"Lyrics bring tears of joy as well
as tears of loss. The rhythm and the beat infectious; I can
be distracted from my chronic pain. Use the lyrics and music to embrace
the pain and my chronicness. So, my assignment, should I choose to accept it (totally did) is to think about a personal
playlist (while Apple works on the imoodpod): what songs inspire,
elevate mood, give a shot of energy? And, why these songs – what about
those lyrics, that singer/songwriter, band – speaks to me? By sharing – my songs of inspiration, mood improvement (or reflection), anthem(s)
to my chronic illness(es), get-me-moving-beats – with other folks
dealing with chronic illness(es) and chronic pain, I can open up new
worlds of lyrics, musicians, musical styles." This was my entry for the PFAM blog carnival.
I immediately thought to use Michael Jackson for my artist of choice and choose a few of his songs that I feel represent what is going on in my life right now. Michael Jackson suffered a lot, and although he was a public figure, he was a very private person. He suffered from pain. He had trouble sleeping, lost a lot of weight, had what many believe to be arthritis and lupus. He also had a skin condition called vitiligo. He very well may have also been dealing with skin and hair conditions due to the lupus and arthritis as well. We lost a very talented artist, a legend, and someone that we should have probably been spending more time listening to his lyrics than focusing on what he was wearing or what he was covering up under his clothing, his masks and his sunglasses and hats. Who cares about all of that? How the hell did that affect any of us?
I immediately thought to use Michael Jackson for my artist of choice and choose a few of his songs that I feel represent what is going on in my life right now. Michael Jackson suffered a lot, and although he was a public figure, he was a very private person. He suffered from pain. He had trouble sleeping, lost a lot of weight, had what many believe to be arthritis and lupus. He also had a skin condition called vitiligo. He very well may have also been dealing with skin and hair conditions due to the lupus and arthritis as well. We lost a very talented artist, a legend, and someone that we should have probably been spending more time listening to his lyrics than focusing on what he was wearing or what he was covering up under his clothing, his masks and his sunglasses and hats. Who cares about all of that? How the hell did that affect any of us?
We need to Heal Ourselves so we can "Heal The World",
Because "We Are The World"!
We all "Cry"!
We have to start by looking at the "Man In the Mirror" for everything, helping ourselves, others, asking for help, opening up to others, etc.
Many times, all we want to say is "Leave Me Alone!"
"Don't Walk Away"! I'm not done yet. Michael Jackson has always made me feel like dancing. When I was 10 years old, I had a hope chest full of pictures of him because I wanted to marry him, sadly that dream has dissolved...
Michael Jackson has made me feel like dancing, has given me ideas for the best Halloween costumes, has caused people to memorize his dances (ummm, Thriller ring a bell?), and people know his songs from when he was a little tike~ABC as easy as 123...
He has a following that no other musical artist has, was a humanitarian, a father, a dreamer, sensitive, a poet, a loner, sad, likely depressed, in pain, suffering from chronic pain and chronic illness, suffering in silence, alone, and like many of us, afraid to talk about it and wanting to be left alone and instead considered odd and different and weird. Had he stood up for himself, admitting he was sick, becoming an advocate and an activist for those with chronic pain and chronic illness, would it have changed his life at all? I would have to say yes. I don't know for sure, but if you are suffering in silence, don't. Today, you are "gonna make a change for once in [your] life, [it's] gonna feel real good, gonna make a difference, gonna make it right..." Tell others about your health problems, educate them, people jump to conclusions many times and make assumptions because of ignorance and lack of knowledge. It is up to you to let them know about your chronic illness and pain.
"You Are Not Alone." I will always be here to blog for all of you!!! I love you all. Hugsssss!!!
