Happiness is a Project -Music Edition

If I Die Young I'd like to be remembered as the girl who kept that weird blog titled, all I know is that I know nothing. 

I love the song by Benny Blanco, I Found You, with Calvin Harris. It came out in November 2018, about a year after one of my good friends from college and I ended our friendship. The problem with college friendships is you're either high or drunk the entire time.

It can be hard to not feel threatened by friendships in college - especially if you take a specialized program where the room for error is much smaller.

Am I Wrong?
Yes, also a pretty great song by Norwegian duo, Nico & Vinz.

Becoming happier with yourself as you navigate the latter half of your twenties is a project. When you're twenty it feels like you can blow the roof off any building. Suddenly, you're 22 and feeling your best because everyone thinks you're hot, because, well, you're hot. And when you're 25 you think, wow, only five more years till I'm 30 - better keep up appearances. So you go harder than you did when you were 18. You're hitting every happy hour there is. Then something switches when you turn twenty-seven. I can't even explain what happens, really, but it seems like there was a box in your body all your life and you used to put things into it and take them out all the time. No problems. Life is good, you and your box and your life and then one day you go check out your box and it's closed. Taped shut, no notice, not a pictogram, nothing. You can't play with the shit in your box anymore.

I haven't really figured out the details.
One thing I know for sure is I want that Old Thing Back.

The music edition of my happiness project sort of came to be accidentally, after getting home from work the other day. Earlier that day an e-mail circulated to all branches of the company I work for, stating due to the COVID-19/coronavirus we would be implementing 25% staff reduction and rotation schedule. My 5-person team, already down to 4 because our manager recently returned from vacation and is in self-isolation for 14 days, would be rotating three in the office and one person working from home. Each day we receive corporate updates on the growing concern by e-mail. Yesterday, one of my coworkers came to work saying his daughter is experiencing symptoms of the dreaded COVID-19. We are now down to 3 staff members in "good and able" health. This morning we've been advised through e-mail that teams will further be reduced to minimum staff required on-site. This means each work day, 2/3 will be at work. I understand I'm not in the worst position (by far) considering companies are having to lay off staff or close entirely - but being at work in a state of emergency is really weird.

That's Life.

What do we do when we're being told by the government to stay inside?

We turn up the fucking music, and start dancing.

Since learning about the first death in our province I've had this tight feeling in my chest. It's almost as if I want to monitor myself breathing now, or like I'm more aware of my own breathing today than ever before. The line up outside of Costco this afternoon was down the side of the building, while they explained they were doing their best to limit the amount of customers in at once in order to protect the public, as well as their staff. This was amazing. And if you didn't understand before how serious this is, just turn on the radio for five minutes and have a listen. You'll hear that the death toll in Italy has now surpassed China. You'll hear about the state of utter disbelief and emergency in Spain. You'll hear about a bonspiel that took place with Alberta doctors present, and someone traveling from Las Vegas to Saskatchewan was involved with transmitting the virus at the event. Three students belonging to the Calgary Catholic school board have confirmed cases of COVID-19.

This is More Than Words, people.

And I cannot help but think of our first responders, grocery store and pharmacy employees who also have to wake up each morning and face their work during this most unsettling time for all of us. While many of us are at home taking in breaking news from behind our computers or TV screens, wondering when retail shops will close, others are not in the same position. While we might Wanna Be Startin' Something, we just have to try and maintain a positive mind. Even though it feels like this big, Black Tar Cloud is hovering over our planet right now.

While we wait for the darkest part of the storm to pass, let's do our part to support local businesses as and when we can. Let's limit our gatherings to six people as much as possible, and practice 6-feet social distancing from people when we are together. It's not possible to protect each other without each and every one of us working hard, and working together. Come on people - "wash your hands"?and "cover your mouth when you cough"? These things are as Easy (Like Sunday Morning).

Deep down I believe we're all going to be just fine. It won't be a straight journey, or a very nice road. But we have to let others know, I've Been Thinking About You, and we also must protect ourselves in the process. Now is not the time for an attitude of, "You Need Me, I Don't Need You". It's more about staying confident and Strawberry Fields Forever. 

I keep wondering what I need to do to convince myself that if we work together we can accomplish whatever we put our minds to. Is this something you've been struggling with too? Ain't No Rest for the Wicked, I suppose...

Comment how you're doing, what you're up to, and some of your favourite songs that I missed.

#PumpUpTheJam #ShutUpAndDance #MyPlanetIsDead #OnlyTheGoodDieYoung #LifeOnEarth?