Songs of Inspiration and Lack of Opposition

A month or more ago I was listening to one of my long-time favorite inspirational songs, "Pressure" by Billy Joel.

Hmmm. . . as I type this, I realize that it's kind of strange that it's an "inspirational" song, since it's cynical and derrogatory, but I guess that it's always inspired me to plunge in and handle pressure. (Plus I associated it with situations, mythical and real, in which I faced challenges and rose above the kind of sheltered background he mocks in the song.)

And that's not really a digression, because the whole point of this post was my realization that I have always expected that what I wanted and dared to reach for in this world would be challenging, that there would be opposition to overcome. I scrolled through my playlist, and was suddenly struck by how many of my favorite inspirational songs are about overcoming active opposition, including, for example, "Defying Gravity"

And nobody in all of Oz
no wizard that there is or was
is ever gonna bring me down!

But as I look back in my own life, no one has ever tried to bring me down.
Some situations have been challenging, sure.
But I personally have never had to face active opposition of what I really want.
(Which I realize is an amazing blessing.)

So why is it that when I imagine moving out into the world to pursue my vocation that I expect opposition?

Okay, I represent a minority spiritual perspective.
And people can get very, very touchy on the matter of spirituality and orthodoxy.
But really. . . given the audience to whom I will be presenting my message and offering my services, what are the odds of active, meaningful opposition?

So instead of listening to my favorite "rising above the challenges" songs, I'm going to make a playlist of "I'm Great and There's Nothing in My Way" songs, like Streisand singing "I'm Gonna Shine," or the Carpenters' "When You've Got What It Takes"

When you've got what it takes
you've got nothing to hide.
You've got miles of feelings and acres of pride.
You've got it.
You've really got it.

When you know who you are
then you live what you feel.
You give what you can and it's good
when you've really got it,
and when you've got it ---

Let it out
Let it show
Let 'em know inside you've got it
Let it shine like a bright tomorrow
For when you do
the feeling comes back to you

What a difference it makes
when you've got what it takes.

It's time to take another look at Rob Brezsny's Pronoia, and let him convince me that "the world is conspiring to shower you with blessings." I had put the book down shortly after I got it because I was put off by his assumption that everyone reading it was healthy, clothed, warm, fed, and etc. Positive thinking and assuming the universe is on your side is a lot easier when your basic physical needs are being met. I couldn't stop thinking about all the people who might pick up his book for a lift and be put off by the fact that his gratitude meditations assume such a level of prosperity to begin with. (Anyone who has read more and has a counter perspective is encouraged to chime in. There's a lot of neat stuff in the book, I know. Paging through it was dizzying and wonderful. I just couldn't take it systematically.)

Anyway. . . The bottom line this morning is this: no steeling myself for battle or worrying about opposition until such challenges actually appear. No victimizing myself!

Accounting Question

For once, the transaction register on my Palm and the online listing for my bank are exactly in accord on what I've done with my money lately. There's nothing on my Palm that doesn't show as cleared on my account, nothing on my account that isn't listed in my Palm. I just balanced my account, and have been doing so religiously for the past several months.

So why is there a $50+ discrepancy (in my favor) in the two accounts? My bank balance shows that I have more money than I think I do, with nothing outstanding.

Should I adjust the balance in my Palm register? $50 is a significant amount of money: a couple of credit card payments or fill-ups of my gas tank, or an evening out with my daughter. Or do I leave the discrepancy and use it as a buffer?

Or give it a few more days to see if things stay in synch?

Gratuitious I *heart* My New Icon Post

Icon by curtana

Attitude by Katherine Hepburn in The Lion in Winter.