Calm in the Moment: A Book of Lyrics to Ease the Soul as We Grow

© 2012 by Alexandru Sota. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 07/16/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4772-4422-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-4421-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012912867

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Intro

Woke Up Early

Be Free

Voice

Ready Or Not (Life)

When I Look Outside

City Life

Lies, Manipulation, & Junk Food

Ease Your Soul

Phathers

Break My Hurt

Calm In The Moment

Real

Sweet Tear

Thoughts At Midnight

I Wish I Knew You

A Lot To Learn

Crisis

The Quickie Mutiny

We Belong To Money

Freedom Song

Unauthorized Heroes

Last Wind

That Great Feeling

Now That She Gone

Gipsy Girl

Love That You Love

Mama Africa

In The Morning

El Guitarrista

Is It Coming?

Let It Go (Part 2)

La Bomba

Take Your Time

Still You

Memory Lane

My Achilles

Miss

OMG

Sensation

That Great Feeling

Say Goodbye To Love (Tonight)

Wayside

Bite My Tongue

Yo

Internet Girl

No Romance

You Can Be My Girl

Trust In Your Eyes

The Days At The Field

The Days At The Field

Few Words Spoken

Sun Shining

Played It Well

Free Flowing

Pivot

For The Love Of Fotbal (My Game)

Invincible

The Actor

Immigrant Language    (the elusive American Dream)   

It Was Always Meant To Be This Way (We Just Didn’t Know It)

Talk You Down

For Pops

In This World    (Power To Smile)   

Train To Timisoara

Telenovela

The Past (all over again)

Soulful Letter

More Life

Feed The World

Life As We Know It

The Up (side of down)

Soaring by

Butterfly

Civil Unrest

Around The World    (the people say)   

People (Only Care About Themselves)

Viata E O Poezie

Doua Inimi

Remembering She    (The Way We Used to Be)   

Carlos It’s You

Mama

Enough

My Life in Color    (A Children’s Story)   

Romanian Child

Died Young

Wanderer

Outro—hopes of, 1 day

Thank You

Multumesc

I dedicate my writing over these past few years to all the people who have been an active part of my life.

For mama—Florina Sota

In loving memory of my good friends—Carlito Caraballo & Julia Paz

-AS

Intro

Calm in the moment is what the world

needs now

The journey continues . . . with or without us . . . yes! I am honored to share this ride with you, this piece of fruit, this bus seat, this cold drink, a bed, some laughs, and most importantly, the moment. We’re here. No stopping us now. It’s unbelievable all the changes we see in life. Just think how different things were a few years ago. Looking back is looking forward, in time we are mere specs on a large spectrum. In retrospect, it’s a moment. In the moment, it’s our lives. Welcome to the calmness; welcome to the follow-up to 10 Degrees of Glory. Do enjoy your trip through the social commentaries, the shared memories, the verses that spur images of your own life, through the struggle, through the beauty, the loves and the friendships; the moments of fury, and those of disbelief. We live and we learn; all along we float through destiny, some knowing they are exactly where they belong and why, others just experiencing, but never understanding the purpose they will serve. I’d like to begin, where we last ended . . .

To all my friends, from all around the world, God bless. I am very lucky to have had the pleasure of getting to know you and the many different cultures from which you emerge. In my 27 years, I formed some opinions about the world and many people in it. I can only say, I am truly blessed as I wake-up, take a breath, pause for a second and realize that love is like food for our soul and that the power to smile is always within us, despite our hardships. When I reflect on my growth and growing-up there are moments I can always recall such as the way my grandfather used to squeeze my hand on the sidewalk when I was a kid, or how my grandmother would always cook soup for me at lunchtime when she was visiting or living with us. My mother’s eyes, when I did well and my father’s undying will in his last moments of life, encouraging me to go on; his laughter I can still hear ringing loud inside my chest. My niece, and her grateful kiss of excitement on my hand, the way my first love twisted her tongue when we we’re making love. The look on my students’ faces when I made them laugh or when a player of mine made a shot or scored a goal. I felt he is me and we live through them in those moments of euphoria. It’s unbelievable.

I think about life and I can sum up pretty much everything in one word; change. Life is defined by changes, and destiny is something defined by moments of change. Sometimes we don’t want to change anything. Shit, there’ certain things and certain people I’d want around forever, but they flow like the wind—here one moment, gone tomorrow. We must cherish the moments that our souls deem precious because when the journey begins to change, these memories are all we have to remind us of the beautiful times.

As I grew, I began to notice more and more how things and people change, evolve, and I became nostalgic. I think it’s therapeutic in a way. When I find someone I truly enjoy talking to and that I can learn from, I take what lesson I can from them and that is more valuable than any material possession. Many people now-a-days are overly-dependent on their possessions. I can’t be hypocritical and say I don’t rely on my cell phone, car, TV, etc . . . it’s the times. Don’t be hard on yourselves. These are simply the times in which we live. All we can do is remember that all our belongings, all the money, all the things we treasure now, mean nothing without the moments that create joy, laughter, or spring tears that water the soul. The moments of calm where everything you need to know is clear, when you truly find yourself in the moment, and you can feel your heartbeat in harmony with your soul, these are the moments that we have to take with us when we move on.

When I’m gone, I’ll find comfort in knowing that others will live on, and through me and the times we shared, they will have a positive effect on the universe around them; our individual universes make-up the world which we share and create different sentiments that we put in the air. If we constantly spread negativity, then that becomes our defining attitude. If we learn to love in real-time, and not after the fact, or when it is too late, we will be putting more positivity, more laughter, more peace in the air, and soon a complete stranger might begin to sense these positive vibrations. There are many reasons we do what we do and it is because it feels good; having said that, I got to examine myself in relation to reality and the world going on around me.

I used to be angry with the world, with the way things were; I blamed everyone else for things only I had control over. It was never her fault I lost my temper. It was never his fault I aged unruly. It wasn’t she that made me make those bad financial choices, and it wasn’t him that led me there that night to lose a part of me. I had to get void in order to grow. The cup must be empty before we can begin to fill it. First, put your priorities, your passions, and the things that make you who you are and mix in the life lessons that helped you to learn, finishing everything off with a pinch of toughness and voila.

You got to be mentally ready for life; you need a fit psyche because you will be tested again and again and again. Temptation will challenge and win many times, but no matter when and how you’ve got to find ways to overcome the things that can hurt you. What is detrimental to your well-being is what you must stay clear of. Hate, much like love, is a feeling that can consume you, so let go the hatred in your heart so you can live mo’ better. Quit being scared of your own life and possibilities.

Fear is a weapon. It is the greatest manipulator known to mankind and it can devour ambitions, hopes, work ethic, and state of spirit on any person. Work on courage, focus on faith, be vocal and embody freedom during these turbulent times of economic oppression and mental slavery by rejecting the fear trying to intrude inside your heart. What is supposed to happen . . . will! You just try to make the best life possible for you, your family, and all the people you love.

Often, I hear people saying, I’ll do anything for my children. Well . . . what do they need from you? Attention; more of you and less of your money. Confidence; give them the inner strength necessary to tackle this life and be good people. Support; children are fragile; you must approach them with tenderness. Be aware of them as individuals and try to never break them down without also building them up, and allow the comfort of them being able to confide in you during times of need. In our new technologically-driven lifestyles, it is important to hold steady our values, traditions, and ways of living based on morality and humanity. It is very easy to lose ourselves and hard to bridge the gap between generations. We must keep the lines of communication open and talk with the youth and those coming up because although they don’t know it, they have it much harder these days.

There is more than meets the eye in our world. There are stories of survival, inspiration, and miracles on many corners. Living means suffering as well, and some people endure great deals of pain and obstacles throughout life. Some are stronger in order to keep the equilibrium of the world as the good Creator intended, and carry the burdens of those whose spirit may not be able to handle life’s harsh realities at times. This life is like . . . more than rich or poor, it’s all about people. So let’s be better people, and remember that life never treats two persons the same way. Some people become products of their environments, others do whatever is necessary in the moment, and the few crazy, stupid, naïve people left over, they become dreamers.

I’d like to take y’all on a journey . . .

So please grab a hand, squeeze it tight, and commit to not letting it go . . .

Sometimes we go from the start, working hard

You strive for your moments of glory

Your life yo, that’s your story

Everybody have their own 10 degrees

Discover them please

Live your life to the fullest

Don’t fear a disease, don’t fear death

Live your life free, just be you

Never look at me, look at she,

Look left or right, up or down,

For whom you are

Just look inside

Then bring it out

Listen to the sound (of your soul)

Mr. 10 Degrees always at ease

Put your heart in a place free from all debris

Free of negativity and all the hatred

I only love

I’m used to it like a patient

Yo, someone call a doctor

Little one make a choice

You can be whatever you want

You got qualities . . .

Maybe it’s your love, maybe it’s the pleasure

Maybe it’s the pain, mix it all together,

Maybe it’s the struggle, maybe it’s the triumph

Maybe it’s the moment

With the sweat and the blood

Tears when times are tough

Maybe it’s the feeling

Love-making, when you’re high,

Maybe it’s the look inside your girl’s eye

When she sold you out

The knife in your back

Could be 10 degrees . . .

Getting up . . . now that’s 10 degrees!

How you feel now?

You know what’s on my mind

Trying to spread this lyrical love tonight . . .

Yo!

Calm in the moment is what the world needs now

Calm in the moment is what the world needs now

Yo!

I’m deeming this book a gift to the youth

Watch your step little-foot

Young one put down the gun

Think carefully

One day you’ll be able to save me

Using my words

This is what I’ve been trying to say for so long

And this is not right or wrong

This is just live your life

Do what you got to survive

Make a better living

That’s what we fighting for

Every day, yo!

We can’t disrespect the poor

We can’t disrespect the rich

We can’t give in to them

We nobody’s slaves, bitch!

And I can’t believe it’s gone this far

This what the world needs now

Calm in the moment

Yo, I just need a moment, hold on

Take a sec, let me regroup

Catch my breath

This is not what the world intended

Things are this bad ’cause it’s the way we made it

Through carelessness, through not uniting

Through so many problems ignored because we didn’t

See the use in fighting

For 3, 2, 1

The end is near but I won’t be the last one

This is just my way of saying to the world,

We need calm in the moment and we need it now

My moment, your lifetime

Things have gone too far

Don’t be nervous, don’t be scared,

Don’t hide under the bed

You’re no stranger to this life, to this world,

This is your home

Shout out to everyone who did what they had to

Those that said you the man, too

I believe that in my heart this’ the right moment

For everything that exists

I can’t believe things have gone this far

But I do believe we can still turn it around

And if you lose that hope

You’ll lose your life

Than if you lose your love you’ll sacrifice

To get her back, to protect it

That’s what you working for, fighting for,

Yo, she more than just your ho

She might be your lover

She might be your friend

You got to help your mama pay rent

You got to get through this life

Without your dad

Get through this moment, don’t be so sad

The sun will shine on your street corner

Nothing is ever over

Nothing goes in order

Stop making plans

God is going to laugh

Don’t worry about being first

See what it’s like to be last

Last in line, down to my last dime

Need a light and a smoke

I’m coughing blood but least I won’t choke

There’s no noose in my rope

Still blowing on a little ray of hope

Hoping to spark my fire

To ignite the desire to be better

Be here and live with no fear

Never a failure if I seem to stand out

Call my name and pull me to the front

See what I’m about

I give my hand out

Offer you my calm in the moment . . .

This book is a gift . . . to all the youth

Use it as you would

Anything that gives you advice in life

To take a step forward

Never feel the strife

That you can’t do this

You can do that

You are the future exactly what we need

Do what you feel

If you liked 10 Degrees

Then read this . . .

Woke Up Early

Be Free

It’s our world

A better life for you and me

I just want us to

Live free

I want my liberty

Equal rights for every man, woman, child, baby

And all I’m trying to do is just

Be free

I want my liberty

And I’m just trying to

Be free

All I can do is

Be free

In the eyes of tyranny

I’m trying to

Be free

Live a life full of love, baby

And all I’m trying to do is

Be free

I just want to

Be free

A better world for you and me

Where we can

Be free

It’s a paradox

Counter-clockwise clocks

That keeps us strapped

With glocks

To lock down blocks

The more danger

The more females

We get to bounce

Selling pleasures

By the ounce

At a command

Ready to pounce

Pit-bull tendencies

Separate us by

A few degrees

Short of the heat

Runaway until I can’t

Feel my feet

Or until I’m hit

By the burn

All the money I was

Destined to earn

Come with concern for

Those around me

When vultures

Surround me

Apply pressure

For a national treasure

Got to be careful

What land I’m walking

On what phone I’m talking

How loud I’m barking

Attention I’m sparking

For some good intentions

Demons come out

The woodworks

Affect our pensions

Work on our mind

In many dimensions

Impossible keeping up

With all these inventions

Keeping heads up

Air for respiration

The elements for freedom

Open to interpretation

Freedom is still

The pride of our nation

Humanity

It’s our world

A better life for you and me

I just want us to

Live free

I want my liberty

Equal rights for every man, woman, child, baby

And all I’m trying to do is just

Be free

I want my liberty

And I’m just trying to

Be free

All I can do is

Be free

In the eyes of tyranny

I’m trying to

Be free

Live a life full of love, baby

And all I’m trying to do is

Be free

I just want to

Be free

A better world for you and me

Where we can

Be free

Kids read about it

Adults dream about it

I’m trying to