April Foiles

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Smile

January 30, 2012 by April

I love you. Smile!

I Smile by Kirk Franklin

Lyrics
I dedicate this song to recession,
depression and unemployment.
This song’s for you.

Today’s a new day, but there is no sunshine.
Nothing but clouds, and it’s dark in my heart
and it feels like a cold night.
Today’s a new day, where are my blue skies,
where is the love and the joy that you promised me
you tell me it’s alright.

(I’ll be honest with you)
I almost gave up, but a power that I can’t explain,
fell from heaven like a shower now.

(When I think how much better I’m gonna be when this is over)
I smile, even though I hurt see I smile,
I know God is working so I smile,
Even though I’ve been here for a while (what you do?)
I smile, smile..
it’s so hard to look up when you’ve been down.
Sure would hate to see you give up now
You look so much better when you smile, so smile.

Today’s a new day, but there is no sunshine.
Nothing but clouds, and it’s dark in my heart,
and it feels like a cold night.
Today’s a new day, but tell me where are my blue skies,
where is the love and the joy that you promised me
you tell me it’s alright.

(the truth is)
I almost gave up, but a power that I can’t explain (the holy ghost power, yo)
fell from heaven like a shower now.

I smile, even though I hurt see I smile,
I know God is working so I smile,
Even though I’ve been here for a while
I smile, smile..
it’s so hard to look up when you’ve been down.
Sure would hate to see you give up now
You look so much better when you smile.

Smile.. for me
Can you just smile… for me.
Smile.. for me
Can you just smile… for me.

ohohoh you look so much better when you
ohohoh you look so much better when you
ohohoh you look so much better when you
ohohoh you look so much better when you
ohohoh you look so much better when you
(and while your waiting)
ohohoh you look so much better when you
(and while your praying)
ohohoh you look so much better when you
(look in the mirror)
ohohoh you look so much better when you
(always remember)
You look so much better when you smile

I almost gave up, but a power that I can’t explain (but the holy ghost power, yo)
fell from heaven like a shower now.

I smile, even though I hurt see I smile,
I know God is working so I smile,
Even though I’ve been here for a while
I smile, smile..
it’s so hard to look up when you’ve been down.
Sure would hate to see you give up now.
You look so much better when you smile.
so smile.

ohohoh (Dallas) you look so much better when you
ohohoh (New Orleans) you look so much better when you
ohohoh (Clevland) you look so much better when you
ohohoh (Detroit) you look so much better when you
ohohoh (Philay) you look so much better when you
ohohoh (Jersey) you look so much better when you
ohohoh (L.A) you look so much better when you
ohohoh (all my people say) you look so much better when you
smile…

See I just don’t want you to be happy
’cause you gotta have something happening.
I want you to have joy
’cause can’t nobody take that away from you.
I see you.. SMILE!!

Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: I Smile, Kirk Franklin, lyrics, music, video

Keep On

January 30, 2012 by April

Keep on doing what you believe. I know we’re going to make it. Don’t let nobody take your hope away.

I am by Lina

Lyrics

Thought I’d seen it all
That’s when trouble called
They say troubles not your friend
But it helped me know who I am
Through my adversity
I discovered me
Healthy, strong and free

I know where I’m going
Love where I’ve been
I would do it all again
If in the end
It makes me the woman I am

Always here for you
Gonna be a friend
You know I’ll always love you
I want to see you _____

… chorus…
Keep on, keep on breaking down the walls
Keep on, keep on standin tall
Keep on settin the people free
It’s the only way to make it

Keep on fighting for the cause
We gotta keep on standin tall
Keep on doin what you believe
You know we’re going to make it

I am
Because I choose to be
Wonderful, at ease
Nothing holdin me
The sky’s the limit

Hold on to your pride
Don’t give way to doubt
We gotta keep pushin
Keep pushin
Come on!

I know where I’m going
I Love where I’ve been
I would do it all again
If in the end
It makes me the woman I am

Always here for you
Gonna be a friend
And you know I’ll always love you
I want to see you _____

… chorus…
Keep on, keep on breaking down the walls
Keep on, keep on standin tall
Keep on settin the people free
It’s the only way to make it

Keep on fighting for the cause
We gotta keep on standin tall
Keep on doin what you believe
You know we’re going to make it
Keep on

So many before us
They paved the way
They made it possible to have what we have today
Like many before us
We should learn from our mistakes
Struggle not in vain
Don’t let nobody take your hope away

… chorus…
Keep on, keep on breaking down the walls
Keep on, keep on standin tall
Keep on settin the people free
It’s the only way to make it

Keep on fighting for the cause
We gotta keep on standin tall
Keep on doin what you believe
You know we’re going to make it

… chorus…
Keep on, keep on breaking down the walls
Keep on, keep on standin tall
Keep on settin the people free
It’s the only way to make it

Keep on fighting for the cause
We gotta keep on standin tall
Keep on doin what you believe
You know we’re going to make it

Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: I am, Lina, lyrics, music

You Are Not Alone

January 16, 2012 by April

I’m here. You’re not alone. I can accept you even when you’re scared and sick. I will never abandon you.

If you are feeling eas­ily over­whelmed and stressed, I will pro­tect you and guide you towards inner peace.

From AWAKEN YOUR STRONGEST SELF: Speak­ing from Your Higher Brain*

by Neil Fiore , PhD

When you, from the per­spec­tive and roles of your Strongest Self, speak these com­pas­sion­ate state­ments to the fright­ened and over­whelmed parts of you, you can:

  • Cre­ate inner peace by con­nect­ing your iden­tity to some­thing stronger and wiser than your ego
  • Tran­si­tion to a new, robust self-image
  • Access sup­port and strength to cope with chang­ing sit­u­a­tions and relationships
  • Reduce the stress and anx­i­ety of strug­gling alone, sep­a­rated from your True Self
  • Empower your­self with the pro­tec­tive role, higher per­spec­tive, and com­pas­sion­ate voice of your Strongest Self

The fol­low­ing inner dia­logue is more pow­er­ful than typ­i­cal affir­ma­tions because you are speak­ing to a part of you that is sep­a­rated from your larger sup­port sys­tem and, there­fore, is eas­ily over­whelmed and stressed. You are empow­ered to pro­tect and guide the parts that have limited––and out-dated––ways of cop­ing with life. You, from your new per­spec­tive, can shift to an expanded iden­tity that empow­ers you to pro­tect your body and smaller “selves” and guide them toward inner peace.

In the com­pas­sion voice of your Strongest Self, you replace stress with safety and con­nec­tion by saying:

Regard­less of what hap­pens in life, your worth is always safe with me.
Regard­less of what you can or can­not do, you are always worthwhile.
Regard­less of whether you win or lose, you deserve love, plea­sure, and free­dom from self-criticism.
Regard­less of what hap­pens to you, you deserve to be treated with dig­nity and respect. I will always respect my life and my body.
Regard­less of who stays or who goes, I am on my side. I will always stay with you.
Regard­less of how healthy or ill you become, I appre­ci­ate the effort, wis­dom, and pro­tec­tion given me by you, my body and my spirit.
Regard­less of how neg­a­tive or intense your emo­tions, I acknowl­edge their valid­ity for you, and I accept them com­pletely. I am strong enough to be with your emo­tions.
Regard­less of how com­fort­able oth­ers are with you, your feel­ings or your body, I will always accept you and remain at peace with you.
Regard­less of what hap­pens in life, and regard­less of your prob­lems, I accept you and love you completely.
Regard­less of the health or weak­ness of my body, I can always heal my spirit.

*Adapted from Awaken Your Strongest Self [McGraw-Hill, 2006] and
Cop­ing with the Emo­tional Impact of Can­cer (BayTree, 2008)

© Neil Fiore, Ph.D., 1998–2007 All rights reserved. Per­mis­sion is granted to repro­duce, copy, or
dis­trib­ute so long as this copy­right notice and the full con­tact infor­ma­tion listed below attached.
Neil Fiore, PhD, 1496 Solano Ave., Albany, CA 94706 voice: 510/ 525‑2673
www.neilfiore.com www.yourstrongestself.com E-mail: neil@neilfiore.com

Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: affirmations, Awaken your strongest self, Neil Fiore, self-compassion

If You’re Feeling Helpless, Help Someone

January 15, 2012 by April

I believe the almighty knows each and every one by your name.

Women of Hope by Morley

Lyrics
They stood together under a tree 
in tall grass on TV 
telling the world their story
We will be left to wander and fade away, soldiers came and took our husbands at the break of day
We will live on then fade away, soldiers came and killed our children at the break of day

Women of hope women of change women of war and pain
I believe the almighty knows each and every one by your name
Women of hope women of change women of love, joy, no shame
You’ve got something this little life can never take away

Running through the darkness of night with her child by her side
Oh lord won’t you give them a shining armor of light, 
Oh lord won’t you give them a shining armor of light
Daybreak brings the sign of new life, with the power to stand
Crossing the border she said you will grow free on this land

Women of hope women of change women of war and pain
I can feel your power in these words she said:
If you’re feeling helpless, help someone 
If you’re feeling helpless, help someone

Nobody really knows how far they will go to keep on living
Nobody knows how far they will go to keep on giving and forgiving

Aung San Suu Kyi 
living under house arrest 
for her peaceful protest
Under house arrest, for her peaceful protest! When her people ask her, for a message she said:

If you’re feeling helpless, help someone
If you’re feeling helpless, help someone

People of hope, people of change
people of love, joy, no shame
I believe the almighty knows each and every one by your name

Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: lyrics, Morley, music, video

Put Your Whole Heart into Your Life Today. Commit and Be Bold!

January 11, 2012 by April

Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back– Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.

Whatever you can do,
or dream you can do, begin it.
Boldness has genius,
power, and magic in it.

~ Goethe

Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: Goethe, poetry

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About The Author

April Foiles is a writer, educator, and performing artist living in Baltimore, Maryland. Read more...

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