Friday, August 22, 2008

How the Music (and the exercise) Saved My Day (once again)



OK, this photo is not really from today. It's from a couple of weeks ago when our friend, Lisa P, celebrated her 50th. I include it here because I've decided that dancing with my kids should be a daily activity.

Too bad you can't see Heather, who was dancing beside me. Note the lovely dance moves of each boy and no, I was not doing a worship move. There was a part in the song when we would all raise our hands, though you won't believe me on that since not many others seem to be doing so. Whatever.

On to today, then.

We got to bed too late last night and the day broke grey, cold and dreary. Hhhmmm. Kinda matched the mood I soon settled into. I was just feeling so much stress about a long list of things to accomplish or write or sort out or plan or organize. I won't bore you with details.

I finally decided to take drastic measures and get into exercise clothes, don the headphones and climb onto the Nordic Track.
Eight minutes into the 35minute playlist and suddenly life, the day, my outlook and my muscles had all made a dramatic turn around. Oh I DO love those happy little endorphins.

So, just to let you in on the playlist that carried me through, this is an odd assortment of groovy songs on Jesse's iPod that never cease to cheer me up.

Here we go:

That Thing You Do (from the film with the same title)
Save Tonight (Eagle Eyed Cherry)
Send Me on My Way (Rusted Root)
I'm Gonna Be (The Proclaimers)
Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison)
I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Whitney Houston) (It's kind of an inside joke)
I'd Go the Whole Wide World (Wreckless Erik)
Day-O and Jamaica Farewell (Harry Belafonte*)
Kiss the Girl (from The LIttle Mermaid)

I often like to top it off with Trevor and Heather doing their cover of It Ain't Me.

As I said--kinda odd and groovy.

'Twas a miracle of transformation that happened to me with these songs and our trusty old Nordic Track.

Good thing, too.

*Belafonte's 1962 album, Midnight Special, featured the first recorded appearance of a certain young harmonica player named Bob Dylan. Wild!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Endorphins! The best drug around. (Well...I also really like caffeine.) I'm really glad you found them. Jesse has a wild assortment of music, you could say.

lisa said...

Jesse has the most crazy assortment ever :-)

And I am especially fond of caffeine (albeit in the form of good African tea) too!

Anonymous said...

Caffeine...it must be good as the cup I had hours ago might be why I am still awake in New York at this great hole-in-the-wall hostel with Kenz at...mmm, I think 1:30 am. Yikes, take my 47 yr old body to bed. Nice of you to help us know you weren't doing a worship move. heehee
Last time we Kleins all danced together was at my nephew's wedding. We were the last on the dance floor, I do believe. Bruceboy and Dan the man were absolutely dripping with sweat Much fun, I think we surprised ourselves.

lisa said...

I guess it's earlier in CA and your body is refusing to admit exhaustion. Thinking of you as you settle Kenz there in NY. So many congratulations to her and so much love to all of you!