Learn Spanish with Pop Music with these 23 Song Recommendations (Full Translations Included!)

Pop
LF Content Team | Updated on 2 February 2023
Learning Spanish with Pop is a great way to learn Spanish! Learning with music is fun, engaging, and includes a cultural aspect that is often missing from other language learning methods. So music and song lyrics are a great way to supplement your learning and stay motivated to keep learning Spanish!
Below are 23 Pop song recommendations to get you started learning Spanish! We have full lyric translations and lessons for each of the songs recommended below, so check out all of our resources. We hope you enjoy learning Spanish with Pop!
CONTENTS SUMMARY
1. El Mismo Sol (The Same Sun)
Alvaro Soler
Te digo claro claro
No es nada raro raro
Así se puede amor
Un mundo enano enano
I'm telling you clearly, clearly
It's nothing strange, strange
This way it's possible, my love
A tiny, tiny world

Feel the warmth! In El Mismo Sol (“Under the Same Sun”), Spanish pop sensation Alvaro Soler turns sunshine into a musical invitation. With an irresistible Latin groove and a catchy chorus built for festivals, he speaks directly to everyone on the dance floor, saying “Claro, claro” (“Clearly, clearly”) that loving and living together is anything but strange. The upbeat rhythm mirrors his vision of a world that feels “enano” (“tiny”) because we hold each other mano a mano, hand in hand.

Soler’s lyrics paint a picture of border-free unity where our differences disappear beneath the very same sun that shines on us all. He urges listeners to “saca lo malo” (“take out the bad”) and celebrate together, east to west, refusing to stop until every corner of the globe is singing along. The message is simple yet powerful: love is the universal language, and when we choose it, the world becomes one joyous fiesta. Spin the track, raise your hands high, and remember, we are all dancing bajo el mismo sol.

2. Sofia
Alvaro Soler
Sueño cuando era pequeño
Sin preocupación en el corazón
Sigo viendo aquel momento
Se desvaneció, desapareció
I dream about when I was little
Without concern in my heart
I keep seeing that moment
It vanished, it disappeared

Think of “Sofía” as a sun-kissed postcard from Spain, stamped with irresistible whistling hooks and a bittersweet confession. Álvaro Soler sings about looking back on carefree childhood dreams, then fast-forwarding to the moment everything with Sofía desvaneció: vanished. He repeats “sin tu mirada, sigo” (without your gaze, I go on) like a mantra, showing he is determined to keep moving even though her absence still stings.

In this catchy pop anthem, the narrator admits he once clipped Sofía’s wings and now watches her fly with someone else. He no longer trusts or desires her, yet he cannot help asking, “¿Cómo te mira?”: how does he look at you? The upbeat rhythm masks a tug-of-war between nostalgia and acceptance, making “Sofía” the perfect song for dancing away heartache while practicing Spanish phrases about love, loss, and letting go.

3. Bailando (Dancing)
Enrique Iglesias, Descemer Bueno, Gente De Zona
Yo te miro y se me corta la respiración
Cuando tú me miras se me sube el corazón
Y en un silencio tu mirada dice mil palabras
La noche en la que te suplico que no salga el sol
I look at you and it takes my breath away
When you look at me, my heart starts to race
And in silence your gaze says a thousand words
The night when I beg you for the sun not to rise

Heat, heartbeat, and hip-swaying chemistry

Bailando sweeps you onto a neon-lit Latin dance floor where one smoldering glance knocks the breath out of Enrique Iglesias. Words fade, the crowd melts away, and only the pulse of the music speaks as he pleads for the sunrise to hold off. In that suspended moment, two bodies answer each other with every step, every rise and fall, turning silence into a thousand unspoken promises.

Each chorus turns the temperature up: their bodies flood the empty space, tequila and beer mingle with flashing lights, and an inner fire drives them almost to madness. He dreams of a night so wild it erases thought itself: dancing, living, kissing, and laughing until reality blurs. Yet there’s an ironic twist of fate that keeps them just inches apart, making the desire burn even brighter. The song captures the rush of irresistible attraction and the way music can spin a fleeting spark into an unforgettable, euphoria-soaked memory.

4. Lo Arriesgo Todo (I Risk It All)
Bruno Mars
Yo por tener tu corazón
La estrella más lejana
Te la doy
Haré todo
To win your heart
The farthest star
I'll give it to you
I'll do everything

Ever felt so in love you'd do anything for someone? That's exactly what Bruno Mars is singing about in "Lo Arriesgo Todo," which means "I Risk It All." This song is a powerful and passionate promise. The singer says he would do the impossible for the person he loves, like giving them the farthest star, learning to fly to the moon, or climbing any mountain. It's a super romantic way of saying his love has no limits!

He knows his feelings are intense, even admitting that it's a little "loco," or crazy, to feel this way. But he fully embraces it! He is ready to risk everything to prove his love, heal a broken heart, and be the most important person in their life. It’s a beautiful song about deep devotion and being willing to go to any length for true love.

5. Te Guardo (I Keep You)
Silvana Estrada
Tengo tres caras posibles
Tú me las quitas todas
Tengo una risa con alas
Que vuela si estamos a solas
I have three possible faces
You take them all away from me
I have a laugh with wings
That flies if we're alone

Te Guardo is Silvana Estrada’s tender promise in musical form. With poetic images like a “laugh with wings” and “crystal abysses” for every wound, the Mexican singer turns everyday feelings into magic. She sings from the perspective of someone who is ready and waiting: saving bits of faith, morning light, pending kisses, and even her pillow for the moment the other person finally decides to see her love. Although her life feels short and she struggles to decode the sparkle in the other’s eyes, she still dares to hope that hearts can meet halfway.

The song balances vulnerability and quiet confidence. Estrada reveals multiple “faces,” a voice, and a skin that beg to be understood, yet she is not paralyzed by uncertainty. Instead, she carefully stores her affection so it stays pure until the right time arrives. Wrapped in warm pop arrangements and rootsy Latin textures, Te Guardo becomes a lullaby for anyone who has ever kept a flame alive just in case love decides to return.

6. Cuando Me Enamoro (When I Fall In Love)
Enrique Iglesias, Juan Luis Guerra
Si pudiera bajarte una estrella del cielo
Lo haría sin pensarlo dos veces
Porque te quiero
Y hasta un lucero
If I could bring a star down from the sky for you
I would do it without thinking twice
Because I love you
And even a bright star

Cuando Me Enamoro is a sparkling love confession where Spanish pop star Enrique Iglesias teams up with Dominican legend Juan Luis Guerra to paint just how overwhelming true love feels.

Through vivid images (plucking a star from the sky, steering a lonely boat to the island of someone’s desires, pledging to own the moon), the singers show that love makes them dream bigger than reality allows. Yet, beneath the grand promises lies a relatable twist: whenever they fall in love, they also panic a little. Time freezes, their soul rushes back to their body, and they can’t help but smile even while they fear losing control. The song captures that thrilling mix of euphoria and vulnerability we all know when the heart suddenly decides, “This is the one.”

7. A Veces Bien Y A Veces Mal (Sometimes Good And Sometimes Bad)
Ricky Martin, Reik
Van diez noches sin hablar
Ya no aguanto esta ciudad
Si tú no estás
Por más que intenté escapar
It's been ten nights without talking
I can't stand this city anymore
If you're not here
No matter how hard I tried to escape

Have you ever missed someone so much that your whole city feels empty without them? That's the heart of this emotional ballad by Puerto Rican superstar Ricky Martin and the band Reik. The song is a powerful look at the rollercoaster of emotions after a breakup, perfectly captured in the title "A Veces Bien Y A Veces Mal," which means Sometimes Good and Sometimes Bad.

The singer is trapped in a loop of memories and regrets. He sings about how easy it was to fall in love, but how incredibly difficult it is to forget. His life feels like a puzzle with missing pieces, and he's still surrounded by old photos that bring him pain. He wonders how his ex is doing while holding onto a fragile hope that she feels the same way and that their love might not be truly over.

8. Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53 (Tiësto Remix)
Shakira, Bizarrap
Pa' tipos como tú
Pa' tipos como tú
Perdón, ya cogí otro avión
Aquí no vuelvo, no quiero otra decepción
For guys like you
For guys like you
Sorry, I already caught another plane
I'm not coming back here, I don't want another disappointment

Shakira teams up with Argentine producer Bizarrap and Dutch DJ Tiësto to turn heartbreak into a club-shaking power anthem. Over an electrifying dance beat, the Colombian superstar fires off razor-sharp lines at an ex who thought he could replace her. She playfully flips the script, declaring that “una loba como yo”, a she-wolf like her, is far too fierce for amateurs. Each punchy lyric drips with confidence as she lists the ways he let her down, from showing his “peor versión” when she needed him to leaving her with the in-laws next door and tax problems at the door.

The remix transforms anger into empowerment, celebrating women who choose to cash checks instead of shed tears: “Las mujeres ya no lloran, las mujeres facturan.” Shakira’s message is crystal clear: she has moved on, leveled up, and is dancing all the way to the bank while her ex is left to “mastique y trague” his regret. With pulsating synths and a chorus that chants “pa' tipos como tú,” this track becomes both a sizzling dancefloor banger and a reminder that self-worth, and a good beat, can turn any breakup into a victory lap.

9. Héroe (Hero)
Enrique Iglesias
Quiero ser tu héroe
Si una vez yo pudiera llegar
A erizar de frío tu piel
A quemar, que sé yo, tu boca
I want to be your hero
If just once I could reach you
To make your skin bristle with cold
To burn, who knows, your mouth

Enrique Iglesias turns up the dramatic romance in Héroe, a pop ballad where he dreams of becoming a fearless champion for the person he loves. He imagines swooping in to protect them, feeling their shivers, sharing fiery kisses, and even dying in their arms if that is what it takes. Every vivid image paints him as both hero and almost a godlike savior who would gladly sacrifice everything just to see his partner safe and happy.

Behind the larger-than-life promises lies an intense vulnerability: Enrique admits that saving his lover would actually be his own salvation. The song vibrates with passion, devotion, and a touch of beautiful desperation, reminding listeners that true love can make us want to be braver and stronger than we ever thought possible.

10. Si Te Vas (If You Leave)
Alvaro Soler
Dime si me quieres
Porque ya no lo sé
Después de tantas veces
Ya no puedo verte, ya no puedo ver
Tell me if you love me
Because I don't know anymore
After so many times
I can't see you anymore, I can't see anymore

“Si Te Vas” is a vibrant dance track where Spanish singer Álvaro Soler spins a story of emotional tug-of-war: he is caught between irresistible attraction and exhausting uncertainty. Over a contagious rhythm, the narrator pleads for clarity—he wants to know once and for all if his partner truly loves him or plans to walk away. The lyrics paint images of incoming storms, broken promises and the desperate search for reassurance in every kiss, all while he warns that he “can’t take it anymore.” Despite the upbeat groove, the song pulses with vulnerability, turning the dance floor into a stage for the universal dilemma of deciding whether to hold on or let go.

11. Hay Amores (There Are Loves)
Shakira
Ay, mi bien
¿Qué no haría yo por ti?
Por tenerte un segundo
Alejados del mundo y cerquita de mí
Oh, my love
What wouldn't I do for you?
To have you for a second
Away from the world and right next to me

Shakira’s “Hay Amores” wraps the listener in a warm bolero embrace, turning romantic devotion into a vivid Colombian postcard. The singer invites her beloved to escape the world for “just one second,” comparing their union to the mighty Río Magdalena melting into the Caribbean Sea. With that image, she hints that her love is both natural and unstoppable, ready to dissolve every boundary until the two become one.

Resilience is the song’s heartbeat. Shakira likens true affection to fine wine that only gets better with age and to flowers that refuse to wither, even blooming anew in autumn nights. Memories of the ocean, tears shed beneath moonlit waves, and the day their lives were pulled apart all underscore a love that survives distance, time, and hardship. In the end, every metaphor circles back to a single promise: this love will not merely endure, it will flourish.

12. Estoy Aquí (I'm Here)
Shakira
Ya sé que no vendrás
Todo lo que fue
El tiempo lo dejó atrás
Sé que no regresarás
I already know that you won't come
Everything we were
The time left it behind
I know that you won't come back

Shakira’s Estoy Aquí is a vibrant pop-rock confessional where heartbreak dances with hope. Sung by the then-rising Colombian star, the lyrics picture someone lost among photos, notebooks, and unsent letters, trying to accept that a love is gone for good while still, impossibly, waiting. Every driving guitar chord matches her racing thoughts as she admits, “I know that you won’t come back,” yet stubbornly stays in the same place, here, loving all the same.

Beneath the catchy chorus, the song explores a tug-of-war between remorse and determination. Shakira owns her mistake (“I let you escape”) but refuses to let memories fade, insisting that even a thousand years could never erase you. She imagines fantastical feats: turning fields into city streets, mixing sky with sea, just to prove how far a broken heart will go to rewrite the past. The result is an energising breakup anthem that wraps bittersweet Spanish lyrics in upbeat rock, teaching new words for longing, regret, and the stubborn belief that time and faith might still lead to forgiveness.

13. La Vida Seguirá (Life Will Go On)
Alvaro Soler
Tengo una idea que podrías aceptar
Siempre que creo en algo tú me dirás
Qué loco
Pero yo cuanto más me digas que no
I've got an idea you might accept
Whenever I believe in something, you'll tell me
That's crazy
But the more you tell me no

La Vida Seguirá is Alvaro Soler’s feel-good pep talk for anyone chasing a dream. The Spanish singer flips doubt into energy: the more people say “you’re crazy,” the more determined he becomes. Over a bright, tropical groove he reminds us that falling down, getting scraped, and hearing criticism are all normal parts of the adventure.

At its core the song shouts a simple truth: life keeps moving, so keep moving with it. Every stumble teaches, every bruise proves you tried, and every comeback makes you stronger. With the repeated call “levántate que puedes” (“get up, you can do it”), Soler turns the track into a danceable anthem of resilience and optimism, urging listeners to rise again and again because nothing can truly stop them.

14. Ayer (Yesterday)
Enrique Iglesias
Hey, dime a dónde vas
Y si sabes tu destino
Hey, ¿Dónde dejarás tus sueños escondidos?
Mira que la luna nos dejó
Hey, tell me where you're going
And if you know your destination
Hey, where will you leave your hidden dreams?
Look how the moon left us

Ayer paints the picture of two lovers standing at an emotional crossroads. Enrique Iglesias, the Spanish king of pop ballads, sings from the perspective of someone who never stopped believing in the relationship. He watches his partner drift away, asking “Hey, dime a dónde vas?” as if hoping that simply voicing the question might lead her back. Even though an adiós was spoken, the singer’s door (and heart) have stayed wide open, glowing under the same moonlight that once brought them together.

The song captures that bittersweet moment when regret meets possibility. Enrique reassures us that their love “no está acabado,” inviting his lost partner to admit her feelings and step out of the corner where she has hidden them. Ayer is therefore a story of hope wrapped in nostalgia: a gentle reminder that some goodbyes are only pauses, and that yesterday’s love can still find its way into today.

15. SUBEME LA RADIO (TURN UP THE RADIO)
Enrique Iglesias, Descemer Bueno, Zion & Lennox
Súbeme la radio que esta es mi canción
Siente el bajo que va subiendo
Tráeme el alcohol que quita el dolor
Hoy vamos a juntar la luna y el sol
Turn up the radio for me, because this is my song
Feel the bass that's rising
Bring me the alcohol that takes away the pain
Today we're going to bring the moon and the sun together

Turn it up! In this infectious Latin Urbano track, Spain’s Enrique Iglesias joins forces with Descemer Bueno plus Zion & Lennox to transform heartbreak into a fiesta. The chorus, súbeme la radio, is a rallying cry to pump up the volume, feel the booming bass, and let the rhythm take over. Behind the dance-floor energy sits a lovesick narrator who admits that music and a splash of alcohol are the only things that ease the sting of a recent breakup.

Across the verses he paces through sleepless nights, waits outside his ex’s door, and dreams of reuniting the luna and the sol, a poetic way of saying he wants their worlds back together. The song balances sorrow and celebration: every beat is a distraction, every sip a temporary cure, and every shouted lyric a desperate hope that love will return. It’s a perfect lesson in how Latin music can turn pain into a party while keeping the emotions real and relatable.

16. La Libertad (Freedom)
Alvaro Soler
Las cuatro paredes de nuestro hogar
No eran suficientes para aguantar
Llevábamos dentro algo más, picaba la curiosidad
Las cuatro paredes cayeron ya
The four walls of our home
They weren't enough to endure
We had something more inside us, curiosity was itching
The four walls already fell

From the very first line, “La Libertad” sweeps us out of our comfort zone and into pure adventure. Alvaro Soler paints a vivid picture of two dreamers who decide that the four walls of home simply are not enough. Their hearts tingle with curiosity, so they tear those walls down, sprint into the open air, and chase a world “más allá”: something beyond what they have ever known. The song celebrates that head-spinning moment when fear turns into fuel, the wind becomes your companion, and every reckless step feels like taking flight.

While the catchy pop beat keeps your feet moving, the lyrics offer a rallying cry for anyone longing to break free. Soler, a Spanish artist known for sunshine-filled anthems, invites us to run with the wind, dance with our fears, and claim the sky as our runway. Was it crazy? Maybe. Should we stop? Never. By the final chorus, you will feel the same electrifying urge to spread your wings and shout along: ¡La libertad!

17. Si Quieres, Puedes (If You Want To, You Can)
Sebastian Yatra
Yatra, Yatra
Hace mucho que soñé con lo que pasa hoy
Y de tanto esperar no cambia el corazón
Déjame que te explique, lo que tú no dices se puede ver
Yatra, Yatra
I've long dreamed of what's happening today
And after so much waiting, the heart doesn't change
Let me explain to you that what you don't say can be seen

“Si Quieres, Puedes” is Sebastian Yatra’s warm invitation to stop overthinking and start living the dreams that flutter inside us. The Colombian singer paints love and aspiration with bright, natural imagery: the beloved is water, sun, and gentle wind, elements that keep life moving forward. Yatra reminds us that time races on, dreams appear and fade, yet the power to make them real is always within reach. All it takes is the courage to say yes.

Beneath the catchy melody, the lyrics urge listeners to open their hearts, keep secrets safe, and trust the possibilities hiding in every moment. Whether he pleads for “just your crumbs” of affection or promises to guard unspoken feelings, Yatra’s message stays clear: if you want it, you can do it. The song is a motivational boost wrapped in the tenderness of a love confession—a perfect soundtrack for anyone ready to leap toward their goals with hope and a smile.

18. ¿Porqué Te Vas? (Why Are You Leaving?)
Jeanette
Hoy en mi ventana brilla el sol
Y el corazón se pone triste contemplando la ciudad
¿Por qué te vas?
Como cada noche desperté pensando en ti
Today the sun shines through my window
And my heart gets sad contemplating the city
Why are you leaving?
Like every night, I woke up thinking of you

Why are you leaving? The whole song circles around this single, aching question. Morning sunlight fills the singer’s window, yet her heart sinks as she watches the city and realizes that her loved one is slipping away. Every tick of the clock magnifies the emptiness: hours parade past at night, promises drift off with the departing train, and unspoken words fall asleep under a lonely streetlamp.

In just a few simple verses, Jeanette paints the bittersweet moment when love meets farewell. The melody is sweet and almost lullaby-like, but the lyrics reveal raw heartbreak. She will cry “like a child” at the station, knowing that all their shared dreams are boarding the train too. “¿Porqué Te Vas?” invites listeners to feel that mix of sunny nostalgia and inevitable goodbye, making it a timeless anthem for anyone who has ever asked, “Why are you going?”

19. Alma De Luz (Soul Of Light)
Alvaro Soler
Alma de luz, piel de marfil
Dicen que tú no eres de aquí
Alma de luz, ellos dirán
Ojos del sur, piel de alemán
Soul of light, skin of ivory
They say that you're not from here
Soul of light, they'll say
Southern eyes, German skin

Alma De Luz is a feel-good anthem about identity, belonging, and the power of shining from within. The singer meets someone whose "soul of light" stands out in every crowd. People try to label him by his looks and origins, eyes from the south, skin like German ivory, and even question what flag he belongs to. Instead of shrinking, the song pushes back with warmth and curiosity. It asks a simple question: why should a flag matter if your heart and voice are honest?

At its core, the track celebrates mixed roots and the universal language of music. The niño del mar wants to sing, even when others try to silence him. The message is upbeat and empowering: let your light speak, let your story sing, and do not let borders or stereotypes define you. This is a catchy reminder that identity can be beautifully complex, and that confidence turns difference into something bright.

20. Loco (Crazy)
Enrique Iglesias, Romeo Santos
Te pido de rodillas
Luna no te vayas
Alúmbrale la noche a ese corazón
Desilusionado, a veces maltratado
I beg you on my knees
Moon, don't go
Light up the night for that heart
Disillusioned, sometimes mistreated

“Loco” is a passionate midnight confession wrapped in the sensual rhythm of bachata. Enrique Iglesias and Romeo Santos take turns pleading with the moon to stay in the sky, hoping its light will keep their fragile love alive. The singer is on his knees, begging his partner not to leave him alone with the whirlwind of emotions that make him feel loco, crazy with desire, fear, and longing. Every kiss he imagines is meant to empty his heart completely, leaving no feelings unspoken.

The lyrics paint a vivid picture of desperate devotion: broken promises fly away like startled birds, tears threaten to drown unfinished songs, and a cracked moon hangs above like a shattered guitar. If his lover slips away at dawn, he vows he will never forgive her for the pain she leaves behind. “Loco” is both a plea and a warning, capturing the intoxicating mix of sweetness and agony that comes with loving someone so intensely that sanity itself is at stake.

21. Vuelve (Come Back)
Ricky Martin
Algo me dice que ya no volverás
Estoy seguro que esta vez no habrá marcha atrás
Después de todo, fui yo a decirte que no
Sabes bien que no es cierto
Something tells me you won't come back anymore
I'm sure that this time there will be no turning back
After all, it was me who told you no
You know full well it's not true

“Vuelve” is Ricky Martin’s passionate confession of regret, longing, and the realization that true love is irreplaceable. In this Latin pop ballad, the Puerto Rican superstar admits he made the mistake of ending a relationship, only to discover that life without his partner feels empty. Every line is soaked in desperation: he cannot breathe, he cannot sleep, and no one else can fill the void. The chorus’s repeated plea, “Vuelve” (Come back), echoes his growing awareness that without this person, he is “nada.”

The lyrics paint vivid images of lonely nights gripping a pillow, failed attempts to find comfort in others, and the crushing weight of a self-inflicted heartbreak. Despite being the one who said goodbye, he now begs for a second chance, acknowledging that what he had was unique and irreplaceable. “Vuelve” captures the universal emotion of wanting to turn back time, making the song both heartbreakingly personal and instantly relatable to anyone who has ever lost the love of their life.

22. Escapar (To Escape)
Enrique Iglesias
Hey, tú y yo es así
Sube y baja pero un día al fin
Sin querer nos va bien
Cuando uno ha dicho se acabó
Hey, you and I are like this
Up and down, but one day in the end
Unintentionally, things go well for us
When one has said it's over

Feel the chase of love in motion. Spanish pop icon Enrique Iglesias turns up the heat with Escapar, a song that paints romance as a thrilling game of hide-and-seek. One moment the couple is soaring, the next they are tumbling, yet every twist is laced with an electric pull that refuses to fade. Instead of pleading, Enrique flashes a confident smile and says, “Go on, walk away… just know you will feel me wherever you run.”

The lyrics repeat “aunque corras, te escondas, no puedes escapar” (“even if you run, even if you hide, you cannot escape”), making it clear that true passion lingers like a catchy chorus in your head. Under its upbeat pop groove lies a bittersweet truth: real feelings stick, whether they taste sweet or sting a little. Escapar celebrates that magnetic bond, reminding us that some connections are simply impossible to outrun.

23. Si No Te Tengo A Ti (If I Don't Have You)
Alvaro Soler
Yo vi que no tenia
Lo que yo más quería
Y siempre quise tener más, mucho más
Me quedé en la superficie
I saw I didn't have
What I wanted most
And I always wanted more, way more
I stayed on the surface

Alvaro Soler’s “Si No Te Tengo A Ti” is a heartfelt wake-up call set to an irresistible Latin pop beat. The Spanish singer admits he got lost in the glitter of diamantes, aviones, and private islands, only to discover that all that sparkle feels empty when the person he loves is missing. Line after line, he lists the luxuries he once thought mattered, then knocks them down with the simple truth: “Si no te tengo a ti”“If I don’t have you.”

The song is both a confession and a lesson. Soler shows how easy it is to be “blind” on the surface, chasing more and more, until losing everything finally opens your eyes. His repeated chorus becomes a mantra that money can’t buy what the heart really needs. It is a catchy reminder that real wealth is measured in love, not mansions or sports cars, making this track perfect for practicing everyday Spanish while soaking up a powerful life lesson.