Is That What I Sounded Like?!

Look what I found! A music CD of four songs I recorded six years ago as a Christmas gift for Bryan when he served his mission in France. The first song is sung in French. I hired the French teacher at Andrew's junior high school, for a couple of hours in the evening every day for a week, to teach me to pronounce the words correctly. Then I took my friend (who accompanied me on the piano) to a recording studio where I sang all these songs. It was a fun experience for both of us! I know that a CD is small, but it represents many hours of work as well as my love for my son. Click here for the song.

The second song is music that my friend gave me a few years ago. I sang this song numerous times as it seemed to fit the range of my voice. Click here for the song. The third and fourth songs are ones I've known for 30 years. I sang them in duets many times. They bring back many happy memories! Click here or here for the songs.

Now that MS has changed my voice and caused me to no longer sing, I hear these songs and ask, is that what I sounded like? I never liked hearing my voice but it doesn't bother me now that I don't sing. Music (singing, playing the piano) was a big part of my life. 

I still love to hear great music! I have an appreciation for it and know some things intimately. I think I'll always love to hear singing. I love instrumental music too but I love hearing voices most. 

Shortly after getting sick, I sat at the piano thinking about what a bummer it was that I could no longer sing and play. A thought in my mind reassured me that I'd be able to do it again in heaven. At that moment I knew that even though I'd no longer have those skills on earth they'd be restored to me eventually; somehow I felt okay with that. From that time forward to now I haven't/and don't feel a longing desire that can never be satisfied to sing and play-I'm not sad. Granted, I don't do things that could lead to me feeling upset and I'm okay with waiting because I know I won't have to wait forever.

Back to my CD. Isn't it a great thing to have?!

Do What You Love and Have No Regrets

We All Have to Work

I want to talk about artists. I believe an artist is anyone who does what they love. Therefore, an artist could be an accountant who loves numbers, a builder who loves building, a painter who loves painting, an electrician who loves electricity, a salesperson who loves selling, as well as an actor who loves acting, a singer who loves singing, a photographer who loves taking pictures, and the list goes on.

Art gets confused with Fine Art (which includes what is typically thought of when hearing "art"). I believe that all art is important, and that it's imperative for everyone to do what they love. People who do what they love don't have mid-life crises and change to do what they love because they are doing it. I truly think that a mid-life crisis happens because of regret, and because the person finally gets up the courage to do what they love.

Don't Waste Time

True, some people don't know what they love until later in life. They do what they do well (which includes what they love) until one day they think something like, I've been doing this for years but it's not what I love so I'm gonna stop doing that and do this instead. (They'll have to start at the beginning of doing what they love but they don't mind because it's exciting and gives them energy.)

Doing Things Just to Pay the Bills Doesn't Help You

For people who consider not doing what they love, they need to trust that when they do what they truly love they will have what they need. Others respond to things done out of love; they give freely because they feel happy. Do what you love and make someone's day, instead of forcing them to love what you don't.

People Who Do What They Love Have No Regrets

Do what you love - for your health and happiness. You won't regret it.

Believing the Truth Not Lies

I just read a great article! The most important thing I read is that people are loved no matter what they do or look like. 

• The article talks about how the world tells us to believe in lies about ourselves (like that we need to be a certain size, have a certain status, wear certain clothes, and the list goes on and on, in order to be "worthy" of acceptance and love), but that we need to believe the truth instead.

Lies

• The world tells us things to make us feel bad so that we'll buy their product or idea and feel good, it tells us things just to make us get what they're selling; it's all marketing. But the good feeling doesn't last, like an addict we want more and more.
• I bought the lies for years. Lies that made me hate and doubt myself. 
• One of the lies I believed had to do with perfection. I couldn't look into the mirror and say, "I love you" because I had flaws. I believed the lie that I had to be perfect instead of the truth that I needed to do my best. (Lie: Only 100% completion is okay. Truth: If my best is 10% not 100% then 10% completion is okay.)

Truths

• We need to only seek one person's love and acceptance. 
• I want to know the truth instead of lies. 
• I try hard. I do my best. I give my all. And if my best is less than perfect then it's okay.
• It's taken me a long time to be kind to myself, to be gentle with me, and to love myself because for a long time I thought I wasn't worthy and didn't deserve it. (Who put that idea in my mind? Who wants me to hate and who wants me to love? Why do they want it?) 

I resonate with everything in the article and think it's worth reading. To read the article click here.

According to a Talk I Heard, Stress is Good

A Talk About Stress

I heard a really interesting TED talk today by Kelly McGonigal called How to Make Stress Your Friend.

• She talked about how thoughts are manifested in the body - so if a person thinks stress is bad they have a higher risk of something bad happening. 
• She also mentioned that when a person is stressed they release a hormone called Oxytocin which she said makes you social. Apparently when a person is stressed they need human interaction - which feels to them like a hug and calms them down. 
• She said to look at stress in a positive way: for example, when the heart pounds, thinking of it as getting more oxygen to the brain, and when the body temperature is raised, thinking of it as gaining courage. 

I really liked this talk and hearing her scientific explanation about stress. To view this talk click here.

How I Felt About Stress

Many years ago, one of my children talked about stress at home-having learned about it at school. I considered my life and couldn't identify any stress-if someone asked me about my stress, I would have said that I had none.

Stresses in My Life

Before getting MS I didn't consider myself stressed but as I look back to that time here are the stresses I see: 

1. I served my family no matter how I felt.
2. I wanted to do everything perfectly.
3. I was the Young Women's President at church; and prepared to do that calling at least twice a week. 
4. I worked a full-time job in Corporate America (where I dealt with many personalities). 
5. I had my own business that I did in my spare time. 
6. I did my visiting teaching every month, and visited at least three women. 
7. I cleaned my house. 
8. I cooked every day. 

I believe people are resilient and can handle a lot of pressure. Life hands out pressure and people don't want to deal with it, but they do because they tackle what has to be done. 

After getting MS I dealt with these different stresses:

1. I didn't know what was happening to me and felt scared that I might die. 
2. I had "moments" (where I froze for 5 or 6 seconds) and my words slurred.
3. I couldn't drive for seven months. 
4. I had to quit working. 
5. I got released from being Young Women's President. 
6. My entire body, especially my hands, got weak.
7. I could no longer sing or play the piano.
8. I could no longer write. 
9. I could no longer type fast. 
10. Some people stopped caring about me face-to-face and only cared about me from a distance.
11. I learned the truth about a few things that hurt my heart.
12. My disease progressed and caused me to walk slowly, speak differently, and stop driving permanently.
13. Many more things.

The Good Side of Stress

When looking at the stresses in my life it would be sad if they encompassed the whole story, but they didn't because many blessings happen in my life, too. When I consider my stresses and blessings, the blessings win. (I'm very grateful that Heavenly Father blesses me with things that help me deal with my disease.) 

A Recommendation

The TED talk about stress made me think about many things. Consider listening to it, it's only 15 minutes long.

Another Great Poem

A Time to Talk

By Robert Frost

When a friend calls to me from the road

And slows his horse to a meaning walk,

I do not stand still and look around

On all the hills I haven't hoed,

And shout from where I am, What is it?

No, not as there is a time to talk.

I thrust my hoe in the mellow ground,

Blade-end up and five feet tall,

And plod: I go up to the stone wall

For a friendly visit.

This picture by Susan Wheeler seems to fit the poem so well:

To me, there's nothing better than a friend; especially one who will stop what they're doing and talk to me. I try not to interrupt them but when I do and they give me regard, their action says volumes and makes me feel special. I love people. I consider everyone my friend - whether or not we have differences. I'm thankful to have friends who travel the journey of life with me so I'm not alone.

Choices, Choices, Choices - What Will I Choose?

Every action is a choice between indulgence and sacrifice. Will I have it now or later? If it doesn't make it better by waiting, why not have it now? But if waiting makes it better, why not wait? One of the things Per says most is, "He who waits for something good never waits too long". I love that statement and change "something good" to "the best". I want the best and am willing to wait to have it.

Per and I are planning a trip in 2015. I have a goal to lose a certain amount of weight by the time we take our trip. I get enticed to have yummy food now, but I know that if I don't have it now I'll be happy later. I want to be happy next year and not regret that I didn't stick to my goal. Therefore when I get enticed, I think of what I want and don't cave, and stay on track to get it. 2015 will come whether or not I try to reach my goal. I'm willing to sacrifice now to be happy then.

I Did It! (and it helped me)

What I Did

I cleaned the living room as best I could. I asked Andrew to do the things I couldn't including bringing up the vacuum from the basement. He wanted to help but he just needed to know what to do, and he didn't want my project to become his. I vacuumed the floor and did the things I could. The living room is clean thanks to me.

How it Helped Me

Cleaning and vacuuming felt hard but afterward I felt a great sense of accomplishment. I realized, I CAN do it and I'm glad I had the courage to try. Sometimes when I struggle I can feel other people's discomfort. Many times they have stepped in to help me, but I think they do it so they won't see me struggle. I truly believe that they want to be nice but when they do things for me that I can do for myself my faith in me disappears and I think, I can't do it. 

Thoughts About What I Did

I may be handicapped but I'm capable to do some things and want to try. I know myself well enough to say that I'll ask for help when I've tried to do something but can't do it. It might be hard to see me struggle but when I do it myself I'm stronger and believe in my ability. I know that people wonder if they need to help me and I hope they'll ask me before just doing it. When I say, "No thanks" I hope they'll let me try and step in only if the fact is that I can't.

Religiously speaking: Jesus' main teaching is that you can do it. He says, "It's never too late" and "Try". LDS missionaries serve to help people believe in themselves. They say, "You can do it" and they inspire people to know it for themselves. The only thing I can do for others is teach, encourage, and inspire; I can learn a lot from the master teacher.

I'm glad that I cleaned the living room and that no one did it for me.

Sometimes Tears are Good

Honesty sometimes causes me to feel the spirit. The Lord works miracles through me and I can feel it when I feel the spirit. I cry when I feel the spirit. Even though I wish I wouldn't cry, I think others feel the spirit too. I heard once that if I feel it then they feel it. Crying doesn't feel good to me, but feeling the spirit does.

A Great Poem

Good Timber

-by Douglas Malloch

The tree that never had to fight

For sun and sky and air and light,

But stood out in the open plain

And always got its share of rain,

Never became a forest king

But lived and died a scrubby thing.

The man who never had to toil

To gain and farm his patch of soil,

Who never had to win his share

Of sun and sky and light and air,

Never became a manly man

But lived and died as he began.

Good timber does not grow with ease:

The stronger wind, the stronger trees;

The further sky, the greater length;

The more the storm, the more the strength.

By sun and cold, by rain and snow,

In trees and men good timbers grow.

Where thickest lies the forest growth,

We find the patriarchs of both.

And they hold counsel with the stars

Whose broken branches show the scars

Of many winds and much of strife.

This is the common law of life.

My friend gave this poem to me in the 80's. I have since given copies to some other friends. To me, this poem speaks of strength. People are strong and sometimes they don't recognize their strength until they have to be strong. I think of those people like a limb that bends in the wind. It might get blown pretty hard, maybe even touch the ground, but it doesn't break -- it's pretty resilient!

Does Every Cloud Have a Silver Lining?

My Challenge

It's taken me five years to get through the "this sucks" phase of dealing with life with MS. I've accepted my reality (that I have MS) because my life with MS feels more normal than my life without MS. Don't get me wrong, from time to time I still recall what I used to do, the difference is that now I realize "it is what it is" and don't get bummed.

MS threw me for a loop. My life did not go in the direction I thought it would. But here's the good thing - I didn't get defeated! I didn't let the crummy disease take over my will and my mindset and make me an eternally bitter person. My challenge caused me to think negatively for a while but not permanently. (I needed some time to figure out, "What do I do now?") Something big happened to me that turned my life upside down, and it took me a while to re-discover myself. But a bad situation also caused me to discover many good things about myself - including some things that I wouldn't acknowledge.

Thoughts on Challenges

Hard things happen to everyone. The key is that when I don't get defeated but instead learn from the hard thing, I end up knowing so much more than just knowing that I face something hard. 

How I Look at Life

I'm an optimist who would rather focus on blue sky and sunshine than on clouds. I love life, and realize that I can work on developing qualities and skills even when I have a challenge. I'm like water, if I can find a way to do it I will.

What is the Focus?

No longer do I feel like lamenting - thank you for listening to me. Now, I want to focus on the silver linings; the good that comes from facing hard things. To answer my question, does every cloud have a silver lining? Yes.

A Lovgren Christmas and New Year's Eve 2013

Christmas was really fun. Bryan and Kimbra brought some food from Ikea (including Jul Must and the Christmas ham) and we had our traditional Swedish Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve. The food probably tasted extra yummy because all five of us sat around the table. Kimbra and I made Swedish Limpa Bread earlier that day, and this year Per made homemade iced chocolate (is choclad) and cola (knack) candies.

Per and I decided to spend less on each person because the best thing about Christmas isn't the gifts or the food, but the people. We watched the birth of Jesus Christ on our "Joy to the World" DVD and simultaneously listened to Amy Grant's song "Breath of Heaven" to remember the greatest gift that Jesus Christ gave us (immortality), before we opened our presents under the tree.

I bought personalized stockings for each of us and a matching tree skirt with the name "The Lovgrens" on it so that Kimbra wouldn't be the only one with her name on a stocking. We had fun opening presents, and on Christmas day scratching lottery tickets (a fun tradition) and seeing a movie (this year "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug").

Andrew, Bryan, Jade, Per, and Kimbra Lovgren

Per's Ice Chocolate

Swedish Christmas Eve Dinner 2013

More Christmas Eve Dinner

Christmas Eve Ham

Later on Christmas Eve

Fluffy's favorite spot

Bryan and Kimbra

Per

Jade

Andrew

Of course on New Year's Eve we had our traditional dinner of seafood, a baguette, grapes, and cheese (this year crawfish, crab legs, and Boursin cheese.) Andrew felt sick and slept while just Per and I ate and celebrated. After dinner we watched the second movie of The Lord of the Rings triology (The Two Towers) and Fox News showed the midnight ball drop at Times Square in New York City to signify the new year. Surprisingly, I stayed awake past midnight and we watched Dick Clark's Rockin' Eve on TV. Per and I said "Happy New Year" at midnight and we went to sleep at 1:30am.

2013 New Year's Eve Dinner
(Seafood, a Baguette, Grapes, and Cheese)

Per's crawfish and My crab

How Being Different is a Good Thing

My favorite philosopher, Jim Rohn, said, "For things to change, you've got to change". He also said, "Don't wish things were different, wish you were better". I wanted respect. I decided not to go to lunch, something that I've always done in the past, because the person I was supposed to go with made me mad. In the past, that person made me mad but I always caved afterward and did fun things with them because I wanted to be a nice person. This time I thought, No! I won't do that, they made me mad! When it came time to go to lunch I said, "I'm not going." I heard, "Are you sure?" but I didn't cave. People were shocked that I stood my ground and didn't give in. I felt bad several times but I just kept thinking, for things to change, you've got to change.

This morning, the day after the lunch thing, I felt bad. As I thought about the scenario I realized that at least they knew where I stood. I began to feel happy that I'd had a backbone and said "No!" because essentially I'd claimed my spot and said, "I won't budge." I can see how I'd get respect because I stood up for myself. I'm still a nice person and now they know that I'm not a pushover.

Six Qualities of a Good Leader

In a world of darkness a leader can shed some light on the path that leads to a good place.

1. Inspiration. A good leader inspires people to be the best they can be. They tell them what they don't know and understand that when someone assumes their role - they automatically move up (they keep growing - just because they no longer have that role doesn't mean they go backward...no, they go forward.)

2. Respect. A good leader follows rules and respects authority. They don't tell people to do things "their way." They believe in the organization and support what it says.

3. Hope. A good leader hopes that people will back up their words with action. They give people room to learn and grow and hope they will learn and grow. They never stop hoping even when people make mistakes because they know that people learn from their mistakes and become more.

4. Mercy. A good leader is merciful. They forgive people when they admit they did something wrong. They wipe the slate clean and forget about the past. They don't hold grudges and condemn people for who they are but inspire them to become more than they thought possible.

5. Example. A good leader inspires from the other person's perspective. They don't expect people to think like them - because people get stressed and think I can never be like that - but they say things that cause people to consider possibilities.

6. Action. A good leader is a regular person. They aren't perfect but are willing to do things that others aren't. They get called courageous, inspiring, and other things but it all comes down to one thing, namely that they act; that they do what others only wish. 

Some leaders are in the public's eye but for whatever reason some people think, I could never be like them. The truth is that everyone is a leader. Everyone inspires someone whether they're a parent, a spouse, a friend, or a co-worker. Everyone has the same opportunity to lift up or drag down, to see the best or see the worst, to forgive or hold a grudge.

A Reason to Love Christmas

I watched a video on YouTube called Wanted Claus and talk about taking something good and making it seem bad. Santa Claus brings goodness into people's lives. The idea of someone giving you a gift inspires hope and gratitude. There are people who don't believe in Christmas who might want Santa to seem like a bad person, though he's not. People see something twisted and might think "that's creepy" not realizing that they've been duped by someone who doesn't like Santa Claus, Christmas, or whatever.

This is a merry time of year. A time when people are more kind and call it "Christmas Cheer". Haters are gonna hate but I won't hate, I'll love. When I see something good made bad I won't automatically believe it but think about why I love the good thing.

Is the Only Constant Thing Change?

Someone told me that a software program only names things in lower case. My rant: Written rules are changing right before my eyes! The rules have existed for hundreds of years, but now (because of what I consider arrogance and ignorance) they will change - and maybe cease to exist! Some people may think that lower case looks cleaner, but who cares?! - it's not right! :End of rant. I feel like I'm swimming upstream against something that will change anyway. I won't change but language will change and in the future people will think it's how it is. No! The truth will be that language changed to what it is now, but it didn't used to be that way.

I know that the only thing constant is change and that language has evolved. It's a fact that some things aren't said now that used to be said. I guess I want to hang on to how it is now because when things change then I will become obsolete. The only thing I can do is be myself and know that how I am now won't always be how it is.

How I Had Courage Instead of Fear

My body reminded me again that it's sick. A few days ago I went to bed and every time I sat up I felt really dizzy. I thought that maybe it would stop when closing my eyes but that just made it worse. I laid in the dark and felt very woozy. For the next few days the dizziness was bearable and even forgotten in the daylight. Then recently, while sitting in my office, a wave of dizziness washed over me, followed by me feeling like I was on a roller coaster as stationary things on my desk seemed to spin, followed by me feeling really hot, followed by me feeling sick. I sat in my downstairs chair and thought about how I hadn't felt like that since initially getting sick five years ago.

I felt fine while sitting in my chair, but every time I moved the dizziness came back. Per helped me walk from my chair to the stairs so that I wouldn't fall. (I'm sure he felt worried but he put on a brave face for me.) I awoke in the middle of the night and when I sat up the dizziness hit me. I bumped into the door when walking to the bathroom (which I'm sure awoke Per) and felt sad when getting back into bed.

I laid there in the dark feeling scared. I didn't know for how long the dizziness would last - maybe a short time but maybe forever! Tears welled up in my eyes and I felt sad. After a little while of feeling terrible I thought No! I'm not gonna lay here and feel sad when I don't know what will happen. God knows my fate and I give my life to him. Think good things. I thought of my favorite story about how trials are like clouds but there is sunshine and clear sky above the clouds. I thought about good things and the sad feeling went away. 

Sad things happen to me but I won't dwell on them - it is what it is. What am I gonna do? Live my life, that's what! I refuse to give in to defeat. I'd rather have courage than fear. The sadness persists until I choose not to be sad and until I think happy things that change my attitude. (Five years ago I would have allowed the sad thoughts and bad feelings to overcome my mood.) Being sick isn't fun but - as crazy as it sounds - my trial has given me better self-esteem and correct thinking. Maybe it's a silly thing to say but I'm grateful for my trial; I'm an improved person. I step back and remember my goal (to have eternal life) and every challenge I face is worth it if it gets me closer to what I want. That night, I felt scared about having a new symptom but not for very long.

Four Differences Between Men and Women

After a couple has been married for a while, they know each other well. They seem to think like each other and know each other's tastes and interests. Even though they are alike, they both have unique differences and qualities that the other doesn't have. Their differences complete each other. It would be a shame if they became so close that they lost their uniqueness; that they became like their opposite.

I went to a class once that pointed out the differences between men and women. The class suggested seeing life from the spouse's perspective. The teacher said that each person interpreted love differently, and that the way a person said, "I Love You" didn't necessarily say it to another person. The teacher said that people usually gave others what they liked, but the most effective gift was to give what the other person liked. The message of the class said, "Consider what the other person likes and give to them what they think says I love you."

I thought about the differences between men and women and came up with this:

1. Men are like the countryside and women are like the wind.

Women talk more than men. Women explain things in 10,000 words when it takes men 5,000 words to make their point. Most women like to keep busy, too whereas most men are quiet and still. 

2. Men are like the calm before the storm and women are like the storm. 

Each thing is important - if women were the calm, there would never be the storm.

3. Men are like lakes and women are like rivers. 

A lake holds the reserve of water and doesn't give the river too much or it overflows. A river takes what it has and keeps it moving. (Like the wind and the storm, each is necessary in what they do. If a woman became a lake there wouldn't be a river!)

4. Men are direct and women are roundabout.

Men get complimented for their clothes and they say, "Thanks!" whereas women say, "Thanks! I got it on sale at Macy's". Not only do women state their bargain but they say where they got it. Women want to tell others where they got a deal, men don't.

Some partners think, it would be better if they were like me. I beg to differ - it would be better if they were like them; a person possibly thinks that because they want their life to be easier. I think that if their spouse was just like them, they wouldn't like it. Spouses might not acknowledge it, they might even think the differences drive them crazy, but I believe that in one way or another they actually like them.

Does It Really Matter?

Every year (for the past few years) I've written a letter to "my girls". The girls who were Laurels (16-17) when I was Young Women's President. I've never forgotten about them and the joy they brought into my life. They are 22 or older now. Most are married and some have kids. Whatever they are doing is great.

In my opinion, you're never too old to hear an encouraging word. It's true that when a girl leaves the YW program she is welcomed into Relief Society and watched over by them (truly, a person in my church is never alone), but the fact is that all of my girls aren't going to stay in my church. Whatever they do, I want them to know that I love them.

As much as I want my life to be perfect, it isn't. It's a fact that life makes people face hard things. (Hopefully, those hard things make them stronger, but nobody likes or wishes for them.) It's a fact also that people face good things; things that bring joy and happiness.

What I want to point out is that when I don't see the good I miss out on the good things.

Last night I told Per that every time I walk into the guest bathroom I see the Christmas decoration that's in there and my attention is drawn to the antler that is broken on one of the reindeer. There are many good things about that decoration but I look at the one flaw. He said, "I've looked at that thing many times, and an antler is broken?" Then he told me that every time he goes in that bathroom he looks at the floor that he tiled and notices the chipped tile. I said, "One of the tiles is chipped?" 

How many times do I look at the flaw instead of the masterpiece? Maybe because I'm a perfectionist I notice the flaw when I want perfection. I will always be a perfectionist who wants perfection, but I also know that flaws don't = bad. 

No one wants to acknowledge that sometimes they see flaws. But no one is perfect or positive all the time. (Some things make me mad and I'm not positive about them.) It takes choosing to see the good instead of the bad; I hope to always see the good and I strive for it, but I know that always = someday. Instead, I'll try for as long as I can to see the good.

I Respectfully Disagree

I am going to disagree with someone at some point. When that happens, all I can do is say, "I respectfully disagree". Everyone has the right to their opinion. I may not like it but I just say, "I respectfully disagree" because I like them.

Why Did I Say That?

I'll admit it - I said an unsavory word; I got influenced. (I didn't swear but in my mind I might as well have, because to me the real and the fake words are one and the same.) I ask myself, "Why walk on the line and sometimes accidentally cross into the swearing world?" Then I say to myself that I choose to walk in the middle of the lane (safely away from the line) and say other words that aren't even close to sounding like swear words.

I said that word because I couldn't think of another word to say instead. Just yesterday I used that word in my question when The Chiefs threw an interception in their end zone (they could have scored but the other team got the ball! Aaaaah!)

I don't feel like saying that word right now, so I'll think of other words to say instead; "Super", "Stupid", and "Really" come to mind. A song I repeatedly heard over 30 years ago runs through my mind:

The Words You Speak

The words you speak, the words you say,

The words you utter give you away.

Like "Please", "Thank you", and "Yes, you may", 

I can tell what you are by your words.

If you speak only what is true, 

I know that I can depend on you. 

For you are honest in all you do, 

I can tell this because of your words.  

I can tell where you've been, what you've read, 

How you think, by your words did you know? 

And what's more I can tell by the words that you speak

Where you're going to go. It's the truth, it's really so.

So little friend you must beware, 

And choose your words with the greatest care.

You'll be a champion if you dare

To speak only the very best words;

Only the very VERY BEST words.

High five-the author for writing that! I believe that words are powerful. I don't want to be misunderstood or considered something I'm not, so I'll choose my words carefully.