My Gen X Playlist: Thank U – Alanis Morissette

When I scheduled the surgery six months out, I wasn’t feeling the weight of the procedure. After all, the neurologist said the timing was flexible and to work around my schedule. Fortunately, the tumor was benign and delaying it to the end of the year didn’t pose a threat to my health. Six months was enough time to complete multiple client projects on my plate. It wasn’t until I was lying on the gurney waiting to be wheeled into the operating room did it dawn on me what was about to happen. A neurosurgeon was going to remove a portion of my skull, take out the golf ball size tumor and then screw the missing piece back in. This was insane. Thank goodness for anesthesia because it felt like a blink of an eye before I woke up in my hospital room. The surgery had been a success and my new job was to rest and recover.

Hearing dripping sounds inside my head is one of the common, yet unusual after effects of brain surgery. Believe me, it was weird. Drip. Drip. Drip. The sound was a bit unsettling at first; however, it was a small price to pay for a successful procedure. Soon, each drip became a reminder how truly lucky I was – the tumor was benign, the surgeon was best in class and I was on the road to recovery. It’s been five years since my surgery and follow up MRIs each year have been clean. Even though I no longer hear dripping in my head, I still remain thankful for everything and find myself grateful for each new day.

Thank U was inspired by a very difficult period in Alanis Morissette’s life. At the time, she was going through some personal struggles that made her feel confused, frustrated and uninspired. In an interview with NPR, she revealed that she had reached a point where the only way she could cope with her challenges was to turn inward and reflect on all the things that she was grateful for in her life. Morissette explained that the song was not just a reflection of her personal experiences but also a representation of the human experience in general. She explained that, at some point, everyone has gone through a difficult period in their lives, and it’s vital to take a step back and appreciate the positive things.

– OldTimeMusic

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

How 'bout getting off of these antibiotics
How 'bout stopping eating when I'm full up
How 'bout them transparent dangling carrots
How 'bout that ever elusive kudo

Thank you India
Thank you terror
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you frailty
Thank you consequence
Thank you, thank you silence

How 'bout me not blaming you for everything
How 'bout me enjoying the moment for once
How 'bout how good it feels to finally forgive you
How 'bout grieving it all one at a time

Thank you India
Thank you terror
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you frailty
Thank you consequence
Thank you, thank you silence

The moment I let go of it
Was the moment I got more than I could handle
The moment I jumped off of it
Was the moment I touched down

How 'bout no longer being masochistic
How 'bout remembering your divinity
How 'bout unabashedly bawling your eyes out
How 'bout not equating death with stopping

Thank you India
Thank you providence
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you nothingness
Thank you clarity
Thank you, thank you silence

Yeah, yeah
Oh, oh, oh-oh
No, oh, oh, oh
No, oh, oh, oh