Ode to my iPod
So you might be thinking–what does a $200 piece of fad technology have to do with living simply? Plenty. Let me tell you why.
I am a gym rat. Yoga three times a week. Cardio and weights three times a week. When I get on that elliptical fitness trainer to sweat for an hour, I need more motivation than being able to squeeze into my designer jeans to carry me through. I need music!
Before my iPod, I had a portable CD player. Relatively big and bulky to my nano, which is the size of a credit card. I made up about twenty mixed CDs, which I rotated. You’d be surprised how quickly twenty CDs get old. So you have big, bulky, portable CD player, twenty CDs, case to hold CDs, CD burner, CD cleaner, batteries for CD player… See? Not so simple.
With my iPod, you can create playlists using iTunes–no more burning CDs, no more storing CDs! Simple. Or at least simpler. I have developed a new passion for creating workout playlists. It’s actually an art form in my mind. Remember the days of the mixed tape? This is so much better.
Sure you can pick out a dozen or so songs that you like and create a nice motivating rhythm for your workout. But I like to take it one step further. I create my playlists using “themes”–a basic idea or concept that ties all the songs together. For example, instead of “One Hit Wonders” (which would actually be a great theme for a playlist!), I have a playlist called “One Word Wonders.” All the song titles are one word. Like “Change” by Lisa Stansfield, “Breathe” by Anna Nalick, “Bitch” by Meredith Brooks and “Panama” by Van Halen. I have another playlist with the theme of “Time” with songs like “All this Time” by Sting, “The Waiting” by Tom Petty, “One Week” by Bare-Naked Ladies and “Better Days” by the Goo Goo Dolls.
I recently created a playlist with an L.A. theme with songs like “California Love” by 2Pac featuring Dr. Dre, “Hollywood” by Madonna, “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” by Good Charlotte and “The Entertainer” by Billy Joel. The possibilities are endless to use your creativity to make a playlist that’s sure to keep your blood pumping through a tough workout–or even just keep you going through a tough day. And what could be simpler than that?
Stella Louise
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