4 posts tagged “cool chick”

Wow.  I was hoping to post something positive today.  And who knows?  I still may later on, but when I came into work this morning and opened up my iGoogle, this is the first thing I saw:

Benazir Bhutto Assassinated

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7161590.stm

Not to make this all about me, but what a way to start the day!  Damn!  I know that there's been a lot of attempts on her life, but good lord.  I must be losing my edge, because this has really shaken me.  Now, I'm not naive (or at least not as much as people think I am), and I know what humanity is capable of (probably better than most), but this has just left me dumbstruck.

It is a dark day, ladies and gentlemen.  Not just for Pakistan, but for the worldover.

Audio: Share what you're listening to right now.

I may have come off as a tad overzealous, or perhaps even disingenous, about my recent birthday.  I know that turning 30 is painted with maudlin colors and an overwhelming desire to reexamine your life thus far, but for me, it's liberating.  The way I see it hitting the big 3-0! feels like a milestone to be celebrated and welcomed with open arms.  I find myself imagining that maybe this is the point in my life where I can my ass in gear and do something.  As opposed to being told to do something. 

I don't know.  It's hard for me to explain.  Maybe I'll just let Ms. Arie explain it for me.  I'm not gonna lie.  The lyrics to this song has pushed me to the verge of tears so many times.  Because every time I listen to them or read them, I know that this is where I need to be, this is what I need to be living every single day.  It is My Anthem.

The lyrics say it all:

Because you never know where life is gonna take you
and you can't change where you've been.
But today, I have the opportunity to choose.

[Verse 1:]
Here am I now looking at 30 and I got so much to say.
I gotta get this off of my chest, I gotta let it go today.
I was always too concerned about what everybody would think.
But I can't live for everybody, I gotta live my life for me. (Yeah)
I pitched a fork in the road of my life and ain't nothing gonna happen unless I decide.

[Chorus:]
(And I choose) to be the best that I can be.
(I choose) to be authentic in everything I do.
My past don't dictate who I am. I choose. (Yeah)

[Verse 2:]
I done been through some painful things I thought that I would never make it through.
Filled up with shame from the top of my head to the soles of my shoes.
I put myself in so many chaotic circumstances, but by the grace of God I've been given so many second chances.
But today I decided to let it all go. I'm dropping these bags, I'm making room for my joy.

[Chorus:]
(And I choose) to be the best that I can be.
(I choose) to be authentic in everything I do.
My past don't dictate who I am. I choose.

[Bridge:]
Because you never know where life is gonna take you and you can't change where you've been.
But today, I have the opportunity to choose. (Hey ey)
I used to have guilt about why things happen they way they did cuz life is gone do what it do.
And everyday, I have the opportunity to choose.

[Verse 3:]
From this day forward I'm going to be exactly who I am.
I don't need to change the way that I live just to get a man. (NO!)
I even had a talk with my mama and I told her today I'm grown,
"from this day forward, every decision I make will be my own." And hey!

[Chorus:]
(And I choose) to be the best that I can be.
(I choose) to be courageous in everything I do.
My past don't dictate who I am. I choose.

(And I choose) to be the best that I can be.
(I choose) to be authentic in everything I do.
My past don't dictate who I am. I choose.

[Bridge:]
Because you never know where life is gonna take you and you can't change where you've been.
But today, I have the opportunity to choose. (Hey ey)
I used to have guilt about why things happen they way they did cuz life is gone do what it do.
And everyday, I have the opportunity to choose.

Audio: What's your favorite hidden track or song from an album?
Submitted by Kristine.

I'm not quite sure of the title, but I think it's called "Will You Forgive Me, Love."  It's hidden behind Track 13 - "You Oughta Know (Alternate)" on Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill album.  It comes up around the 5:10 mark.