Life is...

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.

Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.

Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.

Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.

Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.

Mother Theresa

The Voice Behind the Mask.

I never liked singing in front of people. When I sing, it's in the car, in the shower, or in the crowd. Essentially when I'm alone or anonymous. I don't think I have a bad voice nor do I have the best voice, but I've always been marred by my brother's comments. Blood -- they're brutally honest, and oh how we carry things from the childhood. No, I don't like singing in front of people but if I have, it's for something else bigger than me.

Anyway, I sang once for a friend in Italy. We were in the elevator and it was simple, just two lines. A praise song. And it was so interesting because he said that my singing voice didn't match my speaking voice. The boldness and strength surprised him because, you see, my speaking voice is childish and "cute" (and oh, how I hate that).

I've often felt that when I sang with my true voice (no falsettos), it was just me. No masks. The real Tiffany when she runs or sits before the ocean or has a child on her lap. It makes me wonder, if we were blind and only heard people's singing voice, what would we characterize them as? People are much stronger than we know. We just put on costumes when we get dressed for the daily grind.