Dolly Parton existed peripherally in my awareness as a vaguely benevolent if borderline caricature-like figure my whole life, and then last year on a road trip from SF to OC I listened to the WNYC podcast about her life and am now an official card-carrying member of the DP fan club.
“Light of a Clear Blue Morning” is my go-to when I need to feel better (basically these days I’m playing it on repeat a whole lot). It’s also my favorite sobriety anthem 🙌🏾. Forgive the, uh, cheesiness of what I’m about to say but sometimes when I listen to it I think about how far I’ve come and it makes me cry every damn time.
SO: My question for all of you ~ What is *your* song? What do you listen to when you want to rise out of a funk? Do you have a recovery anthem? Let me know in the comments 👇🏽 and I will put together a playlist that I’ll share on Tuesday (can you tell I just learned how to add emojis to my posts? 🤓).
Music is one of my tools for staying sane these days and I would love nothing more than to hear (heh) what is inspiring you lately. This is a place to be real and share - let me know!
The new recommendation would be a victory for experts who have long questioned the health halo around moderate drinking. They say that studies showing it can protect health are deeply flawed, and that any potential cardiovascular benefits would be outweighed by the fact that alcohol is a leading preventable cause of cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, even one drink a day increases the risk of breast, esophageal and oral cancer.
“This is significant because the committee has finally gotten away from this idea that a small amount of alcohol is good for you,” said Thomas Gremillion, the director of food policy at the Consumer Federation of America, a public interest group that has pushed for cancer warnings on alcohol. “They’re really taking a stand and saying drinking less is always better. That’s the right message and I think they deserve credit for making that change.”
🍑 For my writerly friends: This is the sexiest essay I’ve ever read about writing about, uh, sex. Melissa Febos is a stunningly gifted writer (she’s longtime sober, too) and every time I read her I can feel the wrinkles in my brain deepening.
I read Jessica Simpson's memoir recently and she had some meaningful interactions with Dolly Parton on her sobriety journey. She (DP) sounds nothing but wonderful. Also, by read, I mean "listened to" and so glad I did because Jessica read her own memoir, and I love to hear someone read their story in their own words.
I don't think I have a sobriety anthem, but, I'll adopt one of my favorite workout anthems: Sia - The Greatest.
I'm also recently obsessed with Meg Myers cover of Running Up That Hill.
yes, thank you Lori - I need to add to my running playlist. Also, re: Jessica Simpson - she had such a dummy reputation for a while so it was exciting to see her memoir come out and how multifaceted she actually is.
“We’ll Be Alright” by Grace Potter. It was played at the end on an online yoga class I took at the beginning of the pandemic and although it’s very different than the sort of music I normally listen to- I’ve listened to it an embarrassing number of times since.
And YES to Melissa Febos. I gobble up every word she writes and I’m never disappointed.
one of my favorite memories ever is dancing to this in my orange colored living room in a slumlordy apartment i lived in with my best friend in my early 20's <3 david byrne is one of my forever crushes!
Ummm okay, Shake by Taylor Swift. Accompanied by wild dancing. I also LOVE many classic country artists, and Dolly is a queen. <3 (I don't know how to make comments emojis. :)
can't wait to listen, Elisabeth! And i did not know that..
ooh excited to listen!
"I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got," Sinead O'Connor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybtSdJmBy-I
thanks dear Karen <3
I read Jessica Simpson's memoir recently and she had some meaningful interactions with Dolly Parton on her sobriety journey. She (DP) sounds nothing but wonderful. Also, by read, I mean "listened to" and so glad I did because Jessica read her own memoir, and I love to hear someone read their story in their own words.
I don't think I have a sobriety anthem, but, I'll adopt one of my favorite workout anthems: Sia - The Greatest.
I'm also recently obsessed with Meg Myers cover of Running Up That Hill.
yes, thank you Lori - I need to add to my running playlist. Also, re: Jessica Simpson - she had such a dummy reputation for a while so it was exciting to see her memoir come out and how multifaceted she actually is.
“We’ll Be Alright” by Grace Potter. It was played at the end on an online yoga class I took at the beginning of the pandemic and although it’s very different than the sort of music I normally listen to- I’ve listened to it an embarrassing number of times since.
And YES to Melissa Febos. I gobble up every word she writes and I’m never disappointed.
i want to be her BFF but I'm pretty sure if i ever actually met her i'd be speechless (I want her to join us on the bus!)
She’s brilliant. I’ve been thinking about that essay all day.
I have many, but this is a classic I always come back to
https://youtu.be/HldHtBxNK6k
one of my favorite memories ever is dancing to this in my orange colored living room in a slumlordy apartment i lived in with my best friend in my early 20's <3 david byrne is one of my forever crushes!
Ummm okay, Shake by Taylor Swift. Accompanied by wild dancing. I also LOVE many classic country artists, and Dolly is a queen. <3 (I don't know how to make comments emojis. :)
bravo! thank you.