Need a quote or song lyric

[Greathands]

This will be a rather unusual request on here, but my experience has been that this site has a variety of people who have great ideas on all types of topics.

 

I'm building/leading a retreat for high school students on self esteem. The first day will be spent reflecting on those negative things about ourselves that we obsess about.

 

I'm having difficult time thinking of a catchy name for that day's theme. Does anyone have a suggestion on a famous quote, phrase or song title that would work?

 

I appreciate your suggestions!

[+ purplekow]

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

 

A real oldie even when it was recorded by a young Arethra Franklin. Accentuate the Positive. Eliminate the Negative. The message is spot on and the tune is catchy if not modern.

[playwrestler]

The egg

 

I think this metaphor was attributed to George Bernard Shaw... unfortunately I can't find it on google... It went something like this:

 

People are like eggs... nature's gift. The perfect nourishment in a beautiful container. Some only value the shell, and it will stay beautiful and pristine forever... while the insides rot. You must crack it to get any benefit.

 

I always took it to mean that people have a tendency to protect and hide their true feelings and fears... and grow deeper and deeper inside themselves as they grow older... closing themselves off. It's only through opening up and sharing that we truly discover who we really are.

[Greathands]

A real oldie sung even when it was recorded by a young Arethra Franklin. Accentuate the Positive. Eliminate the Negative. The message is spot on and the tune is catchy if not modern.

 

Great minds think alike, purplekow. I had already decided to use this song title (although I'm going to do it backwards) for our second day when we will begin to concentrate on putting our negative thoughts to rest and build on our positive attributes.

 

I'm still looking for something to use on the first day, where we will be acknowledging that we're not perfect but that we tend to obsess about our negative attributes.

 

Any more thoughts?

[jackhammer91406]

Does anyone have a suggestion........that would work?

 

Blocking out the glare to nurture the light within.....

[Racketjock]

I lead simillar retreats as part of my consulting gig and happy to help if I can. Not sure of your specific theme or specs on your group, but offer the following songs and accompanying lyrics I have used before:

 

"Dont worry, be Happy" - Bobby McFerrin

"Broken" - Lifehouse

"Beautiful You" - Johhny Diaz

 

Some of these can certainly have a spiritual bent to them but speak to your theme and are/ have been popular.

 

RJ

[Guest OCBeachbody]

Well I know when I was in High school our moderator player

 

"Break" by Linkin Park.... since it kinda does touch on that point in life in high school where we feel like there is too much pressure, or confused, and not sure of who we are.....

 

"Crawling in my skin

Without a sense of confidence, confidence, confidence...

Consuming, confusing

Crawling my skin

Without a sense of confidence and i'm convinced that theres just too much pressure to take

Theres something inside me that pulls beneath the surface"

 

Although it is a heavy song... people can identify... and as a positive note to that is out of whatever angst you feel at that time you can make it... no matter how bad that feels.

[gp0560]

Day One: No, I Can't.

 

Day Two: Yes, I Can!

[Guest ryan2552]

How about one of these?

 

"We've Been Waiting So Long .. Give Us Just One Victory and We'll Be Alright"

"Some How Some Day Give Us Just One Victory and It Will Be Alright"

"Shining Still Show Us The Way Give Us Just One Victory ans Will Be Alright"

[+ azdr0710]

not sure where this can fit in, if at all, but I always liked this old quote my grandmother always used:

 

"I wish everybody could be like you and me, and sometimes I wonder about thee".....it can be modernized just a bit, of course.....it has some cynicism in there, but it makes a point that can be discussed....

 

maybe it won't work for your project!

[Mark Gordon]

"I wish everybody could be like you and me, and sometimes I wonder about thee"

 

All the world old is queer save thee and me, and even thou art a little queer.

 

Robert Owen

[Guest greatness]

well

 

You can use a song from The Sound of Music.

 

My Favorite Things: I simply remember my favorite things

And then I don't feel so bad or my negative thoughts go away something like that.

 

You are so sweet to counsel and guide young kids I hope you have a wonderful time.

 

 

MARIA:

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with strings

These are a few of my favorite things

 

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels

Door bells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles

Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings

These are a few of my favorite things

 

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes

Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes

Silver white winters that melt into Springs

These are a few of my favorite things

 

When the dog bites

When the bee stings

When I'm feeling sad

I simply remember my favorite things

And then I don't feel so bad.

 

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with strings

These are a few of my favorite things

 

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels

Door bells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles

Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings

These are a few of my favorite things

 

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes

Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes

Silver white winters that melt into Springs

These are a few of my favorite things

 

When the dog bites

When the bee stings

When I'm feeling sad

I simply remember my favorite things

And then I don't feel so bad.

 

 

 

 

This will be a rather unusual request on here, but my experience has been that this site has a variety of people who have great ideas on all types of topics.

 

I'm building/leading a retreat for high school students on self esteem. The first day will be spent reflecting on those negative things about ourselves that we obsess about.

 

I'm having difficult time thinking of a catchy name for that day's theme. Does anyone have a suggestion on a famous quote, phrase or song title that would work?

 

I appreciate your suggestions!

[NYTomcat]

Lithium by evanescence. Its a song about self doubt/hatred and the inability to break out as we obsesses over our shortcomings. Now some of the lyrics speak of a lost love that causes the doubt but......

 

Lithium, don't wanna lock me up inside

Lithium, don't wanna forget how it feels without

Lithium, I wanna stay in love with my sorrow

Oh, but God I wanna let it go

 

Come to bed, don't make me sleep alone

Couldn't hide the emptiness, you let it show

Never wanted it to be so cold

Just didn't drink enough to say you love me

 

I can't hold on to me

Wonder what's wrong with me?

 

Lithium, don't wanna lock me up inside

Lithium, don't wanna forget how it feels without

Lithium, I wanna stay in love with my sorrow

 

Don't wanna let it lay me down this time

Drown my will to fly

Here in the darkness I know myself

Can't break free until I let it go, let me go

 

Darling, I forgive you after all

Anything is better than to be alone

And in the end I guess I had to fall

Always find my place among the ashes

 

I can't hold on to me

Wonder what's wrong with me?

 

Lithium, don't wanna lock me up inside

Lithium, don't wanna forget how it feels without

Lithium, stay in love with mmm

I'm gonna let it go

 

[gp0560]

Back to the original question?

 

I'm building/leading a retreat for high school students on self esteem. The first day will be spent reflecting on those negative things about ourselves that we obsess about.

 

I'm having difficult time thinking of a catchy name for that day's theme.

 

As much as I am enjoying the contributions, it seems to me that the original request was for a short, catchy title for just the second day, that being the "negative" or "down" day.

 

Greathands, could you give us what you have already? What are the catch phrase for the second or "up" day and the overall title for the retreat? Maybe that way you could trigger some responses that would tie all your titles together.

[Guest DuchessIvanaKizznhugg]

"Success is just an Elephant away"

 

While at a corporate training seminar some time ago, the session was titled "Success is Just an Elephant Away".

Of course it made everyone curious.

 

The speaker told a story of how elephants are trained to stay where they are by tying a rope around one of their massive legs and attaching it to a peg in the ground.

To anyone who has seen this phenomenon....it's quite amazing.

Can the peg and rope really hold back an elephant? Hardly! And yet it works.

Why? Because the elephant has grown up BELIEVING it will.

When they were young, they had EACH leg tethered. They may have tried to pull away....but with no success. After a while, only 3 legs were tethered.

Then only 2. And finally just 1. They have learned to stop trying to test the restraint, and instead confine themselves when tethered to the rope.Sometimes the peg doesn't even have to be put in the ground....the feeling of the tether on the animal's leg is enough to trigger the reaction.

 

We mortals are just like the noble elephant.

In the first year of our life....there are many milestones that result in positive reinforcement from our parents and other adults around us.

The first smile.

A hearty burp.

A big poo.

The first step.

 

Everything is wonderful, and we're constantly told we're the best. Everyone wants to hold us; to talk to us in soothing tones.

 

But then, something happens. Suddenly a step isn't enough to warrant great praise. A burp isn't so funny anymore.

 

Pretty soon we're being told

....."don't do it that way....do it this way"

......"Shhhh!"

......"get down...you're too heavy"

......"why are you colouring the trees purple? Trees aren't purple"

......"make sure you stay inside the lines."

......"Why are you wearing that?!"

 

All of this negativity acts the same as the teather to the elephant.

As we start believing the negatives being fed us, we act as though they are true.

 

So the next time we hear those negatives around us, it's up to us to remember that they don't have to be true. We can pull ourselves away as easily as the elephant could pull the peg from the ground. But it's up to us.

 

The imagery of this story is one that I've remembered.......long after the session.

 

I hope this is up the alley of what you're looking for.

 

PS. Further to posting this, I dug around on the 'net, and came across this article. It adds further meat to my abbreviated version.

http://tickledbylife.com/index.php/15-elephant-tethers-that-stop-you-from-being-creative/

[+ purplekow]

I though Lithium was about bipolar disease. Lithium being one of the mainstays of treatment

[justaguy]

Duchess--IMHO this is one of your best posts ever. The image and the story really hit home. Thanks.

[+ purplekow]

As much as I am enjoying the contributions, it seems to me that the original request was for a short, catchy title for just the second day, that being the "negative" or "down" day.

 

Greathands, could you give us what you have already? What are the catch phrase for the second or "up" day and the overall title for the retreat? Maybe that way you could trigger some responses that would tie all your titles together.

 

 

I believe he mentioned the Accentuate the Positive is the second day theme

[gp0560]

I believe he mentioned the Accentuate the Positive is the second day theme

 

Yup, nice catch. I forgot to look for his other posts.

[Racketjock]

Duchess,

 

Truly a great story and message. Thanks for the reminder.

 

RJ

[Guest DuchessIvanaKizznhugg]

Thanks....

 

Duchess--IMHO this is one of your best posts ever. The image and the story really hit home. Thanks.

 

Duchess,

 

Truly a great story and message. Thanks for the reminder.

 

RJ

 

Thanks, guys, glad you liked.

The imagery of the big elephant being held captive by nothing more than a piece of string is a strong one. I've been able to remember the lesson even though the training session was more than 15 years ago.