I Choose - India Arie

Because you never know where life is gonna take you
And you can't change where you've been
But today, I have the opportunity to choose

Here I am now looking at thirty, and I got so much to say
Gotta get this off of my chest, I gotta let it go today
I was always too concerned about what everybody would think
But I can't live for everybody; I gotta live my life for me, yeah

I've reached a fork in the road of my life where
Ain't nothing gonna happen unless I decide

[Chorus:]
(And I choose) to be the best that I can be
(I choose) to be authentic in everything (I do)
My past don't dictate who (I am)
(I choose)

I don' been through some painful things I thought that I would never make it through
Filled up with shame from the top of my head to the soles of my shoes
I've put myself in so many chaotic circumstances
By the grace of God I've been given so many second chances

But today I decided to let it all go
I'm dropping these bags, I'm making room for my joy

[Chorus]

[Bridge:]
Because you never know where life is gonna take you
And you can't change where you've been
But today, I have the opportunity to choose
(Hey)
Release the guilt about why things happen the way they did
'Cause life is gonna do what it do
And everyday I have the opportunity to choose

From this day forward, I'm going to be exactly who I am
I don't need to change the way that I live just to get a man, no
I even had a talk with my mama and I told her today I'm grown
From this day forward, every decision that I make will be my own

(And I choose) to be the best that I can be
(I choose) to be courageous in everything (I do)
My past don't dictate who (I am)
(I choose)

(And I choose) to be the best that I can be
(I choose) to be authentic in everything (I do)
My past don't dictate who (I am)
(I choose)

[Bridge]