Not only does Melissa write amazing things in her songs, she also says them in life. Here are my favorite quotes from her that aren't from songs:
"I want to say a special hello to our website community. It's always nice for me visit the message board every now & then at MelissaEtheridge.com. Hello boardies!"
~Greatest Hits exclusive bonus DVD message to M.E.I.N. members.
"Wow, that feels as good as you think it does."
~Oscar acceptance speech
"I live in a world where I can speak of my love, and love is stronger than all of their darkness".
~Referring to the right wing folks.
"Don't let anyone tell you that you have to be a certain way. Be unique. Be what you feel."
"I know whatever darkness that I have, I will have at least as much light."
"Be in your truth, be in your light, be in your love."
"I heard that in the hierarchy of reincarnation a lesbian is the highest form of life, & the lowest is a heterosexual man."
"Create good. Create love."
"Fear is just a lack of imagination."
~Dallas TX, 7/15/06
The Way I See It #15 (from Starbucks cups):
"Why limit yourself by what has never been before!
Why say " I can only imagine..."?
Make the dream real. There is no imagination."
"When I walk out on the stage & I get the feeling that there are so many of my fans & people there that are determined to have a good time & determined to listen to music & celebrate & move their bodies & sing at the top of their lungs & scream & holler - whatever they want to do - then it is like I have a responsibility here. I want to be the best I can be."
~M.E.I.N. Newsletter, Vol. 8, #2
"The songs are inspired by my experiences. Sometimes they are more than my real-life &, conversely, my life is more than just my songs."
"I grew up thinking you could do anything, and be anything, because that was the American dream. But because I'm gay, I'm denied that. Because of people's prejudices, I'm denied a civil right. Because I'm gay, I can never get married. Is that what America is about? I don't know, that's not the America I was raised in."
~HRC PSA
" I don't want to convince anyone that their God loves me...that's a losing battle. Yet I do need to convince them that in America. What America's based on...the constitution...is equality."
"It felt like a wedding, looked like a wedding & cost like a wedding, so to me, I'm married, okay?"
"It's my belief that truth is your life source. Truth is your life. If you are denying any part of yourself, that's denying your truth. Truth presents itself constantly. Once the universe presents it to you, it's your choice to recognize your truth and accept it, or resist and push it away. But as we all know, resistance leads to persistence of that which we resist. So, accepting your truth is agreeing with yourself to be 100% in your life."
~Science Of Mind Magazine
"I am constantly amazed at how courageous and radical speaking the truth is. What does that say about our society? What does that say about what we've all agreed to live in?"
"Every single moment there is fear and love. You find it in everything-'What am I going to eat?' 'How am I going to spend my day?' 'What am I making money for?' "What is my work?'-everything is a choice between love and fear. Just choose love every time."
"Being gay puts us ahead of the game, because we've already realized, 'Wow, I'm not normal.' And then you start realizing there is no normal. We're all diverse; we're all making this up as we go along. Anytime you realize you're different, it sets you free."
"I know my preference of life mate freaks some people out. Maybe it is just their fear of sex or intimacy. Fine, let me stand before my creator and take any consequences there might be to living my life in truth and balance with my spirit."
"The key is to love yourself. Before anybody else can love you right --YOU gotta love YOU right."
"Hold on to your own truth and don't be knocked off of that by someone else's darkness. It is a big lesson. You are not always able to do it every time. Be aware of the two things that drag you down ~ guilt and shame. Do not buy into those and recognize that anything that anyone else brings into your space is theirs. Do no take it personally. If they are unhappy, that is them. Look at them with love. Do not fear them, just love them. They are on their own path. Recognize fear. Recognize that the choices that they make or the things they say are coming from fear, if they are not coming from love. And then don't take it personally. Don't assume anything and do the best you can."
"I want to say a special hello to our website community. It's always nice for me visit the message board every now & then at MelissaEtheridge.com. Hello boardies!"
~Greatest Hits exclusive bonus DVD message to M.E.I.N. members.
"Wow, that feels as good as you think it does."
~Oscar acceptance speech
"I live in a world where I can speak of my love, and love is stronger than all of their darkness".
~Referring to the right wing folks.
"Don't let anyone tell you that you have to be a certain way. Be unique. Be what you feel."
"I know whatever darkness that I have, I will have at least as much light."
"Be in your truth, be in your light, be in your love."
"I heard that in the hierarchy of reincarnation a lesbian is the highest form of life, & the lowest is a heterosexual man."
"Create good. Create love."
"Fear is just a lack of imagination."
~Dallas TX, 7/15/06
The Way I See It #15 (from Starbucks cups):
"Why limit yourself by what has never been before!
Why say " I can only imagine..."?
Make the dream real. There is no imagination."
"When I walk out on the stage & I get the feeling that there are so many of my fans & people there that are determined to have a good time & determined to listen to music & celebrate & move their bodies & sing at the top of their lungs & scream & holler - whatever they want to do - then it is like I have a responsibility here. I want to be the best I can be."
~M.E.I.N. Newsletter, Vol. 8, #2
"The songs are inspired by my experiences. Sometimes they are more than my real-life &, conversely, my life is more than just my songs."
"I grew up thinking you could do anything, and be anything, because that was the American dream. But because I'm gay, I'm denied that. Because of people's prejudices, I'm denied a civil right. Because I'm gay, I can never get married. Is that what America is about? I don't know, that's not the America I was raised in."
~HRC PSA
" I don't want to convince anyone that their God loves me...that's a losing battle. Yet I do need to convince them that in America. What America's based on...the constitution...is equality."
"It felt like a wedding, looked like a wedding & cost like a wedding, so to me, I'm married, okay?"
"It's my belief that truth is your life source. Truth is your life. If you are denying any part of yourself, that's denying your truth. Truth presents itself constantly. Once the universe presents it to you, it's your choice to recognize your truth and accept it, or resist and push it away. But as we all know, resistance leads to persistence of that which we resist. So, accepting your truth is agreeing with yourself to be 100% in your life."
~Science Of Mind Magazine
"I am constantly amazed at how courageous and radical speaking the truth is. What does that say about our society? What does that say about what we've all agreed to live in?"
"Every single moment there is fear and love. You find it in everything-'What am I going to eat?' 'How am I going to spend my day?' 'What am I making money for?' "What is my work?'-everything is a choice between love and fear. Just choose love every time."
"Being gay puts us ahead of the game, because we've already realized, 'Wow, I'm not normal.' And then you start realizing there is no normal. We're all diverse; we're all making this up as we go along. Anytime you realize you're different, it sets you free."
"I know my preference of life mate freaks some people out. Maybe it is just their fear of sex or intimacy. Fine, let me stand before my creator and take any consequences there might be to living my life in truth and balance with my spirit."
"The key is to love yourself. Before anybody else can love you right --YOU gotta love YOU right."
"Hold on to your own truth and don't be knocked off of that by someone else's darkness. It is a big lesson. You are not always able to do it every time. Be aware of the two things that drag you down ~ guilt and shame. Do not buy into those and recognize that anything that anyone else brings into your space is theirs. Do no take it personally. If they are unhappy, that is them. Look at them with love. Do not fear them, just love them. They are on their own path. Recognize fear. Recognize that the choices that they make or the things they say are coming from fear, if they are not coming from love. And then don't take it personally. Don't assume anything and do the best you can."
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O.C.M.D.: Obsessive Compulsive Melissa Disorder. Do you have it?
1* Do you hear &/or sing at least one of her songs every day? (either in your stereo or in your head).
2* Do you, when faced with a hard decision, ask W.W.M.D.? (What Would Melissa Do?)
3* Do you quote her at least once a week in a conversation, to make a point?
4* Do you have more than 20 Melissa links saved in your favorites?
5* Do you have more than 10 pictures of her in your living area?
6* Do you think about her, or her music, at least once every 2 hours?
7* Do you know your M.E.I.N. membership number by heart, & have the hotline on speed dial?
8* Do you buy an entire issue of a magazine for one picture of her?
9* Do you get up at least an hour early on the Tuesday that an album or DVD of hers comes out, so you will have it before anyone else?
10* Do the people at M.E.I.N. know you by your member number, & name?
11* Do you buy a piece of clothing or accessory b/c it "looks like something Melissa would wear"?
12* When you say "Melissa," all your friends automatically know you're talking about Etheridge?
13* Do you you have more than 6 VCR tapes/DVDs filled with shows about her?
14* Do you have at least 3 large scrapbooks completely devoted to her?
15* Have people you don't know, IM or email you to ask a question about her?
16* Do you host a thread on her message board?
17* Do you use your leftover scholarship money to see her live?
18* Do you are in Walmart & see Chow Mein, & you read "Chow M.E.I.N."?
19* Do you turn off a show that has Melissa on it b/c you are busy, knowing that it's recording? Melissa deserves your undivided attention, & you can give the show later.
20* Do you look to see if the people who make her in ears can make custom "regular" ear buds?
21* Do you feel so connected to her on a soul sister level, you sometimes forget how famous she is?
22* Has the amount of $ you have saved from being a M.E.I.N. member on merchandise/tickets paid for you membership?
23* Do you see a poster of a completely nude woman covered only buy a guitar, & your 1st thought is "Melissa has that guitar in orange/gold!"?
24* Do you hear an original version of a song she covered, & think it sucks?
25* Finally, do you realize that being a true fan doesn't mean being like her, it means being yourself? That is what she respects the most after all.
What causes O.C.M.D.? Having Melissa touch your life in a way nothing or no one else can. You can't make it happen, or make it not, it just does. There are going to be people who don't understand, & there's really no way you can make them. Just hope they love you anyway & aren't freaked out.
How can it be treated? Just keep on loving MLE! Make sure you get your daily fix, stay up on the latest news, & find a very understand partner (I love you Amy!) who can live w/ your little complex. But what really makes it great is when you get to share Melissa w/ someone who does not know of her, & make a fan out of them!
Note: This was just all in fun, please, don't think this is a real illness! Oh, I pulled 19 of the 20 things from things I have done or that have happened to me (#17 was my BFF Eleni). Scary hu? But I'm beyond proud to call myself a fan!!!
O.C.M.D.: Obsessive Compulsive Melissa Disorder. Do you have it?
1* Do you hear &/or sing at least one of her songs every day? (either in your stereo or in your head).
2* Do you, when faced with a hard decision, ask W.W.M.D.? (What Would Melissa Do?)
3* Do you quote her at least once a week in a conversation, to make a point?
4* Do you have more than 20 Melissa links saved in your favorites?
5* Do you have more than 10 pictures of her in your living area?
6* Do you think about her, or her music, at least once every 2 hours?
7* Do you know your M.E.I.N. membership number by heart, & have the hotline on speed dial?
8* Do you buy an entire issue of a magazine for one picture of her?
9* Do you get up at least an hour early on the Tuesday that an album or DVD of hers comes out, so you will have it before anyone else?
10* Do the people at M.E.I.N. know you by your member number, & name?
11* Do you buy a piece of clothing or accessory b/c it "looks like something Melissa would wear"?
12* When you say "Melissa," all your friends automatically know you're talking about Etheridge?
13* Do you you have more than 6 VCR tapes/DVDs filled with shows about her?
14* Do you have at least 3 large scrapbooks completely devoted to her?
15* Have people you don't know, IM or email you to ask a question about her?
16* Do you host a thread on her message board?
17* Do you use your leftover scholarship money to see her live?
18* Do you are in Walmart & see Chow Mein, & you read "Chow M.E.I.N."?
19* Do you turn off a show that has Melissa on it b/c you are busy, knowing that it's recording? Melissa deserves your undivided attention, & you can give the show later.
20* Do you look to see if the people who make her in ears can make custom "regular" ear buds?
21* Do you feel so connected to her on a soul sister level, you sometimes forget how famous she is?
22* Has the amount of $ you have saved from being a M.E.I.N. member on merchandise/tickets paid for you membership?
23* Do you see a poster of a completely nude woman covered only buy a guitar, & your 1st thought is "Melissa has that guitar in orange/gold!"?
24* Do you hear an original version of a song she covered, & think it sucks?
25* Finally, do you realize that being a true fan doesn't mean being like her, it means being yourself? That is what she respects the most after all.
What causes O.C.M.D.? Having Melissa touch your life in a way nothing or no one else can. You can't make it happen, or make it not, it just does. There are going to be people who don't understand, & there's really no way you can make them. Just hope they love you anyway & aren't freaked out.
How can it be treated? Just keep on loving MLE! Make sure you get your daily fix, stay up on the latest news, & find a very understand partner (I love you Amy!) who can live w/ your little complex. But what really makes it great is when you get to share Melissa w/ someone who does not know of her, & make a fan out of them!
Note: This was just all in fun, please, don't think this is a real illness! Oh, I pulled 19 of the 20 things from things I have done or that have happened to me (#17 was my BFF Eleni). Scary hu? But I'm beyond proud to call myself a fan!!!
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