Duly Noted: Every day doesn’t have to be everyday.

By Jarrett in : Duly Noted, Jarrett Hill // May 4 2010

The cover to India.Arie's - I Am Not My Hair

Listening to I Am Not My Hair by India.Arie, seemingly by chance, and a few words really stood out to me tonight. At the end of the song India sings about a woman who’d battled sickness and overcame it:

Breast cancer and chemotherapy

Took away her crowning glory

She promised God if she was to survive

She would enjoy every day of her life

On national television

Her diamond eyes are sparkling

Bald-headed like a full moon shinin’

Singin out to the whole world like:

‘I am not my hair…’

Now, I believe I heard India say these lyrics were about Melissa Etheridge performing at the 2005 Grammy Awards after a tough bout with breast cancer. (Etheridge performed completely bald as a show of strength, the performance is embedded below. Soulful British crooner Joss Stone sang along with Etheridge in this monumental performance in her career.)

But the lyric that stood out to me just now while lying here in bed dozing off was one of the first. “She promised God if she was to survive // She would enjoy every day of her life.”

How often do we have to be paused by (potentially) tragic or severely traumatic circumstances to get to that point? Where if, by only the skin of our teeth, we are able to get by we’ll live to the fullest, enjoy everything the way we could every day without such a catalyzing event.

Sometimes I find power in this simple thought: Every day doesn’t have to be everyday.

“Everyday” is an adjective. “Every day” is a noun preceded by an adjective. “Everyday” by definition is “happening or used every day; daily; commonplace; ordinary.”

How long do we go with an everyday every day? Weeks? Months? God-forbid, years? When you get up this morning or tomorrow, or when you just finish reading this right now… decide that today won’t be everyday. Then make that choice every day.

Hmm. Duly noted.

j.

Below is the (original version of the) song from India.Arie and P!nk – I Am Not My Hair:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7rSv5NvAK8]

Below is Melissa Etheridge performing with Joss Stone at the 2005 Grammy Awards ceremony.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_j3TDhc8vY]