This is my eleventh post for the Who I Am project, a yearlong writing venture designed to tell my story one piece at a time. This month’s topic is “Medicine for the Soul,” and it is timely given the current state of our nation. I take medication when I am ill or physically hurting, but when I need calm, reinvigoration, or inspiration, I turn to two lifelong loves. If you know me personally or have read this blog for any length of time, you know what they are.
Broadway
The music, specifically. While sitting in a theater as the overture begins is my favorite place to be, it is the music that is medicine for my soul. I play the soundtracks in my car, belting out the tunes as if I am performing on the Tonys. While I enjoy the upbeat numbers, the ballads are my specialty. Some I can’t get through without choking up, but I think that’s part of their appeal. Singing such powerful lyrics aloud is a cathartic release.
Some random tidbits:
- I see an average of seven or eight shows a year. One or two are on Broadway, and the rest are typically national touring companies that visit my city.
- The CDs currently in my car are: (1) Hamilton (2) Kinky Boots (3) Les Miserables (4) Wicked.
- The songs I go to first on each of those CDs are: (1) All of them, in order, from start to finish and then back to the beginning (2) Not My Father’s Son (3) On My Own (4) The Wizard and I.
- I would give up dining out for the year before I would give up my theater subscription.
Books
“Medicine for the Soul” was a page in my original Who I Am scrapbook almost thirteen years ago. Books were my medicine then, and they are my medicine today. I’m certain they always will be.
I read in the car (as a passenger, although I listen when I drive), in bed at night, in my reading chair on the weekend, and while I walk the dog. I read as I barely work out on the elliptical; I read on planes and in waiting rooms.
When my kids were little, I read while I nursed them. Gwen usually fell asleep when she was finished, and I let her snooze in my lap for over an hour while I continued to read. I read with my children at bedtime until they were tweens, and the annual Scholastic Book Fair at their elementary school was the most wonderful time of the year.
Reading educates me, inspires me, and relaxes me. I’m in two book clubs, and I am the dork who always reads the book. When someone else chooses the book, it allows me to expand my reading palate, although it is already varied. I’ll try any genre at least once, and I enjoy trying reading challenges that force me to step outside my reading box.
Some random tidbits:
- I do not form a mental picture of book characters in my head as I read.
- I used to sludge through a book until the end, even if I hated it. Now I will bail after giving it a fair shot.
- I keep giving short story collections a fair shot, but I rarely find one that holds my interest.
- I have no preference for real books versus reading on my iPad, although if I could only choose one format, I would choose real books.
- I rarely buy books for myself. I love the library, and I’d love to work there.
- My mom thinks I should get a job writing the inside jacket cover book summary/teaser. Is that even a job?
- How much do I love to read? I would give up Broadway musicals before I would give up books.
Always so interesting – love the random tidbits. Have you heard the musical, Bonnie and Clyde? My new obsession! So good. Happy December.
I have not heard Bonnie and Clyde – I’ll have to check it out!
Love so much about this but really jumps out is: Kinky Boots? Since seeing them perform a few years ago in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade I had assumed it wasn’t that good. I must be wrong!
I loved Kinky Boots – such a great message of being who you are and accepting others. And the songs are great to sing out loud in my car!
I feel sad that I didn’t even see this. I guess that’s a sign of where I am right now (which is with the ball of tangled yarn on my shoulder) and I have to say that this makes me want to re-try Broadway. I’ve never been much for musicals and now wonder why… and and and. But books? Yes. I stayed up until 2am last night finishing one that I was into but didn’t LOVE LOVE (called Best Friends, I think it’s kinda old but I had gotten it at a B&N sale and now want to read her next). Tucker’s not so far a lover of books although we did Harry Potter One and Two on the road trip for Thanksgiving and HE LOVED LISTENING (as did I) to them. So maybe there’s that.
There is definitely that. While listening to books will never replace reading for me, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoy letting someone else read to me.
Love this month’s topic! Broadway and books are medicine to my soul, too 🙂
You’re a girl after my own heart. 🙂
I loved this and your whole project. I’m such a Broadway nut, too. Can you believe I haven’t seen Hamilton. I just have not had the opportunity (living in Mpls and all). Do you think I’d enjoy the music even if I haven’t seen the show? (Will you email me the answer? Thank you!)
Let me know what you think when you listen to the soundtrack, Nina.
I love your love for Broadway. I’ve never quite had my own but I’ve lived vicariously through you, especially lately with Hamilton!
As for books, the truest anti-anxiety med I’ve ever known. I started reading early and I know it’s because I found my escape from pain. It remains the best thing I know, that’s not love.. or good food..
I completely agree Tamara!
I often think about your Mom’s comment about you writing book teasers and I highly agree with her. You’ve a real talent, Dana. As for the scholastic book fairs – yes! I loved them. Speaking of jobs, my dearest pal in the world worked for and then owned a book distribution company. She would travel about Ontario chatting with school librarians and selling books at their school fairs. Loved it. The best part? She’s dyslexic and struggled to read as a child.
Wow! That sounds like a wonderful job. I keep my eye on the job listings at our local library – just being surrounded by books would make me happy.
I miss seeing shows on Broadway, it’s been years! (I was spoiled growing up so close to Manhattan.) I love the energy of seeing a live performance, the music which often gives me chills.
And books…well, I rarely go more than a couple days without reading from a book. Currently I’m reading from 3 (plus an audio book). I also read while nursing Eve, and I think I may actually read more than I did before becoming a mom! It’s usually how I end each night and it helps me unwind from the day.
I read more now than I did before I was a mom, too. I was sad for multiple reasons when my kids stopped nursing, but I will admit one reason was because I lost prime reading time.
Boy do we need medicine for the soul these days. I love music and books, too. Have been listening to Westside Story this week…sigh…so good. My soul medicine is running, nature, and quiet meditation at church. I always always always turn to the outside first, where everything feels bigger and grander. It heals me. I’ve never really thought of myself as a woodsy type of girl but the older I get, the more I appreciate it. Thanks for insight and invitation to share 🙂
West Side Story is one of my faves – I listened to my mother’s album over and over as a kid! I agree with you about nature – its size and scope makes me feel small, which is comforting.
I do love how much you read, and I also love how much you give back to books, with your reviews and recommendations. I’d like to aspire to that.
I’d love to read your book reviews, Lizzi. I try to jot down notes after each book I read, so when it’s time for a post I have most of it ready to go. But sometimes I need to let the story sit with me for a few days before I decide what I think!
I get lost in the story and then afterwards feel so bereft of NO MORE BOOK that I move straight on to the next one without stopping for breath, even! I swap them over and go again.
SO with you on loving libraries 🙂
Having read you blog for a few years, I immediately guessed books. I should have guessed Broadway, but it just didn’t come to me…
Maybe I should start writing reviews of the shows I see! Theater goers are a much smaller audience than readers, though.
I knew about the books, and despite your enthusiastic post about your trip to NYC to see Hamilton, I didn’t realize Broadway shows took such a priority. Great to learn more about you and to see we share a common medicine. Although, I forgot to include books on my list! The horror!
Ha! Yes, I am a musical geek through and through. So glad you are continuing to join me in this project – only one month to go!
Wow! You’d choose books over Bway! That’s amazing!! Thank goodness you don’t have to choose! ❤️
Tell me about it! It would be a very hard choice, but yes, books would win out. At least I could read Hamilton: The Revolution 😉
I love your love for reading. Did either of your kids pick it up? I’m sad that Christopher hasn’t. He reads because he has to. I hope it’s because he hasn’t found the right page turner yet.
Gwen LOVES to read; James does not. Same as Christopher – he reads when he has to. If he had the right book, I think he could get into it, but so far no luck.
When you strike gold with James let me know!
As soon as I saw this romper reading and writing, as well came to mind for me as I truly love and love to be able to do both as much as possible myself. So loved that you discussed reading here and again can totally relate.
Thanks, Janine – I know you can!