The Anthem

In my last post, I talked about Katy Perry's song "Roar," and how it really affects me as a person. I've been thinking a lot recently about how every person, runner or not runner, seems to have an anthem - a song that really represents them and inspires them. I know we typically think of anthems as being reserved for nations or pews on Sunday mornings, but why shouldn't we all have our own personal anthem that drives us to be our very best self?

I grew up with music - listening to it, performing it, writing lyrics for it - and it means so much in my life. I just read the other day that every book that exists is just a different combination of the same 26 letters, and the lyrics to our favorite songs are no different. But when those 26 letters are combined just right, magic happens.

I thought I'd share a few of my recent anthems and some of the lyrics that really speak to me!

Katy Perry - ROAR

Now I'm floating like a butterfly  -  Stinging like a bee, I earned my stripes

I went from zero to my own hero

You held me down but I got up, already brushing off the dust

You hear my voice, you hear that sound, like thunder gonna shake the ground

You held me down but I got up, get ready 'cause I've had enough

I see it all, I see it now

I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire

'Cause I am a champion and you're gonna hear me roar

Louder, louder than a lion, 'cause I am a champion

And you're gonna hear me roar

 

 

Lemonade Mouth - DETERMINATE

Gotta turn the world into your dance floor

Determinate, determinate

Push until you can't and then demand more

Determinate, determinate

You and me together, we can make it better

Gotta turn the world into your dance floor

Determinate, determinate

 

 

 

Lemonade Mouth - BREAKTHROUGH

Stop still take another breath, road block move it to the left

Get around whatever's in your way

Heartbreak pick up all the pieces, don't stop dancing in the bleachers

It's gonna be your turn to play, gonna be your turn to play

Sometimes it's raising your voice, sometimes it's making some noise

Sometimes it's proving to the world it was wrong

Whenever you can't see the light, whenever there's no end in sight

Keep on keep on moving on, keep on moving on

Here comes a breakthrough, here comes a day

Here comes a moment that you gotta go for it, so don't let it get away

It's all a breakthrough, just turn the page

'Cause everyday I'm getting closer, life is just a rollercoaster

 

 

 

Papa Roach - STILL SWINGING

Non-stop, devastating everything, on top, never coming down

I've got, my hands in everything, non-stop, I'm never coming down

We're just living for today, keep our light on in the haze

Yeah forever we will stay, we are the ones still swinging

We are a beacon in the dark, the lighthouse risen from the heart

We've been here from the start, we are the ones still swinging
 

Yes, I have teeny-bopper Disney Channel movie music and Papa Roach all on the same soundtrack. I love listening to music that encourages me to keep going, and each of these does that for me. The Papa Roach song has a driving beat that is great for running and reminds me that I am still swinging, not backing down from the fight of improving myself each and every day.


I hope everyone out there has an anthem that inspires and drives you. If not, keep your ears peeled - you may find one that motivates you very, very soon!