I heard Peggy sing this song at a house concert shortly before my first Ironman. I was living in Granby, Colo. at the time. I thought of this song as I swam my first Ironman swim course in Idaho. It calmed me. “I’m just breathing.” That was 2009.
I thought of this song a few days ago and I can’t stop listening to it in the car. It has so much more meaning for me now, and confirms what I believe in and what I still struggle with.
I’m just breathing. Living one day at a time.
Our world, our nation is out of control. Music helps.
As I was browsing I Run Far’s website I saw a few articles I wanted to read with titles such as Hope, My Own Running Dog and I Miss You.
As I read a few lines from all of them for some reason I got the poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson in my head.
I actually remember the lines from the movie One Week when Josh Jackson gave me a tour of grief and the Canadian landscape, and an AWESOME soundtrack by the way.
So I reflect on my life with those bold words: To Strive, To Seek, To Find and Not To Yield.
You see, I was body-healthy throughout February and March and didn’t train; my head wasn’t in the right place.
Then April came and I was ready in the head then I sprained my ankle, now I’m body-unhealthy.
I can’t win.
I’m making the best of it with walking and biking as much as I can. I’ve been eating too much and gained my 15 pandemic-pounds but I’m ready to get back at it. I’m ready. I have another week of body-healing and then – boom – I’m back on my 100 mile training plan. I think the crazy Goldie-dog is going to be a good running partner on the trails.
There is so much to be hopeful about. I’m ready to be hopeful and happy.
Although, maybe it’s not in our hopes but in the struggle that we find a life. In Tennyson’s poem, Ulysses when read in its full force makes me think that maybe it is time for a new adventure.
One of my favorite songs from the One Week Soundtrack
I got an idea in my head that I would walk all the streets in downtown Concord as a way to get three miles in. Copying the idea from Rickey Gates who ran every street in San Francisco. Since I can’t run, yet, I decided I would walk (without dogs). I don’t count mileage when I walk dogs.
Today I decided that on this walking tour I would listen to my new playlist I just created for April. I started from my house and headed to downtown. I walked up and down the streets:
I decided to take some pictures of the beautiful buildings and some trees.
My playlist was pretty awesome.
Girl from the North Country – Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. I recently watched Escape at Dannemora and this song played during a dramatic scene. Plus the lyrics are pretty awesome and I love the North Country. “So, if you’re travelin’ in the north country fair, Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline, Remember me to one who lives there, She once was a true love of mine.”
Time to say goodbye – Andrea Bocelli
Change – John Waite From the soundtrack Vision Quest – just love this song. “It doesn’t matter who you are It’s all the same. What’s in your heart will never change”
Pretty – Ingrid Michaelson “I’m not just pretty, No, I’m pretty damn good, Sure in my own skin, Again and again and again.”
Roll Me Away – Bob Segar Pretty much my anthem: “Stood alone on a mountain top, Starin’ out at the Great Divide, I could go east, I could go west, It was all up to me to decide.”
Shallow – Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper “Tell me somethin’, girl, Are you happy in this modern world? Or do you need more? Is there somethin’ else you’re searchin’ for?“
When You Were Young – The Killers This is my all time favorite Guitar Hero song to play. “Can we climb this mountain, I don’t know Higher now than ever before, I know we can make it if we take it slow.”
My Body – Young the Giant This is a great song to run to but alas, I walk: “My body tells me no! But I won’t quit ‘Cuz I want more.”
He Knows – Jeremy Camp “He knows. Every hurt and every sting. He has walked the suffering. He knows.”
Just be Held – Casting Crowns This is one of my favorite songs. Beautiful: “There’s freedom in surrender. Lay it down and let it go. So when you’re on your knees and answers seem so far away, You’re not alone, stop holding on and just be held.”
Nothing Compares 2 U – Chris Cornell version I just discovered this version by Cornell that is on the playlist. I like the Sinead O’Connor version but I can’t listen to it. “It’s been seven hours and sixteen days, Since you took your love away.” Here’s the O’Connor version:
Colorful – The Verve Pipe The Chris Cornell song reminded me of this song that was on the Rock Star soundtrack so I added it to the playlist. I just love the final scene in the movie when this song plays.
I watched Andrea Bocelli’s performance from Italy last week and this song just broke my heart.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0l5dGiaXCo
Then I remembered one of my favorite songs he sang with Sarah Brightman.
This song also pulled at my heartstrings.
After I started listening to Time To Say Goodbye I found another Bocelli song I liked, and this song led to another song , which led to this song which was the last song I heard from my playlist while running this morning:
The Prayer with Andrea singing with Celine Dion
These lyrics are so relevant today:
“I pray you’ll be our eyes, and watch us where we go. And help us to be wise in times when we don’t know. Let this be our prayer, when we lose our way. Lead us to the place, guide us with your grace, to a place where we’ll be safe.
We dream a world without violence, a world of justice and faith.
Everyone gives a hand to his neighbours, symbol of peace, of fraternity. We ask that life be kind and watch us from above. We hope each soul will find another soul to love.”
“A Human Touch” (from the “5B” soundtrack). About the song and collaboration from Billboard magazine. Although this song is from the documentary 5B about San Francisco General Hospital’s AIDS ward during the early ’80s I feel like it’s so appropriate today. It’s been one of my favorite songs since the beginning of the year.
“You can call it a decision. I say it’s how we’re made. There’s no point in shouting from your island proclaiming only Jesus saves. There will always be suffering and there will always be pain but because of it there’ll always be love and love, we know, it will remain.
Everybody gets lonely. Feel like it’s all too much. Reaching out for some connections. Or maybe just their own reflection. Not everybody finds it, not like the two of us. Sometimes all anybody needs is a human touch.
Everybody wants a holiday, everybody wants to feel the sun. Get outside and run around, live like they’re forever young. Everybody wants to be beautiful and live life their own way. No one ever wants to let it go, no matter what they do or say.”
