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Patty Barrett's avatar

I'm feeling very emo today (/the past 20 years) and the lyrics to "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" hit different and made me cry after reading this post. They go so perfectly with the card reading.

Welcome to your life

There's no turning back.

//

"take a look at what you’ve built. Look at how you’ve grown. Look at who you’ve become."

😭😭😭

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

I too have been feeling very emo this week (/possibly always?) and appreciate this perspective. Isn’t it funny how the same lyrics hit differently at different times? Like tarot cards. And all art, I suppose. Thanks, Patty 💛

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Heather Pavona's avatar

Thanks for creating this beautiful community and sharing so much with us, including this wonderful playlist! It’s a joy to be here!

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Thank you so much, Heather. So happy you’re here!

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Heather Br's avatar

I feel that sharing a personal playlist is a very intimate thing to do. It is like sharing a little of your inner dialogue, your hopes and feelings. Thank you. I am so happy to see some of my favourite “I am strong, I am invincible” songs on your list! Your message today was particularly meaningful as well. Happy Birthday! 40 is an amazing year!

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

It definitely is. At least, it feels more vulnerable than sharing a lot of my writing. (And I’m still not brave enough to share my incredibly cheesy running playlists, but maybe someday! There’s a lot of strong, invincible songs on there, so who knows, maybe it would be a useful exercise!) Thank you, Heather! ❤️

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Kaitlyn Elizabeth's avatar

“What Rachel Pollack describes as, ‘the ability to know where others can only guess.’” 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

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Caroline's avatar

I actually drew this card for myself today. I love the tiny snail. I am currently preparing to leave the place I’ve lived for nearly 20 years to start over…somewhere else, not quite sure where…at the age of 60! Wait till you hit that one. Like the snail, wherever I land, my home will be with me because I’ve created it in myself. Thanks so much for your insight, and I’m going to listen to the playlist now.

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

I love absolutely all of this, but especially the idea of creating home within yourself. Thank you so much for sharing.

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Kris Jackson's avatar

Elton John’s I’m still standing (yeah, yeah, yeah!) is an underrated bop.

Happy birthday! Your 40’s will be your best decade yet. I’ll be 50 in November and these past 10 years have been chockablock with changes - all of which make today’s tarot card so timely. You really just step into who you are, what you stand for, and with whom you want to share your energy. The crap starts to fall away because you have fewer fucks left to give. “Don’t like me? Ok, that’s a you problem and not a me problem. Kthxbye! Moving on!” You will refuse to turn yourself into a pretzel to make someone else happy or make yourself more likable. You will find your people, and they might be fewer, but this is when you truly value quality over quantity.

I just started my paid subscription over the weekend and I am looking forward to your tarot interpretations.

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Thank you, Kris! So far it seems everyone has very positive things to say about the 40s (and/or anyone who feels otherwise is wisely staying silent 😂). I’m looking forward to it.

And thank you for upgrading your subscription. It means a lot and I’m honored to have you here.

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Samantha Chesler's avatar

Thank you for the words, the music and the reminder that we are the treasure we seek.

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

❤️

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Jolene Handy's avatar

Great playlist! Lovely Day is one of my all time favorite songs! 🎶 Music gets us through the worst of times and helps us celebrate the best of times, thanks for this, Caroline.

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Such a good song! Many years and apartments ago, I would play it on Sunday mornings while I watered the plants and danced around the apartment with my dog. An instant mood boost. Thanks, Jolene 😊

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Jolene Handy's avatar

Love that image! 🎶 💃 🪴 💦 🐕

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David Roberts's avatar

Thanks for the playlist. I've lately been listening to the same dozen songs. Female singers with great voices from my younger days: Stevie Nicks, Linda Ronstadt, and Natalie Merchant. Your list will help to broaden my listening.

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Ah, a great roster. (A touch of Stevie here, too, but not much.) Hope you enjoy it.

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Laurie Blackwell's avatar

Thank you for sharing your playlist from this most challenging last year. It is both a generous and intimate way to give to others.

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Thank you, Laurie. It’s funny, sharing this playlist does feel (in some ways) more vulnerable than sharing my writing! But it’s my pleasure.

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Irene Chauncey's avatar

Happy birthday week Caroline!! Spring birthdays are lovely :)

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Thank you so much, Irene! ❤️

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Meg Wardle's avatar

Beautiful. And the playlist, what a gift! ✨

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Thank you, Meg 💛

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Charlotte (has) Baby Brain's avatar

I haven't listened to I don't feel like dancing by the scissor sisters in YEARS. Thank you for reminding me this song exists

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

You’re very welcome! I’d also forgotten about it until a few months ago and was so glad to stumble upon it again.

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Gillian's avatar

Caroline, you've done it again! I was just writing about the growth of this season. Pause, take stock, be surprised by who you see in the mirror, in a good way. Keep taking field notes on the creature you're studying: you. You summarized it better than I could: "In the most generous way possible, take a look at what you’ve built. Look at how you’ve grown. Look at who you’ve become."

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Thank you so much, Gillian. Love that we’re on the same page!

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E.L. Zeitgeist's avatar

And thank you right back, Caroline. 40s hit different, not gonna lie. But I love your fresh take. Why dwell on the old when it can all look so new? After an afternoon of self indulgent pontification on my blessings and curses (often one-in-the-same), this hit me the hardest: “do we trust good turns, good times, good luck?” Trust. It’s so hard. On a lighter note, your playlist rules. I’ve concluded many a list with The The because the end of Empire Records is a cinematic treasure and might just be what heaven is like. One can only hope!

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Thank you! I’m glad you like it. And I completely agree. Sometimes, apropos of nothing, I’ll stop and think to myself, “Damn the man. Save the Empire.”

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E.L. Zeitgeist's avatar

Yes!!!

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Terrell Johnson's avatar

Just saved your playlist to my Spotify! I have one too, in case you’re interested (and don’t feel any pressure to listen to the whole thing, or even most of it — I’ve been adding songs to it for a while, and it’s over 9 hours long at this point. Also, it’s got a very Gen-X vibe, so I totally get it if it’s not everyone’s cup of tea).

With those caveats said, here it is 😀: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5fZximChvajOOEvGpwX6HP?si=RdVbJ3inSeaRLa-USpTFOQ&pi=u-oNFRxVLhR-OU

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Over 9 hours of music is seriously impressive! I’ll definitely check it out. I’m not yet brave enough to share my (often incredibly cheesy) assortment of running playlists, but I would love to at some point. Just waiting for the next big race to give me an excuse. And Gen-X vibes are always very welcome around here!!

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