Joy & Essence
1994
In college, we drove into San Francisco and watched The Strangers, every chance we could. They were a band from Eugene, OR that transplanted to SF in the late 80s. One of my five roommates and I were diehard groupies, giving up food money to buy gas to get to the shows in Los Angeles. Good thing we ran out of funds that morning after a show; otherwise, we both would have ink from that tattoo parlor in Venice. I had such a crush on the lead singer, Bart Ferguson, dancing in the front row and singing the lyrics just waiting for him to look my way. I felt such joy being in the moment with the music and quaint vibe of the Irish pubs they played in. At that moment, with the music, dancing, sweating, my life was aligned, feeling the pure essence of who I was, who I am, and who I always will be. Living with diabetes is hard. It is a 365/24/7 disease that requires a lot. I get emails and DMs every day with stories of struggle and challenge, hope losing momentum. I advocate for being in the moment and seeking appreciation like every other wellness professional but if you are able, find joy. It is magic. A quick internet search didn't locate any music from the retro-folk-rock-blue band to share, so I settled for another 1994 classic from a band that began where I now live.
Whatever your "diabetes" (the circumstance that makes you look in your mirror at times more than you would like), song lyrics give us an extraordinary glimpse into our relationship and intimacy with ourselves. If we can't look at ourselves with love, forgiveness, and compassion, how can we expect others?
Finding joy is a basic tenet in my health coaching practice.
TOAD THE WET SPROCKET - SOMETHING'S ALWAYS WRONG
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK7bwIVrQFs
Another day, I call and never speak.
And you would say nothing's changed at all.
And I can't feel much hope for anything.
If I won't be there to catch you if you fall
Again (We fail)
It seems we meet (To meet and mend)
In the spaces (Spaces safe)
In between (Between intents)
We always say (Say too much)
It won't be long (Long been gone)
Oh, but something's always wrong.
Another game of putting things aside
As if we'll come back to them some time
A brace of hopes, a pride of innocents
and you would say something has gone wrong
Again (We fail)
It seems we meet (To make amends)
In the spaces (And wend our way)
In between (Between intent)
We always say (Looking back)
It won't be long (Not moving on)
Oh, but something's always wrong
Yeah, hey, hey
Yeah, hey, hey, hey
Yeah, hey, hey
Yeah, hey, hey, hey
Again (We fail)
It seems we meet (To meet and mend)
In the spaces (Spaces safe)
In between (Between intent)
We always say (Say too much)
It won't be long (Long been gone)
Oh, but something's always wrong.
Something's always wrong.
Something's always wrong.
Hey, hey, hey, hey