Ever notice how song lyrics will pop into your head at random, as though your subconscious is trying to make quite clear the underlining thing that is bothering you by sending some advice hidden inside the words? It happens quite often to me. Some silly line, often not even a complete piece of a song, will play through my head on repeat, until I acknowledge it and find its purpose.
This can be very heartwarming, and all. There are times when it is very thought-provoking, and I say high-five higher self!
Tonight isn’t really one of those times.
Tonight, despite not having heard this song in ages, I have the following on repeat:
When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad
Except my higher self seems to have a sense of humor, because instead of remembering lots of lovely things to follow up this line of pop culture optimism, it has triggered me to keep coming up with a list of annoyances.
It is annoying that children glue things either half way, or use so much glue that they do a sort of reverse paper making—perfectly useable paper returns to its pulp origin.
It is annoying that when I’m annoyed I clinch my jaw, which irritates my whole face, which annoys me more.
It is annoying that sometime around 11PM bras go from normally fitting pieces of fabric to body constricting corsets that make you want to rip them off and shout freedom! into your dark, sleepy house.
It is annoying that it is after 11PM.
It is annoying that I can drink a glass of hand squeezed orange juice in less than a minute and want more.
It is annoying that fire ants bite.
It is annoying that fire ants enjoy living near my compost pile.
It is annoying taking orange peels to my compost pile in the dark with fire ants and chicken poop seeming to conspire against my bare feet.
It is annoying that people think something is wrong if you shout freedom! into your dark, sleepy house.
It is annoying that humans need sleep to function.
I could go on but even this list is annoying.
Well, higher self? Look what you’ve inspired with your little musical message—nothing but annoyance!
I’ve sat here for two minutes and it seems my higher self has no interest in defending itself. There are no new songs.
Maybe this one was a fluke; maybe there was no message.
Or, maybe the inspiration to write up a list of annoyances would force me to look at them more closely and decide that they are all petty, and that I have a lot of reasons not to be annoyed.
Well played, higher self.
You win.
...
Now take this song back.