My Top 10 Empowering Songs!

Music has a way of moving our hearts, lifting our spirits, or helping us cry over a broken heart. Being someone who lived in a very dark place for many months now, I thought it's time to gather those songs that remind me to not give up. Those songs that make me take a stand for myself and for life. It is hard to believe that just a month ago I started fighting for life. I digress, because that is for a different blog.

  

I like to believe we all have that song or songs that empower us. Make us strong when we don't think we have anymore strength. The list I share today is a list of empowering songs that are helping me now and in the past. These songs are what ring true to the core of me; who I am and what my battles are. I rate these from 1 to 10, but this list is ever warping and changing. Also, remember this is a list of empowering songs. Not encouraging songs or inspirational. In picking this list, I really had to narrow it to one word. Being a music lover this list would have broke my heart if I tried to pin down all the greatest. Also, there are a couple singers who just bring empowering songs more than once. I did limit their entry to only one on the top ten, but trust me their other songs are no less empowering.

Soooo, here is the list.....

1. Fight Song by Rachel Platten https://goo.gl/wLyCh9

To be honest, this song has been the song for so many who have had to be stronger then we even thought we had. It rings truth to so many in so many different walks of life. I am no different, and it reminds me I do have the strength through the battle. I, also, find it encouraging when I think of those others who had this song as their anthem during their time of struggle. I am not alone!

2. Rise by Katy Perry https://goo.gl/cegDsz

What the Olympics theme song? Heck yea! Know any other place that the test of strength isn't just physical, but also spirit? Don't forget Whitney Houston also wrote an anthem for the Olympics that tells the story of strength and spirit. One Moment in Time (https://goo.gl/ni38WT) has a place on the list, but Whitney is someone who has many songs that belong on this list. Which reminds me, Rise isn't the only song Katy Perry wrote that should be on this list. Firework (https://goo.gl/U0IQJv) and Roar (https://goo.gl/Nw4nOQ) are other songs that have a place on a playlist of empowering songs.

3. I Believe I Can Fly by R Kelly https://goo.gl/yF2QWW

"If I just believe.." R Kelly rings out how we just need to have a little faith in ourselves. It is hard to see the strength when in the dark, so here is a song to remind us. We are stronger than we think, and here is a reminder. R Kelly is another great repeater with his song The World's Greatest (https://goo.gl/es5Fma.)

4. When You Believe by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey  https://goo.gl/A4ak0X

Two powerhouse singers were needed to remind us to believe. That we can do amazing things when we just believe. As you already know, Whitney has a couple songs that belong on this list. As mentioned above, One Moment in Time is on the list. I feel Greatest Love of All (https://goo.gl/7NXgjN) also has a place in a list like this. Mariah Carey's Hero (https://goo.gl/UbhhJs) makes her also a repeat offender.

5. The Climb by Miley Cyrus https://goo.gl/Fr2pOu

I was a little shocked in myself when I finally said this song belonged on this list. Miley what?! But these words rang true to me when they first came out, and still do. I might slip or fall backwards, but I keep going. Get up and keep going! So yes, Miley, you're in my top 10!

6. Let it Go by Demi Lovato https://goo.gl/9sbFQh

Oh, I think I just felt some of you cringe. Yes, this song has been overplayed. My daughter made a good point though when I was sharing the list to her. The version that seems to be played a little too much is the movie. That Demi's really is the better song. But honest truth... who cares? "Let it go.." Oh sorry. But when you have been raised to be the very best, to be perfect, and that people are watching. You need a song like this to remind you.... to let it go! I do need to mention that Demi's Skyscraper (https://goo.gl/CbuVYH) needs an honorable mention.

7. It's My Life by Bon Jovi https://goo.gl/GMebk8

Is this song making my age shining through? Maybe. This song is a fight song for life no matter how old it is. Which makes this a classic empowering song. Some songs just don't lose their awesomeness. Big hair bands might be gone, but they always keep rocking.

8. Somewhere I Belong by Linkin Park https://goo.gl/9zdCDF

You go ahead, mosh away! "I want to heal. I want to feel." This phrase rings in my heart as I grow in strength. Linkin Park brings to life what is exactly how I feel when battling the demons. This would be the song to blast and just feel!

9. Beautiful by Christina Aguilera https://goo.gl/OAlNns

Words can be a hurtful thing, especially when they are your own to yourself. This song is for all the "I am not good enough" statements that repeat in my head. Even typing that brings those feeling to the surface, and is why this song is here. Christina actually has a few songs that are empowering and encouraging. Fighter (https://goo.gl/9XuF6O) is one of those songs.

10. Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield https://goo.gl/SLLx2q

If you were writing your story, what would it say? I want mine to be about strength and love. That I gave when I had nothing, and that I encouraged when I wasn't so confident myself. Natasha's song just reminds me that my story isn't done. I still have a story to finish. That each day I need to live how I want my story to read.

As you know, there are many more that should be on this list. Limiting down to even just the top 10 was really hard. Now, I want to hear what are your empowering songs! What gives you the strength when you don't think you have any. I also made a playlist on Youtube of these songs called Empower (https://goo.gl/bAfM1J). Please enjoy! I am sure to add more as time goes on. 

Back to Real Life

I want to say my taking a break from blogging was for a good reason. I wish the reason was life got so busy with exciting things. Or maybe, I found the love of my life like an annoying romance novel. Sadly, none of these are the reason. The truth would be a mix of social anxiety, and a detour on the path. 

The social anxiety really took a strong hold at the end of 2013 when I got pneumonia and bronchitis. I spent the holidays and a few months after alone. Too scared that my family or friends would catch it, I kept to myself watching one too many documentaries and every series I had on my que. Being extremely bored and lonely, I found myself interested in seeing how the world of IMVU was. 

For those of you who don't know what IMVU is, it is a virtual world where people can role-play or just enjoy meeting other people through avitar form. It is easier described as like WoW without the game. Or what I always say, "a glorified chat room." I enjoyed getting to decorate rooms, being able to play music for others to enjoy, and making my avitar a form of myself. It is all a fantasy, but a nice fantasy to live when seclusion was taking it's tole. 

Around April of 2014, I found out my brother passed away. It hit me harder then I expected. He was too young to take his life. I could feel his pain, because I too have fought the demons. His pain was real for me.  The feeling of being so lost that death was the only option. These feeling left me even more internal, and sure that no one would understand I found solus in IMVU. 

I finally got to a place where I thought I could breath again, but soon caught whooping cough instead. This was ugly and long. Coughing, puking and no controle of my body left me too weak to do much. This lasted for a couple months. Even when I thought I was getting better, it lingered for sometime after. I, again, hid away not wanting anyone else to catch this nasty illness. 

If you kept track, your realizing that we are into fall of 2014 now. I had come accustom to living in my home and never leaving. My friends and family stopped seeing me more and more. I even think they were kind of shocked when they did get to see me. Sadly, these interactions were hard for me as there was always an on going anxiety attack. 

I am not sure if it is the social anxiety or the fact that IMVU had become part of my real life that has me wondering how I got here. What I do know is that I want something more then making pretty cyber furniture and living a cyber life. But, it has been so long that I don't know what I want. I just know I NEED to get healthier and to live life to the fullest. Something I told myself I would do while mourning my brother's death. It might be two years later, but I am pretty sure it's never too late to keep that promise. Now if I could just figure out how to live a real life, and where to start. 

The Joy of Medication (part two)

So yea, she is back. Irritable bitch who can't do anything because my mind was racing a thousand miles with no energy to do anything. Let me say... when I am in this state, I have learned to not really be a social butterfly. Trying to buckle myself in for school was hard enough.

I went back to the doctor, on my regular scheduled appointment three weeks after starting and two weeks of living as a bitch. I explained the situation that I cannot go on like this. I would rather go without medication even though I know that wasn't an option.  I was just not ok with hurting others.  I deal with my own battles, and no one else should have to.

While on the conversation, we mentioned the 15 lbs weight gain that happened over the month. I know this sounds odd, but I wish I could say it was from lack of exercise and eating. It would make the weight gain easier if it was. But, I had started walking every other day to pick my daughter up from play practice, started drowning myself in water, and eating healthier from lack of options around the college. What really made the doctor realize the issue was when I mentioned I use to be 180 before even starting the Lamotragin.

The doctor gave me a couple options, but he wanted me to start trying Ziprasidone while lowering my Lamotragin.  He gave me some side effects to keep an eye out for about blood pressure, but mostly the others will subside in a couple days. I was OK with it all, and left with hope that we might have found something new.

A week later on a Friday night, I find out that this isn't going to be that easy. I had just gotten the new medication and popped a pill down right before bed. Within a few minutes, I was knocked out cold. This wouldn't be such a bad thing as sleeping is one of my biggest issue. It is the waking up in the middle of the night to use the restroom, and instead find your self leaning on the wall from a spinning dizzy episode. I was still spinning after making myself erect, and had to slowly walk back to the bed while still propping myself up on the wall. Scary, to say the lease, when you have no control on what your body is doing. 

The next morning, or should I say afternoon, I woke to find that my body wasn't going to do much of anything. It was like gravity was winning in getting the battle of who had control of my body. I got up to help with something, and found myself fall on the stairs from becoming dizzy. This continued for two days when i finally said "no more". I put the Ziprasidone on the shelf, and decided we will visit this again. For now, I had homework and a daughter to take care of. 

Side note: I was and am still taking Lamotragin at the lower dosage. Also, after talking to the doctor this week, we have both agreed to wait tell I am done with this quarter. Also, don't ever just stop medication without consulting your doctor. Many drugs can cause side effects that put you in the hospital if not tapered off correctly. As for now, I am stable.