When I read this topic, I immediately thought I should write something that anybody could read and feel as if it applied to them. Thus, in a free writing session, I penned the following:
Musings
an Online Journal of Sorts
By Alyce Wilson
December 2, 2008 - Your Song - How and Why
This is the explanation behind my entry for Week Ten of The Real LJ Idol competition, where the topic is "You're So Vain - You Probably Think This Topic is About You."
Oh, hi. I've been meaning to speak to you. I know that it's hard not to be down on yourself.
Just think of all the things you've faced in your life so far. It's easy to second-guess, to backtrack over perceived failings, goals you haven't achieved, chances you've failed to take. Remember to celebrate the good things you have achieved, both the small and the large, whether it's an everyday task or tackling an old problem.
Just remember: before you compare yourself to people you've known that you find more successful, they probably feel they've failed in some ways, too. Just because things aren't going well right now doesn't mean you should despair for the future.
And another thing: you're attractive. It tears me apart when I hear you putting yourself down. Everybody views their own flaws as being huge, and very few people give themselves credit for their good qualities. Do yourself a favor: the next time you look in the mirror, instead of focusing on what you think are negatives, think about the positives. That's what most people notice.
Whether you're willing to believe it or not, there are people who love you and accept you, just the way you are. A lot of people think you're pretty darn awesome. Give yourself a break. When somebody compliments you, accept that they mean it.
You're a smart person. You're a capable person, and much stronger than you realize. Now, just find a way to believe it.
As I thought about it further, I felt that what I'd written was too generic, too bland. Momentarily, I just considered trying to punch it up in a rewrite, or to expand on the ideas further. Random song lyrics began popping into my head, such as the ending from "Rock 'N' Roll Suicide," one of my favorite Bowie songs. Ever hear a song that sounded like I was written just for you? I needed to do something similar.
Then I remembered an LJ Idol entry by technophile, who had used song titles to create a poem. What if I expressed the same sentiment as in my free writing, but using only song lyrics? So after copious Google searching, I managed to "translate" my original passage into one created completely from lyrics. Even the title and the moral of the day are borrowed from elsewhere. (I used Elton John's suggestive title, "Your Song," and used a quote for the moral.)
The "album cover" image at the top is a photo I took over Thanksgiving of my mom and my niece, cropped, with text added in PhotoShop.
Copyright
2008 by Alyce Wilson
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