“I used to think I knew what I was waiting for; I don’t think that anymore.” Well, I did it. I’ve given myself two challenges so far this year, and I’ve met them both. It feels pretty good, this ebbing away at self-doubt thing. My first personal challenge was a homemade juice-or-smoothie-only day, tea, water, etc. based on a holistic nutritionist’s cleanse program. The goal wasn’t so much to “cleanse” as go one day without eating. I love food too much, and receive major emotional comfort from it, so making it through this day was meaningful to me, and I should do it again soon. The actual cleanse is three days, so maybe next time I’ll at least try two! It made me more aware of when and why I reach for food, but also to be more grateful for my easy access to it. My other goal was to start a song blog on my birthday, and blog every day for the month of March. I’m a terribly inconsistent journalist, so this was huge for me to prove I could commit to constantly dealing with my own thoughts, and the immense amount of music that plays relentlessly in my head. To lovingly and graciously accept this music even when it just feels like a barrage of noise is difficult; for sometimes it’s earworms, sometimes it’s from teaching, but sometimes the songs I hear are rife with messages from the guiding hand of The Universe. “I used to think I knew what I was fighting for; I don’t think that anymore.”
Today was one heck of a rainy day. Pretty much all day the clouds kept at it, including a few thunderous booms that shook our whole house. For years I couldn’t help but associate rain (no matter how much we needed it outside) with major migraine pain. I still do actually, and truth be told, I had another massive one today (though I don’t want this to be a complain-about-migraines-blog!). But through two years of spiritual journeying and recovery, it’s now impossible to ignore rain as a bringer of renewal and rejuvenation, of cleansing and releasing. Is it the tears of the sky, shedding its pain? Is it the hydration so very needed by all living things? Is it simply a soothing rhythm in your soundscape? And without the days of rain, can you truly appreciate the glory of a day like yesterday?
There are many rain songs I could share today, but I’m going with Rain Down On Me by Blue Rodeo. The song is great, Jim Cuddy has an excellent lead vocal, Greg Keelor’s guitar solo is one of my favourites of his; but, I’m picking it for the gorgeous and moving Juno-nominated video. Over 20 years later and it still holds up. Tremendous thanks to anyone (*cough*Paul*cough*) who has actually read my 31 days of posts, and I hope you’ll keep reading and listening with me as I continue to explore our connection to The Universe through music. With love, light, and song… ~Melissa~
Listen here: Rain Down On Me * by Blue Rodeo * from the album Lost Together (1992)
