Tina

“To me, faith is cherishing and developing the potential of one’s precious life.”  Tina Turner

I was on vacation in Italy when I heard the news about the passing of our beloved Tina Turner on May 24th.  For decades I’ve had a special adoration for Tina. During those years her music and her moves have lifted me up especially when I’ve needed a boost. In 1997, I had a front row seat for her Wildest Dreams Tour, which was my wildest dream to be right there in front of her close enough to feel her magnetism and to have the best views of her perfectly shaped legs rhythmically strutting across the stage in stiletto heels. For those magical moments I was held in an electrifying connection with the music, with Tina and hundreds of others singing along with her, “What’s Love Got to do with It”?  

I didn't just want to see her, I wanted to be her. One year for our employee Halloween costume party, I showed up with the shaggy big hair wig, sequined mini skirt and, of course, black high heels.  The back- up dancers that I recruited from the fiscal department shook their feather boas as I lip-synced and danced to Proud Mary. We brought the house down!

Upon learning more about her life and death I discovered that she published a memoir in 2020, Happiness Becomes You: A Guide to Changing Your Life for Good. I devoured it in 2 days.  While there have been other books about Tina’s life this one, she said, was inspired by her wanting to share more about her spiritual insights and untold life lessons from her 80 years of living on the planet and to encourage people to never give up on their dreams. She writes, “There were so many external circumstances and forces I couldn’t change or control, but my life-altering revelation was that I could change my way of responding to these challenges. The most valuable help comes from within, and peace comes when individuals work on becoming their better selves. I started that work in my thirties, when I discovered the transformative power of spirituality. Spirituality isn’t tied to any one religion or philosophy. Spirituality is a personal awakening and relationship with our Mother Earth and the universe that increases openness and positivity.” 

Without a doubt Tina’s success is a tribute to the spiritual practices and wisdom she shares in her book. Millions who were inspired by her, including me, knew her to be a survivor. She overcame serious life problems and challenges beginning from her childhood growing up in poverty in Nutbush, Tennessee. She was abandoned by her mother and had an abusive marriage with Ike Turner for many years.

According to Taro Gold co-author of her book and who toured with her some years ago, wherever she performed no matter what age, race, or gender people shed tears when Tina appeared onstage.  It was a phenomenon he had never experienced at other concerts and he wondered why. The answer. Tina chanted for an hour before every show, praying for the true happiness of each and every audience member. She prayed she could provide from her performance whatever that person needed to ignite hope in their heart. Tina’s wish for people’s happiness was so strong and pure, it moved whole stadiums to tears.

That’s it! I finally figured out why I cried when I saw her, why I needed her in my life.  She was singing and dancing for ME. I mattered to her. I felt that. She gave me her heart, her prayers, her wish for my happiness. Her hope was my hope.

Thank you, Tina! You are simply the best!