Battle Song
Recently I started listening to an audiobook of The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. People have always told me that it was an amazing book that I should read it, and a friend of mine has been sending me a ton of material about how simply changing your mindset and visualizing what you really want, as if it were already in your possession or apart of your life, will allow it to manifest into reality. So when I found the CDs at an estate sale I took that as a sign. Listening to it in the car on my way to and from work every day this past week, I have noticed that I feel better going into my day and that that feeling has continued throughout the day. Even if I just hold the thought in my mind that I am going to have a great day and continue to refer back to that thought when things start to stress me out, events that used to make me fly off the handle I am beginning to deal with better. Now don’t get me wrong, I am the person that if I can’t find my shoes in the morning my pulse starts to race, but we’re all a work in progress aren’t we?
The Secret is basically the law of attraction, that whatever happens to you, you have attracted to yourself either through your thoughts or feelings. Now, there was a part in the early chapters of the book that goes as far as saying that even mass deaths were even caused by the collective thoughts or vibrations that the victims were feeding the universe, which I feel is completely ludicrous and a horrific idea to even imply, let alone share as fact, according to this theory. That’s where they lost me, but I persisted through it, we all have moments where we will have to agree to disagree. The following chapter, however, did grab my attention in that it introduced a tangible method of reorganizing your thought process, which in turn will affect your feelings and thus, due to the law of attraction give you what you want. They presented the idea of a shifters list, or a list of items, memories, or thoughts that, essentially, make you feel good. My list basically consisted of pictures of upside down Jessie licks (Jessie’s my dog), family, friends, etc. and then I started singing. Music has always been a huge part of my life. I realize it’s always how I express my emotions. Artists like Korn, Metallica, Eminem, and Limp Bizkit were there when rage and anger took over; Whitney Houston, Lady Gaga, Alanis Morrisette, and En Vogue blasted through my headphones when I needed a sense of female empowerment; Stevie Wonder, Sam Cooke, and Nat King Cole made the playlist when I’m missing home; Michael Jackson and OutKast when I need to bust a move. So I decided instead of making a list of thoughts, I would make a shifters playlist with the songs that trigger a memory, that you can’t help but smile, fist pump, or shake your booty to when they come over the speakers.
Below are my top 11 choices (yeah I’m aware that 11 is a weird number), the actual playlist is currently at a whopping 47 songs!
11. “Shake it off” by Taylor Swift- Now oddly enough I am not a huge Tay Tay fan but I will say this when this song comes I always feel better mostly cause I’m dancing like I am a cast member of Footloose while I’m getting ready for work.
10. “Get on Your Feet” by Gloria Estefan- “I think it's true that we've all been through Some nasty weather Let's understand that we're here to handle things together You gotta keep looking onto tomorrow There's so much in life That's meant for you.” The lyrics say it all and the beat does make you want to get on your feet.
9. “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey- Every time I hear this song I am instantly transported back to my college days at GW (George Washington) dancing in my tiny dorm room with my roommates and friends screaming the lyrics at the top of our lungs without a care in the world, just happy.
8. “Twist and Shout” by The Beatles- Now no offense to The Isley Brothers, whom I love, but The Beatles version of this song brings back a particular memory of a kid who made staying home from school “sick” something that every teen wished they could aspire to. Not only is Ferris Bueller’s Day Off one of those movies that will always bring a smile to one’s face, but it also gave us one of the first pre-flash mob scenes that I remember seeing and one of my favorite movie scenes of all time.
7. “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton- The perfect getting ready for work song by one of the queens of country music. Even if you don’t like country music you won’t be able to put your hairbrush down when this comes over the waves.
6. “Good Vibrations” by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch feat. Loleatta Holloway- The title to this song on its own promises to make its listener feel good while listening to it, but for me, it’s also rooted to memories of my brother and I watching and re-watching The Mighty Ducks together as children, and just falling in love with the sport of Ice Hockey. Also watching my childhood crush Joshua Jackson knock those sticks over repeatedly didn’t hurt either lol!
5. “Queen of the Night” by Whitney Houston- Growing up, Whitney was just a staple. I loved just about every song she ever sang but “Queen of the Night” from the Bodyguard soundtrack is just one of those songs that you just feel like you can kill it no matter what’s in front of you, cause you’re a badass.
4. “Bitch” by Meredith Brooks- This song is the epitome of being unapologetically you and embracing all of those parts of you even the bitch inside.
3. “Hey Ya” by OutKast- Cause who doesn’t want to “shake it like a Polaroid picture?”
2. “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga- This first time I heard this song it was an instant dance favorite for me, but it didn’t hit me deep until I heard her sing this a cappella as apart of a promotion for her upcoming concert series on HBO, I think. When I actually had a chance to really listen to and digest the lyrics I felt how powerful the message she was sending out truly was. That no matter who you are, how you identify, where you’re from, your socioeconomic group, or your sexual orientation that is how you were born, that even though all of those indicators are different for each person we are all human and we should rejoice in being who we are. “Whether you're broke or evergreen You're black, white, beige, Chola descent You're Lebanese, you're Orient Whether life's disabilities Left you outcast, bullied, or teased Rejoice and love yourself today, ‘Cause baby you were born this way. No matter gay, straight, or bi
Lesbian, transgendered life I'm on the right track baby I was born to survive I'm beautiful in my way 'Cause God makes no mistakes I'm on the right track, baby I was born this way”
1.“Man in the Mirror” by Michael Jackson- Michael Jackson’s music has always meant so much to me and “Man in the Mirror” I feel really encompasses the legacy that he seemed like he wanted to leave in people’s hearts. That we can be the change the world needs. One by one if we looked within and made those decisions to change our ways that we could change the world. That we could make a true difference and that’s what I hope for my life that I can, however, small, make a change in my life that could one day make a greater impact in the world. “I've been a victim of a selfish kind of love It's time that I realize That there are some with no home, not a nickel to loan Could it be really me, pretending that they're not alone? I'm starting with the man in the mirror I'm asking him to change his ways (Change his ways, ooh!) And no message could have been any clearer If you want to make the world a better place Take a look at yourself and then make that Change!”
Bonus Track: “We Will Rock You” by Queen- There’s always a bonus track on a CD and this is mine! This is a instant anthem. I immediately start stomping and clapping when this song comes on. It triggers the memories of all the sports I played in high school, my innate desire to compete and fight for what’s truly important to me that I have seemed to forget after I let life beat me up. This is my getting ready for a battle song. What’s your battle song?
Sincerely,
LPJ
P.S. If you want the rest of my playlist here’s the link, and I would love to have additions to my list so please share in the comments below!