Every impactful movement needs a fight song, and “Rise Up” by Andra Day just may become the fight song for your life.
In the song, Day sings from the perspective of the motivator and through her croons, you may find encouragement to overcome the obstacle standing in your way.
She begins the song, acknowledging the negative thoughts you may have, singing, “You’re broken down and tired of living life on a merry-go-round.”
She recognizes the fighter that permanently resides within you that you think you’ve lost, and pushes you to “walk it out and move mountains”.
Day continues to send support throughout the entirety of the chorus, belting, “I’ll rise up
I’ll rise like the day…I’ll rise unafraid…High like the waves…In spite of the ache…And I’ll do it a thousand times again for you.”
It is natural to have times in where you feel lost and confused, and you may even feel like you are fighting a losing battle, but you aren’t. If you have hope, passion, and motivation then you have all of the elements that you need to overcome—at least mentally. And even if you believe that it’s not there, you aren’t digging deep enough. You have the ability to do whatvever you put your mind to, and that’s what Andra Day wants you to see.
“Rise Up” inspires me to release all of the negative energy I build up and use it to confront my issues head-on.
Listening to this song, you can find support to do the same through the powerful lyrics, or through the power that echoes in Day’s voice.
You have the power to do whatever it is that you want to do; you just have to look within yourself, find it, and allow it to shine.
Shutting off the world and connecting with my maker is one of my favorite times of the day! Creating an atmosphere that is going to allow me to focus and hear the Holy Spirit is vital to how effective my devotional time is. Light some candles, put your phone away and allow this playlist to play quietly in the background! I hope you enjoy.
The Devotional Playlist
Lauren Diagel: Once and For All
All Sons & Daughters: Great Are You Lord
Sarah Hart Pearsons: Sweet Holy Spirit
Tamela Mann: Take Me to the King
Kim Walker:Smith and Skyler Smith: Christ The Rock
My family loves music. Everyone in my household loves listening to music, and even though we also have our own independent earphone-sets respectively, we still have bi-monthly search parties whenever someone (cough, my younger brother, cough) will ‘accidently’ take someone else’s headphones. Recently, I discovered a DIY project on Pinterest that will not only help me keep my brother’s sticky hands away from my earphones, but also stop them from getting ridiculously tangled!
Using embroidery-floss and technique famously known as the Chinese Staircase, you will be able to differentiate between your earphones and another’s with little-to-no argument needed.
You will need: Embroidery-floss (which can be purchased at your local arts and crafts store), Earphones (of course), Tape, Clear glue, and Scissors.
If you have made a friendship bracelet in elementary school or are familiar with the Chinese Staircase technique, then this project may be a breeze for you. But if you are a bit arts-and-crafts challenged, like myself, or need additional assistance, detailed instructions can be found at: http://teachmemila.blogspot.ca/2012/09/diy-colorful-wrapped-earphones.html?m=1
Hopefully, you will have just as much fun as I did with this neat DIY!
Take pictures and tag your results to @knowyourstrong on Instagram and Twitter!
Maeve Binchy once said, “The great thing about getting older is that you become more mellow. Things aren’t as black and white, and you become much more tolerant. You can see the good in things much more easily rather than getting enraged as you used to do when you were young.”
The song “Eternal Sunshine” by Jhene Aiko is the epitome of this quote.
Despite the singer being 27-years old, she starts the song off by crooning, “Is it strange for me to say that/ If I were to die today/There’s not a thing that I would change/I’ve lived well.”
She goes on to acknowledge that she has made mistakes and been hurt, but still claims that her life has been “well”. She also recognizes that in reflection of her life, she is only able to “recall all of the good things” that occurred.
The pre-hook and hook of the song is what really mirrors the ideology of the quote by Binchy. Aiko sings about how the more she experiences, the more knowledgeable she becomes. Besides this revelation, the song and quote also acknowledge that with age, comes a sense of euphoria.
You begin to hone in on the good things in your life.
What makes you happy?
Who makes you smile?
For those reasons this song inspires me to be a good person so that I can reflect on my life with the same appreciation that Maeve Binchy and Jhene Aiko have about there’s. Listening to this song, you may have a similar revelation or a different epiphany entirely.
When you look back on the past summers, do you ever hear the hum of a song that was playing on constant loop all summer that year? When I first listened to this track not only could I see this song being on repeat for the summer, but I could also see it being a song for me to reflect on for my life in general.
The artist, Tori Kelly, sets the tone for the song as she sings the line, “You’re not breaking me”.
The California native goes on to sing about how her image is dependent on her. She sings about how she wants to “use her name for good and change the game…”.
But she also reminds people that she is still a person. “You see me hanging with my fam, but that don’t mean I’m living in a bubble / You’ll find me at church, but that don’t mean I can’t cause trouble,” she vocalizes.
Kelly is clear as glass in this new song, and the fact that she is open and honest resonates deeply within me. Although, the issues that she sings about in the song are more relatable to a person that is famous compared to myself, she challenges me to be me despite the pressures of the world—and that’s something that I need to be reminded of lately.
Everyone has a song that can be a reminder of where you are or a song that acts as a guide to where you are going. Whether or not this song can be that for you, I hope that you are able to reflect upon choices that you’ve made so that you may grow and create an unbreakable smile of your own.
![STRONG, Inc. [Simple Transitions Render Opportunity Necessary For Growth]](https://www.knowyourstrong.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/NewLogo.png)
Recent Comments