The last one for tonight. couldn't find a youtube of her singing this on the american music awards in 1991, which was her first public performance after a death-defying accident in 1990. Years later I came to identify with her 'comeback' for different reasons, but at the time she was an inspiration to me. still is. The ability to come out on the other side from adversity, shows great strength. One of my pet phrases is "nobody gets out of this alive" meaning we all gotta go eventually. But to kick ass and knock death down a few times on the way out, that's how life goes too.
This video is symbolic of her life before the accident, showing her singing and dancing, adoring crowds, etc. It feels so reflective... maybe that's not the word. A retrospective? I can imagine her in the hospital, thinking about what she had lost, perhaps forever. but in 1:57, when she knelt on the edge of the stage and then at 1:59 the same stance from years before is superimposed, that is *the moment* that all of her hard work was for. the fact that she COULD bend again, is the miracle that is not lost on me. Then, at 3:00 she goes from sitting upright to leaning all the way back, holding her core tight until she is lying flat on the ground and that was NOT done with ropes or strings... phenomenal. How many people who have NOT had a broken spine, could achieve that feat? She has eight inches of titanium on the sides of her spinal column.
In an article, Gloria said: "I found I had discipline I never dreamed possible. I also realized I had the ability to help in the healing process. I believe we all possess the ability to help heal ourselves." So utterly true. In all things, whether it is your spine, your brain, your heart, your arms, your legs, whatever gets broken, we all possess the ability to HELP heal ourselves. It does not mean we will always be restored completely. Nor will we be unscarred. If we do not choose to heal, we will not be healed. It's that simple to me. The word 'discipline' means to teach. There are many ways to learn how to stay stuck, stay broken, and stay in a rut. It's the easiest way, sometimes. It's not 'wrong' for those who choose that path. But I discovered something, and it's that learning how to heal is not more difficult than staying broken, it just requires a different kind of energy. I learn by practicing, over and over the lessons that I learn until they become a habit. Like reading and singing out loud.
Nope, I'm not gonna get out alive (never gonna win a grammy either) but I'ma gonna kick death's ass a couple more times on the way out.
Why be afraid
if I'm not alone
life is never easy
the rest is unkown
Up to now for me it's been
hands against stone
each and every moment
Searching
for what to believe
Coming out of the dark,
I finally see the light now
It's shining on me
Coming out of the dark
I know the love that saved me
You're sharing with me
Starting again
is part of the plan
And I'll be so much stronger
holding your hand
Step by step I'll make it through
I know I can
It may not make it easier
but I have felt you
Near all the way
Coming out of the dark,
I finally see the light now
It's shinning on me
Coming out of the dark,
I know the love that saved me
You're sharing with me
Forever, forever I stand on the rock of your love
Forever I'll stand on the rock
CAN'T NOBODY STOP ME, WATCH ME
Forever, forever I stand on the rock of
Love is all it takes, no matter what we face
(I'm not able yet to write down the ending chorus yet because it repeats with subtle differences, gotta work on
that, though I do start with lyrics found on the internet I listen several times to go over the words to make sure
they are accurate and complete. Sometimes, though, just get stumped. mea culpa.)