Dear Friends,
I wanted to share the above quote with you that I came across recently. It is from a very brave and courageous young lady. She is a singer, who sings under the name of Nighbirde. She was auditioning, at the time I discovered her, for the US TV talent show, America’s Got Talent. Whilst introducing herself to the judging panel, she told the judges and audience how she had cancer. She, at the time of her audition, had a 2% chance of survival.
At the end of her performance she spoke with such grace and said to Simon Cowell, one of the judges, in case you are not familiar with the show. “You can’t wait until life isn’t hard any more, before you decide to be happy.”
When I heard her speak those words I was touched deeply. Her courage, strength and tenacity resonated with my very own. Despite being on two different paths we were joined together in that moment by her simple words that spoke to my heart. …. Words that I wished that I had heard a long time ago.
For years, ( decades, if I am honest), I was waiting everyday for my life to stop being hard. I was waiting for my pain, my past and my memories …for it all ….to go away. Thinking that in its sudden disappearance from my life, that I would finally be able to be happy. I thought that ‘getting rid of my past’ would be the only way that I could, and would, ever have a chance at being happy in my life.
Months, years and decades later, I found myself still waiting. Waiting for the hard life to go away and waiting for myself to be happy! I waited and waited for years and years. I wasn’t happy and my struggle with my past was still there.
I have learnt, over recent times, as a survivor of Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA) that the challenges and struggles…and life’s hard times haven’t gone, and don’t go, away. Healing from abuse is a journey and life long process. It has its ups and downs. Yet despite that, I have managed to now find happiness in a way that allows me, just like Nightbirde said, to no longer have to wait for life not to be hard any more for me to decide to be happy.
I have found acceptance and trust in myself and in the process of life that now, enables me to not only heal but also, has given me the impetus to not only decide to be happy but more importantly actually allow myself to “BE HAPPY” now!. Happy with all that is in my life… the past, present and future. With this I no longer have to wait for it all to go away, before I can allow myself to be happy.
I am happy now with it all just as it is!
At her audition, Nightbirde sang a beautiful song called ‘It’s Ok’. (I’ve attached a link to it and her audition below). She has a stunning voice and her song lyrics, story, strength, courage and angelic tones touched me and inspired me in such a profound way.
So I wanted to share, her story, her quote and her beautiful song, ‘It’s OK’, with you.
Whatever our path in life. Whatever our journey…our challenges, we can all help and inspire each other. We can remind each other of our right, freedom and need to be happy… right here and right now on this day and in this present moment.
What can you do today to bring more joy and happiness into your life?
Decide to be happy now!
Here is the beautiful Nightbirde…
Namaste to you all my friends, and to Nightbirde, with love and gratitude.
Sophia Grace