Music Therapy with Miss Moon

" The person who sends out positive thoughts activates the world around him positively and draws back to himself positive results."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

" Affectation is a greater enemy to the face than smallpox."
~ English Proverb

" The last of the human freedoms is to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances."
~ William James

For years, as a joke I referred to Fiona Apple's "Fast As You Can" as my "relationship anthem". I even went as far as to exaggerate that when I meet my next prospective partner, I would play the song for him... so he would know what he was getting into right from the start.

Even though I said it in jest, I think a part of me really thought that the song was an accurate representation of who I am in a relationship. It's not and I know this now. In retrospect, it would explain a lot about the way I am projecting myself and how men see me... and why I'm single still! LOL

So I meditated on it and I let myself be open to a new anthem to come into my life. And days later, I heard today's song choice for Music Therapy with Miss Moon at work. I hadn't heard this song in years, and I remembered liking it when it first dropped.

In rediscovering the song and taking in the lyrics, I found myself saying "THIS!!! This is me in a relationship!!". And I think that this song is the perfect new anthem to adopt. So I hope you all will enjoy "Clumsy" by Fergie. If you are single (or even if you are not) do you have a relationship anthem? What's yours?



Can't help it
The girl can't help it
Can't help it
The girl can't help it
Can't help it
The girl can't help it

First time
That I saw your eyes
Boy you looked right through me, mmmhmm
Played it cool
But I knew you knew
That cupid hit me, mmm mmm

You got me tripping, stumbling, flipping, fumbling
Clumsy cause I'm falling in love
You got me slipping, tumbling, sinking, fumbling
Clumsy cause I'm falling in love
So in love with you

Can't help it
The girl can't help it
Can't help it
The girl can't help it
Can't help it
The girl can't help it

Can't breath
When you touch my sleeve
Butterflies so crazy, mmm mmm
Whoa now, think I'm going down
Friends don't know whats with me, mmm mmm

You got me tripping, stumbling, flipping, fumbling
Clumsy cause I'm falling in love
You got me slipping, tumbling, sinking, fumbling
Clumsy cause I'm falling in love
So in love with you

Can't help it
The girl can't help it
Can't help it
The girl can't help it
Can't help it
The girl can't help it

You know, this isn't the first time this has happened to me
This love sick thing
I like serious relationships and a
A girl like me don't stay single for long
Cause everytime a boyfriend and I break up
My world is crushed and I'm all alone
The love bug crawls right back up and bites me and I'm back

Can't help it
The girl can't help it
Can't help it
The girl can't help it
Can't help it
The girl can't help it

You got me tripping, stumbling, flipping, fumbling
Clumsy cause I'm falling in love
You got me slipping, tumbling, sinking, fumbling
Clumsy cause I'm falling in love
So in love with you
So in love with you
So in love with you

Music Therapy with Miss Moon

“There is a space between man's imagination and man's attainment that may only be traversed by his longing”
~ Kahlil Gibran

"You don't have to go looking for love when it's where you come from."
~ Werner Erhard

I've talked a bit about "the single life" and my thoughts about being single after being in a  relationship for several years. Most days, I really don't think much about it. Being single is just something I am, like being black and having natural hair. It's just something that.. is.

But I do admit there are days where I've gotten more than a little bit blue about my love life, and days when cynicism got the better of me and I resigned myself to being a "confirmed old bachelorette" one day... sort of like a female Henry Higgins. LOL

But I am a lot of things, but long-term cynic is not one of them. I am a proud Pollyanna on most occasions. So one day, I decided to stop fussin' about my love life. To stop mopin', to stop frettin', to stop feeling crappy about it. Just like a great job, a great man will come into my life in due time. And I refuse to pull my hair out about what's lacking in my world. I think it's more important to focus and show gratitude for everything that makes existence wonderful. Like music!

I decided to go out and look for a song that when I felt blue and longing for love that could articulate that desire without feeling pathetic about it. A song that was also really very fun. Fun in a "do a silly dance and cackle about it" way. Luckily... I didn't have to search for very long. And in finding such a song, I immediately thought to share it as a Music Therapy with Miss Moon pick. So I hope you all will enjoy "Summer Samba (So Nice)". I do believe this will also mark my first boss nova tune on the blog! LOL

Someone to hold me tight, that would be very nice
Someone to love me right, that would be very nice
Someone to understand each little dream in me
Someone to take my hand, to be a team with me

So nice, life would be so nice, if one day I'd find
Someone who would take my hand
And samba through life with me
Someone to cling to me, stay with me right or wrong
Someone to sing to me some little samba song
Someone to take my heart and give his heart to me
Someone who's ready to give love a start with me

Oh yes, that would be so nice
Shouldn't be you and me
I can see it would be nice

Someone to cling to me, stay with me right or wrong
Someone to sing to me, some little samba song
Someone to take my heart and give his heart to me
Someone who's ready to give love a start with me

So nice, that would be so nice
Shouldn't be you and me
I can see it could be nice

Music Therapy with Miss Moon

"A long marriage is two people trying to dance a duet and two solos at the same time."
~Anne Taylor Fleming

Having just ended my engagement, I have no idea if I ever want to go down that road that leads to the wedding chapel ever again.

Don't get me wrong, there's no bitterness. I remain open to where my heart will take me (After all, the third time's the charm, right?!?!), definitely. But it is not something I think will be lacking in my life if it never happens.

That being said... I'm storing this away to my memory as an idea for a DOPE ASS first dance song! LOL

I hope you all will enjoy Van Hunt's "Eyes Like Pearls"....



With loaded eyes she grabbed my arm
Her body was warm as we walked in through the church doors
With loaded eyes she looked in mine
Told me I was the guy. It was what a man does dream for

With eyes like pearls
She's crying precious tears on my shoulder

After I promised her my best
She turned to our guests and blinded them with her high beams

With eyes like pearls
She's crying precious tears as I hold her

As I thanked the preacher I heard
My new brides wheels brush the curb. She slid over and let me drive
Two miles from the church she shook like California dirt
As I slid my hand along her thighs

With eyes like pearls
She's crying precious tears on my shoulder
With eyes like pearls
She's crying precious tears as I hold her

Music Therapy with Miss Moon

Happy Monday, everybody!!! Hopefully those of you in the Northeast like me are recovering happily from Hurricane Irene (ol' tired heffa... That is my official name for that hurricane, btw!). Anyway, leaving tangent for the matter at hand.

Breakups. Most of us have been there, and they're seldom easy. I have been dumped, and have been the dumper.... and both were painful experiences for me. This week's song choice for Music Therapy with Miss Moon serves as a musical sister circle that's perfect when you're just out of a relationship. I hope that it's message is one that uplifts and inspires... "Give It Up, Turn It Loose", courtesy of En Vogue.



Baby girl (unfair but true)
Can love him once but not twice
Who plays games with no rules (a fool)
Tears for fears (are no surprise)
Happens almost every time
Love knocks you on your behind

(Loved you hard, loved you long, now his love is gone)
Love 'em and leave 'em (is the rule of most dogs)
You must be strong
Stand up on your own
Take control of your life

I've seen it time and time again
It's not worth it, no
Don't be down and miserable
You and only you
Can bring yourself around

Give it up, turn it loose
Oh, if he don't wantcha, you don't need 'em, girl, yeah
Give it up, turn it loose
Oh, you got to have

Fact of life (so sad but true)
Love can often hurt you
Leaving scars most of your life (nightmares can haunt you)
But fairytales of love, can come true
Both play tricks on your mind

(You'll be fine, take this time, to find piece of mind)
Sooner or later (bad feelings will die)
You must be strong
Don't blame it all on love
In time good things will come

I've seen time and time again
It's not worth it, no no
Don't be down and miserable
You and only you
Can bring yourself around

Give it up, turn it loose
Oh, if he don't wantcha, you don't need 'em, girl... yeah
Give it up, turn it loose
Oh, you got to have
(Give it up)
Give it up
(Give up)
Give it up
(Give up)
Give it up
Give it up turn it loose
Turnin' it loose, baby
(repeat till fade)

Music Therapy with Miss Moon

No one in this whole wild world is the same temperament every single moment of every single day. The sweetest person in the world can be a raging bee-yotch sometimes. The surliest S.O.B can also be quite generous in a single moment.

The people in our lives that we love are all capable of running the gamut of emotions. The same loving an attentive mate can be crabby and unresponsive at times, just as the sun rises and sets.

This week's song choice for Music Therapy comes with a reminder to love others (and ourselves) wholeheartedly and unconditionally... even when crabby! LOL



Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood

Baby, you understand me now
if sometimes you see that I'm mad.
Don't you know that no one alive can always be an angel?
When everything goes wrong, you see some bad.

But I'm just a soul whose intentions are good;
oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood.

You know sometimes, baby, I'm so carefree
with a joy that's hard to hide.
And then sometimes it seems again that all I have is worry,
and then you're bound to see my other side.

But I'm just a soul whose intentions are good;
oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood.

If I seem edgy,
I want you to know,
I never meant to take it out on you.
Life has its problems,
and I get more than my share;
but that's one thing I never mean to do
'cause I love you.

Oh baby, I'm just human.
Don't you know I have faults like anyone?
Sometimes I find myself alone regretting
some little foolish thing;
some simple thing that I've done.

But I'm just a soul whose intentions are good;
oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood.

Don't let me be misunderstood.
I try so hard,
so don't let me be misunderstood.

Music Therapy with Miss Moon

Anyone who's been in and has left a bad relationship can remember the moment of clarity that made you decide to end it. The (as Oprah would say) "Aha!" moment in which you realize that the relationship is no longer nurturing your heart and your spirit. I wish that today's song choice for Music Therapy was around when I had my moment of clarity... but it's likely that Esperanza Spalding was coloring in grade school at the time! LOL

I hope that her beautiful and empowering song, "Precious" will touch the hearts of those who need these words today, I hope that it awakens the epiphany that you MOST DEFINITELY do not have to waste your precious divine energy on anyone and anything that doesn't deserve the attention.



Love me or leave me
But please
Don't deceive me
And say you
Love me how I am
You love the way
I fit some ideal
Not the real woman
You've yet to understand
See love ain't all heaven
And I am no angel
But I do the best I can

You always wanted
Something more from my body
And said you needed
Something more from my loving
But all you got was me
And that's all that I can be
I'm sorry if it let you down

Now it's no nice excuse
But all the magic was used
Up on trying to uphold
Some kind of tame
Flattering persona
That soon enough
Was getting real old
It takes more than pressure
To change rock to diamond
Now all you have is sand
Slipping through your fingers

You always wanted
Something more from my body
And said you needed
Something more from my loving
But all you got was me
And that's all that I can be
I'm sorry if it let you down

But I'm not gonna sit around
And waste
My precious divine energy
Trying to explain
And being ashamed of things
You think are wrong with me
I'm not gonna sit around
And waste
My precious divine energy
Trying to explain
And being ashamed
Of what you think
Is wrong with me

Set you up
You say I set you up
Like I was different
Than what I am
Offering you now
Let you down
And drug your heart around
Did you forget about
All of the love
And the acceptance
That you promised me too?

You always wanted
Something more from my body
And said you needed
Something more from my loving
But all you got was me
And that's all that I can be
I'm sorry if it let you down
You always wanted
Something more from my body
And said you needed
Something more from my loving
But all you got was me
And that's all that I can be
I'm sorry if it let you down
But I'm not gonna sit around

And waste
My precious divine energy
Trying to explain
And being ashamed of things
You think are wrong with me
Me, I'm not gonna sit around
And waste
My precious divine energy
Trying to explain
And being ashamed
Of what you think is wrong with me

Music Therapy with Miss Moon

It's another Monday, Y'all! Are you ready to begin another week? Hands? LOL

When you're in a relationship and both you and your significant other work full-time, it can be hard to find the time for romance. Many people look forward to the weekend, as it could perhaps provide you with an opportunity to have some alone time... even if it's just a few moments in bed cuddling!

This week's song selection for Music Therapy is one to inspire you to make it through the week... and to find the time for romance between the 9 to 5! I hope you all will enjoy Johnny Mercer's "Midnight Sun" sung beautifully and masterfully by the one, the only, Ella Fitzgerald.



Your lips were like a red and ruby chalice,
Warmer than the Summer night.
The clouds were like an alabaster palace,
Rising to a snowy height.
Each star its own Aurora Borealis,
Suddenly you held me tight,
I could see the midnight sun.

I can't explain the silver rain that found me,
Or was that a moonlit veil?
The music of the universe around me,
Or was that a nightingale?
And then your arms miraculously found me,
Suddenly the sky turned pale,
I could see the midnight sun.

Was there such a night?
It's still a thrill I don't quite believe;
But after you were gone
There was still some stardust on my sleeve!

The flame of it may dwindle to an ember,
And the stars forget to shine,
And we may see the meadow in December,
Icy white and crystalline.
But oh, my darlin', always I'll remember
When your lips were close to mine,
And I saw the midnight sun.

The flame of it may dwindle to an ember,
And the stars forget to shine,
And we may see the meadow in December,
Icy white and crystalline.
But oh, my darlin', always I'll remember
When your lips were close to mine,
And I saw the midnight sun,
The midnight sun,
The midnight sun,
The midnight sun.

Be Blessed: And Stop Seeking Approval

" To seek approval is to have no resting place, no sanctuary. Like all judgment, approval encourages a constant striving. It makes us uncertain of who we are and of our true value. Approval cannot be trusted. It can be withdrawn at any time no matter what our track record has been. It is as nourishing of real growth as cotton candy. Yet many of us spend our lives pursuing it.”
~ Rachel Naomi Remen

"People who want the most approval get the least and people who need approval the least get the most."
~ Wayne Dyer

“We can secure other people's approval, if we do right and try hard; but our own is worth a hundred of it, and no way has been found out of securing that”
~ Mark Twain



I'm happy when I'm liked... I'm also happy when I'm not liked, and that's a new attitude for me.

Like many, I zealously tried to be widely liked and accepted, at the detriment of my own self-worth in my teens. I spent so much time defining myself by how many people liked me, and how many friends I had.

In my early twenties, I recognized that it was the quality of the people surrounding me, not the quantity. But that didn't stop be from letting toxic people in my life. They weren't good friends, or good for me, but they liked me... so that must mean something.

The best lesson I ever learned was that someone's feeling about you have NO IMPACT on who you are. I know I am a good woman! If you agree, cool... if you don't agree, that's cool too!

In closing, I want to share some powerful words from Marianne Williamson, used by Nelson Mandela in his 1994 inaugural speech. When I first read these words, many years ago (Special shout-out to my Pirate Sistah and Bad-ass Blogger, Simone for sharing it!) it knocked my socks off and affected me in a profound way. When writing this post, I could't think of a better way to drive this message of self-acceptance home.

When we seek out the approval of others, we send a message to ourselves that there is something lacking, something incomplete.... when in reality, we are all very whole, ever-evolving, beautiful... and blessed.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?' Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us.

And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Today, I recognize that I approve of myself and that's all that matters.

Music Therapy with Miss Moon

Many of us have been there: you meet someone, there's a spark, there's electricity, there's (you THINK) a connection... you exchange numbers and head home knowing that you will be hooking up with your new Mr. or Ms. Right soon. A few days pass, then a week,then a few weeks.... and nothing. It sucks!

Do you shrug and say, "Guess it wasn't meant to be!", or do YOU pick up the phone and call (I am choosing not to mention a third choice, which is key the mother-effer's car! lol) to find out what's up?

This week's choice for Music Therapy with Miss Moon is precisely about someone doing the latter (Not the whole "key the car" bit). Special shout out to my homegirl Jay for introducing me to this fantastic song.... "Hey Eugene" by Pink Martini!!




Hey Eugene
Do you remember me?
I'm that chick you danced with two times through the Rufus album Friday night at that party
On avenue A:
Where your skinhead friend passed out for several hours on the bathroom floor
And you told me you weren't that drunk
And that I was your favorite Salsa dancer
You had ever come across in New York city

Eugene?
Eugene?
Eugene?
I said hello, Eugene?
Are you there, Eugene?

Hey Eugene
Then we kissed
Once we lugged your friend into the elevator and went to write my number on a soggy paper towel
And the car went down
And when we had finished making out we noticed that your skinhead friend was gone.
Long gone
And you looked into my bloodshot eyes and said, "Is it too soon if I call you Sunday?"

Eugene?
Eugene?
Eugene?
I said hello, Eugene?
Are you there, Eugene?

I said hello (hello), Eugene (Eugene)
Eugene (Eugene)
Eugene (oh yeah)

I said hello (hello), Eugene
Are you there, Eugene (tell me are you there)

I said hello (hello), Eugene (Eugene)
Eugene (Eugene)
Eugene (tell me oh)

I said hello (hello), Eugene (Eugene)
Does any of this ring a bell Eugene?

DOPE: "She Said that She Would Prefer a Broken Neck.." by Amir Sulaiman

This poem for real... gave me chills!!!





Written by Amir Sulaiman

She said that she would prefer a broken neck to another broken heart.
I said "Remember, even the beauty of birth leaves its own scars
And know that you will find your home right where you are."

She said, "I know it sounds cliche, but I really am just waiting to exhale."
She's not looking for a perfect man, she ain't holding out for Denzel
She's just looking for a real man,
But she said "Most of the realest were in graves or in jail"
Just an upright brother, but she's left with low down brothers, homo thugs, and downlow brothers.

And it took her some time with herself to discover
That having love is even more important than having a lover
But what am I supposed to tell her?
That it's going to be okay? But it may not be.
It may be hard and ugly,
Difficult, complicated, rough and bloody
And I said, "So many women are struggling"

She said, "Yeah, I'd like a man to kiss me, I'd like a man to hug me
But he's gotta truly love love before he can truly love me"
I said, "I feel you." She said, "No, you're not feeling me.
We are women bringing up seeds,
Our own sons grow up thinking love is a disease
Ducking and dodging real relationships, and just gonna take what they please
And they treat pregnancy like it's an STD
If the test comes back positive, it's a negative
And they are ghost in the streets,
Drunk in the wind, only a moment is spent and those moments are brief
Our sons' role models are rolling stones unknown or deceased
They figure we can't teach them manhood, so they'll get grown in the streets
So in the cold world they find warmth with the men holding the heat."

I said "There's gotta be a change."
She said, "Yeah, it's gotta be more than poems on TV"
I said, "I feel you." She asked me how I survive.
I said, "By Allah, it was my mother otherwise
I would have been dead, crazy, institutionalized."

"She kept us in the good neighborhoods, even though she couldn't keep on the lights
So we could go to the best schools learning to read and to write.
Sometimes we'd be so broke, in the store, she'd have to pick between the beans and the rice.
Sometimes she'd put ketchup on a navy bean so it wouldn't seem like we're eating the same thing every night.
Two jobs during the day, and one at night.
And the stuff I saw her endure, I never wanna see my wife [endure]
So I know being a man is more than being male, and I'm focused on doing it right."

"But when I think about my childhood, I don't think about poverty
I remember how she hugged me, kissed me, taught me, loved me.
And I know you prefer a broken neck to another broken heart
Broken parts that litter the night sky like stars.
But remember, even the beauty of birth leaves its own scars
And know that you will find your home, right where you are
We will find our homes right where we are."