The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
I saw the link above to music to listen to while on this site, and it made me wonder, if you listen to music, what types of music or artists do you find to be inspirational in your recovery?
About seven years ago, I saw Stevie Nicks with Fleetwood Mac and have been inspired by her heart-felt lyrics ever since (you see where my username comes from, as well as my avatar picture, which is a young Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham before they joined Fleetwood Mac in the mid-1970's). She is a former addict in recovery herself, and is someone who is truly a survivor.
Below are the lyrics to one of my favorite songs. If you want to listen to it, I can email it to you:
Storms
by Stevie Nicks
Every night that goes between I feel a little less As you slowly go away from me This is only another test
Every night you do not come Your softness fades away Did I ever really care that much? Is there anything left to say?
Every hour of fear I spend My body tries to cry Living through each empty night A deadly call inside
I haven't felt this way I feel Since many a year ago But in those years and the lifetimes past I did not deal with the road
And I did not deal with you I know Though the love has always been So I search to find an answer there So I can truly win
Every hour of fear I spend My body tries to cry Living through each empty night A deadly call inside
So I try to say Goodbye my friend I'd like to leave you with something warm But never have I been a blue calm sea I have always been a storm Always been a storm Always been a storm I have always been a storm
We were frail...
She said "Every night he will break your heart" I should have known from the first I'd be the broken hearted But I loved you from the start Save us... And not all the prayers in the world Could save us
Yes, I listen to music! Some weeks it's 3 times a week, Some just once a week depending on my mood. Country music was a huge help for me to get in touch with my feelings, emotions. I also love Shania Twain, and anyone's music that I feel helps lift my self esteem, self worth. Sometimes Light Jazz/Blues is great. I have DirecTV so, I can tune in to the different "types" of music depending on my mood. I often thought the light classical music was good for my brain chemistry when I could barely feel anything--just plain numb! I have surprised myself at the age of 49 how I like to try different "types" of music and sounds on my ears. In my younger days, I thought I had to be Rock and Roll, forever, ha, ha. Then I thought I had to be Country, forever, ha, ha. I am finding that variety in music is the spice of life, and opens up new ways of thinking. It also helps me not feel so lonely when I am alone!
Dancing again became a lifesaver for me, too---and great exercise! :wOOt:
I agree about the classical music. I've always loved Baroque (especially Bach). In particular, if you can find a copy of Bach's "Well-Tempered Clavier", it's great to listen to when you are swamped with negative emotions. It's very beautiful music, but it is also very mathematical and abstract - it is intricately put together, something pure in an impure world, something you can lose yourself in when the real world is a little too ugly.
I'm not sure if it is "inspirational" exactly, though so if you want that, try to find the "Mass for Christmas Morning" by Michael Praetorius. It'll probably be in the "early music" section if you have trouble finding it. It's all choral music with a church organ in the background. Very powerful, and I'm not even a Christian.
I could probably send you a sample if you aren't able to find them locally.
I like classical too! Mostly when cooking, eating dinner or taking a bubble bath :)
When I say "inspirational", I don't necessarily mean in the religious context (although that is fine too!). To clarify, I consider it to be anything that helps you gain perspective, hope or strength.
I posted a list of my favorites on my website below, which includes links so you can listen to them, if you are interested. Most are slow, quiet songs. There is something about each one of these songs that touches on a feeling or thought that I have recognized in living with and loving my A.
Music is one of my passions, and has definitely been instrumental (pardon the pun) in maintaining at least some level of sanity in my otherwise insane world.
I listen to music all the time. From my name one might guess that I listen only to country music, but my tastes are so diverse I doubt I could list all the different genres in my collection.
Depending on my mood, different music will inspire or invoke tremendous feelings in me. There are a few songs that, due to circumstance, have more meaning to me. One is Garth Brooks "If Tomorrow Never Comes" which always reminds me of my daughter, who was born when that song hit the airwaves and it's been my tribute song to her ever since. I live by the words in this song.
If Tomorrow Never Comes
Sometimes late at night I lie awake and watch her sleeping She's lost in peaceful dreams So I turn out the lights and lay there in the dark And a thought crosses my mind If I never wake up in the morning Would she ever doubt the way I feel About her in my heart
(chorus)
If tomorrow never comes Will she know how much I loved her Did I try in every way to show her every day That she's my only one And if my time on earth were through She must face this world without me Is the love I gave her in the past Gonna be enough to last If tomorrow never comes
'Cause I've lost loved ones in my life Who never knew how much I loved them Now I live with the regret That my true feelings for them never were revealed So I made a promise to myself To say each day how much she means to me And avoid that circumstance Where there's no second chance to tell her how I feel
*chorus*
So tell that someone that you love Just what you're thinking of If tomorrow never comes