Lyrics to ponder

When I'm on the treadmill at the gym and trying to think about anything--anything--except how much I hate running, I've been paying more attention to the songs I have on my iPod. Here are a few quotes from my favorites and some of the randomness I ponder while running:

• A young man is having a conversation with his pastor, who is suggesting that the guy curb his rambunctious ways: "Don't you want to hear 'em call your name when you're standing at the pearly gates? I told the preacher, Yes I do, but I hope they don't call today." I love the humor in that song and the Caribbean music influences. It makes me smile. --Kenny Chesney's "Everybody Wants to Go To Heaven"
  
• "But from now on I'm gonna be the kind of woman I'd want my daughter to be." This song is about a woman who needs to do a better job believing in her own inner strength and worth. Whether it's being more tenacious or more thoughtful or more open-minded, I love the idea of thinking about how you'd want your daughter to react to a situation or live her life to crystallize the best approach for yourself. --Jewel's "Stronger Woman"
  
• "Happiness has its own way of taking its sweet time." The singer recorded this song one year after his wife committed suicide and he was just learning how to put the pieces back together. While I've never experienced anything close to that painful, the song resonates with me in a very bittersweet way and I can't get enough of it. The overall message, that life is messy and unpredictable and complicated but, ultimately, worth every moment, is a reminder that there will always be a light at the end of the tunnel if you just keep looking for it. --Gary Allen's "Life Ain't Always Beautiful"