A Life Anthem... Won't You Stand Up?

Passion.  You have to follow it, pursue it, and use it, in order to keep it.  If you ignore your passion, you end up stagnant, uninspired, and quite possibly, lonely.  We are born with passion, and I believe we are meant to follow it, regardless of what it is you are passionate about.  If ignored, you will likely never become the person you were meant to be.

Some people are passionate about the arts, or human rights, or global warming.  Some people are fortunate enough to dedicate a lot of time to their passion.  Others squeeze it in between their jobs and their family time.  The truth is, if you give yourself to your passion, even in small amounts, you will feel better about yourself, and become a better person as a result.  It is not the amount of time you give, it is the fact that you want to give and you allow yourself to do so.

My favorite quote has been "Be the change you wish to see in the world." by Mahatma Gandhi.  I wear a ring bearing this quote, and I have given a necklace bearing these words to a woman I respect in the animal welfare community.  It applies not only to my rescue work, but to other aspects of my life as well.

I now have a new "life anthem".  I could listen to it repeatedly, day in and day out. I could read, and reread the lyrics.  The words, written by another, come straight from my heart, and they are my advice to every person, in order to find happiness, peace, bliss.

The song is "Stand Up" by Sugarland.

Here is a link to a video of the song:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwdOUW2abqI .

The lyrics from the video:

"The heart that beats

An incredible machine

made of blood and love

and hope and lust and steam.

Calling.  Calling. Calling.

All the lonely people cryin’
It could change if we just get started
Lift the darkness, light a fire
For the silent and the broken hearted

Won’t you stand up
Stand Up
Stand Up
Won’t you stand up you girls and boys?

Won’t you stand up
Stand Up
Stand Up
Won’t you stand up and use your voice?

There’s a comfort
There’s a healing
High above the pain and sorrow
Change is coming
Can you feel it?
Calling us in to a new tomorrow

Won’t you stand up
Stand Up
Stand Up
Won’t you stand up you girls and boys?

Won’t you stand up
Stand Up
Stand Up
Won’t you stand up and use your voice?

When the walls fall all around you
When your hope has turned to dust
Let the sound of love surround you
Beat like a heart in each of us

Won’t you stand up
Stand Up
Stand Up
Won’t you stand up you girls and boys?

Won’t you stand up
Stand Up
Stand Up
Won’t you stand up and use your voice?"

Our voices are strong, but only if we use them.  Our voices are heard, but only if we sound them.  Our voices inspire, but only if we project them.

Regardless of the root of your passion, whether it is keeping the arts in schools, aiding the elderly, keeping history alive, assisting the poor, or animal welfare, to keep silent is the equivalent of watching the very things of which you are passionate die.

Find your passion, and engage your heart.  Feel what it is like to make a difference, a difference only you can make.  Feel what it is like to truly be alive.

"No one could make a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little." Edmund Burke

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