Wise Words: Because I Am A Queen

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while now, you’ll know that I adore India Arie and her positive, self-loving, soulful music and lyrics. Her songs never fail to lift me up and make me feel as magical and wonderful as a fairy riding a unicorn over a double rainbow 🙂

In the spirit of 30 Days Of Beauty, I would like to share with you one of my favourite songs in the history of the Universe; ‘Video’ (also known as ‘Because I Am A Queen’), by India Arie.

Enjoy the tunes, feel the love and use the lyrics below to sing your heart out!

To watch the music video for this song (which won’t play here), click here.

“Sometimes I shave my legs and sometimes I don’t
Sometimes I comb my hair and sometimes I won’t
Depend on how the wind blows I might even paint my toes
It really just depends on whatever feels good in my soul

I’m not the average girl from your video
And I ain’t built like a supermodel
But I learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I’m not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I’m wearing I will always be
The india arie

When I look in the mirror and the only one there is me
Every freckle on my face is where it’s supposed to be
And I know my creator didn’t make no mistakes on me
My feet my thighs my lips my eyes I’m loving what I see

I’m not the average girl from your video
And I ain’t built like a supermodel
But I learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen (yeah)
I’m not the average girl from your video (woo)
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes (whoa)
No matter what I’m wearing I will always be
The india arie

Am I less of a lady if I don’t wear pantyhose
My mama said a lady ain’t what she wears but what she knows
But I’ve drawn the conclusion
It’s all an illusion
Confusion’s the name of the game
A misconception a vast deception,
Something’s got to change

Don’t be offended this is all my opinion
Ain’t nothing that I’m saying law
This is a true confession
Of a life-learned lesson
I was sent here to share with y’all
So get in when you fit in
Go on and shine
Clear your mind
Now’s the time
Put your salt on the shelf
Go on and love yourself (love yourself)
‘Cause everything’s gonna be alright (love yourself)

I’m not the average girl from your video
And I ain’t built like a supermodel
But I learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen (yeah)
I’m not the average girl from your video (woo)
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes (whoa)
No matter what I’m wearing I will always be
The india arie

Keep your fancy drink and your expensive minks
I don’t need that to have a good time
Keep your expensive cars
And your caviar
All’s I need is my guitar
Keep your cristal and your pistol
I’d rather have a pretty piece of crystal
Don’t need your silicone
I prefer my own
What god gave me is just fine
(Oh hah hah hah)

I’m not the average girl from your video
And I ain’t built like a supermodel
But I learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen (yeah)
I’m not the average girl from your video (woo)
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes (whoa)
No matter what I’m wearing I will always be
The india arie”

Stay beaYOUtiful,

Jen ♥

Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/i/india_arie/#share

Wise Words: Strength, Courage & Wisdom

To continue with the theme from my last post, which was everything you need is within, I want to share this song with you. It’s called ‘Strength, Courage & Wisdom’, by the beautiful India Arie.

When I first heard this song, I remember really listening to the lyrics & feeling so deeply connected to it, as though it was written specifically for me. A new layer of awareness of myself emerged, & now I always listen to this song whenever I’m feeling insecure or doubtful.

The lyrics always remind me that I already possess all the qualities that I need in order to overcome challenges & live the life I’ve always dreamed of.

Lyrics:

“Strength, Courage & Wisdom”

“Inside my head there lives a dream that I want to see in the sun
Behind my eyes there lives a me that I’ve been hiding for much too long
‘Cause I’ve been, too afraid to let it show
‘Cause I’m scared of the judgment that may follow
Always putting off my living for tomorrow
It’s time to step out on faith, I’ve gotta show my face
It’s been elusive for so long, but freedom is mine today
I’ve gotta step out on faith, It’s time to show my face
Procrastination had me down but look what I have found, I found

[Chorus:]
Strength, courage, and wisdom
And it’s been inside of me all along,
Strength, courage, and wisdom
Inside of me

Behind my pride there lives a me, that knows humility
Inside my voice there is a soul, and in my soul there is a voice
But I’ve been, too afraid to make a choice
‘Cause I’m scared of the things that I might be missing
Running too fast to stop and listen

It’s time to step out on faith, I’ve gotta show my face
It’s been elusive for so long but freedom is mine today
I’ve gotta step out on faith it’s time to show my face
Procrastination had me down but look what I have found, I found

[Chorus]

[Bridge:]
I close my eyes and I think of all the things that I want to see
‘Cause I know, now that I’ve opened up my heart I know that
Anything I want can be, so let it be, so let it be:.

Strength, courage, and wisdom
It’s been inside of me all along,
Strength, courage, wisdom
It’s been inside of me all along, everyday I’m praying for:

[Chorus]

I found it in me, I found it finally
I’m sure to keep it’ cause I like it, I say thank you”

Have you ever heard a song with so much truth to it?

Everything we need is within us right now.

In Other News…

Happy Chinese New Year!

Feb 3rd marks the beginning of the Year of the Rabbit, & as someone who was also born in the year of the rabbit in 1987, I have a good feeling about 2011 🙂

I found a website that has some information about what the year of the rabbit means, so if you’re interested, check it out.

As I said in my last post, I’m in Beijing at the moment so please forgive me if it takes a little longer for me to reply to your comments & emails, but I hope you are all having a great week!

Stay AWESOME!

P.S I’ve made something for you, keep an eye out for my next post! 😀

Jen ♥

Baby, You’re A Firework!

Hello! 🙂

I’ve been thinking lately about what makes a day a ‘good day’ for me. One thing that always makes my day brighter & gives me positive vibes is listening to my favourite music.

There isn’t really a particular style of music that I like, what gets my attention first is always the lyrics. I love any song that makes me think, that tells a story, teaches me something, or makes me feel good about myself. I see song lyrics as affirmations, words that you often repeat to yourself, they become a part of your subconscious & eventually affect how you see the world. So, songs with positive, empowering lyrics, especially when written &/or sung by a woman, are particularly powerful for me.

‘Firework’ by Katy Perry is an extremely positive & empowering song. The song always gives me goosebumps, & the video brings tears to my eyes. Whether you like this type of music or not, everyone can benefit from listening to the lyrics.

C’mon, sing along! I promise I won’t judge 🙂

“Do you ever feel like a plastic bag
Drifting throught the wind
Wanting to start again

Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin
Like a house of cards
One blow from caving in

Do you ever feel already buried deep
Six feet under scream
But no one seems to hear a thing

Do you know that tehre’s still a chance for you
Cause there’s a spark in you

You just gotta ignite the light
And let it shine
Just own the night
Like the Fourth of July

Cause baby you’re a firework
Come on show ’em what your worth
Make ’em go “Oh, oh, oh!”
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby you’re a firework
Come on let your colors burst
Make ’em go “Oh, oh, oh!”
You’re gunna leave ’em fallin’ down-own-own

You don’t have to feel like a waste of space
You’re original, cannot be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds
After a hurricane comes a rainbow

Maybe you’re reason why all the doors are closed
So you can open one that leads you to the perfect road

Like a lightning bolt, your heart will blow
And when it’s time, you’ll know

You just gotta ignite the light
And let it shine
Just own the night
Like the Fourth of July

Cause baby you’re a firework
Come on show ’em what your worth
Make ’em go “Oh, oh, oh!”
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby you’re a firework
Come on slet your colors burst
Make ’em go “Oh, oh, oh!”
You’re gunna leave ’em fallin’ down-own-own

Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
It’s always been inside of you, you, you
And now it’s time to let it through

Cause baby you’re a firework
Come on show ’em what your worth
Make ’em go “Oh, oh, oh!”
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby you’re a firework
Come on slet your colors burst
Make ’em go “Oh, oh, oh!”
You’re gunna leave ’em goin “Oh, oh, oh!”

Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon”

I’ll be posting again soon to catch up on the #reverb10 prompts from the last few days!

Until then,

Keep Smiling! 🙂

Jen ♥

(Katy Perry Firework lyrics found on http://www.directlyrics.com/katy-perry-firework-lyrics.html)