Because There's Hope, What Do You Choose?

Yesterday I told a friend of mine that I'd started a blog. He response was "Blogging now? sounds like another work distraction." And I responded with "I won't be doing that much talking though. Basically just posting the question of the day."...Ok, well maybe he was right.

I woke up this morning, sluggish but still in a good mood. So I got dressed, even had a lil breakfast before I left the house. Every morning when I get in the car, I pick up my iPod and look @ my playlists to choose what I'm going to listen to until I get to work. Well this morning, I chose my playlist of my top 20 india.arie songs. The first song on the playlist was "I Choose" from her CD India.Arie-Testimony, Vol. 1: Life & Relationships. So about after the 5th time of listening to the song and looking like I was having chu'ch in my car all by myself, I began to really ponder what Sista India spoke of...

"I Choose"

Because you never know where life is gonna
take youand 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 gonna 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 the day 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.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eyVBxuB58U

So about after the 7th time of me listening to this song, I finally moved to the next one on the playlist. And it was There's Hope, also from the same CD. As this one is playing, I literally got chills...Let me explain why. The bridge and chorus of this song is what hit me:

[Chorus:]
There's hope
It doesn't cost a thing to smile
You don't have to pay to laugh

You better thank God for that

[Bridge:]

Every time I turn on the T.V. (There's Hope)

Somebody's acting crazy (There's Hope)

If you let it, it will drive you crazy (There's Hope)

but I'm takin' back my power today (There's Hope)

Gas prices they just keep on rising (There's Hope)
The government they keep on lying but we gotta keep on surviving

Keep living our truth and do the best we can do

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbAXfZXl5jQ

Listening to these words hit me in the core of my heart. We truly have the power to create our own happiness. Regardless of what has happened to us (relationships, financial struggles, abuse, eating disorders, breaking of trust, etc.) we can choose to move forward and live life in the now. Is there something holding you back from moving forward and being happy with yourself? And I'm not speaking of material things because they only provide temporary happiness, not joy. Ask yourself if there's something that you choose to drop. Because I am a living witness, this process will not happen overnight. But what are you willing to choose to work on?

I've chosen to drop some bags to make room for my joy!

There is hope...so what do you choose?