Tag Archives: Eminem

How to be Bad@$$ Brave

Posted on
12

 

Disclaimer: I don’t use expletives (at least not out loud. much. at all) but this post deserves proper language, and in this instance, badass is the word of the day. Mkay? mkay.

Sabrina Ward Harrison–my current heroine–walks me through moments of honesty in the early morning hours. Her prompts on pages make space for my answers and for my questions. Her lines and words draw out dreams in me that have long been buried. And they cheer me to chase faster, jump higher, be braver.

She even helped me create my “Bad@$$” playlist (yes, I typed it exactly like that in my iTunes) for this season of my life–with songs that push me forward–with songs from Eminem and P!nk and Linkin Park and OneRepublic.

And just last night I sat in that same spot, but I sat before pages and pages of application forms and questionnaires. And some of the questions made me cry. And some of the questions made Drew cry. But we attacked them anyway. And this is the adoption process. And it is hard. But it is worth it. And these Bad@$$ songs pounded in my ears as I turned the pages. And they made me feel brave; their music filling me with drive and determination.

And I think that’s exactly what bravery is. It’s looking at the obstacles–the difficulties, the heartaches, the fears, the unknowns of the road before you–and deciding that the journey is worth every step and stumble. It’s finding motivators. And finding ways to propel ourselves forward when we feel weak. It’s turning the page.

And I want to add more songs to my Bad@$$ Playlist. So what suggestions do y’all have for me? What songs help you feel brave?

What if I’m not ready?

Posted on
49

I’ve been begging, pleading, and praying for what may be coming at me. And I’m writing this with Eminem playing in the background, because I’m that much of a drama queen:

Feet fail me not
this may be the only opportunity that I got

In the past month, a few opportunities have come my way, cracking open the “songwriting” door a bit further–the door to getting my songs out there or whatever that means. And, when I sit back and think about these opportunities, my mind reels with what-ifs and how-tos and what-in-the-worlds. And then come the have-I-lost-my-minds? Granted, nothing may happen from any of this. But, something may.

I can’t help but worry that I’m gonna blow it. That I’m not ready, not prepared, and don’t have what it takes. What if I show up for that co-writing session and he starts talking song concepts and phrases and chord progressions and I just embarrass myself with bad ideas? Or what if I email her a few songs and she realizes I’m more talk than talent? Or what if I sit down for that mentoring conversation and she begins to think I’m not worth the investment?

Through all of this, y’all have been a most supportive community. But this time, I need to find a way to cheer myself on… Instead of filling the comment box with disagreements, help me disagree with myself. Tell me this: how in the world I can stop thinking these things? Because I REALLY need to stop thinking these things. The clock is ticking. These doors won’t stay open long. And, come January, I need to be brave enough to place my hand on a handle or two.