It’s the one inside — the one that doesn’t leave bruises, but leaves you changed. This week’s Living Strong Radio Show, Facing the Real Fight, came straight from one of the hardest chapters of my book — and my life. I shared stories I’ve never forgotten — about fear, failure, fatherhood, and the weight of moments that nearly broke me… but didn’t. In this episode, I talk about what it means to carry both sorrow and love — at the same time. I open up about why I wrote the songs the way I did, what each rhythm and lyric represents, and how they became more than music — they became survival, healing, and faith in motion. You’ll hear the story behind our current #1 song, “Carry the Sorrow, Carry the Love,” and how it rose to the top within days of its release — not because it’s sad, but because it’s real. I also revisit “Scars Ain’t Shame” and “Momentum,” two songs that continue to connect deeply with people who’ve fought their own invisible battles. Each one has a heartbeat, a message, and a reason it exists. But that’s not all. This show also unveils the complete seven-song journey born from Chapter 5 of Living Strong: The Power of Defining Moments. Together, they form one story — the sound of a life rebuilt: 1️⃣ The Weight in My Hand – Cinematic Hip-Hop / Spoken Word. The sound of a heartbeat caught between fear and decision. The rhythm moves like breath under pressure — representing the moment we realize the heaviest thing we carry is not what’s in our hand, but what’s in our heart. 2️⃣ Noise Inside Me – Alt Rock / Electronic Fusion. Driving guitars and pulsing synths capture the chaos of inner conflict — the noise that won’t quiet down. This song is the soundtrack of overthinking, self-doubt, and finally, release. 3️⃣ Destiny Ain’t Written – Urban Pop / Anthemic Hip-Hop. A bold, defiant rhythm layered with soulful vocals. It’s the sound of refusing to let your past or anyone else write your story — a song that makes resilience feel alive. 4️⃣ Father’s Fire – Soulful Acoustic / Gospel Pop.

In Chapter 5: Facing the Real Fight of my book Living Strong: The Power of Defining Moments, I wrote about the hardest battles of my life — battles with fear, regret, fatherhood, grief, and the temptation to believe that my story was already written. But here’s the truth I’ve learned over the years: the real fight is not about defeating others, winning titles, or proving strength. The real fight is about facing yourself — and choosing to become who you were meant to be. That’s why this final song from Chapter 5 is more than just music. It’s an anthem. It’s a declaration. It’s the sound of breaking free from old labels, old fears, and old limits, and stepping boldly into your true self. Lyrics: The Real Fight (Anthem) Verse 1 The battles we face are not only outside, They live in our hearts, they burn in our minds. It’s not about medals, it’s not about fame, It’s fighting the doubt that whispers our name. The shadows may linger, the past may remain, But strength is discovered when we face the pain. Pre-Chorus This is the moment, this is the call, We rise from the ashes, we won’t let them fall. Chorus The real fight’s inside us, it’s courage, it’s grace, It’s choosing the light when we’re locked in the race. Not proving we’re stronger, but choosing what’s right, Becoming ourselves — that’s the real fight. Verse 2 It’s not in the trophies, it’s not in the ring, It’s found in compassion, in mercy we bring. The scars that we carry are proof we’ve survived, The love that we give keeps our spirit alive. We honor the struggle, we honor the pain, And still we keep standing, again and again. Pre-Chorus This is the moment, this is the call, We rise from the ashes, we won’t let them fall. Chorus The real fight’s inside us, it’s courage, it’s grace, It’s choosing the light when we’re locked in the race. Not proving we’re stronger, but choosing what’s right, Becoming ourselves — that’s the real fight. Bridge We’re not running, we’re not hiding, Every soul is still surviving.

Some songs pour out of joy. Others come out of wounds. Carry the Sorrow, Carry the Love was written out of both. In Chapter 5: Facing the Real Fight of my book Living Strong: The Power of Defining Moments, I share about loss — the kind of loss that no one can prepare for. The loss of my son, PJ. The weight of fatherhood, failure, and grief. That pain never goes away. But it doesn’t have to destroy us. It can transform us. This song carries that truth. It reminds us that grief and love cannot be separated. To lose someone is to carry sorrow. But that sorrow is also proof of love. And if we carry both, we discover a new kind of strength. Lyrics: Carry the Sorrow, Carry the Love Verse 1 We all have moments that cut to the bone, Loss leaves us standing, feeling alone. But sorrow’s not weakness, it’s part of the flame, A weight that reminds us love still has a name. We can’t run from heartache, we can’t turn away, But we learn how to carry it day after day. Chorus Carry the sorrow, carry the love, Both are the fire that lifts us above. Through every shadow, through every storm, We rise with the courage that grief has formed. Verse 2 The pain never leaves us, it shapes who we are, Every scar is a story, every tear is a star. We honor the memory, we honor the fight, We walk through the darkness and still find the light. It’s not about moving past, it’s learning to grow, To carry the sorrow and let the love show. Chorus Carry the sorrow, carry the love, Both are the fire that lifts us above. Through every shadow, through every storm, We rise with the courage that grief has formed. Bridge The heart may be broken, but love still remains, It flows through the sorrow, it heals through the pain. The weight that we carry becomes our new song, A melody proving we’re still living strong. Final Chorus Carry the sorrow, carry the love, Both are the fire that lifts us above. Through every shadow, through every storm, We rise with the courage that grief has formed. Yeah, we rise with the courage that grief has formed.

In Chapter 5: Facing the Real Fight of my book Living Strong: The Power of Defining Moments, I share about the battles inside me — the doubts, the fears, the regrets — and how they shaped the person I am today. One of the unexpected weapons I discovered in those battles was dance. For years, dance became my escape. My therapy. My identity. When the noise inside me was too loud, when grief cut too deep, when I couldn’t find words to say what I was feeling, I moved. And movement saved me. Dance wasn’t about applause or spotlight. It was survival. Every beat, every step, every turn was a way to fight off despair, to push through pain, to rise again. That’s why this song was born: Dance Was My Weapon. It’s not just about me. It’s about the universal truth that when we pour ourselves into creativity — whether it’s music, writing, art, or movement — we find a way to keep going. Lyrics: Dance Was My Weapon Verse 1 When the world felt heavy, when the nights got long, I found my escape in rhythm and song. Every step was a battle, every beat was a shield, Every move that I made was a wound being healed. I turned all my pain into motion and sound, A way to keep rising when life knocked me down. Chorus Dance was my weapon, my voice, my fight, Turning my darkness into light. Every turn, every leap, every breath I take, Proves I’m unbroken, I will not break. Verse 2 We all need a language when words disappear, A way to keep moving through struggle and fear. For some it is music, for others it’s art, For me it was rhythm that carried my heart. It wasn’t perfection, it wasn’t a show, It was proof of my spirit refusing to go. Chorus Dance was my weapon, my voice, my fight, Turning my darkness into light. Every turn, every leap, every breath I take, Proves I’m unbroken, I will not break. Bridge When the silence was heavy, when the pain was too real, I found in the motion the courage to heal. Every beat in my chest, every step on the floor, Reminded my soul it was made to soar.

In Chapter 5: Facing the Real Fight of my book Living Strong: The Power of Defining Moments, I share something that cut deep when I was young. I remember being told — by people who thought they were “experts” — that because of my environment, because of the poverty, the violence, and the chaos around me, I was “statistically destined” to either be dead or in prison before adulthood. That was supposed to be my future. That was supposed to be my truth. But here’s the thing: Destiny is not written. Not by statistics. Not by experts. Not by the past. The fight to reject those labels was one of the hardest battles I ever faced. Because when someone tells you who you’re “destined” to be, part of you starts to believe it. But eventually, I realized that the only person who could write my story was me. That realization is what gave birth to this song: Destiny Ain’t Written. Lyrics: Destiny Ain’t Written Verse 1 They said I’d be broken, they said I’d be done, Another lost battle before it’s begun. But I don’t take orders from fear or the past, I’m building a future designed to outlast. The numbers don’t own me, the voices don’t bind, I carry the power to rewrite my mind. Chorus Destiny ain’t written, the pen’s in my hand, I’ll rise from the ashes, I’ll take my stand. No chain, no shadow, no doubt can decide, The story I’m living is mine to define. Verse 2 They measure my chances, they say it’s too late, But fire in my spirit outweighs the weight. Every setback’s a lesson, every fall is a climb, I’m stronger than numbers, I’m stronger than time. I don’t need permission to rise and to grow, I’ve walked through the darkness and lit my own glow. Chorus Destiny ain’t written, the pen’s in my hand, I’ll rise from the ashes, I’ll take my stand. No chain, no shadow, no doubt can decide, The story I’m living is mine to define. Bridge I won’t bow to the silence, I won’t kneel to fear, The louder they doubt me, the more I appear. Every voice that said “never” becomes my refrain,