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My Gen X Playlist: Look Up – Joy Oladokun

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I’m on Episode 3 of rewatching Ripple. Here’s a quote and a song from the episode.

No matter what you’re struggling with, the world keeps going on around you like everything is normal. When things get bleak, you just have to focus on the things that bring you joy.

Look Up is from Episode 3, by Joy Oladokun. I wonder if it’s coincidence that her first name matches the quote. Great song. Great lyrics. I connected with the first line.

Sometimes your life feels like a broken rollercoaster.

Sometimes mine does. You’d never know it from the outside. I hide it well. That’s one of my superpowers, you know. And I know it’s all relative. I certainly don’t have anything real to complain about. I only collect first world problems and in general, my life is fine. But I can’t shake the feeling sometimes that it’s not. It’s not an every second kind of feeling. Thank goodness for that. It’s a once in a while feeling that sometimes hits hard, deep into my core.

I’m always amazed how life around me continues to go on as if nothing is wrong. It’s such a dichotomy of sorts. Invisibly crumbling in plain sight while the world continues to spin on its axis and I’m the only one swirling and feeling dizzy enough to stumble and fall. But I guess that’s life. I’m fortunate enough to know these lapses are only temporary and I just need to power through them until they subside. I’m also lucky this way. Mine only occur in drive by moments. In those times, I just have to focus on the joy. Or as the song says:

Look up
Do you see the sunlight?
Look up
There’s flowers in your hair
Hold on
‘Cause somebody loves you
You know trouble’s always gonna be there
Don’t let it bring you to your knees, yeah

–

For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Sometimes your life feels like a broken rollercoaster
A thousand useless moving parts
Sometimes you spend your nights
Too scared of getting closer
Hiding out in the back seat of your car

You tell yourself it's raining
The clouds are in your head
You tell yourself it's better
To jump before you fall again
Before you lose it all again

Look up
Do you see the sunlight?
Look up
There's flowers in your hair
Hold on
'Cause somebody loves you
You know trouble's always gonna be there
Don't let it bring you to your knees
Look up

Mondays aren't always bright
Some days, you lose the fight
But life can be beautiful if you let it be
Tomorrow keeps taunting you
With all kinds of mystery
It's a blank page for your poetry
If you let it be

So don't tell yourself it's raining
The clouds are in your head
You tell yourself it's better
To jump before you fall again
Before you lose it all again

Look up
Do you see the sunlight?
Look up
There's flowers in your hair
Hold on
'Cause somebody loves you
You know trouble's always gonna be there
Don't let it bring you to your knees, yeah
Look up

Look up
Hold on
Look up
Sometimes your life feels like a broken rollercoaster
A thousand useless moving parts

Look up
Do you see the sunlight?
Look up
There's flowers in your hair
Hold on
'Cause somebody loves you
You know trouble's always gonna be there
Don't let it bring you to your knees, yeah
Look up
Trouble's always gonna be there
Look up
Don't let it bring you to your knees, look up

16 thoughts on “My Gen X Playlist: Look Up – Joy Oladokun”

  1. I deeply resonate with your feelings and the notion that sometimes life feels like a broken roller coaster. And yes, it just keeps buzzing along, the world keeps spinning on its axis, heedless of one’s circumstances, pain, etc. I never thought of one’s ability to hide well the bleakness that permeates inside as a superpower, but I too, have this superpower. People tell me all the time that I appear so calm and steady. Some days, I can barely leave the comfort of my bed. Last semester, the head of our dept called a meeting with me, the last day of the semester, last hour, to address “fatigue” and my apparent inability to meet expectations. I was encouraged to “consider other options.” Like, wow, the support was unreal. I returned after summer break, however, and am finding my way through as best I can.

    I also love this artist and this song. What keeps me sane is music, art, and tarot. They express the inexpressible and provide the inspiration that keeps me sane. Thank you for sharing this post 🙂

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    1. I think many ride the broken roller coaster, silently trying to cope. I wonder if past generations also experienced it to this degree. I want to so no, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the answer is yes, too. And I feel you about funding your way as best as you can. That’s all we really can do.

      I hope this new year brings you hope, joy and peace. We could all use more of these.

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      1. Thank you! Wishing you the same!

        Yes, there is such a thing as intergenerational trauma, which is trauma that gets passed down to generations via genetics but also shaped by environment. It keeps perpetuating if unhealthy behavioral patterns, etc don’t change in the family…

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    1. Thanks for your kind comment. This blog has become therapeutic for me. Sometimes I write to let go of the darkness. I appreciate the encouragement! I really take that to heart.

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  4. Oh, my another fabulous track from the series. Listening to it now, and I don’t really recall it… maybe we’ll need to rewatch like you did!

    I can certainly relate to what you’re saying about the dichotomy of inside and outside in the world. It never seemed like this when I was rising up in my life and career. And now people have AI to compete with for jobs… ugh. I’m so fortunate to be retired. Great post!

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    1. Rewatching has been fun. Even though I know the ending of the story, it’s been fun to pick up on details that didn’t seem relevant at first.

      AI… I see the benefits and the fallout. It’s a double edge sword. There may be a big price to pay for technological advancement.

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  5. Smiling at “sea poetry” below, who is so right in calling your posts grounding. I hadn’t thought of it, but maybe because they keep one lingering, listening. They include more ‘body’ perhaps.

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  6. “a once in a while feeling that sometimes hits hard, deep into my core.” Yep, that’s me and my feelings sometimes.

    Remember…everything will be ok. 😊

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  7. I relate to your feelings too much. Many times I have to shift my perspective but sometimes I feel, why should I not allow myself to feel miserable.

    And the music reflects those inner thoughts. Wild isn’t it.

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