Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Mixtape Challenge: Living Like Weasels

Note: As part of our Facebook Group: Playlist Pandemonium, we are doing monthly Mixtape Challenges where different participants get a topic and 60 minutes to fill with the songs of their choice. I am taking the January prompt – Resolutions. The mixtape can be found on Spotify under my account. I will also share it on the Facebook platform.

 Side 1: We Could, You Know…

 Dear Listener,

 “We could, you know. We can live any way we want. People take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience – even silence – by choice.” Annie Dilliard wrote this line in a personal essay entitled “Living Like Weasels” that appeared in The Fourth Genre edition that we studied in my Creative Nonfiction course at Northern Illinois University circa 2003. It’s the sort of line that rings in my head this time of year, once the giant lighted ball has descended from the sky (I didn’t even see it this year), and we can add another number that will either fit between or as the second bookend of years on our tombstone. But it’s not about the first and the last dates, is it? It’s the charge we put into the string of dates between the start and finish. We reside in the blistering highs and the heartbreaking lows, either swallowed by monotony or embraced by purpose.

 “We could, you know. We can live any we want.”

 So do it! You have this year. 2023. If you’re at the bottom of the hill, begin to climb. Are you carrying the weight of depression? Addiction? Seek help and accept it when offered.

 Need to indulge? Eat It, just like Weird Al encourages. Want to lose weight? Go the Distance!

 It won’t be easy. You’ll reach for that drink when you shouldn’t. Son of a Bitch! Don’t get too lost in chasing the dollar, the grass likely isn’t greener on the other side. Check Your Head and make Changes. Real changes, where they are needed.

 And remember, It’ll Be Better!


https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3dSMtN86t7HVFEgCzZCUIs?si=920dc7b428354651

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