I’m a big country music fan.  Last night as I was making the drive from Pittsburgh to Baltimore, I listened to a song I’ve heard a million times before, but this time it got me thinking.  The song is called Letter to Me, and it is by Brad Paisley.  In the song he talks about all the things he would tell himself if he could write a letter to his 17 year old self.

It got me thinking about what I would write to my 17 year old self.  It may only be 7 years ago, but a lot has changed since then.  This is what I came up with.

1.  Just be you.  It’s who you do best.  If you feel like you have to be someone different around certain people for them to accept you, they aren’t worth your time.  The people who love you the best are the ones who love you for you.

2.  Cut your hair.  Seriously, it has gotten out of hand and you’ll love short hair so much more.  Hair down to your butt is not really attractive.

3.  Don’t worry so much about guys.  You’re constantly on the lookout for potential boyfriends, and you find that the whole process is nothing but frustrating.  That’s because you’re too young and by not dating the wrong guys, you won’t end up with your heart broken.  Eventually you’ll meet that one right guy, and then it will just happen naturally.

4.  Your parents are right far more often than you think.  Listen to them, they are actually really smart.  (Yes mom and dad, I actually think this – whether you think I do or not!)

That’s my list.  Let’s make this one an interactive one.  If you could write a letter to yourself at the age of 17, what would you say?

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

A Letter to Me

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2. Extended Family
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Yesterday we published Part 1 of our Ultimate Workout Music List. Here is the other half of songs we recommend you add to your favorite MP3 player (we know how Mike love’s his Zune!). We made such a long list since you may have some of these songs and it is good to mix your workout music up. You don’t want to get bored!

We’ve also added a list of cool-down songs at the end of this post, so be sure to check it out. It’s the perfect music for the after-stretch workout. We also highly recommend you check out the new site Real Bodies, Real Beauty – it’s a fantastic blog reminding us where true beauty can really be found. Enjoy!

Workout Music

1. Eminem feat. Nate Dogg – Shake That Ass
2. Jimmy Eat World – Bleed American
3. Carrie Underwood – Last Name
4. Shinedown – Sin With a Grin
5. Missy Elliott feat. Ciara & Fat Man Scoop – Lose Control
6. The Breeders – Cannonball (via sallymander)
7. Don Henley – All She Wants to Do is Dance
8. The Killers – Somebody Told Me
9. Queen – Fat Bottomed Girls
10. System of a Down – BYOB
11. Rob Dougan – Clubbed to Death (via Skittzo)
12. Fall Out Boy – I Don’t Care
13. Donna Summer – Hot Stuff
14. Alien Ant Farm – Smooth Criminal
15. Bubba Sparxxx – Ms. New Booty
16. Story of the Year – Anthem of Our Dying Day
17. Justin Timberlake – SexyBack
18. Jake Owen – YeeHaw
19. Britney Spears – My Prerogative
20. Matthew Good Band – Rico (via hockeycrew)
21. Eminem – Till I Collapse
22. Beyonce feat. Jay-Z – Crazy In Love
23. Down – Lean Like a Cholo
24. LL Cool J – Apple Cobbler
25. Amber – This Is Your Night
26. Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out
27. Madonna – Material Girl
28. Big Boi feat. Sleepy Brown – The Way You Move
29. Maroon 5 – Makes Me Wonder
30. AC/DC – Highway to Hell
31. Hot Hot Heat – Talk to Me, Dance With Me
32. DMX – Party Up
33. All Time Low – Weightless (via jaimy_marie)
34. Girl Talk – Play Your Part (Pt. 1)
35. Atreyu – Falling Down
36. Taking Back Sunday – MakdeDamnSure
37. Avenged Sevenfold – Critical Acclaim
38. Korn – Y’all Want a Single
39. Powerman 5000 – When Worlds Collide
40. N.E.R.D. – Lapdance
41. Michael Jackson – 2000 Watts
42. Jimmy Eat World – Pain
43. George Michael – I Want Your Sex
44. Destiny’s Child – Soldier
45. The Offspring – You’re Gonna Go Far Kid
46. Busta Rhymes – Dangerous (via 10sGuy)
47. Rob Zombie – Never Gonna Stop (The Red Red Kroovy)
48. The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army
49. The Knack – My Sharona
50. Guns N’ Roses – Welcome to the Jungle
51. Dave Matthews Band – Cornbread
52. Prince & The New Power Generation – Sexy M.F. (via sallymander)
53. Orgy – Blue Monday
54. Trapt – Headstrong
55. Fort Minor – Remember the Name
56. Jurrasic 5 – The Influence
57. Good Charlotte – I Don’t Want to Be In Love
58. Linkin Park – Lying From You
59. T.I. feat. Rihanna – Live Your Life
60. KT Tunstall – Black Horse and the Cherry Tree
61. Chevelle – Send the Pain Below
62. Buckcherry – Crazy Bitch
63. Coldplay – Viva La Vida
64. Ludacris – Get Back
65. Kansas – Carry On Wayward Son (via reese)
66. Jay-Z – Dirt Off Your Sholder
67. Pantera – Walk
68. Janet Jackson – If
69. Kanye West – The New Workout Plan
70. Moby – Bodyrock  (via sallymander)
71. Avenged Sevenfold – Scream
72. Mayday Parade – Jamie All Over (via jaimy_marie)

Cooldown Workout Music

1. Bon Jovi – Wanted Dead or Alive
2. Filter – Hey Man, Nice Shot
3. Adam Lambert – Mad World
4. Al Green – Let’s Stay Together
5. Billie Myers – Kiss the Rain
6. Blake Shelton – Home
7. Bob Marley – Three Little Birds
8. Coldplay – Yellow
9. The Fray – Over My Head (Cable Car)

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

The Ultimate Workout Music List – Part 2

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1. The Ultimate Workout Music List – Part 1
2. Wednesday MP3 Six Pack – Dec. 9th edition
3. Wednesday MP3 Six Pack – Nov. 18 edition

Nothing ruins a workout like shitty music. You need something to motivate you and keep you going. Something to tune out that little voice in your head telling you to stop, quit and give up. While you’re sure to have some of these on your iPod already, we’re hoping that from over the 100 songs in part 1 and part 2 (posted later today) we recommend you’ll find some new workout music for your routine.

You can also preview the workout music on the Amazon widget included in this post, and don’t forget to let us know which of your favorites we missed! Thanks to all of the great Twitter folks who helped us make up this list.

Workout Music

1. Andre 3000 – Hey Ya!
2. Lil’ Kim feat. Sisqo – How Many Licks
3. Metallica – Enter Sandman
4. Maroon 5 feat. Rihanna – If I Never See Your Face Again
5. Jimmy Eat World – The Middle (via reese)
6. Girl Talk – No Pause (via sbpratt)
7. The Offspring – Hammerhead
8. Gwen Stefani – Hollerback Girl
9. Big & Rich – Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy
10. Static-X – Push It
11. Busta Rhymes – Touch It (Remix)
12. Jimi Hendrix – Red House (via krystle_mo_mo)
13. Nelly feat. Jazze Pha – Na-Nana-Na
14. The Bangles – Walk Like an Egyptian
15. Gina G – Ooh Aah…Just A Little Bit
16. Rob Zombie – Feel So Numb
17. Limp Bizkit – My Way
18. Justin Timberlake – Senorita
19. James Brown – I Got You (I Feel Good)
20. Eminem – Lose Yourself (via andybeal)
21. Kenny Loggins – Footloose
22. Rob Thomas – This Is How a Heart Breaks
23. Chris Cornell – Watch Out
24. Matchbox 20 – How Far We’ve Come
25. Arctic Monkeys – I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor (via michael_farley)
26. The Knux – Bang! Bang!
27. Rob Zombie – Dragula
28. Gwen Stefani feat. Eve – Rich Girl
29. Bloodhound Gang – The Bad Touch
30. ATC – Around The World
31. Kelis feat. Too $hort – Bossy
32. Dropkick Murphys – Finnegan’s Wake (via 10sGuy)
33. Christina Aguilera feat. Redman – Dirrty
34. The All-American Rejects – Move Along
35. Kenny Chesney – She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy
36. Jennifer Lopez – Let’s Get Loud
37. LL Cool J – Headsprung
38. Chingy – Right Thurr
39. Jet – Are You Gonna Be My Girl?
40. Gipsy Kings – Bamboleo (via Sarah_Q)
41. George Michael – Faith
42. Carrie Underwood – Before He Cheats
43. X-Ecutioners feat. Mike Shinoda – It’s Goin’ Down
44. Jay-Z – 99 Problems
45. T.I. & Jay-Z feat. Kanye West & Lil’ Wayne – Swagga Like Us
46. Jet – Cold Hard Bitch
47. Justin Timberlake feat. T.I. – My Love
48. Matthew Good Band – Load Me Up (via hockeycrew)
49. Jagged Edge feat. Run D.M.C. – Let’s Get Married (remix)
50. Limp Bizkit – Break Stuff
51. Nine Inch Nails – Head Like a Hole
52. Britney Spears – Crazy (The Stop Remix)
53. Randy Houser – Boots On
54. Big Tymers – Get Your Roll On
55. Madonna – Vogue
56. Busta Rhymes – Make it Clap
57. Jay-Z & Linkin Park – Points of Authority/99 Problems/One Step Closer (via LaniAR)
58. Chamillionaire – Ridin’ Dirty
59. The Who – Baba O’Riley
60. Disturbed – Stupify
61. Bon Jovi – It’s My Life
62. Godsmack – Voodoo (via Skitzzo)
63. Bonnie Taylor – Holding Out for a Hero
64. 30 Seconds to Mars – Attack
65. Shinedown – Cry for Help
66. Rolling Stones – Start Me Up
67. Led Zeplin – Ramble On (via sallymander)
68. Seether – Remedy
69. Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc.
70. Black Eyed Peas – My Humps
71. Beyonce – Get Me Bodied (via TiffanyDoughty)
72. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts – I Hate Myself For Loving You
73. Korn – Coming Undone
74. Survivor – Eye of the Tiger (via tastytouring)
75. Deep Purple – Smoke on the Water
76. Cassie – Me and U
77. Green Day – Holiday
78. Linkin Park – Faint
79. Puddle of Mudd – Control
80. Foo Fighters – The Pretender
81. The Ataris – The Boys of Summer
82. Alan Jackson – Good Time
83. System of a Down – Chop Suey
84. Destiny’s Child – Lose My Breath
85. Lostprophets – Rooftops (A Libertarian Broadcast)

Be sure to checkout Part 2 of our Ultimate Workout Music List!

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

The Ultimate Workout Music List – Part 1

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2. Wednesday MP3 Six Pack – Dec. 9th edition
3. Wednesday MP3 Six Pack – Nov. 18 edition

God has a funny sense of humor. His timing is impeccable. Even the soundtrack is perfect. Let me explain…

My last job was only 3 miles away, and gave all of its employees free bus passes. Since parking in Pittsburgh is expensive, naturally I took the bus every morning.

One fateful morning I sat next to a quiet old lady and silently listened to my iPod, set on shuffle.

Many times I wonder how and why a certain song got on my iPod. I plugged it into my brother’s laptop once when it was set on “automatically upload” so I have plenty of his music that I’ve never expected. But I’m convinced that God plugged my iPod into His computer and put this song on it just for this moment.

The song was the William Tell Overture. I suggest you go here and listen to it in the background while reading this. I watched as a 250 pound, 65 year old woman with a cane tried to get on the bus. The step was too high, so the bus driver pushed a button that lowered the bus for her. She handed the driver her cane as she grabbed the railing and pulled herself aboard with a big grin, almost falling as she did. This process took a good 60 seconds.

William Tell Overture still playing…

The driver handed her the cane and took off. He was already running late, and didn’t have the courtesy to let this poor, overweight woman find a seat before slamming on the gas, so she slammed into the plexiglass in the front of the bus. It didn’t seem to phase the old lady as she dug through her purse for change. The driver bobbed and weaved through traffic, trying make up for lost time, while the old woman struggled to keep her balance. She steadied herself on a confused teenager’s shoulder while placing one quarter at a time into the machine. A quick red light caused the driver to slam on the breaks, as the woman (we’ll call her Ethel for now on) flew into the dashboard of the bus, dropping all the change from her purse onto the floor of the bus.

William Tell Overture still playing…

Now sympathetic for poor Ethel, the driver told her not to worry about it and have a seat. She lumbered the few steps to a bench that should be able to sit 3 people. An attractive 19-year-old college girl was on one side, a middle-aged black man on the other. Ethel stumbled to the bench and like a tree falling, collapsed into the seat in between these two. The 19-year-old girl (we’ll call her Mary) had been napping with her head down, but awoke when Ethel in her glory plunged onto the bench and slammed her shoulder into the poor girl’s face. She awoke with a start, looked at the monster sitting next to her, and Ethel flashed her a giant grin.

William Tell Overture…still playing.

The look of discomfort on Mary’s face made me laugh inside, as she squirmed in her corner to gain some comfort next to the behemoth. After the next stop she had enough and got up, standing in the aisle amongst the masses to escape the giant.

When Ethel’s stop approached, she turned and pulled the yellow cord to alert the driver. She stood slowly, the bus still moving, and made her way toward the front of the aisle. She looked down and saw one of the quarters she had dropped in her earlier episode and bent over to pick it up. At that moment, the driver slammed on the breaks as she once again fell into the dashboard. The driver opened the door, lowered the bus, and Ethel departed.

William Tell Overture…over.

Ethel was never harmed during any of this. I caught a glimpse of the driver in the mirror after she left and he has a little smirk on his face. He was doing God’s work that day, providing entertainment and humor to all who made the journey that morning.

And for that, I thank this man, and God.

This is an awesome post from The Tipping Glass

God’s Soundtrack

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