Tim McGraw has done it again—given his fans another one of his momentous, slow tuned country ballads that leave us all wondering: how do you come up with this stuff? One of country music’s finest (both in vocals and in looks), Tim’s songs about love, hardship, family, friends, and how to live like you were dying makes all his fans think twice about their own lives, and how they relate to his melodious lyrics. In my opinion, his new single “Humble and Kind” off of the much-anticipated album "Damn Country Music" has given us all something to stop and think about.
Always stay humble and kind.
Two words that wouldn't necessarily come to mind when trying to advise someone how to best live out their days. Especially when paired together. But he kind of has a point. There are so many opportunities available for us to take things for granted. To be swept up in our successes, forget how lucky we are to have been given the family and friends we rely on each day. If we can be humble, we can remember that we weren’t just lucky but blessed. And a little humility and kindness can be the exact recipe to bring us back down to earth, and remind us of those little things we must do to make sure that, in fact, we recognize just how blessed we are.
And in case we didn’t get that message on the first listen, Tim calls out for us a few of those little things that we can do to make the most of our blessings:
Go to church cause your momma says to
Visit grandpa every chance that you can
Hold the door say please say thank you
Don’t steal, don’t cheat, and don’t lie.
But if you take anything away from Tim’s wise words, let it be this. He reminds us of some important life lessons, unwritten rules that, if we are so lucky to find ourselves in these fortunate places, we should be sure to show our gratitude.
When the dreams you're dreamin come to you
When the work you put in is realized
Let yourself feel the pride
When you get where you're goin’
Don’t forget turn back around
Help the next one in line
Always stay humble and kind.
Sometimes, we can wish for something so strongly, work so hard to get ourselves there, and then when we finally reach it, we can't help but bask in the pride we have for making it all the way. Yes, we deserve that little gloat, that moment at the top of that mountain when you can jump and scream and feel all kinds of amazing feelings of accomplishment. But we are also given the opportunity to look behind us. At the people that helped us get there, the determination that powered us up to the top, and the feeling that, with the right mindset and support system, anyone could make it to where we stand. So yes, were allowed our moment of pride, but we should then look to pay that pride forward.
I love you ain’t no pickup line.
Sometimes, we say it more than we mean it. “I love you” becomes this filler. This thing we expect to be said so often, it becomes diluted. So no, it’s not a pickup line. Its true meaning isn’t lost. Because admittedly, it’s what were all looking for in the end—someone who will say the words to us and mean them in full sincerity.
Don’t hold a grudge or a chip and here’s why
Bitterness keeps you from flying.
My favorite by far. The number of times we get into a fight, and let it draw out far longer than it should due to selfish pride, or an inability to admit fault—sometimes that number can be endless. But how many of these fights are we willing to dictate our relationships with those we love? Have we ever let it get to the point where, just maybe, that relationship has been weathered so much that it cannot be repaired? Was it really worth it? In my eyes, holding a grudge is petty. Lifes to short, and if a friendship means that much to you, you should be willing to apologize and move on. Staying mad to the point where you don’t remember why you were mad in the first place: it holds you down, and prevents you from growing stronger in the relationships that mean the most to you.
So, even if I haven't convinced you just how worthy Tim's new single is of your listen, check it out. Whether you're able to be as appreciative of the lyrics as I've treated them... well maybe you've jus have to grow a little more in your love for country music. But all in all, we could all take a little bit of meaning away from Tim's words: always stay humble and pride.
