Love Myself by Tracee Ellis Ross

By

Sometimes when a song ministers to me I play it over and over and let it wash over my soul, speaking to every crevice of my being. I discovered the song Love Myself, sung by Tracee Ellis Ross in the movie The High Note on January 3, 2021. 

Tracee Ellis Ross Singing
Credit: Glen Wilson / Focus Features

And the song quickly became my anthem for 2021. When I first heard the song while watching the movie on HBO Max I quickly looked it up on YouTube and played it over and over. 

Culture & Society

With the world in an upheaval from the COVID-19 virus and America destined to relive every ugly part of her racist past by systemically and systematically killing Black people for:

  • sleeping in their own beds 
  • playing video games in their own homes 
  • watching TV in their own homes 
  • Driving While Black 
  • Calling the police for assistance 
  • just breathing, existing  
Then the violent insurrection on January 6, 2021 at the nation's Capitol, the second impeachment of the 45th president that did not result in his removal, the extremism in America and the dichotomy of living in this country - stress surmounts.

Today, April 24, 2021, as I was writing an article for my other blog I did an advanced search for the hashtag #MusicThatInspires and rediscovered the song again. Hearing it again hit me rather hard in the feels - The George Floyd trial and subsequent murders of two black people a female teen and an adult male, both who called the police to help them and when the police arrived, they killed them. It just rocked me to my core. 

People are celebrating the outcome of the George Floyd trial, but I can't celebrate until innocent black people are treated with respect, dignity, and equality. So, this song was liberating and cleansing for me today.

There is a line in the song: 

I don't really care if anybody likes me I just want to love myself love myself.

That's it. I just want to, no NEED to love myself. Because if I listen to what the haters say, my life has no value and I am not worthy of love. Oh am I glad that is a LIE. So I am focusing on loving myself. And you should too. 

Song Lyrics

Written by Sarah Aarons and Greg Kurstin.

I forget when I was younger, it was easy
Now I'm stressed, I'd always have to have the TV on
Watching memories fade to gray and winding slowly
Makes me uneasy, making me crazy

But is it fake love if I'm lying to myself
Tryin' to fake the way I feel?
Am I a stranger if I don't recognize myself
Tryin' to fix up something real?

I don't really care
I don't wanna keep my head down
Got nothing to share
Maybe I should put my phone down
I don't really care if everybody likes me
I just wanna love myself Love myself
Love myself

It's hard to pay attention when my mind talks
Only wish there was a way to turn my mind off
Now the only way to sleep is with the lights on
Making me lonely, making me crazy

But is it fake love if I'm lying to myself
Tryin' to fake the way I feel?
Am I a stranger if I don't recognize myself
Tryin' to fix up something real?

I don't really care
I don't wanna keep my head down
Got nothin' to share
Maybe I should put my phone down
I don't really care if everybody likes me
I just wanna love myself
Love myself

My head is spinnin', the ground breaks
And I can't pay attention when my hands shake
When love is gone, when every day is a bad day
Just need myself to tell me that its okay

I don't really care
I don't wanna keep my head down
Got nothin' to share
Maybe I should put my phone down
I don't really care if everybody likes me
I just wanna love myself Love myself

I don't really care
I don't wanna keep my head down
Got nothin' to share
Maybe I should put my phone down
I don't really care if everybody likes me
I just wanna love myself
Love myself

Source: Musixmatch

#BlackLivesMatter

Most Popular Posts

COVID-19 Pandemic

By
Image
I have been reluctant to blog about this pandemic. WHO COVID-19 Dashboard Map Well, not initially. I had initially planned to do a series of blog posts about the pandemic and sprinkle them with my micro-blogging. I may still do that. But, today I feel reluctant to blog because I have loved ones battling this virus.  One is out of the hospital, one is in the hospital, one may go to the hospital, and another lost their battle at home.  I am a whole host of emotions right now. But, I wasn't really until a few hours ago - well that would be until the evening of April 7, 2020 - since it is now the wee hours of April 8, 2020 as I am writing this.  I am outraged - and really OUTRAGED over the hate and greed that consumes the United States of America. Because of the greed & hate so many Americans are losing their lives.  I could hear the wailing of families today and it immediately brought me to the wailing women & families in the  the Bible - In the Old
Read more

Minneapolis Protests - My Life Matters

By
There is a scene in the first Marvel Avengers movie where the Black Widow is talking with Loki. At the conclusion of the conversation, the Black Widow gets on the radio and says that Loki intends to rile up the Hulk. For decades white racists/supremacists have planned for the inevitable race war. They are the only ones planning for it. But, filled with blood lust they do everything they can to provoke us, rile us up. They insult, oppress, and kill us. They are so full of blood lust that they will burn the country to the ground to get their race war. Every mass shooting or police execution, we march and protest - crying out for change - nothing happens. So we weep, we kneel, we pray, we run for office, we educate ourselves and become lawyers and judges. We try to work within the system to improve and change the system. But if you keep poking the bear the bear will eventually strike back. #minneapolisriots I hear nothing but facts pic.twitter.com/ge2HtUZN0Q — JTP
Read more

Welcome to The Voice Blog

By
Image
A Voice Crying in the Desert  © 2010 Tanya Owens Complex, complicated, simple… The desert, barren, desolate, lifeless… Hope optimistically screams… Rationality targets focus to the good, the wholesome, the enriched… Heart beating, pounding, yearning… A Voice Crying in the Desert Isaiah 40:3 & John 1:23 I wrote this poem back in 2010. It is inspired by two passages of scripture one from the old testament written by the prophet Isaiah and one from the new testament written by the apostle John about the prophet John. Isaiah was prophesying comfort and deliverance for Israel who was at that time being oppressed by another nation. Fast forward to the prophet John, stating that he is the fulfillment of that scripture as he is that voice calling in the wilderness. The one who prepares the way for the Lord. There is another passage of scripture Jeremiah 20:9 "But if I say, 'I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,' his word is in my heart like
Read more

Blog Rebrand - TANYA TALKS

By
Image
Why the Rebrand? I rebranded the the blog to reflect more of what is driving me to write and soon podcast. The previous title  A Voice Crying in the Desert was more a reflection of my spiritual growth, calling, and evolution. However, my blog postings really revolved more around lifestyle and social issues. Spirituality encompasses all of that, but the name, Tanya Talks  is more a reflection of what I am doing with this blog. And it does not constrict me from branching out to different topics. Will I Discuss Spirituality? Definitely, I am not a woman who lives in compartments. My faith is not a cloak I put on and take off as it pleases me. So when warranted I will touch on matters of faith, or rather matters of the heart and conscience. Look I get deep and this blog will reflect that. I also like the lighter side of life and at times I will blog about that. This is just an eclectic space and I hope you join me for the ride and enjoy the ride. Tone I want this blog to be a casual space
Read more