Normally when I come to the end of my rambling thoughts for the day, I end with a theme song that ties in with my musings. This time, however, I felt that starting with a song is in order. I need some inspiration right now, and hope to keep going despite the circumstances that have been piling up around me like horse manure. The song stuck in my head at the moment is one I have loved since I was in first grade. It’s from the first musical I ever saw, and my mom took me into Pittsburgh to see it as a birthday gift (after I begged every time I saw the commercials on TV). The concept of the song seems pretty simplistic, but it always has the power to turn my frown upside down and remind myself that there are some things you can count on no matter what. (I have included the lyrics for further edification.)
Theme Song #21: Tomorrow
from the Broadway musical Annie
http://youtu.be/Yop62wQH498
Tomorrow
The sun'll come out Tomorrow
Bet your bottom dollar
That tomorrow
There'll be sun!
Just thinkin' about
Tomorrow
Clears away the cobwebs,
And the sorrow
'Til there's none!
When I'm stuck with a day
That's gray,
And lonely,
I just stick out my chin
And Grin,
And Say,
Oh!
The sun'll come out
Tomorrow
So ya gotta hang on
'Til tomorrow
Come what may
Tomorrow! Tomorrow!
I love ya Tomorrow!
You're always
A day away!
In the past several months, I have had a series of sucker punches happen in my life. Whether they were simply inconvenient or completely life altering, they have stacked helter-skelter, one on top of another in a topsy-turvy Jenga tower that is certain to come crashing down on my head at any moment. As for me, I am the “Atlas” holding up the base of the wobbly foundation and attempting to keep everything from falling apart. But like the Wiley Coyote who tries so desperately to catch that blasted road runner, my failure was imminent. It was only a question of when I would find myself hanging in midair over a cliff with a “HELP!” sign as I tumbled down the precipice. And I did. More than once. And I might again at any time.
I know, I know.
You’re shaking your head and saying: “So how is this positive
Selina? How is this inspirational or
uplifting? Golly you could mix a few
more metaphors and be just a little more pessimistic if you really tried.”
Frankly, I know it’s not positive. And it’s not meant to be. LIFE IS TOUGH. There is not a person alive (or dead) that
has not had difficulties at one point or another in their lives. It doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor,
tall or short, thin or fat, live in southern California or South Africa. Bad things are going to happen whether we
want them to or not. I am trying
desperately to hold onto the belief that the difficult and trying times are
there as a yang to balance out the yin of the good times and reasons to smile
and celebrate being alive.
And while little orphan Annie ended up living a charmed
life with Daddy Warbucks (there is no sequel or other information to draw on
here), most of us go through ups and downs on a regular basis. I think at this point in my life I can relate
more to another beloved character from my childhood: Rocky Balboa (and even
Sylvester Stallone). The odds were
against him from the word go, and he knew it.
It didn’t stop him. He kept on
going despite all of the obstacles in his way – and there were a lot of them –
some of them Russian. He says something
pretty profound in the first movie and I think that it applies perfectly to the complexity of my more
adult concerns and issues of late:
And in honor of every underdog – including myself – who needs
a shot of adrenaline, here is a fist-pumping number to get you off and running:
Theme Song #22: Eye of the Tiger by Survivor (as if there
was another option)
http://youtu.be/VgSMxY6asoE
Running up the stairs with the sun on my back,
Selina 
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