The only time that I am really truly happy—when I feel at my best—is when I'm on the stage.
Interpretation
True happiness comes from expressing oneself in a fulfilling way.
Etta James expresses that her deepest sense of joy and fulfillment is found in her performances on stage. This suggests that for her, artistic expression is the pinnacle of happiness, highlighting the importance of pursuing one's passions and the emotional connection to one's craft.
In practice
During a motivational speech about pursuing passions, one could quote Etta James to emphasize the joy of following one's dreams.
Jazz took too much discipline. You have to come in at the right place, which is different than me singing the blues, where I can sing, 'Oh, baby,' if there's a pause in the melody. With jazz, you better leave that space open, or put in something real cool.
I figured I could do "It's A Man's, Man's, Man's World" because I believe it's the truth.
It's not about battling the original artists when I record these songs, it's about paying tribute to them.
I wanna show that gospel, country, blues, rhythm and blues, jazz, rock 'n' roll are all just really one thing. Those are the American music and that is the American culture.
When I'm singing the blues, I'm singing life.
People always say 'Etta, you know what your problem is? You're neither fish nor fowl. There is no place to rack you.' When I would go in a record shop, you might find one or two records by me in different stacks.
Happiness doesn't always come from a pursuit. Sometimes it comes when we least expect it.
No matter where you go, no matter how many gifts you give and receive this holiday season, unless you are actually present, it all flies by as if in a dream. Satisfaction in anything--a meal, an interaction, a gift, a sunset--depends on your willingness to take it in. Breathe. Feel your arms and your legs. You are allowed to love every little thing about yourself and your life. You are allowed to take up space and be all that you are. Really you are.
Every breath we take, every step we make, can be filled with peace, joy and serenity.
If you want to feel happy, do something for yourself. If you want to feel fulfilled, do something for someone else.
The good life consists in deriving happiness by using your signature strengths every day in the main realms of living. The meaningful life adds one more component: using these same strengths to forward knowledge, power, or goodness. A life that does this is pregnant with meaning, and if God comes at the end, such a life is sacred.
I felt white, drained of blood, cared for, purified. Peaceful.
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