Songs For a Happy New Year
Ah -- The Lyrics Really Don't Make Sense!
New Year New Attitude
Christmas carols are done for the season and we've sung along to Auld Lang Syne (whatever THAT means!). New Year's Eve becomes New Year's Day becomes a new year.
If your year was anything like mine, you're relieved to see it end. Too much chaos. Too much stress. Too many demands from all sides. Not enough time spent doing the things you enjoy with the people you enjoy. Not enough time to work on yourself.
Oh wait! Didn't we say the same thing about 2009, 2008 and 2007? And 2006, 2005, and every year since the millennium? Thought so!
Results Prove Music DOES Affect Mood
- Objective measurement of mood change induced by contemporary music - Smith - 2002 - Journal of Psych
This study investigated the relationship between different categories of contemporary music and the mood states of a group of students, using the Profile of Mood States (POMS), to measure mood before and after exposure to different pieces of music.
What Will Make This Year Different?
I've heard it said that when we plan, God laughs. Reluctantly, I've come to believe it's so. Experience has taught me that the more I try to control things, the less they come out the way I want them to.
Really, the only thing we can control is our reaction to things, not the things themselves (and this goes double for people).
I've also found that any life experience -- happy, sad or in the middle -- goes better with music.
So this year I've decided to keep my year-ahead planning simple. I won't make any promises. If I do end up losing 20 lbs, learning Spanish, or making my first million on Hub Pages, it will be bonus.
My plan for making this year better than last is to go with the flow. I'll let the script write itself, as I have no idea what life has in store for me. Meanwhile, here's my suggested soundtrack for a fabulous and new year. It features infectiously uplifting songs by these talented artists:
Corinne Bailey Rae, Lenny Kravitz, Question Mark and the Mysterians, Deee Lite, Blood Sweat and Tears, Gloria Gaynor.