flashback friday: soundtrack to my life: 2002

in 2002, i moved into the dorms at the university of wisconsin - milwaukee. i had a freakishly weird roommate situation at first. (as in, i lived with this girl for 4 months, never learned her last name, saw her maybe, 5 times the entire time, and to this day, i can't even remember her first name. weird.) anyway, as a result of the lack of bonding with my actual roommate, i made friends with some of the girls across the common area, on my same floor. "some girls" became my best friends. i lived with hillary and lisa after that year and they became like sisters to me. we experienced all the crazy wonderfulness that is going away to college and having roommates. one such instance of crazy wonderfulness included dancing like total lunatics, hair flying free, jumping on beds, and screaming this song at the top of our lungs in hillary's dorm room on the third floor of south tower. it's a memory that is so clearly engrained in my  brain. and it means so much to me.

this song is the epitome of the be-an-independent-soul-and-live-your-life attitude that i strive for. and it's one that i hope one day ruby picks up on. this song reminds me that life is too short to stress and get in a negative rut about anything. and when i feel that creeping up, i get my car, crank the speakers, and dance in such a way that it makes other drivers stare. i don't care, though, because it is moments like those that i feel the most free and inspired. lost in song. and usually tearing up because well, that's just me.

one day, when ruby comes home and tells me that her day sucked, i will pop this one in and dance it out. and to be completely honest, we've already danced it out more than once when my day has been less than amazing.

best lyrics? the verses are where it's at:

"hey, you know they're all the same.
you know you're doing better on your own, so don't buy in.
live right now.
yeah, just be yourself.
it doesn't matter if it's good enough for someone else."

and later,

"hey, don't write yourself off yet.
it's only in your head you feel left out or looked down on.
just do your best, do everything you can.
and don't you worry what the bitter hearts are gonna say."

oh, and? this video is awesome. enjoy! and make sure you get in a solid "woooo!" at 1:37. it feels so good. :)