"I Choose" lyrics - INDIA.ARIE

[Intro:]
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 am I now looking at 30 and I got so much to say
I 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 pitched a fork in the road of my life
And 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. (Yeah)

I done 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 put myself in so many chaotic circumstances
But 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:]
(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

[Post Chorus:]
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 ey)
Released the guilt about why things happen the way they do
'Cos life is gone do what it do
And everyday, I have the opportunity to choose

[Brigde]
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 the day I'm grown
"From this day forward, every decision I make will be my own." And hey!

[Chorus:]
(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

[Post Chorus:]
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 ey)
Released the guilt about why things happen they way they did cuz life is gone do what it do
And everyday, I have the opportunity to choose