Music Therapy with Miss Moon

" A complainer is like a Death Eater because there's a suction of negative energy. You can catch a great attitude from great people."
~ Barbara Corcoran

" Dwelling on the negative simply contributes to its power."
~ Shirley MacLaine

" People deal too much with the negative, with what is wrong. Why not try and see positive things, to just touch those things and make them bloom?"
~ Nhat Hanh

" Just can't live that negative way...make way for the positive day!"
~ Bob Marley

It's the most wonderful time of the year.... unless you (like me) are working in the service industry. While most people are gathering with friends and family and reveling in each other's company,  some people are furious, ravenous, frustrated and feel the need to vent. And that's where people like me come in.

Last week was a tough week at work for me, and today is gearing up to be an even tougher one. On Friday, I decided to make a note of the number of times someone yelled, became irate, or was just straight-up rude to me over the telephone and through email. The list was astonishing. I ended the week feeling emotionally drained and frustrated at the sense of entitlement some people seem to have that makes them feel they are completely allowed to behave in a disgusting manner.

But I started thinking about it. Why was I focusing on the people who were approaching me negatively? And by doing so, what message was I sending to the Universe? I'm a firm believer in the law of attraction (What you think about, you bring about!) and if I am putting focus on the rude and irate customers, why was I surprised that I am getting so much of them? Why not instead put my focus on the customers who are patient, understanding, and most importantly recognize that they are talking to a human beings and not soulless robots created to take their abuse? Why not show gratitude for every single kind word of thanks and well wishes for a good holiday?

So today's Christmas Eve and like many people in the service industry... I'm working today. And I'm going in there knowing that today is not going to be all sunshine and roses.

But I will walk through the day with agility and show gratitude only to the customer interactions I want in my career: ones where I can do my job to the best of my ability, and help as many people as possible, and anticipate happy endings whenever possible. And to get me through the day, I will keep in mind today's song choice for Music Therapy with Miss Moon. I've featured this song before on the blog, but I happen to think it's the perfect song for dealing with negative people during a generally positive time of the year.

So I dedicate "Tightrope" by Janelle Monae to myself, my co-workers and to everyone who works in the service industry today, because we need it. And to those of you out there who have to call Customer Service about an order, or go shopping today, take a good look or listen that that tired-looking person answering your call or ringing up your purchase, put yourself in their shoes, and send them a little joy, because this is the season to spread love and light... to everyone!!



Monae and Leftfoot

Whoa
Another day
I take your pain away

Some people talk about you
Like they know all about you
When you get down they doubt you
And when you tipping on the scene
Yeah they talkin' about it
'Cause they can't tip all on the scene with you
What you talk about it
Talkin' about it
When you get elevated,
They love it or they hate it
You dance up on them haters
Keep getting funky on the scene
While they jumpin' round you
They trying to take all your dreams
But you can't allow it

'Cause baby whether you're high or low
Whether you're high or low
You gotta tip on the tightrope
(Tip, tip on it)
Tip on the tightrope
(Tip, tip on it)

Baby, baby, baby

Whether you're high or low
(High or low)
Baby whether you're high or low
(High or low)
You got to tip on the tightrope
(Tip, tip on it)
Now let me see you do the tightrope
(Tip, tip on it)
And I'm still tippin' on it

See I'm not walkin' on it
Or trying to run around it
This ain't no acrobatics
You either follow or you lead, yeah

I'm talkin' about you,
I'll keep on blaming the machine, yeah
I'm talkin' about it,
Talkin' about it
I can't complain about it
I gotta keep my balance

And just keep dancing on it
We getting funky on the scene

Yeah you know about it,
Like a star on the screen
Watch me tip all on it

Then baby whether I'm high or low
(High or low)
Baby whether you're high or low
(High or low)
You gotta tip on the tightrope
(Tip, tip on it)
Yeah, tip on the tightrope
(Tip, tip on it)

Baby, baby, baby

Whether you're high or low
(High or low)
Baby whether you're high or low
(High or low)
Tip on the tightrope
(Tip, tip on it)
Baby let me see you tight rope
And I'm still tippin' on it

Whether you're high or low
(High or low)
Baby whether you're high or low
(High or low)
Tip on the tightrope
(Tip, tip on it)
Baby let me see you tight rope
(Tip, tip on it)
And I'm still tippin' on it

You gotta keep your balance
Or you fall into the gap
It's a challenge but I manage
'Cause I'm cautious with the strap
No damage to your cameras damn I thought that
Can I passy
Why you don't want no friction
Like the back of a matchbook
That I pass as I will forward you
And your MacBook
Clothes shows will shut you down
Before we go-go backwards
Act up, and whether we high or low
We gonna get back-up
Like the Dow Jones and NASDAQ
Sorta like a thong in an ass crack,
Come on

I tip on alligators and little rattle snakers
But I'm another flavor
Something like a terminator
Ain't no equivocating
I fight for what I believe
Why you talkin' about it
She's talkin' about it
Some calling me a sinner
Some calling me a winner
I'm calling you to dinner
And you know exactly what I mean,

Yeah I'm talking about you
You can rock or you can leave
Watch me tip without you

N-N-Now whether I'm high or low
(High or low)
Whether I'm high or low
(High or low)
I'm gonna tip on the tightrope
(Tip, tip on it)
MMMMMM
(Tip, tip on it)

Baby, baby, baby
Whether I'm high or low
Goblogtainment
(High or low)
High or low
(High or low)
I got to tip on the tightrope
(Tip, tip on it)
Now baby tip on the tightrope

You can't get too high
(You can't get too high)
I said you can't get too low
(We can't get too low)
Cause you get too high
(You can't get too high)
No you'll surely be low
(No, you'll surely be low)
1, 2, 3, Ho!

Yeah, yeah
Now shut up, yeah
Yeah, now put some voodoo on it
Ladies and Gentlemen the funkiest horn section in the tribalist
Yeah, oh
We call that classy brass

Oh
Oh!

Do you mind?
If I play the ukulele
Just like a little lady
Do you mind?
If I play the ukulele
Just like a little lady
As I play the ukulele
If I play my ukulele
Just like a little lady