Tag: #music

Mental Health

What media changed how I see the world?

beingmesober

What’s a piece of media (book, movie, song) that changed how you see the world?

The song that that changed the way I see, not necessarily the world, but the world around me.

I Can See Clearly Now, by Johnny Nash. I know the song and knew it before it impacted my life when I got sober. It took awhile for me to see clearly.

When I was deep in recovery and this song played it was one of my sobriety songs. I could see clearly now, the rain has gone, I could see all obstacles in my way, no more dark clouds.

It hit every ounce of me and what I had tolerated, accepted blindly and the way I was numbing myself to the world that I could have. The people who I could see clearly, no blinders on anymore and no more tolerance from what was hurting me deeply emotionally. I didn’t want those dark clouds, the secrets and pretending to be someone I wasn’t.

Sobriety showed me another side of the world we live in. I don’t have to drink to forget what life or the world had done to me and the people I love. I didn’t have to live in fight or flight mode. I didn’t have to carry the secrets that I held for so many years to protect someone who wasn’t willing to change or accept accountability. 

Music is my therapy. I feel it in my soul and sing to the heavens. My parents always loved music and played it all the time. I heard the song many many times but it hit differently when I changed and boy did that song resonate!

Another song is A Wonderful World. It is a wonderful world when you see clearly.

Some messages we get while here on earth are meant just for you.

Leisure

A thing I was obsessed with

beingmesober

What’s a thing you were completely obsessed with as a kid?

I would have to say music. Music was and is something I am obsessed with. I fell asleep as a child to Pink Floyd, Elton John, Bob Segar, and some country.

I would be getting ready for school when I lived with my mother, her alarm clock radio would be playing, Doobie Brothers, Chris Chistopherson…you get the picture. Her favorite was Tammy Wynette and Patsy Cline.  I was fortunate to have both parents love and listen to a wide range of music. 

I was 5 when my dad bought me my first RCA Red and White record player with 2 Rod Stewart 45’s. I was also one of those teenagers walking down the street with the ghetto blaster aka boom box, on my shoulder, after installing 100 C batteries!!

Music is in my everyday life. I watch the morning news shows, mostly for noise as I scroll on my phone. Once 10am hits or sooner, tv is off and the Bose music system plays all day.

Having music is very therapeutic and gives you a lift in your day. So the next time you’re feeling a little slump in your day, crank that music on and dance the day away!

Leisure

The best concert I’ve been to.

beingmesober

What is the best concert you have been to?

It was 1983, I was 13 years old and my favorite singer was coming to Toronto. MJ himself, Michael Jackson! He was my favorite. His music, his dance, his everything.

My best friend and I took the bus then the subway downtown Toronto. At 13 years old that was huge. There were no cell phones back then so parents just had to trust that their kids would be okay. I look back now and think how responsible we were at that age. I didn’t worry about anything but seeing  Michael Jackson. His moves, his moon walk that I had mastered and the famous silver glove! The way he moved was incredible along with his style of music to get people up and dancing.

To this day I still love him and his music. Anytime I hear any of his songs my dance autopilot comes on whether its car dancing or the entire living room becomes our dance hall  just for me and Michael. 

He passed away the day before my birthday June 25th 2009. His music will live on forever and he will always be my favorite dance teacher.

RIP King of Pop.