In the interest of full disclosure, this post has nothing to do with CLL. Pardon me for going completely off-topic! I promise I won’t misuse my prerogatives too often.
If you are like me, if there are days and nights when CLL has taken away too much of your life and soul, if there are too many dreams that have been shelved or lost for good, if sunlight does not seem so bright anymore, this is a video clip you may want to watch.
I am not a big fan of contemporary pop culture or TV reality shows and “meat” parades. I hate the obsession with superficial beauty and narcissism that have hijacked our present day culture. I look in the mirror and the image that stares back at me is that of an overweight woman with shaggy grey hair. No one strikes up a conversation with me anymore when I travel. I am almost invisible to strangers, my physical appearance is the unappealing introduction that takes away any chance I may be an interesting person worth talking to.
Susan Boyle looks a lot like many of us. She says she has never been kissed. I suppose no one found her worth kissing. She is 47 years old and she made this 60 year old remember all the dreams that were so important to me and my husband – especially these last 8 years.
Here is the link to the video. It is less than 8 minutes long. I confess it made me cry.
42 comments on "Susan Boyle"
WOW…she was really good! Thank you for calling it to our attention as I surely would never have stumbled upon the video. Once again this woman demonstrates that many extraordinary people are out there and we pass them by every day.
A friend sent it to me yesterday: My wife and I and I were astonished.
It does touch something very deep. It reminds us to expect the unexpected, to search for beauty and answers in places we might not want to look. To never stopping working or hoping that our dreams will come true.
Thanks for bringing this moment to a wider audience.
this video and her story are really going “viral” as they are all over the internet news services, and it’s again proof you should never judge a book by it’s cover. Even Simon seemed human when commenting on her talent!
Chaya,
I realized I must have sent this accidentally to the Update. I am sorry. I hope it doesn’t offend anyone. This women made a very big impression on the public who mainly looks at the outward appearance instead of the inner beauty. It made me smile and feel good that she has enough confidence in herself to show others that your talent is more than skin deep. I couldn’t sleep last night and I was chequing my mail @ 2am and looked at this and felt so much better.
Keep Smiling,
Anita
It brought tears to my eyes also. I think it is sad that a person is judged by the outer shell. I certainly hope that Susan starts producing some CD’s. I certainly would buy them. How many people do we pass each day never really see the PERSON. We need to stop and smell the roses because we miss so much in our busy hectic lives.
Susan made it happen by getting out there on that stage; facing so many that were ready to have a laugh at her expense. Nobody is laughing now. It will be great to see her obtain her dream. Good luck Susan!
Thank you so much for sharing this extraordinary video – I am going to pass it on so more of us who tend to judge by appearances might smile through tears of happiness for this woman! Bravo Susan!
It also made me cry. I think we all cry for the dreams that don’t happen. And research shows that the beautiful people are more often than not noticed and helped along in life. This was a wonderful wake-up call for all of us to extend warmth and care to everyone we meet. You don’t know what’s inside a person–talent like Susan’s and lots of other amazing gifts. Chaya, you are gifted and beautiful in my eyes,
Beth Havey
Chaya,
Thank you for showing us this video. CLL does take a lot of joy from me at times. Especially now that I am considering going on SSDI with the fatigue and disease progression. First I am going to start with IvIG and in July we will be talking chemo again. :o( It’s good to focus outside of myself on the fact that there is still good in this world. Even with treatment, I must remember that I will meet people that I would never have met other wise. Perhaps there is purpose in that, I don’t know. I know that as your heart aches from what this disease has taken from you, some day you too shall see what came out of your loss. You are a beautiful person my friend. Thanks again. Lori
Hello Chaya,
Good call on the sending of the video.
Certainly evident how I can miss the lovely tree in the larger forest.
Nice to think that this dowdy lady kept her hopes alive, despite the setbacks.
I will bet that someone kisses her talent and beauty before the month passes.
As part of the CLL community, there are days when I can’t see the sun and lose my
own sense of hope. I hear the clock ticking away my life and it is not difficult to become discouraged.
I suppose my declining numbers are no different from her weight and gray hair.
Still beauty inside that I need to keep finding. My friend Melissa keeps reminding me that there is always hope and that I better be looking actively for it.
Regards.
Dave Mikol
Yes, she is extraordinary. But what makes me cry is that we are all so shocked that someone who looks like most of us can have such a beautiful gift. What if we all have those gifts, and we’re simply not allowing them to come forward?
a former green beret sent the same link to me, a 65 year old vet with
CLL…we both admit to a tear or two…
bob armstrong
Dear Chaya,
This URL has moved many, many people. Your reference is the 6th one I have received….and I visited each time, enjoying it each time. Susan Boyle has been blessed with a beautiful voice and is obviously an inspiration to all who hear her. I hope she has much more success. She is totally amazing.
And you, my lady, have also been blessed with a beautiful voice…albeit yours is heard in the written word. Thank you for uplifting my day.
Betty
We all need to hear this beautiful voice to put a smile on our face as we swipe away the tears. God Bless this talented, courageous woman who makes us all forget, for a second, our plight. Thank you for sharing.
A great introduction (to a very touching video) from one terrific lady. Chaya, your beauty emanates from the very core of your being each and every day as you minister to the CLL community! We are so blessed. Thanks for sharing Sarah Boyle with us.
Susan Boyle–absolutely lovely.
As one who has found late in life that playing music gave me the strenght to face every day and the healing to help my body face the challenges of CLL/SLL I could only sit back and enjoy the extraordinary talent of Susan. Inspired is a word that barely covers the warmth she eminates and the hope she puts into my heart and soul.
Chaya, you are wonderful. None of your friends even see your physical appearance because who you are shines through so brightly.
Paul Garland
I watched Susan Boyle’s performance this morning on youtube and must admit I cried each time I replayed her rendition of “I had a dream” from Les Mis. She reminded me of simpler times, pure and unspoiled. The Hollywood bunch and their immoral and materialistic lifestyles might want to take a good look at Ms Boyle and see why so many of us long to go back to “simple”. Many of us have “had a dream” but CLL robbed us of fulfilling those dreams.
Chaya there are many who are like me and never judge a book by its cover. We know what treasures lie within the pages of a book! Beauty comes from within and yours shines right through your “cover”! Shalom, Eileen
I have always found that no matter what, when I’m depressed I’m invisible. This makes me think that it is not I, but my depression, that is the problem. I can’t undo my depression when, like a grey fog is rolls in and settles on me, but I try to remember that this invisible me is only one facet of my being. My depression is like a self-fulfilling prophecy: because I am depressed I want to hide so I act (and am) disinterested in others. They notice this and leave me alone. The sad thing is that I really need others to see me, to lift me out of my despair and invite me into the real world again, to help me blow away the fog…
Like many others I’m guilty of stereotyping others and myself and forget to consider the ‘whole’ person. Susan’s story reminds me I’m much more than who I am in this moment in time, that my goals and dreams are always worth striving for.
Thanks Chaya.
hugs
Beverley
I had heard about this woman on the nightly news, but had not seen the video yet. Fabulous!
Thank you for taking the moment to share with us – much appreciated Chaya!
Emily
Heart-warming. <3
Chaya, you are loved and respected the world over by thousands who know your mind, and heart. Never slight yourself. You may not be able to sing songs, but your mind sings to all of us. Chuck
Chaya,
believe me when i say this—you are beautiful to us and greatly admired without us ever having seen you.
lynn
My goodness, CLLers must be a tearful lot. I cried too.
Chaya, thanks for sharing bit of hope.
Steve
My kids sent me this yesterday. I can’t get enough of it. The fact that it strikes deep in your beautiful soul as well, is no surprise. It is nice to receive and share your thoughts about it.
Bob Larkin
Chaya
Thanks for the post. It made my night. This web site is your gift to us and it is just as amazing to me as Susan Boyle’s voice.
BG
Thanks Chaya – many of us have experienced being judged by appearances, and hated it. You, and this lady, remind everyone that it’s the real person that matters. Thank you!
Lawrence (who didnt see it on TV in spite of residing in the UK, but was overwhelmed by being sent the UTube link…)
Let us hope that this discovery of her talent will give her the self-esteem and confidence to blossom as a person. With this she will become automatically attractive and the recognition will change her own perception of life. My experience of vocal teaching is that personalities change, and become more attractive just because they feel better and more confident about themselves. OK. she could do with a bit of a makeover, help with choosing clothes, maybe and a bit of makeup, but is it what comes from inside that really makes the difference. She already had the personality. And I think it won’t be long to that first kiss……
Chaya–thanks so much! I didn’t cry a bit–I laughed with joy, for Susan and for everyone who was suddenly swept out of cynicsm and into wild cheers of support and love. What a rush!
Holly
Chaya, Susan Boyle was my one joy for the day. I tell people who are having a difficult time as I am from tracking six cell types of cancer, find one thing each day that brings you moments of pure joy. It gives you reasons to get to the next day….baby steps to hope again.
Be well and laugh often. Colleen
As an Idol fan, it is always gratifying to see Simon Cowell’s jaw drop. It just goes to show that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. At least the judges were big enough to admit their “first impression” was stupid…….
One other thought. A strange world indeed when we are astonished that a performer has talent on a talent show. We are so dumbed down and it is a sad state of affairs when we are expecting embarrassing moments and are pleasantly and completely surprised when the the real goods are delivered.
I received this a few days ago and have passed it along to many. I confess that I at first thought it was going to be comedic — I was completely blown away when she started to sing.
I have watched this video 2-3 times a day since receiving it and will keep it up to continue to watch and listen.
It overwhelms me with its beauty – I sincerely wish for her the best of all things — She has given this world a truly magical gift.
Darlene
I absolutely love it.
Chaya,
Thanks for sharing. This was so uplifting it just made my day. Susan Boyle is perfect in every way.
Chris R.
TONIGHT!
Susan Boyle and actor Ashton Kutcher will appear on CNN Television’s “Larry King Live” at 9 to 10 PM EDST Friday, April 17.
Enjoy!
I had seen this clip before, it is a wake up call to us that dreams can come true no matter the odds, but also that we need to look at more than the cover of every person. Quite a wonderful clip.
Chaya, you and PC are part of our lives. I’m not one who cries — so I was startled to be crying over this video. I looked over at the lyrics, and realized that this was a song about angry depression that was sung triumphantly — as if to say, “I feel like shXt, I’m mad as hXll — but I’m not apologizing. This is life. I’m surviving. Get used to it.” When I listened again the next day, much to my surprise I cried again. Chaya, this Susan Boyle lady connected with many of us — and further connected us with you and PC. Is it OK if I say “Thank you” for the “good cry”?
Absolutely beautiful. She has touched many on the internet through U-Tube. Life is always surprising.
RCP
You are right about the lyrics. They are sad. Especially the last two stanzas. If “Updates” can be sung, I would like to imagine the song I try to sing would sound a bit like this “dream”.
Lyrics:
I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high and life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving
Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung, no wine untasted
But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they turn your hope apart
As they turn your dreams to shame
He slept a summer by my side
He filled my dreams with endless wonder
He took my childhood in his stride
But he was gone when autumn came
And still I dream he’d come to me
That we would live the years together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms we cannot weather
I had a dream my life would be
So different from the hell I’m living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed the dream I dreamed
I hear you Chaya-
a spouse
Granny
Chaya,
The video was wonderful and inspirational. However, you too, are inspirational. I have CLL and am still “watching and waiting”. Your articles on CLL Topics have been so helpful to me. Thank you for caring enough to help educate those of us who do not have the expertise that you have in researching for answers.
Also, to my peers who also have CLL, I hope that all of you have the peace that Christ has given me. I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I do know who holds my future and who holds my hand.
May God bless you, Chaya, and all of you who are fighting CLL.
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