Instead of feeling cold, let sunshine into your heart

Instead
Madeleine Peyroux

Instead of feeling bad, be glad you've got somewhere to go
Instead of feeling sad, be happy you're not all alone
Instead of feeling low, get high on everything you love
Instead of wasting time, feel good 'bout what you're dreaming of

Instead of trying to win something you never understood
Just play the game you know, eventually you'll love her good
It's silly to pretend you have something you don't own
Just let her be your woman and you'll be her man

Instead of feeling broke, buck up and get yourself in the black
Instead of losing hope, touch up the things that feel out of whack
Instead of being old, be young because you know you are
Instead of feeling cold, let sunshine into your heart

Instead of acting crazy, chasing things that make you mad
Keep your heart ahead, it will lead you back to what you have
With every step you're closer to the place you need to be
It's up to you to let her love you sweetly

Instead of acting crazy, chasing things that make you mad
Keep your heart ahead, it will lead you back to what you have
With every step you're closer to the place you need to be
It's up to you to let her love you sweetly

Instead of feeling bad, be glad you've got someone to love
Instead of feeling sad, be happy there's a God above
Instead of feeling low, remember you're never on your own
Instead of feeling sad, be happy that she's there at home
She's waiting for you by the phone
So be glad that she's all your own


I mentioned before that I went to a Madeleine Peyroux concert on Sunday. This was the last song she played (except for the encore) and she prefaced it by saying that she was going to end with a song about happiness, "pure happiness, the simplest emotion, and yet it's so hard. For me." And I agree with her whole-heartedly. I love this song, but I struggle with simple happiness. It's something that I only ever experience in short bursts. It was nice to know someone else was on the same page.

This is my friend Bean. She is lovely. I took this photo one day when she won a Kindle in a spelling bee at the school. I was actually taking a photo for the story that was going in the school paper, but this shot was my favourite in the end. I just love how her laugh is almost suspended in the image. I can't help but smile whenever I look at it. Bean has a hard-won ability to find the positive in things. I do not have this tendency, and she always calls me on it. I think it's good to have people like that in your life. The people who understand where you're coming from, see the mistake you are making and are willing to call you on whatever BS you are spouting. Not only does she call me out when I'm being a total pessimist, but she drags me out of my dark places to take me out for beer and karaoke, or a meal, or hat shopping, or a movie rental and inevitably makes me laugh. She literally shoves the good things in front of my face so that I can't ignore them. Yup, she's a good one.