all those Hallmark moments in your life.

MUSIC to Love Life With, Again and Again. These days, ITunes and Ipods give us a golden, moldy-oldy-goldy opportunity to access so many times when we felt love. If you know how to create playlists or have access to someone under 25 who can whip together a buffet of "Your Own Greatest Hits" in a few minutes--take advantage of it now! Nobody but you needs to know about your own personal jukebox--but think of how great it would make you feel to go on a walk, or just stay in the sack a few extra minutes before getting up, if you had these songs to listen to--to reconnect, recharge, review and renew the loves in your life for another day. Wow, what a surge. It works. You can continually add to and improve upon your list, as you hear songs that trigger reminders of those times to treasure--so that in any given moment you have instant access to the day when you made the touchdown, or had on "that amazing dress" or kisssed your first child or received recognition for something hard earned.

Here are some examples that may spark a loving memory for you to re-visit: Some of my love sounds are: 1. The music played at my wedding 2. Music that makes me want to get-a-move-on or to sing at the top of my lungs....almost anything by Tina Turner, the Pointer Sisters, old disco stuff--Donna Summer and I both left our cake out in the rain once or twice (remember....this is YOUR LOVE LIST--no need to "keep up with whatever is current....this is just for your ears only) 3. Super soothing stuff--in particular, music by George Skaroulis---whose ethereal, dreamlike meanderings, my husband and I discovered in a CD case by our hotel bedside--where we stayed on a long, rainy, lazy, fall weekend--while we read, all day, by a crackling fire. Oh my, I am there now, snuggled in a blanket, surrounded by the blazing orange and gold leaves.....without a care in the world.....certain that "life-does-not-get-better-than-this". I am playing that very music as I write this post--back there AND right here--love and comfort velcroed together.

See how this works?

LOVING MORE THAN THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Music is certainly not the only sound to love. Other loving sounds are all around us, every day. It's just a matter of keying into them and reminding ourselves in those moments--"This is something I love." Everyone's are different which is what makes this a very unique journey--special reinforcements for your own loving nature.

So, think about the other sounds of love in your life. Do any of these hit home with you???????

1. The sound of the dishwasher at night. To me, it says, "this day is done." Everything is in order. Ahhhhh.

2. The sound of a fire crackling and snapping and shifting in the fireplace. (I make what may seem like an obvious distinction but our house burned down not long ago, so "in the fireplace" is the only place fire sounds like love!) A fire makes me feel a primordial connection to nature, even in my urban townhouse. It also reminds me of the years I was a girl scout, cooking out over the open fire and the silly songs we sang, with gooey s'mores running down our chins. Loved those giggling, goofy, girly-girl times.

3. There's another sound I have always loved, but it requires a tiny little story, first.

I used to have a big, fat, blue-eyed, white cat named, Fatty Biscuit. As I was plopped up in bed, with lots of pillows--my favorite place to read, Fatty would crawl up on the pillows behind me, then perch himself , partly on the pillows but mostly, on my head---literally, with his paws anchored right in the middle of my forehead. If you had taken my photo, it would appear as if I was wearing a huge, white, living, "Cat Hat"--FB also seemed to be reading right along with me. This pleased him no end (and amused me almost to the point of wetting my pants). And, you know what happens with a happy cat. Purring. The likes of which were sort of a cross between a vibrator and a leaf blower. FB's ecstasy was so profound in these heady moments that once, when I was on the phone with a friend, they asked "What is that 'motor' I am hearing? So purring, any purring.......love that sound. (footnote on Fatty--he is in kitty heaven--after many happy trails and tails)

SO, LISTEN.....hears the deal......

What we focus on--multiplies. Rather than what often creeps into our comments and conversations--"That drives me nuts!" I hate that about ____________". "Shut-Up!" "What....are you kidding me?" "How stupid can you get?" "That's c-r-a-z-y!". Sound familiar?

Think right now--if you punctuated the paragraphs of your day--saying more often, to yourself--"I love this....or that"--just because you zeroed in on these love notes? What could it do for the greater quality of your life? Your love life (horizontal) and your love OF life (vertical)? What if you actually did--create your own GREATEST HITS and listen to them regularly? Making that happen for yourself is a commitment to love and joy and pleasure.......and that commitment alone, is something to love.

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