Upbeat: adjective, to maintain good cheer—despite circumstances.
How to stay upbeat when life implodes?
Start by looking back.
Since 1950, upbeat has been used as an adjective, meaning lighthearted. Buoyant. Exuberant.
First used in 1869, however, the word upbeat was a noun, a synonym for anacrucis.
Originally, anacrucis—or upbeat—signified a musical pickup, or lead-in: the note(s) preceding a song’s downbeat. This definition still applies. Think of the happy in “Happy Birthday ” or the I in my song “I Love You, Lord.”
Anacrucis also refers to the initial, unstressed syllables before a poem’s meter kicks in.
Unstressed? Now that gets my attention.
Upbeat
Clockwise, consider the tiniest sliver of a given day. Like that fleeting hush as the lights come up and the maestro lifts the baton.
Or the silent, head-bowing pause after someone says, “Let’s pray.”
This too is anacrucis.
Do all common hours contain lulls, perhaps half-hidden?
I ask a question. You wait a beat, thinking, then reply.
A scent ignites memory. Smiling, beguiled, we enter the wordless realm of wonder.
Schedules, conversations, hibernations, weather—lulls appear all over the place.
Natural magic
that “Hold still!” marvel when the Monarch alights on your wrist
our spellbound gaze as the skipped stone arcs across water
a flaw in the window pane creating 6 parachutes around sunset
Comedic moments
your aborted sneeze, in church, the repressed laughter
an itch at the DMV—just as they take my picture
Astonishment
the winning Hail Mary replay, in Slo-Mo
the midwife catching the baby
Suspense
the wait between coin toss and call
the tap on my shoulder before I turn
“Can you ever forgive me?” and the wait for an answer
Fear and trembling
the hypodermic needle’s descent
the deep breath before you sign the lease
the jury foreman rising to read the verdict
Sorrow
the widow or Gold Star Mother receiving the folded flag
that silent dread before the first earth strikes the casket
the final note of “Taps” fading away, at dusk
Special occasions
the French waiter raising the serving dome
the pin-drop, fractional pause before “I do”
Everyday anacruces
Perhaps being upbeat means noticing lulls? Then savoring each tiny, unsung transition?
We tune into a stranger’s hesitation. A loved one’s wince. A child’s gob-smacked awe.
A glimpse of love in action holds us rapt, sublimely unstressed—for the moment—which may help us go the distance. Amid the daily rage and greed, floods and fires, violence and grief, I so often need a soul reboot.
What if, at any time, we can raise an imaginary baton?
Perhaps we’ll generate personal stillness, expectancy, reverence.
Looking to stay upbeat, we offer a silent prayer for help, or an unspoken Amen.
A regaining of personal balance, or the crucial tipping point.
Thanksgiving for everyday goodness, or the once-in-a-blue-moon moment.
What recent, upbeat experience caught you off guard?
And . . .
Just for the lull of it: write 6 sentences using words from the list below.
These words, in addition to “upbeat,” were first used in the year 1869:
- fault line
- deodorant
- kneecap
- firebug
- hash house
- ugly duckling
- shebang
- gravitas
- cloudburst
- Yahweh
Laurie, I never know what awaits me when I click on one of your posts….your titles are intriguing, to say the least! ‘Anacrusis’–of course! I remember the term from college choir and musically I get it. But I loved the way you wove its meaning else-wise, encouraging us to look for that split second up beat elsewhere in our days.
I also went straight to the dictionary to find the latin roots–are you ready?
ana–‘back’ + krouein–‘to push’; “pushback.” That sent my thoughts in an entirely new direction….
Thank you for the word search and discoveries–I so enjoy reading the way you see the world, my friend, like no other.
Dear Jody, with all you have going I am humbled and grateful that time allowed a scroll through this post. (I thought of your musical background when I was composing it.)
I too traced its roots, finding those you mention . . . and more (perhaps a future post).
Counter cultural as it is to embrace, even celebrate, these lulls, I agree we engage in creative pushback.
Meanwhile, praying for you as you navigate the run-up to book launch! So many will be richer for your words.
Beautifully done, Laurie!
Jeanette, thank you for reading! Glad it blessed you. 🙂
The whole shebang started with a parade.
Please, Lord Jahweh, send a cloudburst to reverse what the crazy firebug has done to our forests!
The gravitas of the fire situation is challenging many jurisdictions.
It won’t hurt our kneecaps to get down to serious prayer.
Angela, way to run with the list of words. Marvelous! And inspiring, too. Headed for my kneecaps now . . . 🙂
OH I’d meant to tell you I loved the Six Parachutes Around Sunset! It’s a gorgeous photo, and that sounds like a book or poem title. We saw something similar during the eclipse–beautiful scallops of shadow dappling a game board the children had used in the back yard. Just lovely.
Lynn, it was a magical glance, and so fleeting. Saw it on our anniversary and I had to stop talking and grab the camera.
And yes, the phrase would make a great title. Hmmm. You’ve got my wheels turning again.
What a memorable dapple during your wonderful Eclipse Party. Doesn’t it just make you want to be extra awake all the time?!
🙂
Thanks, Mike!
Hello dear Laurie, always a treat to read your words in this bejeweled place. Your photos are as lyrical as your words. I love that I learn here . . . new words, and new twists on old concepts. I, a college vocal major, admittedly did not know the word anacrusis! Ugh. I lament that our dictionaries have been stripped of now-archaic words. Michael and Sheridan always remind me that language is ever evolving, but I’m pretty much a stick in the mud. So thank you for teaching me a new (old!) word. Interestingly, in my musical circles, conductors in my choruses have called the upbeat the pick-up. Of course, depending on your perspective, I guess that could have a besmudged connotation :-), but surely, we singers need to pay strict attention to upbeats *and* the conductor’s downbeat, so we will come in on cue. I used to give a talk called “Sing to the Lord a New Song,” where I gave women a virtual vocal “master’s class” and applied it metaphorically to their lives. One thing I loved to talk about was those times when performers must remain silent and observe the rests. My point was that those rests were pregnant with pulse, and that in the rests (to paraphrase renowned pianist Artur Schabel) is where art resides. My point too was that though the music had ceased for them, it was still present and that the conductor’s beat went on. They would need to pay careful attention to come back in singing when he gave them their cue. The anacrusis you mention is not the same as a rest, but there are similarities. There is beauty to be experienced in them too. On a different note, it suddenly dawned on me that for us to remain upbeat in attitude, we need to observe the upbeat and not just keep singing over everyone else. Do we stop our conversation long enough to listen and then begin speaking after the upbeat . . . not through it? It’s all about paying attention, isn’t it? I’m wandering now (like a meandering melisma), so I’d best close while I’m able, without diverging too far afield. But I will say that your writing is upbeat and it is upbeat (in both meanings of the adjective and noun). I do so appreciate all you have to say.
Love
Lynn
Lynn, what I wouldn’t give to hear that talk! I hope you’ve written it up somewhere . . . so I can read it? Sounds profound as well as practical. I remember being taken aback the first time I learned about the art of music residing in the rests. It strikes me afresh today. Thank you!
And”melisma” (had to Google) as well as the pause, “pregnant with pulse” have my brain whirling, caroming between possibilities. You are fresh air for the soul and imagination—doubly welcome because amid wildfire air quality, so heartbreaking and heavy, here in the West.
Glimpses of love in action DO hold us rapt and sublimely unstressed–for the moment. It is the wise person who avails herself of every soul reboot, and thanks her God for his everyday goodness–the once-in-a-blue-moon moments too. Such a poignant post, Laurie. One recent upbeat experience: a doe came to the edge of the woods one recent morning to feed on the foliage. She looked up at us on the deck several times but continued to eat. Deer are not only beautiful, but regal. I love to watch them. Their occasional visits do provide soul reboots!
Nancy, thanks for sharing this. I am picturing you tranquil and filled with wonder, watching the doe and giving thanks, absorbing her wild elegance—an alternative I really need to consider. I tend to holler and flap my arms when they get near my flowers!—hardly a soul reboot. I’ve been missing a lovely opportunity. Next time will be different . . .
Laurie, luv, this is exceptional. I love the way you bring us TO the upbeats of life!
One of my faves is seeing your name in my In Box. : )
Judith Dupree, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You make me feel like a momentary maestra. 🙂 So glad to arrive in your Inbox, though I’d love even more to drop in for tea . . .
Laurie, as always, loving your posts. This one really resonated with me. I love the way your words allow a paradigm shift in my consciousness. Hope you’re doing well.
Judith
Judith, I’m so glad this post spoke to you. It was eye-opening for me. I really want to pay more attention to each day’s small fleeting transitions unfolding under my nose, savor each mini-hush (well, some of them anyway). A girl needs her equilibrium in these crazy times—when even breathing becomes a project. I’m well and hope you are too! Love, Laurie
This one I will read often this month! Your list of categorized lulls is “showing not telling,” picturesque wordcraft, at its best. Love you, Laurie! Niki
Niki, that’s so encouraging! I stumbled on the word anacrusis and loved learning more about it. Lull Hunting was fun! I found 50+ potential candidates by speed writing, then whittled down the list.
I’m seeing Time differently, and what a difference that makes in my attitude!
Love you, friend