To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.
E.E. Cummings
Nobody embodies the spirit of this quote better than my friend Lori Franklin, the author of Jane Be Nimble. Lori inspires me every day. She also wrote my personal favorite post that has ever appeared on this blog.
Lori fights every day under circumstances that would crush and cripple you or I.
I’ve had this song sitting around for a long time, nameless. Full disclosure: I played it for my wife at our wedding reception, but it didn’t have a name. After reading an email from Lori the other day, I’ve decided to name it after her.
Here is Lori.
Lori, keep marching forward, even (especially) on the days when you can’t get out of bed.
Thank you for everything.
Everyone else, please tweet this, facebook it, take it with you wherever you go today. I want to get a ton of people over on Lori’s blog.
Josh
PS: I started a guitar performances page that already has a couple of songs on it.
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{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Josh .. this is such a wonderful gesture – Lori is fantastic and always positive .. so many struggle with a smile on their face – thank you for reminding us – that we need to thank the world for being here, living life, while being able to remember and help everyone as much as we can with a smile on our face .. leading to laughter and happiness.
Brilliant – so generous .. and I love your music .. with love to all and you and Lori in particular ..
She’s the best, Hilary.
You are so right .. it’s just so good to learn how people cope and how they inspire us .. you too .. you are both strengths of force – for us to take knowledge from and be humbled by ..
Hilary
Wow, Just popped over to Lori’s blog and she’s got some great stuff over there. I love to see bloggers creating community, and she’s doing it with that fantastic Front Porch series.
Beautiful song Josh. Reminds me of movie theme music. Much of my favorite music comes from the movies. I can almost picture the opening and closing scenes playing with this music. I look forward to hearing it as the theme to “WSL: The Movie.”
I’m buying all of us tickets to “WSL: The Movie” when it comes out.
Thanks for your comment about the Front Porch. It is definitely a fun series.
Eric, you’ll love everything Laurie does. I want George Foreman to play me in the movie.
Lori’s blog is great – I just enjoyed reading the Neuron Bench Presses post and I’ll pass it along to friends and family.
Thanks for the head’s up.
…and the song is amazing too, Josh. Thanks for putting it up.
You’re welcome Boris.
Blasted firewall! I’ll take a look/listen when I get home. I did get a chance to go back and read Lori’s guest post, which I somehow missed when it posted. I also checked out her blog. Loved it. Subscribed.
*Blushing*
(Thank you!)
You won’t be sorry!
Dude, you are seriously talented. For the past several weeks I’ve enjoyed learning more about your approach to life and how you’ve overcome adversity. Just through the writing I’ve appreciated the talent. Now the music. Very cool.
If you ever need a frontman, let me know. We can tour like Tenacious D — The World’s Strongest Librarian & The Ironshef — I’ll have to appeal to your generosity for some guitar lessons though.
This was a treat today, Josh. Thanks.
Absolutely! We’ll dazzle the world, playing as “Cornelius Von Toe Tap and the Ironshef experience.”
In the short time that I have been reading your blog, you never cease to disappoint. Lori has a great looking blog as well.
This is the kind of variety that will keep people coming back. Nice guitar work.
-Joshua Black
The Underdog Millionaire
Thanks Josh. Refusing to focus has its benefits, such as utter unpredictability.
Beautiful song, Josh… and Lori, well… she´s a beautiful soul. She’s one of the best friends I’ve ever had, and I have yet to meet her in person! The world is a much better place because she is in it.
Thanks for honoring her in this awesome way (she LOVES music!!).
PS: Lori, I miss you, and I’ll be home in a week!!!
Enjoy the trip, Lisis.
fantastic quote from e.e. cummings. thanks for the intro to Lori’s blog, great stuff.
Josh,
I’m speechless.
I’ll be back in a moment after I catch my breath.
You’re the best Lori. Don’t ever change.
OK, I’m back, but still trying to assemble my composure.
Josh, I LOVE your song.
Your talents are many, your heart is huge, and your WSL community is amazing. I’m really excited your started your guitar performances page, too!
Music moves me to my core; I can’t think of anything more special than what you have done here. Also, thanks for mentioning my guest post. I must admit, that’s my personal favorite — when I wrote for your site, it felt very personal and the post just flowed out of me.
Thanks, Josh, I appreciate you. My circumstances are challenging, but there are many, many people out there dealing with difficulty that eclipses my experience. I believe the hand I’ve been dealt can still be played with grace — but, I’m more successful some days over others.
Those of you out there reading Josh’s awesome blog who are facing challenges, know that I’m holding you in my positive vibes — together we’ll do this!
Thanks, Josh. You rock.
P.S. Lisis, it’s so great to see your smiling Gravatar! Travel safely!
Ironshef is correct Josh, you are multitalented. Thanks yet again for sharing your talents with the rest of us. The song was great.
Just wanting to sit here and enjoy the music, so I won’t babble anything here…just want to say, in a word: lovely. Lori the song and Lori the woman.
Josh:
What can I say, but that’s an awesome tune! I remember that post well and have gotten to know Lori, as well. Yep, I would agree that Lori is a pretty amazing person and a great example of someone who’s incredibly positive and supportive and quite a fighter. Thanks for sharing the song and tales of your epic “battles” as well. Keep rockin’!
Well done, I really enjoyed that. Always nice to see people try to help others.
Big, HAPPY blog-birthday, Josh. I’ve been reading, lingering, commenting for the past few months and love every minute of it. So what do you have for us in year 2??
What an awesomely cool thing to do Josh! Very gracious indeed! The song is beautiful and, for some reason, almost moved me to tears (OK, I DID cry…just a little though!)
I checked out Lori’s blog and decided to request to join the RAOKA (Random Acts Of Kick Arse); Lori promptly replied to welcome into the tribe – THANKS Lori!
Just when I thought you couldn’t do anything to surprise me you go and to this. Thanks for the song, the new blog hang out and most of all thanks for being Josh! You are an awesome source of inspiration.
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