Becca Lory shares her personal music therapy playlist for staying positively autistic
Two nights ago, I was getting ready to meet some friends for dinner and drinks. I didn’t want to go. I mean, I’m an autistic introvert, I almost never want to go. In any case, the time had come to shower, get dressed, put on make-up and all the rest of the super fun things that go along with leaving the house to socialize. Needless to say, I was having trouble getting myself motivated. In a last-ditch effort to get myself going, I grabbed my Bluetooth speaker and headed into the bathroom to get the show on the road.
As a bartender, one of the tricks I liked to use to change the vibe in the bar was to change the music. Nothing turns a group of people around faster than a good old-fashioned rock song sing-along. So, I decided to bartender myself and began to scroll through the music selection in my phone.
What song I wanted would truly depend on how I wanted to feel when I was done listening. Did I want to feel relaxed and calm or did I want to feel happy and excited? The more I though about it, the more I realized how often I rely on music to lift or shift my mood and how very little I talk about it.
To rectify the situation, I decided to share my personal music therapy and the 5 songs that lift and shift my mood:
“Rise Up” Imagine Dragons – Evolve
This song is new to the rotation. Off of Imagine Dragons’ latest album, “Rise Up” is a guarantee to get me motivated. Their songs hold a very special place in my life and this song definitely does not disappoint. It sets me in the perfect mood to give a great presentation or just tackle the grocery store.
“I would always open up the door
Always looking up at higher floors
Wanna see it all give me more (rise, rise up)
I was always up for making changes
Walking down the street meeting strangers
Flipping through my life turning pages (rise, rise up)”
“Just Breathe” Pearl Jam – Backspacer
I am a long time Pearl Jam fan, as in all the way back to high school circa 1992. This song, however, is different from most of their songs and represents a little of what Eddie Vedder brings us in his solo music. This song is all about simplicity, even down to its unembellished instrumentals and acoustic vibe. Sometimes, we need a reminder to just take a breath and focus on the basics; air, food, lodging, and love.
“Yes I understand that every life must end, uh-huh
As we sit alone, I know someday we must go, uh-huh
Oh I’m a lucky man to count on both hands the ones I love
Some folks just have one, yeah others they’ve got none
Stay with me…
Let’s just breathe…”
“To Be Myself Completely” Belle & Sebastian – The Life Pursuit
Ever feel like no matter how hard you try, you can’t make certain people happy? Me too. When I’m feeling that way, I throw on this tune. It reminds that in order to stay true to myself, I must occasionally let others down. And you what? That’s totally okay. Someday they may let me down on their own journey to self-acceptance.
“Well my heart has fallen down
Thought I’d talked myself around
But to be myself completely I’ve just got to let you down”
“Hot Air Balloon” Owl City – Ocean Eyes
Written by fellow spectrumite and lead singer of Owl City, Adam Young, this song makes me feel flappy happy almost immediately. Its got a cute little cheery melody and lyrics that paint a colorful picture of a day of whimsical adventures and leaving the world behind for a little while. Worth a listen on any long car drive or prior to way-too-serious events like jury duty or a job interview.
“We drank the great lakes
Like cold lemonade
And both got stomach aches
Sprawled out in the shade
So bored to death, you held your breath
And I tried not to yawn
You make my frown turn upside down
And now my worries are gone”
“Beautiful” Carol King – Tapestry
My mom used to play this song for me as a kid. Carol King was one of her favorites. I still have her original vinyl copy of Tapestry. She often played it when I had a tough social encounter or was generally feeling down about myself. She also occasionally played it when I wouldn’t get up for school; loudly and singing along. It never made me want to go, but it always made me laugh. To this day, playing this song guarantees me I will have the little lift in my confidence that only a mom can provide.
“You’ve got to get up every morning with a smile on your face
And show the world all the love in your heart
Then people gonna treat you better
You’re gonna find, yes, you will
That you’re beautiful as you feel”
I hope you enjoyed my list and are inspired to create your own music therapy playlist of songs that lift and shift your mood! <3 ^-^
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