Listen: If You’re Out There

by John Legend

Be the change you want to see in the word. Listen to this song and be inspired.

Lyrics: If You’re Out There
by John Legend

If you hear this message, wherever you stand
I’m calling every woman, calling every man
We’re the generation
We can’t afford to wait
The future started yesterday and we’re already late

We’ve been looking for a song to sing
Searched for a melody
Searched for someone to lead
We’ve been looking for the world to change
If you feel the same
Then go on and say

If you’re out there
Sing along with me
If you’re out there
I’m dying to believe that you’re out there
Stand up and say it loud
If you’re out there
Tomorrow’s starting now
Now, now

No more broken promises
No more call to war
Unless it’s love and peace that we’re really fighting for
We can destroy hunger
We can conquer hate
Put down the arms and raise your voice
We’re joining hands today

Oh I was looking for a song to sing
I searched for a leader
But the leader was me
We were looking for the world to change
We can be heroes
Just go on and say

If you’re out there
Sing along with me
If you’re out there
I’m dying to believe that you’re out there
Stand up and say it loud
If you’re out there
Tomorrow’s starting now
Now, now

Oh now, now

If you’re ready we can shake the world
Believe again
It starts within
We don’t have to wait for destiny
We should be the change that we want to see

If you’re out there
Ooooh
If you’re out there
And you’re ready now
Say it loud
Scream it out

If you’re out there
Sing along with me
If you’re out there
I’m dying to believe that you’re out there
Stand up and say it loud
If you’re out there
Tomorrow’s starting now

If you’re out there
If you’re out there
If you’re out there

If you hear this message, wherever you stand
I’m calling every woman, calling every man
We’re the generation
We can’t afford to wait
The future started yesterday and we’re already late

To Hear: Enjoy

I found this song quite by accident. I thought it was a nice song to get your groove on while reminding yourself to take time to enjoy life and everything in it. Listen to the song, read the lyrics, see if it doesn’t remind you to celebrate life.

Lyrics, Enjoy
by Janet Jackson
Album 20 Year’s Old (20 YO)

Wake up 7 am
Bout time we do it again
Sushine today
I better make plans
Cause it rained yesterday
But that was ok
Cant complain
I love it either way

Living every day like it’s my last
I refuse to be stuck in the past
People actin like machines
Cause they’re scared to live their dreams
No not me

I just enjoy and celebrate
Enjoy the love we make
Enjoy, appreciate
Enjoy
Just keep on doing it
‘Til my hearts content
And enjoy when someone smiles
Enjoy
So just enjoy the simple things
Enjoy the day life brings
Enjoy the song love sings
Enjoy
Just keep on doing it
‘Til your hearts content
And enjoy the gift of life
Enjoy

If you wanna find the paradise
Do it now never too late to try
Lose your inhibitions
Let your inspiration set you free

And just enjoy and celebrate
Enjoy the love we make
Enjoy, appreciate
Enjoy
Just keep on doing it
‘Til my hearts content
And enjoy when someone smiles
Enjoy
So let’s enjoy the simple things
Enjoy the day life brings
Enjoy the song love sings
Enjoy
Just keep on doing it
‘Til your hearts content
And enjoy the gift of life
Enjoy

And the people say

Enjoy la la la la la [Repeat]

I just enjoy and celebrate
Enjoy the love we make
Enjoy, appreciate
Enjoy
Just keep on doing it
‘Til my hearts content
And enjoy when someone smiles
Enjoy
So just enjoy the simple things
Enjoy the day life brings
Enjoy the song love sings
Enjoy
Just keep on doing it
‘Til your hearts content
And enjoy the gift of life
Enjoy

Enjoy la la la la la [Repeat]

Listen: Beautiful

Christina Aguilera

For anytime someone says something hurtful,
for anytime you are accused of something you never did or would never do,
for anytime you are in agony over a betrayal,
or just heard gossip about you
or was just made fun of…
for someone who hurts,
for someone who needs to withstand the daggers and the barbs,
just remember who you are – “you are beautiful in every single way.”
Try not to let the words they attempt to throw on you bring you down. They cannot define you.
Stand. I hope this helps.

Lyrics: Beautiful, by Christina Aguilera
Spoken:
Don’t look at me

Every day is so wonderful
And suddenly, i saw debris
Now and then, I get insecure
From all the pain, I’m so ashamed

I am beautiful no matter what they say
Words can’t bring me down
I am beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can’t bring me down
So don’t you bring me down today

To all your friends, you’re delirious
So consumed in all your doom
Trying hard to fill the emptiness
The piece is gone left the puzzle undone
That’s the way it is

You are beautiful no matter what they say
Words can’t bring you down
You are beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can’t bring you down
Don’t you bring me down today…

No matter what we do
(no matter what we do)
No matter what they say
(no matter what they say)
When the sun is shining through
Then the clouds won’t stay

And everywhere we go
(everywhere we go)
The sun won’t always shine
(sun won’t always shine)
But tomorrow will find a way
All the other times

’cause we are beautiful no matter what they say
Yes, words won’t bring us down, oh no
We are beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can’t bring us down
Don’t you bring me down today

Don’t you bring me down today
Don’t you bring me down today

Live: Beginning Today

Beginning Today

I will no longer worry about yesterday.
It is in the past and the past will never change.
Only I can change by choosing to do so.

Beginning Today

I will no longer worry about tomorrow.
Tomorrow will always be there,
waiting for me to make the most of it.
But I cannot make the most of tomorrow
without first making the most of today.

Beginning Today

I will look in the mirror and I will see a person
worthy of my respect and admiration.
This capable person looking back at me is someone
I enjoy spending time with and someone I would like
to get to know better.

Beginning Today

I will cherish each moment of my life.
I value the gift bestowed upon me in this world
and I will unselfishly share this gift with others.

Beginning Today

I will take a moment to step off the beaten path
and to revel in the mysteries I encounter.
I will face challenges with courage and determination.
I will overcome what barriers there may be which hinder
my quest for growth and self-improvement.
Beginning Today

I will take life one day at a time, one step at a time.
Discouragement will not be allowed to taint
my positive self-image, my desire to succeed
or my capacity to love.

Beginning Today

I walk with renewed faith in human kindness.
Regardless of what has gone before.
I believe there is hope for a brighter
and better future.

Beginning Today

I will open my mind and my heart.
I will welcome new experiences.
I will meet new people.
I will not expect perfection from myself nor anyone else:
perfection does not exist in an imperfect world.
But I will applaud the attempt to overcome human foibles.

Beginning Today

I am responsible for my own happiness
and I will do things that make me happy…
admire the beautiful wonders of nature,
listen to my favorite music, pet a kitten or a puppy,
soak in a bubble bath…
Pleasure can be found in the most simple of gestures.

Beginning Today

I will learn something new;
I will try something different;
I will savor all the various flavors life has to offer.
I will change what I can and the rest I will let go.
I will strive to become the best me I can possibly be.

Beginning Today

And Every Day

Yes! Today and Every Day.

— Author Unknown

To Hear: I Wanna Feel Somethin’

Have you ever felt numbed out of life? It’s too much sometimes with talk of the never-ending presidential race, the war, recession, meeting life’s demands… well, it makes you just want to scream or sigh.

Country singer Trace Adkins, Donald Trumps latest Celebrity Apprentice finalist, sings this passionate song to empathize with you when you feel you have to hear your heart beat once more.

Maybe you can relate.

“I Wanna Feel Something”
Trace Adkins (c) 2006

If you’re tellin me I’m not on fire
You’re just preachin to the choir
I’ve gotten dull as old barbed wire from livin
Last night I watched the evening news
It was the same ol nothin new
It should have cut me right in two
But it didn’t
I dont know why it didn’t

But I wanna feel somethin
Somethin thats a real somethin
That moves me, that proves to me I’m still alive
I wanna heart that beats and bleeds
A heart thats bustin at the seams
I wanna care, I wanna cry, I wanna scream
I just wanna feel somethin

If you’re tellin me thats just how it is
I dont buy it cause once I was kissed
By a red-headed girl with cherry lips
On her porch when I was sixteen
And I felt it somewhere in my soul and time stood still and I couldn’t let go
I cant tell you cause I dont know how I got so cold
When did I get so cold

[Chorus:]
I just wanna feel somethin
Somethin that’s a real somethin
That moves me, that proves to me I’m still alive
Run my fingers through your fingers, across your face and through your hair
And close my eyes and breathe you in like air
I just wanna feel somethin

I hate that I’m jaded and I make you cry
But still you stick around me, only God knows why
Damn it all to hell, I’m done
Cause I don’t like what I’ve become
So come here, baby
Come here, baby

[Repeat Chorus]

Come here, baby

To Hear: “Breathe”

If you ever need a song that begs you to be still and breathe, this surely must be one. It’s a soft, thoughtful soundtrack to perhaps browsing through photos from long ago, remembering all of life’s precious moments, and letting go…

Enjoy.

The Cinematic Orchestra ‘Breathe’ - Live At The Barbican

Hear: Fight Outta You

My dear friend Ann sent me this song by Ben Harper called “Fight Outta You”. I hope if you are ever discouraged or feeling downtrodden by life, you listen to this song or read the lyrics. Never let anyone take the fight out of you.

They’ll look you in the eyes and stone you, then turn and disown you,
don’t you let them take the fight outta you
They’ll walk all over your name ’til they find someone else to blame,
don’t let them take the fight outta you
Secrets hide their lies inside hidden alibis,
don’t let them take the fight outta you
They put the world on a hook, it’s worse every time I look
Don’t let them take the fight outta you

I would rather take a punch than not give you a shot
I’d rather find out who you are than who you’re not
Should have known better than to mistake business for love
Should have known better than to mistake a fist for a glove

It will be in your honor ’til you’re not needed any longer,
don’t let them take the fight outta you
Don’t believe the headlines, check it for yourself sometimes,
don’t let them take the fight outta you
The lies you live become you, the love you lose it numbs you,
don’t let them take the fight outta you
They say that you’ve arrived but that’s just a high-class bribe,
don’t let them take the fight outta you

There’s always someone younger, someone with more hunger,
don’t let them take the fight outta you
They’ll say you’re the one and only, then straight up leave you lonely,
don’t let them take the fight outta you
Like a transplant-patient waiting for a donor,
don’t let them take the fight outta you
Like a half empty balloon after a party in the corner,
don’t let them take the fight outta you

To Hear: Taking Chances

Whad’ya say to taking chances?

Taking Chances - Celine Dion

Don’t know much about your life.
Don’t know much about your world, but
Don’t want to be alone tonight,
On this planet they call earth.

You don’t know about my past, and
I don’t have a future figured out.
And maybe this is going too fast.
And maybe it’s not meant to last,

But what do you say to taking chances,
What do you say to jumping off the edge?
Never knowing if there’s solid ground below
Or hand to hold, or hell to pay,
What do you say,
What do you say?

I just want to start again,
And maybe you could show me how to try,
And maybe you could take me in,
Somewhere underneath your skin?

What do you say to taking chances,
What do you say to jumping off the edge?

Never knowing if there’s solid ground below
Or hand to hold, or hell to pay,
What do you say,
What do you say?

And I had my heart beaten down,
But I always come back for more, yeah.
There’s nothing like love to pull you up,
When you’re laying down on the floor there.
So talk to me, talk to me,
Like lovers do.
Yeah walk with me, walk with me,
Like lovers do,
Like lovers do.

What do you say to taking chances,
What do you say to jumping off the edge?
Never knowing if there’s solid ground below
Or hand to hold, or hell to pay,
What do you say,
What do you say?

Don’t know much about your life
And I don’t know much about your world.

Live: With Intention

“Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends. Continue to learn. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.”

—Mary Anne Radmacher, author