"Human" by Christina Perri

This is a song I remember hearing on the radio while driving and just stopping to listen to the lyrics. They stirred something in me, something that hits me every time I stop and really listen to this song. It reminds me to stop trying to be somebody and just be myself. It makes me remember to embrace life -- all of it -- including the happy and the sad, the triumph and the troubles. Also, this song reminds me that everyone struggles with their own version of these same feelings and they need forgiveness and encouragement the same as I do. I've always wanted to be a light for others, but I also want to shine with my own light, a bright fire that is not afraid to shine.

"Human"

by Christina Perri

I can hold my breath

I can bite my tongue

I can stay awake for days

If that's what you want

Be your number one

I can fake a smile

I can force a laugh

I can dance and play the part

If that's what you ask

Give you all I am

I can do it

I can do it

I can do it

But I'm only human

And I bleed when I fall down

I'm only human

And I crash and I break down

Your words in my head, knives in my heart

You build me up and then I fall apart

'Cause I'm only human

I can turn it on

Be a good machine

I can hold the weight of worlds

If that's what you need

Be your everything

I can do it

I can do it

I'll get through it

But I'm only human

And I bleed when I fall down

I'm only human

And I crash and I break down

Your words in my head, knives in my heart

You build me up and then I fall apart

'Cause I'm only human

I'm only human

I'm only human

Just a little human

I can take so much

'Til I've had enough

'Cause I'm only human

And I bleed when I fall down

I'm only human

And I crash and I break down

Your words in my head, knives in my heart

You build me up and then I fall apart

'Cause I'm only human

"To Build A Home" by The Cinematic Orchestra

"To Build A Home"

by The Cinematic Orchestra

There is a house built out of stone

Wooden floors, walls and window sills

Tables and chairs worn by all of the dust

This is a place where I don't feel alone

This is a place where I feel at home.

And I built a home

for you

for me

Until it disappeared

from me

from you

And now, it's time to leave and turn to dust........

Out in the garden where we planted the seeds

There is a tree as old as me

Branches were sewn by the color of green

Ground had arose and passed its knees

By the cracks of the skin I climbed to the top

I climbed the tree to see the world

When the gusts came around to blow me down

Held on as tightly as you held onto me

Held on as tightly as you held onto me......

And I built a home

for you

for me

Until it disappeared

from me

from you

And now, it's time to leave and turn to dust........

"Story of My Life" by One Direction

"Story Of My Life"

by One Direction

Written in these walls are the stories that I can't explain

I leave my heart open but it stays right here empty for days

She told me in the morning she don't feel the same about us in her bones

Seems to me that when I die these words will be written on my stone

And I'll be gone, gone tonight

The ground beneath my feet is open wide

The way that I been holding on too tight

With nothing in between

The story of my life

I take her home

I drive all night to keep her warm

And time... is frozen (the story of, the story of)

The story of my life

I give her hope

I spend her love

Until she's broke

Inside

The story of my life (the story of, the story of)

Written on these walls are the colors that I can't change

Leave my heart open but it stays right here in its cage

I know that in the morning now I see us in the light upon a hill

Although I am broken, my heart is untamed, still

And I'll be gone, gone tonight

The fire beneath my feet is burning bright

The way that I been holding on so tight

With nothing in between

The story of my life

I take her home

I drive all night to keep her warm

And time... is frozen (the story of, the story of)

The story of my life

I give her hope

I spend her love

Until she's broke

Inside

The story of my life (the story of, the story of)

And I been waiting for this time to come around

But baby running after you is like chasing the clouds

The story of my life

I take her home

I drive all night to keep her warm

And time is frozen

The story of my life

I give her hope (give her hope)

I spend her love

Until she's broke (until she's broke inside)

Inside

The story of my life (the story of, the story of)

The story of my life

The story of my life (the story of, the story of)

The story of my life

"Good Life" by OneRepublic

"Good Life"

by OneRepublic

Woke up in London yesterday 

Found myself in the city near Piccadilly 

Don't really know how I got here 

I got some pictures on my phone 

New names and numbers that I don't know 

Address to places like Abbey Road 

Day turns to night, night turns to whatever we want 

We're young enough to say

Oh this has gotta be the good life 

This has gotta be the good life 

This could really be a good life, good life 

Say oh, got this feeling that you can't fight 

Like this city is on fire tonight 

This could really be a good life 

A good, good life 

To my friends in New York, I say hello 

My friends in L.A. they don't know 

Where I've been for the past few years or so 

Paris to China to Colorado

Sometimes there's airplanes I can't jump out 

Sometimes there's bullshit that don't work now 

We all got our stories but please tell me-e-e-e

What there is to complain about 

When you're happy like a fool 

Let it take you over 

When everything is out 

You gotta take it in 

Oh this has gotta be the good life 

This has gotta be the good life 

This could really be a good life, good life 

Say oh, got this feeling that you can't fight 

Like this city is on fire tonight 

This could really be a good life 

A good, good life

Hopelessly 

I feel like there might be something that I'll miss 

Hopelessly 

I feel like the window closes oh so quick 

Hopelessly 

I'm taking a mental picture of you now 

'Cause hopelessly 

The hope is we have so much to feel good about

Oh this has gotta be the good life 

This has gotta be the good life 

This could really be a good life, good life 

Say oh, got this feeling that you can't fight 

Like this city is on fire tonight 

This could really be a good life 

A good, good life

Oh yeah

Good, good life

Good life

Ooh

Listen

My friends in New York, I say hello

My friends in L.A. they don't know 

Where I've been for the past few years or so 

Paris to China to Colorado

Sometimes there's airplanes I can't jump out 

Sometimes there's bullshit that don't work now 

We all got our stories but please tell me-e-e-e

What there is to complain about

"Keep Breathing" by Ingrid Michaelson

"Keep Breathing"

by Ingrid Michaelson

The storm is coming but I don't mind

People are dying, I close my blinds

All that I know is I'm breathing now

I want to change the world

Instead I sleep

I want to believe in more than you and me

But all that I know is I'm breathing

All I can do is keep breathing

All we can do is keep breathing now

All that I know is I'm breathing

All I can do is keep breathing.

All we can do is keep breathing 

All we can do is keep breathing

All we can do is keep breathing

All we can do is keep breathing

All we can do is keep breathing

All we can do is keep breathing now

"Brave" by Sara Bareilles

photo credit

My intention for this year is to be brave. It began as a Mops theme, even though I won't be able to be part of it anymore, it has really taken root in my soul. "Be Brave" has become my mantra this year and has truly directed my life. Fear is my ultimate weakness and bravery is the exact thing I have needed this year in many moments, especially moving to Seattle, WA! This song has come on the radio 5 times in the last 4 times I have been in the car. I am relenting and saving it for myself here. I want to say what I wanna say and let the words fall out. We are finding a way out of the cage we live in. This song is perfect for our lives right now. And most importantly, I am brave!
~6.18.14~Amanda~

"Brave"

by Sara Bareilles

You can be amazing

You can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug

You can be the outcast

Or be the backlash of somebody’s lack of love

Or you can start speaking up

Nothing’s gonna hurt you the way that words do

When they settle ‘neath your skin

Kept on the inside and no sunlight

Sometimes a shadow wins

But I wonder what would happen if you

Say what you wanna say

And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

With what you want to say

And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

I just want to see you

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I wanna see you be brave

Everybody’s been there,

Everybody’s been stared down by the enemy

Fallen for the fear

And done some disappearing,

Bow down to the mighty

Don’t run, just stop holding your tongue

Maybe there’s a way out of the cage where you live

Maybe one of these days you can let the light in

Show me how big your brave is

Say what you wanna say

And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

With what you want to say

And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

And since your history of silence

Won’t do you any good,

Did you think it would?

Let your words be anything but empty

Why don’t you tell them the truth?

Say what you wanna say

And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

With what you want to say

And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

I just wanna see you

See you be brave