Find My Happy Place (Or, Music for a Bad Day)

Published August 04, 2009 @ 03:23PM PT

We all have bad days. For those working in the social justice and human rights fields, where change usually happens at a such a glacial pace that it can be difficult to recognize, the temptation to succumb to irreconcilable pessimism is at times overwhelming. Or sometimes life just sucks.

We all have our coping mechanisms. I tend to turn to some combination of the gym (the rowing machine in particular), playing with my dog, and drowning out bad thoughts with loud music. (Possibly occasionally accompanied by dancing around my apartment. Otherwise, walking through the streets of DC with a zoned out look on my face.)

So taking a cue from Leigh's "Activist's Playlist" post on Change.org's Poverty in America blog, and from Michael's "Traveling Music" post at Humanitarian Relief, and sharing a selection from my "Find My Happy Place" i-Pod playlist (a product of my very broad taste in music):

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cindy Lauper

Disco Ball World by David (pronounced Da-veed) Garza

Don't Stop Believin' by Journey (sing it with me now...)

No Seas Cobarde by Melina Leon

Get Rhythm by Johnny Cash

9 to 5 by Dolly Parton

Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros by Flight of the Conchords

Bouncing Off Clouds by Tori Amos

Such Great Heights by Postal Service

Oh What a World by Rufus Wainwright

Live Your Life by T.I. featuring Rihanna (Ain't got time for no haters.)

Come On Eileen by Dexy's Midnight Runners (my favorite song from the 80s)

In Lieu of Flowers by Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion

Shake It by Metro Station

Walking in Memphis by Cher

Love Struck by V Factory (shut up, it's awesome)

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Comments (4)

I understand!! Love, Nell

Posted by Nell Okie on 08/04/2009 @ 04:24PM PT
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Yoga Journal has some uplifting playlists each month as well:

http://www.yogajournal.com/multimedia/playlists/

Posted by Britt Bravo on 08/05/2009 @ 11:11AM PT
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I love Donna Summer!

Posted by Leigh Graham on 08/09/2009 @ 08:47AM PT
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It's difficult to be in a bad mood when jamming out to disco divas.

Posted by Michelle . on 08/09/2009 @ 09:12AM PT
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Michelle became involved in the anti-genocide cause at a young age, and has been involved in various activist endeavors, including the Teach Against Genocide pilot campaigns, ever since.