The other day I was feeling pretty down...and was having a tough time shaking it off. Especially because I couldn't pinpoint exactly what was wrong! Now that I'm writing about it, I'm hearing the lyrics to a favorite sing-along Carpenters song in my head, you know the one: Rainy Days and Mondays.
Ha! Those words are perfect for describing what was going on with me that day!
Talkin' to myself and feelin' old
Sometimes I'd like to quit
Nothing ever seems to fit
Hangin' around
Nothing to do but frown
Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down.
And the thing is, it was Monday AND it was pouring rain!
Normally, those are two things that NEVER get me down (hey – I’m C and I rarely frown -- causes lines!) But there I was, gripped by some sort of mental vice, an emotional lock-down of sorts.
What I've got they used to call the blues
Nothin' is really wrong
Feelin' like I don't belong
So what to do? Or rather, what did I do? Let's go back to that song...
What I feel has come and gone before
No need to talk it out
We know what it's all about
But I didn't know what it was all about!! And I was on the road that day so it's not like I could “talk it out” with anyone – but me.
So, after a while I finally forced myself to do what I always do when I’m in the car, even if wasn't really in the mood that day...I put on a CD and started to sing.
And there's a funny thing that happens to us when we sing. In order to get the notes and hold the tune you really have to sing out, you have to put a little gusto into your singing. Which was easy for me to do in the car because no one is there to listen, or judge.
You also need to pick a song you love, and love to sing. Upbeat melody and lyrics are a big plus here ;)
At first, the sound of your voice may sound a little feeble – your heart’s not in it. But keep on singing. I guarantee you by the middle of that tune your voice will be stronger…and by the time the chorus comes around the second time, you’ll find yourself singing out loud, you may even be belting it out!
When the song is done, play another, and another, and another. Just keep on going. Lose yourself in the songs, the music, the mood.
Sure enough (and I can’t even tell you exactly how much time passed but I’m sure it couldn’t have been more than ten minutes) before I knew it, I was feeling lighter. The heaviness I’d been holding on to had just lifted. It didn’t even ‘melt away’… it literally vaporized!
There I was feeling down for hours and then within ten minutes of singing my heart out, I had burst through whatever chains were shackling my joy …and my confidence.
Just wanted to share that little trick of mine with you all. It’s a device that works – every time.
Let’s go back to the bridge of that song…
Funny but it seems I always wind up here with you
Nice to know somebody loves me
Funny but it seems that it's the only thing to do
Run and find the one who loves me.
And the one who loves you best is…YOU.
Love yourself ladies and have a beautiful day.
~ C