What's on your playlist?

As I huffed and puffed through my pathetic workout yesterday, I was thinking it's time to update my tunes. I had my ipod on random shuffle or no specific order or whatever it's called, and the variety of songs that came on made me laugh.

From Blue Rodeo to Eminem, U2, KD Lang, Little Wayne, Shakira, Nicky Minog, Glee Cast...it's quite the eclectic playlist. And sometimes I mistakingly leave on my guided imagery tracks.

A friend of mine was shocked when she learned I listen to rap music. If it wasn't for my older daughter I would never has thought I would like it either. Yes the language is horrendous but the messages are very powerful. There are days when I can relate to Eminem's anger and his frustration at the systems we live in. When Little Wayne is cursing at the racism and stereotyping he experiences I can only hope my kids are aware that this could be their experiences too. (Without the drugs, addictions and violence.)

Then my playlist switches to songs performed by the cast of Glee and they always make me smile remembering the episodes my daughters and I obsess on by watching over and over. Again, I think of the kids who are marginalized for being different and I hope things aren't like that for them, but realistically I know they will experience feeling different.

And U2's Joshua Tree album is one of my all time favorites and I never get tired of hearing the songs from there. Years ago my husband and I visited Joshua Tree National Park outside of Palm Springs - yes Bono and I have SO much in common. I absolutely love KD Lang's version of Hallelujah and I always sing along to my favorite Blue Rodeo songs. Well perhaps huffing and puffing along with the songs.

Music can have a huge impact on my emotions and I have to remember to use it's powers for good and not evil. Listening to serenity type music while I'm writing or working on something that requires focus and concentration seems to make the job easier. But the only way housework gets done is if the music is upbeat and loud.

It really is a great way to escape whatever is happening even if it only is distracting me for a short while. But it helps change my focus and hopefully moves me along to where I should be.

Ever since my first daughter came home at the age of 5 days old, I've sang to her. I cannot carry a tune, so I always thought her first words would be "Mommy don't sing." Instead she has embraced the power of music and although I can't claim the credit for her genetic ability to sing and dance she still belts out the songs (minus the swears) whenver she feels like it.

When my second daughter came home at the age of 3 I was shocked and saddened that she didn't know any songs. Nothing. Not even twinkle twinkle little star or any of the other little kid songs. No one had ever sang to her. It took her until she was about 9 years old to actually voluntarily listen to music, and rarely will she ever sing out loud. The power to soothe with lullabyes was denied her. There ought to be a law against that.

So I have decided that on my planet, every child will be sang to as soon as they are born and it will be required of every parent and caregiver to sing to their kids. No matter how out of tune you may be.