The lessons I have learned from Taylor Hicks' book --- Heart Full of Soul.
There are a lot of inspirational and useful lessons that are contained inside this great book. The stories of rejection, loss, heartbreak and low moments are in abundance in almost every page. But it also unfailingly encourages determination, love, forgiveness, self-discovery and spirituality that seemed to make Taylor Hicks, the Joel Osteen of the Entertainment industry. He has succeeded in inspiring countless of people through his use of simple but exquisitely well written words.
After reading that book, I pretty much read about my life, by golly almost every single chapter pertains to me! Although I have a different background, different breed, different circumstances in life, but all the same lessons --- "HE WHO HAS NOT TASTED THE BITTER, DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE SWEET."
Taylor Hicks --- is survivor and a great one at it. We all read and heard what he had gone through and we all did a collective, "Ohhhs, ahhhs!" Taylor Hicks opened up his life to us even though we know that he wants to keep some things in his life, private (or whatever's left of it.) Aside from satisfying the Soul Patrol's need to know everything about him, he is hoping for us to take lessons from his stories and get inspired by them.
So, what could I write or talk about that had not been discussed by others before? I am going to try not to divulge too much into Taylor's triumph over his life since we all have read it (I hope, if not go buy the book, www.amazon.com) and we felt that we somehow, already know. Forgive me if I talk about the life lessons I have learned from Taylor Hicks' story. All I know is if Taylor Hicks is willing to share his ups and downs, I can share a little about mine, and the lessons I have learned and maybe, just maybe, my own journey can teach someone something about themselves. I'm sure you'll find that my life has similarities with yours.
When I was younger, I had often mistakenly thought that when you are rich, you are happy and that's what drives people everyday. Or better yet, when almost all people know your name that you will never feel ignored. And that if you are rich and famous, you are invulnerable to all the pain and miseries of life. But it's pretty obvious that you have to be able to endure all of life's trials and survive them in order to face another surge that will continously come for as long as you are still living.
We all learned that we need to pursue our dreams, and that we can't give up, or there are a million "Nos" to one single "Yes." Tell me how many times in your life did this happen to you? How many times did you have to deal with everyday frustrations? How many hours did you spend standing in line waiting for something and not getting what you want? How many times have you wished that you have it all? How many times did you want your life to be close to perfect? How many times did you question God for your ordinary existence?
I know that for me, these things happen several times in one day. My everyday living seems to be always about forgiving myself --- for letting out a cuss word when my one year old child attempts to flush a DVD down the toilet and runs away amused. Or when I feel frustrated at everybody including myself because I choose to skip doing dishes for the night so I can host a cellcert. Ahh, those important things that only a Soul Patroller can understand! On a serious note, I have also learned not to give up so fast on MYSELF, to try and try harder until I succeed, that there is no word like "can't." I take that lesson so close to my heart because it is so much better than living without a dream. Just because I am happily married (some days) with beautiful (but not so perfect) children doesn't mean, I cannot dream. I also learned that when you treat people the way you want to be treated, it is a better world. The Golden rule, what a rule! Remember everyone of us has six degrees of separation, just ask Kevin Bacon. And it's important to treat each other right, because you'll never know who knows whom.
A lot can happen in one's life everyday. Our lives are borrowed, and we should make the most of it and do what you love. It is so sad to hear about people's tragedies everyday, and when I examine my own self, I think about what I'm lacking in certain areas of my life. Yes, I get too busy looking for something I DON'T have and totally miss what I DO have. Most of the time, I think of material things, but I realized that it's not that important anymore when you find one of your family members is sick...you just want them to feel better. Money is helpful, but it does not keep you from being sick! I also know that when you learn to accept what you cannot change you are better off. If you can't change people or situations, changing your way of thinking is a great alternative, and more peaceful if I may add. Also, recognizing that there is a bigger entity than us, even bigger than Taylor Hicks, something beyond our own understanding that has given us the oppurtunities to live is worth the mention.
So by putting all these lessons together, by living through the mistakes (over and over again..) and learning, I have a great understanding that all of this only boils down to one most important thing: taking care of one's SOUL. Feed your SOUL. The soul drives our minds and bodies. It drives us to do better things for ourselves, it drives us to do good for others, it drives us to attempt to leave a remarkable achievement in our lives. How then do we take care of our souls? That is completely up to you. I have mentioned mine on the above paragraph.
We may never become famous like Taylor Hicks, but I am convinced that my mark is how I have chosen to live and love ---- and how my experiences in life, good, bad ugly, have molded me. I can honestly say that I am living such a sweet life, (oh what a neat life... Paul Davis' Sweet Life ) because I have gone through the wringer, and I feel like I have survived it. I know there are more trials and tribulations to come and I am ready for them, at least I can say that for now.
So it is with great pride for me to say that I have a HEART FULL OF SOUL that will keep on keeping on. And that right there is my own story, not Taylor Hicks', but mine.
And with that thought, I will leave you with these song lyrics:
Van Morrison's There'll Be Days Like This
When it's not always raining there'll be days like this
When there's no one complaining there'll be days like this
When everything falls into place like the flick of a switch
Well my mama told me there'll be days like this
When you don't need to worry there'll be days like this
When no one's in a hurry there'll be days like this
When you don't get betrayed by that old Judas kiss
Oh my mama told me there'll be days like this
When you don't need an answer there'll be days like this
When you don't meet a chancer there'll be days like this
When all the parts of the puzzle start to look like they fit
Then I must remember there'll be days like this
When everyone is up front and they're not playing tricks
When you don't have no freeloaders out to get their kicks
When it's nobody's business the way that you wanna live
I just have to remember there'll be days like this
When no one steps on my dreams there'll be days like this
When people understand what I mean there'll be days like this
When you ring out the changes of how everything is
Well my mama told me there'll be days like this.
Written by:
Claire (Webchic00)
Tags: Taylor Hicks, American Idol, Soul Patrol, Taylor's Angels
