I’m drowning in my breath
I’m suffocating in my tears
I call you on the phone only to find no one home
I can hear you through my eyes
I can see you in ears
(Chorus)
With every breath I dream in your love
Dream in
Dream in
Dream in your love
Every morning I look in the mirror to see my tomorrow
Only to yearn for yesterday
The lines on my face remind me of a pain that has surrounded my body like a virus
I ache inside only to see you next to me
I reach but you are not there
I call but there is no answer
I scream to be heard by a memory that is lost in my mind
(Chorus)
With every breath I dream in your love
Dream in
Dream in
Dream in your love
The night has fallen and only words prevail
A vision has been following my every step
Its shadow covers my soul
The sounds move closer to me
I turn and remind myself that it is only a dream
(Chorus)
With every breath I dream in your love
Dream in
Dream in
Dream in your love
I lay under the covers and protect myself from a past I cannot have
I long for a future I cannot hold
And each second passes with a million thoughts of you lying by my side for all of time
(Chorus)
With every breath I dream in your love
Dream in
Dream in
Dream in your love
“The greatest risk in life is taking the chance on life.”
“Let us praise famous men and our fathers that begat us. All these men were honoured in their generations and were a glory in their days. We are here today to give thanks for the life of Harold Abrahams. To honour the legend. Now there are just two of us – young Aubrey Montague and myself – who can close our eyes and remember those few young men with hope in our hearts and wings on our heels.”
Lord Andrew Lindsay – Chariots of Fire
Yesterday afternoon, Derek Jeter, right off the disabled list, danced his way into the history books acting out a script that could have been written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by James Cameron. It was a poetic journey as the Captain of the New York Yankees became the first player in pinstripes to strike 3000 hits in his career as he launched a home run decisively into the outfield bleachers. As 54,000 fans and millions of viewers stood to honor the man and the achievement for over five minutes, it was clear that this was not an isolated moment in sports history. This was a moment, drafted in the stars and played out as fairy dust fell from the heavens. Derek would go five for five including the game winning hit on this day, but as he hugged each one of his teammates and remembered those that were not there with him, he embraced a moment that will forever be in his and our hearts.
Derek danced.
Life is dictated by responsibility. Responsibility for the financial well-being of ourselves and our families. Responsibility for defining the morals that we bestow. Responsibility leading a life that our parents had set for us. Out of respect and admiration for our upbringing, many feel the need to “pay back” our parents with a life of moral solitude.
Yet, are we risk adverse because of the fear of harm or the perception that if we step into the unknown we become vulnerable and thus open the door for predators to take advantage of our weakness.
The human mind is a challenging foe whose very existence is our greatest challenge. It numbs the senses and imparts the lessons of routine, comfort, stability and patience.
If you collect all of these thoughts, they are nothing more than barriers to the Dance.
We are a civilization that for millions of years has thrived on innovation. The ability to create what does not exist has set the standards for everything from fire to space travel.
The most memorable successes occur when our backs are against the wall, the resources are limited and your only support is the will to know you can accomplish anything.
“Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be” – George Sheehan
You are the will, compassion, fortitude, and strength to release the greatness within you. We are raised to dream; to reach for the stars and accomplish anything. Life shouldn’t interfere with the innocent notions you had as a child. If anything, life should strengthen the desire to want to meet and exceed those goals. All of us, whether wealthy or poor, receive an invitation to the dance. Some go, some don’t, some stand in the corner while the very few who know that it is an honor to stand alone on the center of that dance floor and shine will become greater than even their own imagination could visualize.
To be free to spin, jump and twirl and see things in this world that only you can see; what a thought. It is that perception that will carry over into the next generation and history will remember you, the shy boy or girl that dared to step on that shiny floor and let your soul be naked for all to see.
It is time to dance.
Reach into the pockets of that dress or suit and find that list you created that has you reaching into the unknown and let it out. Don’t give up, don’t let go…Just make the unthinkable happen and enjoy the ride.
Hours after he’d picked up his freshly pressed suit from the dry cleaner for Wednesday’s senior night festivities at San Diego State, fourth-year student manager Ben Kneller learned he wouldn’t need his fancy duds.
Aztecs coach Steve Fisher wanted him in uniform instead.
As a reward for four years of service to San Diego State’s basketball program, Fisher called Kneller into his office Wednesday afternoon, handed him a No. 33 jersey and told him to prepare to play that night against Colorado State. Kneller not only got to check into the game when the Aztecs’ lead balooned to double figures in the final two minutes, he also scored a point on a free throw with 53 seconds remaining.
“The smile hasn’t left my face ever since,” Kneller said by phone Thursday night. “I woke up Wednesday morning as a manager and I fell asleep as a Division I basketball player. It was pretty cool.”
Although Kneller played intramural basketball at San Diego State and started for his high school team years earlier, the Westlake Village, Calif. native never even considered trying to make San Diego State’s team. Kneller believes his future lies in coaching, which is why he relished even the not-so-glamourous aspects of being a student manager like setting up practice, rebounding for players and handing out water bottles during games.
The process of getting Kneller in uniform on Wednesday began with a phone call from Fisher to the student manager’s fiancee last week. Without Kneller’s knowledge, his fiancee and his mother then obtained a copy of his high school transcripts and submitted his SAT scores so the NCAA clearinghouse would make him eligible to play.
Since Kneller’s teammates knew he would only get in the game if they got ahead by a safe amount of points, the chance to see him on the court became a goal for them to strive toward. Sure enough, with 1:09 to go in the second half, the Aztecs comfortably ahead 66-51 and the crowd chanting “We want Ben,” Fisher walked down to Kneller and told him to check in for junior Brian Carlwell.
“As soon as he said that, I hopped out of my chair as quick as I could, took my warmup jacket off and ran to the the scorer’s table,” Kneller said. “I wanted to make sure he couldn’t change his mind.”
Knowing that Colorado State would foul to stop the clock, San Diego State’s D.J. Gay passed the ball back to Kneller as soon as he inbounded it and the Rams sent the student manager to the free throw line. Kneller rushed his first one and came up a few inches shy of the rim. He redeemed himself by rattling home the second one with the crowd roaring and his teammates pumping their fists on the bench.
“I don’t think there was any pressure because I told myself, ‘It can’t get worse than the first one,’” Kneller chuckled. “As long as I hit the rim, it was going to be better than the first.”
Kneller’s cell phone has hardly stopped buzzing since Wednesday night as friends who he hasn’t spoken to in years call or text to offer congratulations.
The whole experience has been so memorable that Kneller hopes to one day do the same for a student manager if he ever fulfills his dreams of becoming a college head coach.
“I know how special it is,” Kneller said. “If I’m in that position, I’d definitely look out for whoever the manager is.”
It’s over.
We lost loved ones
We gained new friends
We re-evaluated our lives
We took a new look at the world
We challenged ourselves to become someone different
We looked technology in the face and took the helm
Now what?
Monday starts a new day. For many of us we took time off to be with our families, friends or just relax away from the stresses of our work environment. Philosophically, we can all open our eyes in the morning and feel that the world is back to normal. The threat of job loses is gone, wages will rise once again, pension and 401K funds will hit all time highs and we an all sit back on the comfort of job security.
Ok, Lewis Carroll has left the building.
There is no truth in those statements. Tomorrow will not change. A New Year does not erase all the negative surrounding many of us. Unemployment is still high, we are faced with economic challenges that do not have an end of the rainbow in sight.
Let me ask you this: Is there any reason we cannot perceive that tomorrow is a better day. Perhaps if the collective sum of all of us has a positive attitude it will create a level of energy that will carry us to new heights. Belief in something big is half the battle of victory.
We chose fear many times over optimism because we do not want to be let know. If we expect the worst then the news is easier to take.
I feel we need to embrace the unknown. Take each others hands in the literal or figurative way and express yourself with a smile and a positive attitude. I think together, we can see the New Year as a new world of promise and fulfillment.
October 29th and October 30th 2009 at Madison Square Garden, the unofficial ninth wonder of the world, the music world will come together to celebrate life, energy, social and political awareness and a generation of musical poets who have defined the changing times at the 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert Event.
Jenn Wenner, Editor and Co-Founder of Rolling Stone Magazine met with Charlie Rose to discuss the meaning of musical poetry over the last 30 years and how the sound and socio-economic importance have shifted and evolved.
During this two day celebration, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Nicks, Crosby, Still, Nash and Young, U2, Eric Clapton, Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Metalica, Simon and Garfunkel and many more guests will bless the stage with tributes, honors and recognition for the influences who have made music such a vital part of our lives on the professional, political, economic and social scene.
This concert is more than just an event. It is a collective salute to those with the courage to believe in something bigger than themselves and to voice their message to millions.
To those artists that will be performing and those we have lost over the years, thank you.
Sing, Sing, Sing
Sing for the children that cannot hear
Sing for journeyman lost on his way home
Sing for woman inflicted with pain
Sing for the dog only yearning to be held
Sing for the soldiers who are fighting an invisible villain
Sing for yesterday
Sing for tomorrow
Sing for now
Sing for the love we all feel inside
Sing for the first kiss
Sing for the final goodbye
Sing for the ability to feel the morning air one more time
Sing for the spirit that seeks salvation
Sing to the heavens for the angels are listening
As I sit in a dark corner soaking in the soothing sounds of an acoustic jam competition at a house gone coffeeshop, I am taken by the traditional southern fans, deeply rhythmic sounds, engaged audience and feeling of euphoric relaxation as I play down a long day.
With unshaven faces, flannel shirts and only a guitar and a voice to call home, these disciples of Dylan and Kerouac leave their hearts on a sleeve, not for the money or fame the music may bring but for the ability to connect and touch others as only a song can do.
As we reflect on the memories that burn deep in our hearts each day of our lives, it is those individual moments that are made so permanent by the soundtracks that complete the film of our lives. That first dance, the first break-up, the first child, the reunion, those brief moments of greatness or just that quiet night by the fireplace. These are the simple reflections of individual retreat that leave the most lasting impression of who we are and who we will become.
Do these musicians have fears? More than most of us, but that fear only fuels the ability to dare to be great and more importantly to dare to fail. Every moment has a conclusion and every conclusion a new beginning.
What is the fine line between success in business and success in life. Do they co-exist together or live separately with the potential of journeys coming together forming that rare eclipse of pure nirvana.
Don’t lose yourself in reality. Understand we have responsibility and guidelines but then again as a child the world had no boundaries. We were a pool of creativity with endless possibilities.
Writer / Blogger / Social Media and Talent Acquisition Consultant / Life Geek / Photographer
Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, Global Social Media and Marketing Solutions including: organizational development, team building, change management, compensation structural development and implementation, social media and talent community development, growth and advancement, training, rewards and recognition, recruitment, attrition control, affirmative action administration, labor relations and M&A.
Trainer
So You Think You Can Interview - ProNet August, 2010 Personal Branding and Social Media Resources - ProNet June, 2010 Personal Branding and Social Media Resources - Lee Hecht Harrison July, 2010 Personal Branding and Social Media Tooling - Lenova Women in Leadership September, 2010 Your Life Bag - ProNet October, 2010, The Effects of Social Media in the Workplace - Carolinas Payroll Conference November 2012
Published Author
Sonni's Abyss (June 2008)
A Beautiful World (February 2011)
This Time Around (Scheduled for February 2013 Publication)
