Do you remember that icebreaker where you have to come up with an adjective for yourself that begins with the same letter as your first initial?
“Hi, my name is Mary, and I’m musical.”
I always went with the same answer, despite the dozens of options offered by my thesaurus. The problem I found with branching out is that so many “m” adjectives are negative. You’ve got maddening, malicious, manipulative, materialistic, measly, mediocre, meaningless, monotonous, monstrous, mousy, mundane and even murderous.
Then there are the less-than-feminine words that are also less-than-flattering: mannish, masculine, meaty, militant and muscular.
{Yes, I’m well aware that women can serve in the military and have big muscles. But I don’t. So they don’t really work for me.}
Next, we have the emotionally unstable “m” words: Machiavellian, maniacal, misanthropic, miserable, misunderstood, moody, mopey, morbid and morose. Yikes!
In all fairness, I will admit that some “m” words are ones that I’d love people to use when describing me: magical, magnetic, magnificent, marvelous, mature (although not in the gray hair or rated-R ways), meaningful, memorable, merciful, mesmerizing, miraculous, moving and multi-talented.
When it comes down to it, though, I’d prefer to be known for my musical abilities. Not that I’ve done much with them lately. But here’s hoping most people would still say I’m more musical than I am malicious, miserable or mannish!
All that to say, as I’ve been anticipating this day for the past couple of months, I’ve had a song list running through my head. Because despite my out-of-tune piano and my months-long absence from choir, I am musical.
Not necessarily in a spontaneously break into song, all the world’s a stage way. Although, as you know, I am a fan of jazz hands in most all circumstances.
Wondering what my mental mix tape sounds like? Want a peek into my current situation’s soundtrack? (Wish I would stop trying to force clever alliteration where none needs exist?)
Consider your wish granted. Well, not the alliteration part. Because I’m pretty sure I couldn’t stop that even if I tried. And, really, why would I?
Musical Mary’s Mental Mix Tape
The Middle by Jimmy Eat World
Something More by Sugarland
Bang on the Drum by Todd Rundgren
Take This Job by Johnny Paycheck
Lose Yourself by Eminem
The Middle is the song that’s gotten me through several phases of wanting to quit my job. Who wouldn’t be encouraged after hearing this phrase {over and over and over}: “It just takes some time, little girl, you’re in the middle of the ride. Everything will be just fine, everything will be all right.”
Sugarland actually has two songs that have resonated with me, career-wise. Since becoming a mom, All I Wanna Do is one that I sang many a morning between the babysitter and the office. But for the big picture of this, My Last Day of Work, Something More really speaks to how I feel about my career.
There’s gotta be something more
Gotta be more than this
I need a little less hard time
I need a little more bliss
I’m gonna take my chances
Taking a chance I might
Find what I’m looking for
There’s gotta be something more
“I don’t wanna work. I just wanna bang on the drum all day!” Well, who doesn’t? I mean, I don’t actually play the drums and, truth be told, I’m not a big fan of noise in general. But if we can use “bang on the drum” as a euphemism for “read a novel, Skype with my friends and catch up on my to-do list,” then it makes total sense.
You had to know Take This Job by the ironically named Johnny Paycheck would be on this list. And while I’m leaving my job on good terms, I’m not going to deny that a little part of me wants to tell someone, somewhere to “shove it.”
Last, but not least, I find Eminem – when he’s not being crazy, vulgar or misogynistic – inspiring. If you can deal with the language, this song – as well as Airplanes with BoB and the girl from Paramore – might just get you fired up to do something.
Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted in one moment
Would you capture it? Or just let it slip?You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo!
If you had to put together a soundtrack for today, this phase of your life, what would it be?
Images by takomabibelot and cassettes.
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Ha! When I saw the title of this post in my inbox I thought it said “A METAL Mix Tape for my Last Day of Work”. And I thought, “Mary listens to HEAVY METAL? It must really speak to her for her to make a whole mix tape for today.” LOL!
On the last day of my husband’s old job, he walked in the door and my son and I turned on “Take This Job and Shove It” and we all danced around like crazy. He was voluntarily moving on to a great new job but he had endured 11 years of mostly crap at the old place. He really did want to tell them to shove where the sun don’t shine!
Anyway….Congratulations on your last day! I am so happy for you. I can feel your relief and your freedom. Hope you and your family have a fun, relaxing and celebratory weekend!
Thank you! You cracked me up. Hair bands from the 80s/90s yes – heavy metal not so much! :)
OK, I just downloaded that Eminem song to my iTunes, thanks to you. :) I think it’ll be a good song for running. Got any more similar suggestions? I also really like Busta Move and My Prerogative (both also from you & your mix CDs, so thanks:). Oh, and yes, congratulations! (I’m a little jealous right now…;)
Thanks. I’ll make sure to tell you all about the cooking and cleaning parts, so you don’t get too jealous. ;)
I liked this post. I make playlists on the ole iTunes all the time. But of course you have to ask the hard question: what would my playlist be for this phase in my life, etc.? That’s tougher than just how I feel and what I want to listen to day to day.
Really, just like you like jazz hands (which are ALWAYS appropriate, as long as you do them right – yep…there’s a “right” way to do them) I can write a show choir set with the best of them, and that’s how I would “playlist” my life.
Well, first it would open with a downer: “Never Say Never” by The Fray.
‘There’s some things we don’t talk about,
Rather do without
And just hold the smile…’
But move into “Rockin’ the Suburbs” by Ben Folds. I think that covers my late-20s angst, anger, and stress. Then I’d go into “How You Live [acoustic]” by Point of Grace. Yes, I know, it’s Point of Grace, but I really like the song. It’s very inspirational…well, maybe I won’t wear a red dress (it’s a little gender specific), but I like the lines:
‘It’s not who you knew
And it’s not what you did,
It’s how you live.’
Next would be “Us” by Regina Spektor. Mainly because I just like Regina Spektor and I love the energy of the song. That would be followed by “She’s Got You High” by Mumm-Ra. Actually, I like the energy of both songs, and I need that energy to stay awake during the day! Plus, both songs make me smile.
Then, the closer…the. closer. This is just the song of my life: “Right as Rain” by Adele. I love the song. But I also like the lines:
‘You give up everything you are
And even then you don’t get far
They make believe that everything
Is exactly what it seems
But at least
When your at your worst
You know how to feel things.’
I guess all of my songs have to do with being true to myself, even if I have to fake it occassionally to make it work for the people around me. Of course, this playlist is for where I am in life right now, and it changes and has edits every day depending on my mood. I like the song “Stay” by Little Big Town right now, and “The Scientist” by Coldplay is a perennial favorite. As are “The Luckiest” by Ben Folds and “I Will Follow You Into the Dark” by Deathcab for Cutie.
Well, I’m glad someone liked this post. Apparently it was not a big winner with everyone else. :) And thanks for playing along with your own soundtrack. Staying true to yourself – and the songs – sounds good to me. And now I’m off to listen to that Little Big Town song. I haven’t heard it yet!