Girl, Put Your Records on
There are a lot of things I’d like to do to my home to make it more relaxing. I’d like to update our paint colors to make them more chill. I’d love to paint our kitchen cabinets a lighter color to brighten the room up. I can see how opening one wall up could create so much space in our living room and give us a more flowing floor plan.
But while it’s fun to dream, I know how time-intensive, stressful and expensive home projects can be. Honestly, we’re just not in a spot right now for this to be right time to make those changes.
But you know the one simple thing I’ve been doing at night to give me that same sense of relaxation, space and openness — without paying a single contractor or having a speck of construction dust to clean up?
Music.
And, not just any music. Records, baby.
I bought my husband a record player as a gift last Christmas and — not to brag — but it was kind of the best gift ever. Sure, we could always fire up Spotify on our Bluetooth speaker for high-vibing tunes (and I love doing that!), but there’s just something about selecting a whole album, getting it out of its cover carefully, placing it on the record player and then hearing that crackle before the sound fills the house.
It’s all just very zen.
And, I’ve found, that as much as I love to “Netflix and chill,” an hour listening to a record is way more relaxing and fulfilling than most of the media on TV. If my toddler is up, we might all dance together. If she’s in bed, my husband and I might have a glass of wine and talk about our days … or life. Or just sit and listen.
With what sometimes seems to be a never-ending to-do list of chores, work and social obligations, there’s just something lovely about putting a record on and just absorbing the sound. Taking a moment to just be.
Anyone else have records and love to play them? What album do you go to time and time again? Miles Davis’ “Kind of Blue” and Smashing Pumpkins’ “Adore” are favorites in this house. —Jenn