In order to understand the strength of a human being we cannot look at the body, we must
look at the person’s spirit, the portion that cannot be seen with the naked eye, but illuminates
from the heart. I have had the honor of meeting such a person. A beautiful 21-year-old
woman who despite given difficult odds in life, is not only still standing, but she is SINGING!
Lily has a brain tumor. Walked into my office a month and a half ago and told me that for the
past two years she has been learning how to do everything from eating to walking to brushing
her hair. She had difficulty speaking but always managed to sing.
Her voice was ready to be heard but life had pushed it down so far that she wasn’t sure it was
still there; but it was. She was planning to sing at a memorial concert in honor of a close
family friend. We talked about exercises she would do, and found the karaoke version of “Have
You Ever Seen the Rain” by Credence Clear water Revival.
Because she practiced, she developed her lung capacity, she was resonating, and her tone was
warm, full and well supported by her diaphragm.
The day came. Lilly sang. The audience sang along, and that moment was a moment that
would last forever in the minds of those who witnessed this miracle.
Lily stands at 5’2” and weighs 110 pounds, but when she sings she is like Niagara Falls! She
walks confidently and lives one day at a time. Like I said earlier, “In order to understand the
strength of a human being we cannot look at the body, we must look at the person’s spirit, the
portion that cannot be seen with the naked eye, but illuminates from the heart.”
Keep on Singing,
Roxanne Goodman
The Confidence Booster
