#best09: give peace a chance

Dec 8, 2009 by Monica Danna    2 Comments    Posted under: Best '09, music

As part of the Best of 2009 Blog Challenge I’ll be blogging daily on the bests of 2009. Oh, and what a year it’s been.

{December 8 Moment of peace. An hour or a day or a week of solitude. What was the quality of your breath? The state of your mind? How did you get there?}

Unlike great meals out, nights on the town, and blog finds, moments of peace have been few and far between for me this year.  I began this year knowing it would be a year of transition, however, I never would have been prepared for just how much of a rollercoaster it would be.

At times I feel like calm and peaceful moments are as foreign to me as cooking a 3 course meal. Either I escape them, or they are terrified of me. The pace I live and play at seems to leave less and less time for “me time.” I’ve appreciated those who have tried to help me with this part of my life, especially my writing coach, friend, and counselor, Beth Irvine, whose weekly meetings still continue to be (some weeks) the only thing that keeps me from driving head on into a concrete pylon to escape back to back meetings. She’s taught me priceless tips and tricks to easily introduce small ways for me to transform into a calmer person, who takes better care of myself, and I’m infinitely grateful to her for this.

When I have experienced fleeting moments of peace this year, they seem to have always involved music.  Music creates an escape for me like nothing else ever has. A two hour show works wonders for my state of mind, and I can think of a few shows this year that I will never forget. Whether it be the company I keep at certain shows (Them Crooked Vultures at Stubb’s, Bob Dylan) or shows I watch all by myself (Pearl Jam at ACL, The Swell Season at Warehouse), being at a show is my meditation practice.

Looking forward to many more shows, and many more moments of peace in 2010.

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