Saturday, December 29, 2012

Social Media, Fiscal Cliffs and Isolation...in a song.


All:  So this holiday season for me has been about dealing with being far from family and working to make real connections with the lovely people in Argentina (both my work colleagues and Argentines), reading about the impending fiscal cliff, and thinking a lot about social media. 

I can't explain the last one, it just seems to be fascinating me right now - how we use social media to share good and bad news, how some people update daily musings, or share articles, or just look at other fabulous-appearing lives online.  But either way, the three collided this morning when randomly exploring the zillions of songs I have on i-tunes that I have never listened to, (as I like to call it, SHUFFLE SATURDAY)...the song below came on.  All I heard at first was there will be snacks, there will be snacks.  But then I went and found the lyrics and just found them fascinating...my comments are in parentheses...or just read the lyrics and ignore my musings, I won't hold it against you...

Oh and one last note, isn't it still one of the coolest things in the world that a song can come out of the blue and make you think or see something in a new way, or create a new link in your brain, or send you reaching out...all good things...


Andrew Bird  
Tables and Chairs

if we can call them friends then we can call them on their telephones (um, is this true anymore???)
and they won't pretend that they're too busy or that they're not alone (something we all face)
and if we can call them friends then we can call
holler at them down these hallowed halls (harder if you live all over the world as so many of us do)
just don't let the human factor fail to be a factor at all (even online, there is a human factor...send an email instead of checking a "wish happy birthday" box on facebook)

don't, don't you worry, about the atmosphere
or any sudden pressure change
cause i know
that it's starting to get warm in here
and things are starting to get strange

and did you, did you see how all of our friends were there
and they're drinking roses from the can?
and how, how i wish i, i had talked to them,
and i wish they fit into the plan

and we were tired of being mild
we were so tired of being mild
and we were tired...

i know we're going to meet some day
in the crumbled financial institutions of this land (FISCAL CLIFF!!!)
there will be tables and chairs
there'll be pony rides and dancing bears
there'll even be a band (who will be there to play on this day)
cause listen, after the fall there will be no more countries
no currencies at all, we're gonna live on our wits
we're gonna throw away survival kits,
trade butterfly-knives for adderal
and that's not all
ooh-ooh, there will be snacks there will
there will be snacks, there will be snacks.

and we were tired of being mild,
we were so tired of being mild,
and we were (we were so) tired...

so don't you,
don't you worry
about the atmosphere

Listen to the song here...


Sunday, December 23, 2012

If you feel yourself getting blue over the holidays...

Holidays can be hard, especially away from home.  I read this list today during my Sunday Post Secret ritual and thought it was great advice to get through a lonely or tough day.... great enough to share with people. 

Happy Holidays wherever you are. 
 If you ever catch yourself feeling blue, as we all sometimes do from time to time, here are ten things that if you do three days in a row (I promise) will make you feel better.

1. In the morning write down five things you are grateful for.
2. Think about a random act of kindness you can do for someone that day.
3. Eat well (you know what that means); drink well (no coffee, soft drinks or alcohol).
4. Exercise hard for 20 minutes.
5. Write an old friend an email or better yet a letter.
6. Actively relax, meditate or pray or just sit quietly for 10 minutes.
7. Take a walk in the sun.
8. Watch the silliest movie you can, preferably one you have seen before and enjoyed in childhood.
9. Sleep deep and long.
10. Remember that you are loved (I promise).