Issue date: 11/9/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Jim Moldenhauer Country music sensation Naomi Judd spoke to students, faculty, and members of the the community in Braden Auditorium Thursday evening in a lecture titled "Love Can Build a Bridge."

With a beaming smile and contagious laugh, Naomi Judd, legendary country singer, shared stories of inspiration and hope with the ISU community Thursday night.

Judd encouraged audience members to look inside themselves and discover who they really are.

"Do you know why we as Americans are more unhappy, more depressed and more suicidal than we have ever been? It's because people do not know who they are. They have no idea what their beliefs and values are. You gotta figure out your story," Judd said.

"I want you to step back and figure out your story. Once you figure out yourself, shift happens. It will really flip your life," Judd added.

Judd discussed the importance of looking back on the tests life gives and understanding the meaning they have on your life today.

"In school you get the lesson first and then the test. In life the test comes first and the lesson comes later. If you have an emergency and you emerge and see, then it wasn't a mistake. But, if you make the mistake twice, then it becomes a deja boo boo," Judd said.

"What I have realized is that when you have a crisis, you can have a break down or you can have a break through. Change is inevitable, but growth is optional," Judd added.

Judd said her first life test came when she was 17 and became pregnant. At this time her parents divorced, and her younger brother died as well.

"At that time I didn't want things to change. I loved my life the way it was. But security is an illusion. The only security you and I have is the security within ourselves," Judd said.

Judd stressed the importance that individual values play in life.

She encouraged all audience members to discover what their beliefs and values are in order to truly live life.

"My priorities, my values, are my girls, my family, my faith, and service, the work of the soul. That's where I lose track of time and realize that this is how my life should be," Judd said.

"It's so important to be defined from within. The world is always screaming, you have to have time to spend alone and think," Judd added.

Judd also encouraged everyone, but especially, women to take control of their lives.

"We can all be victims once. After that we are volunteers," Judd said.

"I've had a lot of adventures and misadventures but what I have learned from everyone is that we all want the same things. We all want peace and mind. I wish you, from the bottom of my heart, peace and mind," Judd added.

Judd's presentation entitled "Love can be a bridge" was part of the Sesquicentennial Speaker Series.

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