PositLive Music: “It’s All Right”
“It’s All Right” Written by: Curtis Mayfield Released: October 1963 This song is a declaration that “it’s all right.” It was originally recorded by The Impressions with singer-songwriter, Curtis Mayfield, as lead singer. Mayfield would always write songs inspired by things he’d hear people say. “It’s all right” was said by fellow band member, Fred Cash, while performing in Nashville as they discussed the future of their group (Source). “It’s All Right” Cover sung by Jon Batiste & Celeste It’s All Right: Lyrics from “Soul” Cover Say it’s all right.Say it’s all right.It’s all right, have a good time‘Cause it’s all right, whoa, it’s all right. Now listen to the…
PositLive Music: “Put Your Records On”
“Put Your Records On” Written by: Corinne Bailey Rae, John Beck, and Steve Chrisanthou Released: February 20, 2006 First and foremost, this song is about marching to the beat of your own drum. It’s about not worrying so much about what people think and putting your worries aside. Furthermore, it’s about taking chances and having faith that things will work out in the end. In the song, Corinne Bailey Rae is singing to her younger self. She’s encouraging her younger self to fully embrace who she is (Source). Therefore, the lyrics read “Girl, put your records on.” However, the general message can be given to anyone. Select PositLive Music: Lyrical…
“When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love.”
This quote is from the book, Meditations, by the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Meditations contains a series of notes and ideas by Aurelius to himself–a kind of personal journal. There is evidence to believe Aurelius suffered from chronic pain and poor appetite (symptoms of a possible ulcer). It was so bad that many were concerned for his health. Knowing this context, we might have more appreciation for his words about waking up each morning with gratitude for simply being alive with the ability to think, enjoy, and love. It’s not always easy to do so, especially when we’re suffering from pain–be it physical or emotional. But perhaps, with gratitude, the…
PositLive Music: “The Climb”
“The Climb” Written by: Jessi Alexander and Jon Mabe Released: March 5, 2009 This song is about overcoming the obstacles we face in life. The songwriters experienced their own obstacles in the music business. So they wrote this song about their experience (Source)–acknowledging that life is not a race but a journey–a climb. Select PositLive Music: Lyrical Playlist to view all playlist songs as they’re being added.Select Exploring New Ways to PositLive to read about the inspiration for PositLive Music. “The Climb”: Cover sung by Point of Grace The Climb: Original Lyrics I can almost see it.That dream I’m dreaming, butThere’s a voice inside my head sayingYou’ll never reach it.…
“Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.”
So you’ve resolved to be “happier,” but it seems like a daunting task. This quote, by Omar Khayyam, reminds us that our life is composed of moments in time. We move from one moment to another; and together, those moments make up our life. Therefore, if we can concentrate on being happier for each moment, we’ll find that being happier, in general, is achievable. We’ll find that the more we practice this with each moment, the easier it gets. Moreover, the more moments of happiness we can find, the happier our life can become overall. Consider the following questions: Are you living in the moment? How can you make the…
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“Failure, it appears, is not the regret that haunts most people; it is the choice not to risk failure at all.”
“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”
“The holiest of holidays are those kept by ourselves in silence and apart; the anniversaries of the heart.”
Living Life Poetically: 2020
2020 has definitely been a challenging year for many of us. Through it, we may have felt pain, sadness, loss, and loneliness in a way we’ve never felt before. But coming to this moment with the year at a close means we somehow managed to push through it all. We may have discovered new ways to cope; and we may have realized we’re stronger than we expected–especially with the support of each other. Perhaps we take less for granted. Perhaps we discovered an appreciation for the little things. The poem, “2020”, is a reflection on a year that has been horrendous. But with time, we may find the silver lining…
“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”
In nature, storms come and go. No storm has ever lasted forever. However, some are fleeting, while some can last the entire night and into the morning. The same applies to life. Some of the challenging moments in life are short-lived and some seem like they’ll never end. Either way, it’s only natural to wait eagerly for the storm to pass. Waiting in anticipation for life’s storms to pass isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s a sign of hope. However, this quote, by Vivian Greene, reminds us to dance in the rain while we wait. It’s not always easy. But when it can be done, it makes the wait so…
“The secret of happiness, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.”
Gratitude and contentment are two things that create a solid foundation for happiness. That’s what this quote, by Socrates, is all about. When we’re grateful and content, we’re able to enjoy what we have now. And while we pursue our goals for the future, we do so already with a foundation of happiness. Therefore, our happiness isn’t necessarily a result of having more. It’s the result of an unshakeable mindset and ability to enjoy the little things.
“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”
When you think about it, everything can be considered a miracle. For example, the sun rising and setting, the seasons, the weather, our anatomy, and even the way our organs operate. Not to mention, the perfect symbiosis in our ecosystems, animal migrations, a butterfly’s metamorphosis, and plant life. From the perfect timing of how planets spin and revolve in the solar system to our heart beat, it’s all quite miraculous. Moreover, everything that happens is affected by these things. So in a sense, everything (everyday) is a miracle–a divine miracle. This quote, by Albert Einstein, reminds us that we can live life as if everything is a miracle or as…
“You rarely win, but sometimes you do.”
This quote by the author of To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee, is about the fact that life isn’t always fair. Therefore, you don’t always win–you don’t always get what you want. There’s nothing new or groundbreaking about this. From an early age, we begin to learn that we don’t always get what we want and we don’t always win. What makes this quote special is that, in so few words, it paints this harsh reality while giving hope at the same time; and that hope comes from one word in particular: sometimes. In life, it’s more likely that we will rarely win, especially in a sea of competition or…
