I've decided to write. Write how I feel.
Write what I want to say out loud, but have never had the courage to do so. Write for me.
I'm going to write, and one day I'm going to change the world.
First, I'm going to start with a song. It's called Long Live by Taylor Swift. The original lyrics can be found on azlyrics.com but, I've somewhat paraphrased here... to show the conjunction between my life and whom Taylor wrote this song for.
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I said remember this moment, in the back of my mind
The time I stood with shaking hands
The crowds in stands went wild
I became a Queen
As they read off my name
The night you danced like you knew my life
Would never be the same
I held my head like a hero
On a history book page
This is the end of a decade
But the start of an age
Long Live the walls we crashed through
How the kingdom lights shined just for me and you
I was screaming long live all the magic we made
And bring on all the pretenders
One day we will be remembered
I said remember this feeling
I passed the pictures around
Of all the years that I stood there
On the side-lines wishing for right now
We are the Kings and the Queens
I traded my baseball cap for a crown
When they gave me my trophy
And I held it up for my town
And the cynics were outraged
Screaming this is absurd
Cause for a moment a little girl
In ripped up jeans got to rule the world
Long Live the walls we crashed through
How the kingdom lights shined just for me and you
I was screaming long live all the magic we made
And bring on all the pretenders
I'm not afraid
Long live all the mountains we moved
I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you
I was screaming long live the look on your face
And bring on all the pretenders
One day we will be remembered
Hold on to spinning around
Confetti falls to the ground
May these memories break my fall
Will you take a moment, promise me this
That you'll stand by me forever
But if god forbid fate should step in
And force us into a goodbye
If you have children some day
When they point to the pictures
Please tell them my name
Tell them how the crowds went wild
Tell them how I hope they shine
Long Live the walls we crashed through
I had the time of my life with you
Long, long live the walls we crashed through
How the kingdom lights shined just for me and you
I was screaming long live all the magic we made
And bring on all the pretenders
I'm not afraid
Singing, long live all the mountains we moved
I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you
I was screaming long live the look on your face
And bring on all the pretenders
One day we will be remembered
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Now, you may be wondering why this song in particular intrigued me to divulge into the writing scene, why I’m pouring my thoughts into this. . . Some of which I myself don't even want to know. :] Well, first off go here [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cZRmyR3r0k] and listen to the song, while reading my version of the lyrics. If you have done this, maybe you can see the parallel I have drawn here. The parallel that, I want my life to mean something. that I want you to know that my life means so much and that it needs to live long. Life can be unfair so often, but it's really not all that bad. You can't always have a great day, once in a while you have to have a bad day to stay balanced, right? What if all days were great? How mundane would that be? Always having a great day. I think that would be rather draining and you'd get sick of it quite fast. So instead of thinking how much you hate having bad days, think of it as a refresher. A refresher from being so happy. A refresher from being "GREAT!" And learning that life ain't perfect, darlin'. you're going to have days where you feel fat in your favorite jeans, or like your whole face has erupted into one ginormous zit, your parents don't agree with your decisions, or get mad at you for [what you think is] the stupidest things. You're going to have days where you'll feel like a horrible person, like the whole world rests on your shoulders, where you want to scream in someone's face, where you just want to lay in bed crying into your favorite teddy bear. But all those things lead up to a perfect ending. Knowing that Jesus is always on your side, that He'll always have your back and He'll always have His hand on your life even on those 'off' days. Why? Because my God is a great God, and He loves you, and he wants you to long live. So next time your five year old sister wakes you up at 6:45 and you just want to strangle her for being so freaking happy at that ungodly time, realize that God gave her that smile, and you should smile too! Smile because when you start the day out with a smile it makes the WHOLE DAY so much better. It not only makes you a happy person, but it makes everyone else in your house want to be around you more.
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I said remember this moment, in the back of my mind
The time I stood with shaking hands
The crowds in stands went wild
I became Queen
As they read off my name
The night you danced like you knew my life
Would never be the same
I held my head like a hero
On a history book page
This is the end of a decade
But the start of an age
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I love this first verse. It REALLY relates to my life right now, because I'm moving to a new age in my life and it's a bit daunting at times I must admit. But you know, I will NOT be afraid. Why? Because I will long live and Jesus does NOT give me a spirit of fear, but of love and of joy and of a sound mind! So I'm going to dance while I have the chance, laugh while I still have a voice and live with God on my side, cause he's my hero and with Him I can shine and long live! Even if " the cynics are outraged... screaming this is absurd, cause for a moment a little girl in ripped up jeans got to rule the world."
You may also be wondering why I left some of the "we's" in the song. Those would stand for my family and friends who have never left my side, and have always been here for me no matter the situation. I believe that one day I'll be remembered. Not for what I looked like, but rather the change I brought to the world. The change I brought to the world through Jesus. Sometimes I feel like I bring nothing, but I know that's a lie. I know that I'm here for a purpose, that God has put me on this earth to do something mighty. I may not know what yet, but I know that one day I'll be remembered for it, and one day it'll be long live Shannon.
You may be thinking by now that this is a tad bit weird... well yes, it is a tad bit weird. But that's okay. I'm weird, and I'm proud of it. Because I know that I want to long live and change the world, and I hope you'll come on this journey with me. I hope that you'll understand why I'm happy, and why I want to long live.
Oh, always remember to
hold on to spinning around
as the confetti falls to the ground
and let your memories break your fall.
may you long live.
long live for Jesus.
long live for you.
much love,
xoxo,
Shannon
