November is a difficult month for me.  For the past five years the modus operandi has been to fall into a groove of grief that turns into a depression that becomes very difficult to dig my way out of.  I started to find myself in that familiar, depressing, place about a week ago. Somehow, something inside of me decided I was tired of feeling sad and unhappy. Surely, there is a better way? So I decided to figure out how I could find my way out of this groove.

I began to collect songs into a “Happy” playlist on my iPhone. I asked my friends on Facebook and Twitter for their favorite happy songs, too.

When I was beginning to feel depressed last week I thought I would try to change the course of my day by changing the first 5 minutes of my morning. Instead of waking up feeling dread I would do something to make myself feel happy. So the first five minutes of every day for the past week has been dedicated to listening to a song from the “happy” playlist. I don’t do anything else, just listen. Sometimes I sit on my meditation cushion and listen. Guess what? It has worked. There is something about listening to a happy song that has sort of thrown my brain out of the habit of being negative first thing in the morning. Shitty things still happen, but it seems like I am able to let it roll off my back better.

I thought I would share my  “happy” playlist with you! It is constantly changing. I am removing things and adding to it. But this is what it looks like today. What would you add to it?

 Note: I am fully aware that some of these song are “uncool.” that is part of the fun. They are guilty pleasures. 🙂

1. I Can See Clearly Now – Johnny Nash
   
2. Don’t Stop – Fleetwood Mac
3. Magic – B.o.B.
   
4. Lovely Day – Bill Withers
5. Happy House – The Juan Maclean
   
6. Let Forever Be – The Chemical Brothers
   
7. Shake It Off – Taylor Swift (YOU LIKE TAYLOR SWIFT!)
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAhAz7JU0dg
8. Good Times Roll – The Cars
9. Horizons – An Horse
10. Float On – Modest Mouse
11. Three Little Birds – Bob Marley
    
12. The Middle – Jimmy Eat World
    
13. Whip It – Devo
14. Fall Back Down – Rancid
    
15. You Are A Tourist – Death Cab For Cutie
    
16. Don’t Stop Believin’– Journey
17. I Gotta Feeling – The Black Eyed Peas
    
18. Party Rock Anthem – LMFAO
    
19. Celebration – Kool And The Gang
20. On Top Of The World – Imagine Dragons
    
21. The Great Divide – The Mowglis
22. Safe And Sound – Capital Cities
    
23. This Too Shall Pass – OK Go