Life was interesting growing up in "small town' east Tennesse.
Kingsport, to be exact.
I remember at the age of about six, as most kids do, thinking about being a lawyer or doctor or airplane pilot. (Yes, airplanes existed back then :). I couldn't talk about such things to many of my friends. Most of them had already settled for "whatever". They had already concluded that things I talked about were not possible for "us".
But my mother was different. She told me continually that I could be whatever I wanted to be and the only limits I had were the ones I would allow myself to have. She reminded me that I had those long surgeon's hands and those slim long pianist's fingers. And that I was so talented and smart. She said I couldn't settle for anything less than one of those.
So I grew up, taking the stand that there are no limits to what a person can do, and ignoring the "You cant's". Believing I could, hearing my mother telling me, "Mediocrity is NOT okay", and working over, under, around or through any obstacles that came along, whether they were physical, mental, or spiritual.
One of the songs that helped me through those times was Stand, by Sly and The Family Stone.
As I rehabilitate my "capabilities" and re-direct my potential today, that song, along with my mother's words, restores confidence, courage, hope and commitment. It will do the same for you.
Here are the lyrics and the music.
Absorb it. Believe it!
Stand, from Lyrics.com:
Stand!
In the end you'll still be you
One that's done all the things you set out to do
Stand!
There's a cross for you to bear
Things to go through if you're going anywhere
Stand!
For the things you know are right
It s the truth that the truth makes them so uptight
Stand!
All the things you want are real
You have you to complete and there is no deal
Stand. stand, stand!
(Everybody, yeah)
Stand. stand, stand!
Stand!
You've been sitting much too long
There's a permanent crease in your right and wrong
Stand!
There's a midget standing tall
And a giant beside him about to fall
Stand. stand, stand!
Stand. stand, stand!
Stand!
They will try to make you crawl
And they know what you're saying makes sense and all
Stand!
Don't you know that you are free
Well, at least in your mind if you want to be
Everybody
Stand, stand, stand!
Stand! Na na-na na-na na na na na-na... (continue to fade)
and the music (from Youtube):
"Don't you know that you are free
Well, at least in your mind if you want to be"
...
"In the end you'll still be you
One that's done all the things you set out to do"
...
"Stand"
Be You!