India Arie & The Song She Wrote For Us
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Terri Wingham is the founder and CEO of A Fresh Chapter, a cancer survivor, and someone who believes that we are not defined by the most difficult aspects of our story. |
“You cannot touch the sky from inside yourself, you cannot fly until you break the shell.” ~ India Arie
When is the last time you discovered a song that resonated so deeply with your work, your life, or your dreams, you had to tell everyone you knew about it?
Since last Tuesday, I’ve travelled from Vancouver – Toronto – Niagara Falls – Michigan – New York City & now to LA. Meetings, bucket list moments, travel, and time with friends have crowded my days and work has kept me up into the wee hours. While working late on a funding proposal for the Fresh Chapter Alliance Foundation, I discovered India Arie’s new album – Songversation.
It feels like she wrote this song for me. Maybe she wrote it for you too?
Today’s Start Fresh post is about #breakingtheshell. Perhaps this video or these lyrics will inspire you to think about whether there is a shell you could break through in your life. If you’re new to A Fresh Chapter and want to catch up with some of the recently featured Fresh Thinkers and Fresh Perspectives, click here to visit the Start Fresh page.
Inspiration On The Road
The silver lining to living out of a suitcase and not having a front door of my own is the opportunity I have to build deep connections with inspiring people all over North America. Here are just a few of the people I spent time with this week who are making a positive impact on the world:
Melissa Carroll – Artist, FCAF Alum, & Survivor
I first met Melissa when she applied to be one of the cancer survivors on our 2 week pilot program to India in February. Since then, she’s become both a friend and an inspiration to me. Earlier this year, Melissa faced a recurrence of her cancer and yet – somehow – between aggressive chemotherapy treatments, she created a series of portraits for a solo exhibit entitled Melissa Carroll: Recurrence. I saw photos of these pieces when I met up with her at Sloan Kettering Hospital this week and was blown away. Melissa’s work is poignant, raw, and breathtaking. If you live in NYC, show Melissa a little love by coming out to her solo exhibit on Thursday, August 22nd from 6-9pm at the Andrea Rosen Gallery (see details below).
Cassie Hines Shoes Cancer Foundation – Making A Difference In The Lives of Young Adults
The Cassie Hines Shoes Cancer Foundation (CHSCF) was started in honor of Cassie Hines, a young adult who lost her battle with cancer in 2012. CHSCF helps young adults diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 16 – 30 connect with each other through peer support groups and cancer camps. I first met Karen, Renee, & Ashley (members of the Hines family) when I attended a conference in Atlanta last November. I instantly fell in love with this family’s passion for creating a legacy in Cassie’s name. When I spoke at the CHSCF Sample Camp in Michigan on Saturday and had the chance to immerse myself in the experience, I became even more inspired by the cause and the team behind making it a reality.
AnneMarie Ciccarella – Blogger, Patient Advocate, Fearless Friend
After dipping my toes into the Twitter pool two years ago, it didn’t take me long to meet fellow breast cancer survivor AnneMarie Ciccarella of Chemo Brain Fog. Since then, she’s become a dear friend and I’ve watched her take Twitter and the blogging world by storm. @chemobrainfog (her handle on Twitter) tells it like it is and is not afraid to take up the cause for anyone whose voice is not being heard. AnneMarie is fierce about her advocacy and we love her for it.
Now it’s your turn. What do you think of India Arie’s new song – Break The Shell? Do you have a story about “breaking the shell” in your life?
Click on the links to learn more about the #StartFresh series, join our tribe on Twitter, Facebook, or get posts delivered directly to your inbox. If you are a cancer survivor and want to learn more about our foundation, visit the Fresh Chapter Alliance Foundation page.
Comments (4)
Love the song. LOVE it…. I’m going to be who I am.
Miss you tons… what a great afternoon!!
xoxox
Miss you big time. One of my favourite lines, “A life without pain is a wolf in sheep’s clothes”. Sending you big love! T xo
Oh my goodness, to travel and meet all the amazing people we’ve come to know and love online must be a very special expereince. I’m so glad you are able to have these silver lining moments. ~Catherine
P.S. I must be emotional today, because this song is digging right into my heart!
Catherine – I do feel soo lucky that I have the chance to meet people in person. Wish I could bring you along with me. Here’s to you breaking the shell with your new book. I can’t wait to read it! T xo