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Jackie was my househelp who used to torture me by playing the corniest songs on the radio every morning. She especially loved this singer who screamed her songs from start to finish like she was being exorcised. And those were love songs, mind you.
To take my quiet mornings back, I sarcastically kindly asked Jackie, “You like this very spirited singer a lot, don’t you?” She replied, “Yes, she saved my life.”
Whaaat???
She continued, “When my husband left me and our young daughters to be with another woman, I was so hurt I wanted to commit suicide. In my moments of desperation, I prayed and turned to music for diversion. I can so relate to this singer because she made me realize that I am not alone in my anguish. I cried myself out listening to her songs. Now I’m ok and my daughters still have a mother.”
Wow.
I felt ashamed of myself for judging the talent and style of that screaming singer and for judging Jackie’s taste in music.
While I am still not a fan, that singer definitely earned my respect. I respect her for pursuing her art and her style and for not listening to naysayers (I’m sure there are a lot) who told her that she should mellow down a bit.
If we can only be so brave as that singer in showing who we truly are and in pursuing the things we really want to do with reckless abandon, then maybe, just maybe, we can be to somebody, what she was to Jackie – a diversion and a salvation.
Sing your heart out. Your Jackie is waiting.
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