The World Ain't Slowing Down - But I Am - Roasting Vegetables & Listening to Ellis Paul

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I'm not much of a "just-listen-to-music''  kind of person.  I wish I was.  I figure I'm about the only person in the world whose IPOD is filled only with podcasts and books instead of music.

When I cook I love to listen to NPR. Science Friday.  All Things Considered.  The Car Talk Guys.  Fresh Air with Terry Gross.

But I'm changing my ways.  I finally get it.  Today I found my long lost Ellis Paul CD with one of my all-time-makes-me-feel happy songs. I wasn't even looking for it.  It just turned up.

Way back in November when my friend Cheri returned from her Livestrong week at Canyon Ranch she explained to me why music is especially important for left-brained language-driven people like me. 

If most of your time is spent with left-brained activities like reading and writing, you need to balance yourself out--and slow down all that left-brained stimulation with right-brained activities, like exercise (check), painting, or music. 

The Canyon Ranch folks advise left-brainers to sometimes just take a break and turn off the words and language in the evening--yes, that means the computer, TV, and even reading books--and just sit in a chair and listen to music. But that sounds so hard to do!

Or, they say, turn off the news or NPR when you're driving, and just listen to music. It calms that over-loaded over-stimulated sympathetic nervous system--and balances us out.

Here's an additional medical benefit of listening to music.

Music, like laughter benefits the heart.  According to Dr. Michael Miller of the University of Maryland, if you're listening to a song that makes you feel "joyful or euphoric", your blood vessels will dilate 26%, improving blood flow--which is an effect similar to that of exercise. 

Miller says:  "The inner lining of the blood vessels--the endothelium--serves as the gatekeeper to vascular health."   Keep them dilated & keep them healthy.

Just don't listen to the same songs all the time, or it won't work.  Mix up your play list--2 week intervals are best.

What's on my play list?  Right now "The World Ain't Slowing Down" has moved to the number one spot.  But, it also includes,  "Shaggy's "It Wasn't Me" & Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark" & about a million others.  I think I'm finally ready to start alternating joyful music with my NPR fix.

So here it is Sunday night.  It's 9:00 pm and I'm prepping beets and squash and brussels sprouts to roast in the oven with maple syrup, a little salt, and pepper.  The house it completely still.  No background TV or radio.

Ellis Paul is singing "The World Ain't Slowing Down" and I'm feeling as happy as a kid on a merry-go-round. Downright euphoric.  Give a listen.  See what you think.

The World Ain't Slowin' Down.  Ellis Paul

You gotta get gone
You gotta get going
Hey, the world ain't slowin' down
For no one

It's a carnival calling out to you
And it sounds like a song
It hits you like scripture
You paint the picture
With colors squeezed from your hand
Weren't you the kid
Who just climbed on a merry-go-round
Hey, look, the world ain't slowin' down

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Lyrics | Ellis Paul - The World Ain’t Slowin’ Down lyrics

Comments

[Leslie]

Also - healthy librarian - when you are exercising by yourself, the music will help motivate you too! Try making a mix of your favorite songs from your spinning class and listen to those next time you do your weights, walk or other cardio. I am pretty sure you wrote about being in an exercise rut recently - it really can make all the difference. If you need some tunes, I would be happy to help. Music is one of the greatest joys of my (our) days - I need a fix every day.

[jeann]

Thank you for the great musical selection, Healthy Librarian. Why not include a piece of music you enjoy with each of your columns? It will sure help slow left-brained me down!
Thanks again.

[The Healthy Librarian]

Leslie,

You are on! Yes, I do need suggestions for great motivating music.

I LOVE spinning probably because the music is so upbeat. It's like dancing at a wedding. So great idea about using those playlists.

This morning on the way into work I decided to listen to a CD that my spinning instructor had given me. What a refreshing change from my usual NPR news & talk that's mostly depressing. But, I don't know--I'm not ready to 100% give up my morning NPR fix. I would have missed "Parenting 101" a wonderful Q & A from 2 local psychologists. Their answers were so wise.

Jeann,

I'm so glad you liked the song. I've gotten a number of positive emails--which really surprised me, because this was really just a spur-of-the-moment kind of post. I was so moved by the experience I just decided to write about it and share the song. Wish I had more expertise in even know what good music is out there.

[A reader in NY]

I am like you -- I mostly listen to podcasts, news etc on my iPod -- rarely music. Do you meditate? That's another way to relax besides listening to music.

[The Healthy Librarian]

Hello NY Reader--I have meditated--even been to some week long silent meditation retreats which were wonderful--but I have yet to make meditation a regular daily habit. Any good advice or inspiration about how to just take the time to make it a regular habit? Glad to hear that I'm not the only one with a music-less iPOD!

I do think meditation is easier for me than just sitting & listening to music.

[Ralph Jaccodine]

Dear Healthy Librarian,

As someone who’s written wonderful words about the great music coming from singer songwriter Ellis Paul – first I’d like to tell you thank you. I’ve been Ellis Paul's friend and manager since 1992 and his music, words and friendship are jewels in my life. Upon examining the state of the music industry, Ellis and I have realized that far and away the most important connections that we have are not at all on the business side of the equation – it’s the people that love Ellis’ music. They’re more important than the biggest retailer or the most powerful radio station - so we’re starting a campaign to empower the people. Ellis’ new album “The Day After Everything Changed” was completely funded by his fans and is one of the finest he’s ever recorded. Many of Ellis' fans and folks passionate about great songwriting don’t even know that it’s been released. So if you’d like to help support a truly independent artist – here’s how. The lead single track on TDAEC is “Annalee”, and if you go to www.ellispaul.com/free you can download “Annalee” for free. Unlike so many other free song offers – you don’t have to give us your email, sign up or register for anything at all. It’s free for the taking. The small favor we would ask? Please share it with any and all of your friends that would enjoy Ellis’ music. This would help our efforts and help spread the music. This truly is a campaign about the power of the people in the support of independent music and artists.

Please stay in touch.

And thank you.

Ralph Jaccodine, Manager