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