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This is the song for my journey, every day. I will continue to have ups and downs, but I can recover, dust myself off, recognize the choice I have to do the best I can, and keep pushing.
The lyrics are beautiful, but even more so because they are sung by Jill Scott in such a powerful, uncompromising, joyful way.
Here they are:

I'm taking my freedom
Pulling it off the shelf
Putting it on my chain
Wear it around my neck
I'm taking my freedom
Putting it in my car
Wherever I choose to go
It will take me far

Refrain (repeat once):

I'm livin' my life like it's golden
Livin' my life like it's golden
Livin' my life like it's golden
Livin' my life like it's golden
Livin' my life like it's golden, golden

I'm taking my own freedom
Putting it in my song
Singing loud and strong
Grooving all day long
I'm taking my freedom
Putting it in my stroll
I'll be high-steppin' y'all
Letting the joy unfold

Refrain x2

I'm holding on to my freedom
Can't take it from me
I was born into it
It comes naturally
I'm strumming my own freedom
Playing the God in me
Representing his glory
Hope he's proud of me

I'm livin' my life like it's golden
Livin' my life like it's golden
Livin' my life like it's golden
(Hope he's proud of me)

Refrain / Ad Lib to end

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Dennis Kamakahi's mele pana "Koke‘e" stirs an immediate calm in me as soon as I hear the opening chords. Starting in 2019, I spend as much time as I can fixing up an old plantation home on the westside of Kaua‘i. Kamakahi's song reminds me of the beauty of Waimea and the importance of nurturing yourself through the beauty of nature. Every time I head east to Līhu‘e to return back to Honolulu, I cannot wait to return.
This is my theme song for E Ho‘i Nā Wai because I am looking forward to learning from others and seeing the beauty and passion they bring from their work. We all could use a little replenishing after two years of remote teaching and learning.
Mahalo!
Lyrics: https://www.huapala.org/Ko/Kokee.html

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Dennis Kamakahi - Koke'e (HiSessions.com Acoustic Live!)

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This will be my theme song for this journey.  Nostalgic and always a great song when times get tough. The following lyrics of being the best I can be, learning from mistakes, and still believing in "Me."

As a higher education professional, reminding me to do all it takes and not give up on my students and colleagues. Exhausting all my avenues, they are supported and successful on their academic journey.

"Coz when you don't care, you don't cry.
It won't hurt if you don't try. But I still believe in all of my dreams. And all that I can be. I'll learn from mistakes do all that it takes. To make it eventually. Coz I still believe in me."

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Fame TV Series - I Still Believe In Me  Erica Gimpel - Debbie Allen

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This song will be my theme song in this journey because it reminds me to be positive, grateful and persistent.

A few lines that stick out in my theme song are, "Ay, everyday can be a better day despite the challenge,
All you gotta do is leave it better than you found it.
It's gonna get difficult to stand but hold your balance
I just say whatever 'cause there is no way around it"

"Ay, somedays you wake up
And nothing works, you feel surrounded
Gotta give your feet some gravity to get you grounded
Keep good things inside your ears
Just like the waves and sound did"

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This beat motivates and inspires me to look to my past as it helps to create my future; we need to remember our past to ensure our future is better.

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I chose this as my theme song because it reminds me that life is too short to be worried about looking foolish or to let fear get in the way of trying and learning new things. I don't know 'Ōlelo Hawai'i, and I don't find that it comes easily to me; I feel like often those engaging in professional development around Hawaiian culture are already SO much more knowledgable than I am. It was intimidating for me to apply for a program of this scope, but I know that if don't humbly put myself out there, I'm never going to learn and grow...and you all seem like wonderful people to make some memories with along the way! ✨

"Went face to face with all our fears, learned our lessons through the tears, made memories we knew would never fade..."

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Avicii - The Nights (Lyrics) "my father told me"

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I have been pondering this theme song for my journey for the past month and just couldn't decide. 😅But this past weekend I went to Jack Johnson's Kōkua Festival at the Waikiki Shell and he finished the set with this song. And to me, it just hit home. We are better together. Community is my theme and learning from one another, especially after the past two years. I am excited to learn with you all.

"Love is the answer at least for most of the questions in my heart, like
Why are we here? And where do we go? And how come it's so hard?
It's not always easy and sometimes life can be deceiving
I'll tell you one thing, it's so much better when we're together"

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while, in most cases, my go to song is Somewhere over the rainbow, Kendricks admission of hypocrisy with (excuse the language)
You said, "Kendrick, ain't no room for contradiction"
"To truly understand love, switch position"
"F%^$t, f&*^t, f*&^t, " we can say it together
"But only if you let a white girl say, 'N&*^'"

Once, Lamar invited a white woman on stage at a concert, and then chastised for singing the n-word as she would by singing in the car herself (with no malicious intent).
Sometimes, we take offense with understanding context.
Hence, I must allow my students to present themselves as they are so that I can better help them.  Understand, the student has their own learning style, rather than, I figured the idea out, the student should, helps the student find self-confidence in learning their way.  The unlearning misguided self-assessment.

https://youtu.be/-vrhf1P9zwc

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Kendrick Lamar - Auntie Diaries (Official Audio)

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It's Going to be a Bright Bright Sunshiny Day - Scot Parry Theme Song 

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It's Going to be a Bright Bright Sunshiny Day - Scot Parry Theme Song 

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The song "It's Going to be a Bright Bright Sunshiny Day" inspires me because no matter how bad the day has been, there is going to be blue skies ahead.

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My theme song for my E Hoʻi Nā Wai journey.
I chose to share the youtube video of this particular live performance because of the tempo she uses in this version. When I need to use some serious brain power to really think creatively or deeply about something, I listen to her music (I have 7 of her CD albums). When I think and listen to Jazz, I think of all the "messy" sounds, sounds that are unfamiliar or "non-traditional", just coming together, connecting, and making something that makes sense. My experience so far has been my brain messily roaming these ideas and info and memories and teaching philosophy... and then somehow, connecting, and making sense. Well, making sense to me, at least. Plus, this song is fun, and my journey is gonna be fun.
-- David Uedoi

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Hiromi Uehara  Place to be  Live at Blue Note  New York 2010

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Somewhere Over The Rainbow - Jill Teraizumi Theme Song

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Somewhere Over The Rainbow - Jill Teraizumi Theme Song

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Somewhere Over The Rainbow is my theme song because it represents my curiosity for learning and the courage to step forward to find out what is over the rainbow.  I know I will be inspired to try new things and expand my world view and cultural lens.  I am ready to take flight!
~Jill Teraizumi

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true

Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh, why can't I?

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh, why can't I?

If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?

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Somewhere Over the Rainbow - The Wizard of Oz (1/8) Movie CLIP (1939) HD

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This song performed by Josh tatofi and co-written by Kumu Hinaleimoana really resonates with me as I think of the meaning of the lyrics and how our journey is not over as a lāhui, however, to remain resilient in the face of uncertainty.

E welo mau loa ku’u hae aloha
I ka nu’u o ka lewa lani lā
a e maluhia No na kau a kau
Eo Hawai’i Ku’u ‘āina aloha

E ku’u lāhui e
Wiwo’ole e
Kū kānaka e
‘Onipa’a mau
Ua mau ke ea o ka ‘āina I ka pono
Ua mau ke ea o ka ‘āna I ka pono

My beloved flag
waves ever more
in the last year’s heights of the sky.
Always and forever more
in peace and tranquility,
Hail your name,
oh Hawaii my beloved
motherland.

To you my nation be bold and fearless,
Stand as kānaka,
And be steadfast in your place.
For the freedom of our land remains always in the truth of our people.

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JOSH TATOFI - “For the Lahui”  Live Performance, (Nā Kama Kai Paʻakai Virtual Gala 2020)