New Years resolutions
I don’t usually do New Years Resolutions, but this year I have two.
1. To appreciate what we have. We are so very blessed and I feel like we waste a lot of time wanting more.
There was a quote in Grey’s Anatomy a while back that resonated with me:
I had a terrible day. We say it all the time; a fight with a boss, a stomach flu, traffic. That’s what we describe as terrible when nothing terrible is happening.These are the things we beg for: a root canal, an I.R.S. audit, coffee spilled on our clothes. When the really terrible things happen, we start begging the god we don’t believe in to bring back the little horrors, and take away this. It seems quaint now, doesn’t it? The flood in the kitchen, the poison oak, the fight that leaves you shaking with rage. Would it’ve helped if we could see what else was coming? Would we’ve known that those were the best moments of our lives?
I think of it often as I speak to people because there are days when everyone around me sounds like Eeyore. Nothing is ever good enough, kwim? So this year I will be enjoying the small things in life, feeling immensely grateful for the big things… and avoiding everyone who has nothing positive to say. These really are the best moments of our lives.
2. The second resolution is less serious. I love music. I love to sing along at the top of my voice despite being completely tone deaf (and ignoring my kids saying “please don’t sing Mummy!”). We used to have music playing constantly. But somehow in the last few years its stopped. We no longer have a stereo or a radio so the only place I play music now is in my car. I miss it, and I’d love my kids to get the same pleasure from music as we do. So I’ve ordered a speaker that will play music wirelessly from our pc/laptop/iPhone and it arrives this week. So, what are the artists you’d have on your list if you were trying to expose your kids to a wide range of music you love (even if its uncool)?
So far my list is:
The Beatles
The Rolling Stones
Bob Marley
Tom Waits
Johnny Cash
Neil Young
Led Zeppelin
Bob Dylan
The Beach Boys
Michael Jackson
Elvis Presley
Elvis Costello
Nick Cave
The Clash
AC/DC
The Who
Simon & Garfunkel
Jimi Hendrix
Queen
David Bowie
Bruce Springsteen
Sex Pistols
Talking Heads
Pixies
R.E.M
Nirvana
Soundgarden
John Lennon
P.J Harvey
Leonard Cohen
The Carpenters
Madonna
George Michael
Nina Simone
The White Stripes
Green Day
The Police
Sting
Stevie Wonder
Eric Clapton
Elton John
Prince
Pink Floyd
The Doors
Fleetwood Mac
Van Morrison
Peter Gabriel
U2
Tina Turner
Paul McCartney
James Taylor
Melissa Etheridge
Bic Runga
Rod Stewart
The Bee Gees
Anouk
Skunk Anansie
Russian Red
Billy Joel
Aerosmith
Santana
Freshly Ground
Johnny Clegg
Tracy Chapman
Mandoza
Florence + the Machine
Cat Stevens
Natalie Merchant
Annie Lennox
Texas
Cowboy Junkie
Sinead O’ Connor
Louise Carver
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Lily Allen
Dixie Chicks
Ella Fitzgerald
Snow Patrol
A Perfect Circle
Audioslave
Bloc Party
Brand New
Bush
Chevelle
Everclear
Foo Fighters
Hard-Fi
Incubus
Kings of Leon
Our Lady Peace
Queens of the Stone Age
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Reef
The Hives
Alexisonfire
Anberlin
Blindside
City and Colour
Emerosa
In Aviate
Jimmy Eat World
Rage Against The Machine
System Of A Down
Marilyn Manson
NOFX
Pennywise
Offspring
Fuzigish
Sublime
Faithless
Dank
Felix Laband
Krushed and Sorted
Mirwais
Moby
P.H. Fat
Skrillex
The Knife
The Prodigy
Tosca
Alkaline Trio
Pearl Jam
Seasick Steve
Muse
The Ting Tings
The Wannadies
Franz Ferdinand
Dizzee Rascal
Ash
The Drums
Bon Iver
Mumford & Sons
Terrovision
Belle & Sebastian
Biffy Clyro
The Hoosiers
Incubus
Kaiser Chiefs
The Raconteurs
Sleeper
Space
Sterophonics
The Zutons
Give me more to add!
