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We try so hard to please, yet we never do. We strive to be the best parent ever but some how, our children grow up and are the first to boldly ask us why we didn’t do this or that for them. Some even have the audacity to state we never did anything for them. We work hard day-in, day-out to perform on our jobs hoping that our bosses are happy, yet, we never seem to make the mark to get a promotion or even a “thank you.” We are often told by our so- called best friends or coworkers (as if we asked) that we wear the wrong lipstick, the wrong color dress, the wrong hair do -but we still try to make it work. We were once told by the person we love whether it be a parent or a partner that we would never amount to anything so stop while we are ahead, going nowhere fast. We’ve been told we are too fat, too ugly, lips too big, too skinny, too ignorant, too dumb, and too stupid but we still try our best to improve. The teacher tells us that we’re not smart enough to be a doctor so try to be a secretary but at the same time tell us we have to type really fast so if you can’t do that you better just try and be a good wife to someone who is smart. We fell in love, gave our cookies to the person we thought would be in our lives forever only to discover he was in our lives only long enough to get the cookies. He had no intention of being our long last lover. We’ve been hit. Oh, it hurt so hard. Someone we once loved has spit on us. He said he would never do it again so we stay and then he hits again. This time so hard we have to get stiches. We continue to stay because we get accustomed to it and we think that maybe we deserved it because he is out there working to support the family that he loves and all we do is sit home and take care of the kids anyway. And worse, he tells us that we have too many kids for anyone else in their right mind to even look in our direction. Besides, who else will raise someone else’s kids? We stay, we hurt and we cry. Why

In spite of it all, say to yourselves until you get it, “I am Still a Rose!” Say, my friend, “I am Still a Rose!” Say it with conviction until you become empowered mentally. Once we get it in our heads that in spite of, we are still somebody, we won’t make one ounce of a change in our lives. The change starts within. You are somebody, you a flower forever.

A friend reminded me of this song, sang by the one and only Aretha Franklin. I’m so glad to have researched it. Wait till Ms. Franklin finds out our plans for this song. Please listen to it. Link to YouTube video attached. Allow this song to resonate in your heart and spirit. You, my friend, are still a rose, no matter what you are facing in life.

A ROSE IS STILL A ROSE (SUNG BY ARETHA FRANKLIN)

There was a rose I knew

I met her once or twice before

She was a pretty sweet thing

Not the least bit insecure

 

Then you came with your slick game

And played with her youth

Unashamed of the way you lied

Played with the truth, hey hey

 

Mmm, she never knew what hit her, yeah

Steal her honey, then forget her

A rose, she wears a flower

Tryin’ to forget about you

 

Cause a rose is still a rose

Baby girl, you’re still a flower

He can’t lead you and then take you

Make you and then break you

Darlin’, you hold the power

 

Now believe me when I tell you

That I’ve been hurt myself

When he tells you that he loves you

And sees nobody else

 

And now you’re so tough tryin’ to

Wear tight clothes and things

Tossin’ and flossin’

Tryin’ to fill the void heartbreak brings

 

Oh yeah, when she faces the mirror, yeah

She’s cryin’, you can’t hear her

Now the rose is still a rose

She wears a flower, tryin’ to forget about you

 

Cause a rose is still a rose

Baby girl, you’re still a flower

He can’t lead you and then take you

Make you and then break you

Baby girl, you hold the power

 

See a rose is still a rose

Baby girl, you’re still a flower

He can’t lead you and then take you

Make you and then break you

Darlin’, you hold the power

 

Let your life be in the sunshine

Not the darkness of your sorrow

You may see you’re all today

When you know it’ll come tomorrow

 

Tough to be, but life ain’t over

Just because your man is gone

Girl, love yourself and love to love

Cause without him your life goes on

 

Without him your life goes on

Without him your life goes on

 

Cause a rose is still a rose

Baby girl, you’re still a flower

He can’t lead you and then take you

Make you and then break you

Baby girl, you hold the power

 

See a rose is still a rose

Baby girl, you’re still a flower

He can’t lead you and then take you

Make you and then break you

Darlin’, you hold the power

 

Songwriters

HILL, LAURYN / BRICKELL, EDIE / WITHROW, KENNETH / BUSH, JOHN / HOUSER, JOHN / ALY, ALAN

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