Day 13 -- 30 Days of Truth

A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough ass days (write a letter)

Okay, I'm fudging here. I'm not writing a letter because . . . well, I don't wanna. I'd rather tell you about the songs that encourage me and why. I actually burned these songs to a CD years ago so I could listen to them in succession whenever I needed a lift. I call it my Self-Actualization CD. I even forced The Fiance to listen to it on a road trip we took to visit my mom this Summer and he didn't break off the engagement or anything.

The songs listed in order on my Self-Actualization CD are as follows (titles are hyperlinked to videos):

Alanis Morrissette -- You Learn: This song encourages me to take risks and to not fear failure quite so much.

Alanis Morrissette -- That I Would Be Good: This song reminds me to embrace my whole self, the good and the not so good.

Chumbawamba -- I Get Knocked Down: As I told The Fiance on that road trip, this song says "Fuck you!" and sometimes that's just as healthy for the psyche as any self-talk mantra you can find.

Tom Petty -- Refugee: When life gets shitty, Tom Petty is there to remind me to not wallow in my self-pity. Everybody's got to fight to be free.

Tom Petty -- I Won't Back Down: Who knew Tom Petty could be such an encourager? When I need a little bravery, I listen to this song.

Wilson Phillips -- Hold On: Don't laugh! When you're at the end of your rope, Wilson Phillips will make you want to hold on for one more day. Really, they will!

Erykah Badu -- Bag Lady: You probably don't know this about me, but I am a BIG neo soul fan and one of my favorite artists is Erykah Badu. This song is deep. It's about failing to deal with your issues and carrying them around like a bag lady and allowing them to wreck your relationships. Erykah implores the listener to "pack light". Word.

India.Arie -- Video: India.Arie is another one of my favorite neo soul artists. This song inspires me to be more at peace with my appearance.

Mystikal -- Bouncin' Back: Back in the day, rap songs had a social conscience and were uplifting. Now gangsta' rap with its obsession with drugs, guns and violence is the norm. So when I hear a song that talks about overcoming adversity, I sit up and take notice.