Thursday, 11 November 2010

I hope you dance

Well, this one of those special songs I wrote about. So special it is that it deserves a separate post. I give you this song as a present, the singer is eye-candy Ronan Keating, enjoy it and you're welcome!


One of the messages behind this beautiful song, as I understand it, is "keep your inner child alive". We should never lose that ability to get amazed that we have when we are children and everything is new and wonderful and big. We should try to see what is around us as if we were watching it for the first time, and observe closely to really appreciate what suround us.

This song also talks about taking chances and making the most out of what life offers us, the good and the bad things. Overcoming hard times is a big part of living, it's what makes it interesting and worthy. Life is a unique experience, too precious to let it pass us by. Dance along, you don't need a partner for this piece. You can dance at your own pace, but keep on moving.

Next Year I Will...

The end of the year is getting closer, and holidays are just around the corner. This is a time of merryment in which the only thing on people's minds is celebrating.

Along with the celebrations come the New Year's resolutions, promises people make to improve their lives and be better in the future. Quit smoking, start on a serious diet, pick up some sport are amongst the common ones. What is common to all of them is that desire for a better future.

So the New Year arrives, and people is ready to dramatically change their lives. While january is with us you can and you will see how people strive to keep their promises, smokers become frantic lollipops eaters, those who have extra wieght replace hamburguers for fruits and sedentaries swet their way to a healthier life. Do they look happier? Surely not. They are not doing this gigantic effort because they really want it, they are doing it because they feel they should change. So by february, smokers are chimneys again, fatties are choking with fast food and couch potatoes are back on their sofas because all the struggle brought nothing but misery.

Picking up new habits, or giving up others, should be a decision taken out of conviction, out of real drive. When this is the case you don't wait until the beginning of the year or moday to start a diet, you start the diet immediately when you realise you are not happy with the way you are. Changing what's wrong in our life is not an easy task. especially if you take it as an obligation. Turming our lives around should be an enriching challenging experience done only because we feel it's absolutely necessary. It a decision that should makes us feel well about ourselves right away, even if we know it is going to be difficult.

So if you are thinking about your New Year's resolutions, come up with something you absolutely want to do, something that will bring you plesure and a sense of acomplishment. Don't say you will quit smoking because it's health damaging (you have known that for years?), quit smoking because right now it is your health the one being damaged.

Music

Sadly, I can't play any intruments or sing like a nightingale but music is a big part of my life. The first thing I do when I get up in the morning is turn on the radio, I need the sound of music around me to start my day.
I don't have a real favourite band or singer, I have several favourites from which I can't sinlge one out.

I find it amazing how music can change my mood in a blink, there are certain songs that put the biggest smile on my face whenever I listen to them. "Anna Julia" by George Harrison is one of those songs. It's its catchy chorus that makes you want to sing at the top of your voice that works the magic.

There are also songs that speak to you. These usually come at the right moment and give you comfort.You find in those words the strengh to go on, to hold on. Stuck in  moment by U2 is definitely one of those songs, I even got a sort of motto out of it: "It's just a moment. This time will pass". The same happened to me with REM's "Everybody cries" a few weeks ago, when I listened carefully to it for the first time.

There are other songs that bring back memories of special moments, people, experiences. These songs have the wonderful abiltiy to take you back to that exact time, and are those we like to call classics. Perhaps they aren't the greatest songs in history, but they are part of your history and that's enough. "Coco Jambo" for example, it's surely one of the worst songs ever, but every time I listen I think of my sis. She hates the song, she's always had. I used to follow her around singing it just to annoy her. Another of these songs is "Voyage Voyage", which brings me vivid memories of my father and me when I was a child.

Music is there to amuse us, accompany us, inspire us. I'm always finding new songs to ensamble the soundtrack of my life. After all, what a better way to start a memory than with a song?

At Home

Being a young adult living in your parents' home has many advantages. You  don't spend money on rent or food and the best part is that you still have mum to cook for you, to wash your clothes.

But being in your twneties and still living at home might be quite an ordeal. While you are under your parents' roof, you have to live by their rules. Of course, you are free to do whatever you want, but you have to come back early on week days, and go through an endless questionaire before setting foot on the street: who, where and when are just the starting point of a series of annoying questions you've been answering since you were twleve. By now you are fed up of having to give explanations of every little thing you do. And dad doesn't seem to realise you are not a teenager anymore, situation that leads to a terrible boundary-setting fight, the same you've been having for years.

What you want, what you need, what you crave for, is independence. You need your own space, sharing your room with a sibling is not as funny as it was, no matter how much you love your brother or sister. You're too old to be fighting over the computer, the remote or the radio, but you go on fighting because sharing has never been your forte, and it's your turn to use them. So the screams start, and even some punches come and go. You find yourself doing the exact same thing you did in your teens.

Living at home after a certain age delays the process of grwoing up, of taking reaponsabilities, but what is worst it wears out the relationship with your family. You can't stand them anymore, the sole sound of their voice makes you go mad. the same happens to them, for sure. Stayin at home is a torture you're not willing to take anymore.

The solution would be easy if you had the money to be on your own. But your salary is too low and you can't afford the rent and the many things living alone implies. So until you get your degree or a better job, the best you can do is try to find a way of putting up with your parents, keep a cool mind and don't comit suicide!

New Shoes

"Hey, I put some new shoes on,
And suddenly everything is right,
I said, hey, I put some new shoes on and everybody's smiling,
It's so inviting,
Oh, short on money,
But long on time,
Slowly strolling in the sweet sunshine,
And I'm running late,
And I don't need an excuse,
'cause I'm wearing my brand new shoes."
New Shoes - Paolo Nitini

When you put on new shoes, it certainly feels like a fresh start. Nothing can go wrong and all problems are forgotten, at least for a moment. You feel like you can take any obstacle life puts in front of you. It's amazing how such a simple thing can change our mood.

When you put on a new pair of shoes, boots or snickers, you feel them tight and some what uncomfortable. It is after all a new situation: you feel strange and out of your comfort zone - just as in life itself. Then you start to walk in them, you start to grow on them and a feeling of confidence invades you entirely. You walk with your head up, proudly. Nothing can stop you now! New shoes are a boost to our self-esteem

Being a woman, I love shoes. I have to admit that I hate buying them, but once I have my new shiny shoes, I'm the happiest person on Earth.

Wednesday, 10 November 2010

Gooey

I was watching Red, Bruce Willies latest film, when I heard this word.
In this movie the main characters are all CIA agents, and Bruce is obviously their leader. He is the usual tough guy who can kill a person without blinking.

So he is talking to one of the female characters and she tells her that he has always been "gooey". This is the first time I ever heard this word so it caught my attention at once.

Here's the meaning:
1. sticky, soft, and often sweet
2. oversweet and sentimental
It also has some funny meanings that you are free to check out here.

It's a nice contrast they make with this cahracter, a hitman with a heart.
I think it's a nice word, it even listens funny!

Every Cloud Has a Sliver Lining

Someone told me a time ago I should change the dialogue I keep with my own life. This person noticed that I tend to express my thoughts using negative statements instead of using positive ones. Also it was pointed out to me that I usually relate to what happens to me in a negative way by focusing blindly on the downsides of any given situation.

When I heard this, a skeptical look appeared on my face, the idea of a dialogue with life seemed like crazy talk to me. But when I gave it a second thought, it made perfect sense. The idea is that we should relate positively to what happens to us, no matter how difficult or bad that thing is. Focusing on the negative sides only makes us lose sight of what the possible solutions are.

I've been trying to change my ways, and it hasn't been easy. Those who know me well, can tell that I'm a proffesional complainer and that I even get certain pleasure from putting all my rage out there. What's more, I used to think that complaining was some sort of release. After this new point of view, grumbling just seems useless. I'm not saying I won't do it again, but at least I'm trying to complain less.

It's not easy either looking at the bright side. We tend, by nature, to focus on what's going wrong with us and what we are missing instead of concentrating on what we are doing right and on what we do have. The idea is breaking free from that instinct for negativeness and start enjoying all that's good in our life, that surely is a lot.

We have the quality of life we want. Positive thoughts and positive views may help us improve our life.