Originally a love ballad, Aura Lee is an 1861 American folk song by George R. Poulton and W. W. Fosdick. Its gentle melody gained further fame when it was adapted into Elvis Presley’s iconic Love Me Tender in 1956.

My ukulele cover begins with a single melody, gradually inviting more notes to join, weaving harmonies from delicate strands into a richer texture. Paired with the ukulele’s warm timbre, it creates the perfect tone to express the essence of this song—that love is both simple and profound, ever-growing like a gentle melody unfolding.

For me, the song’s soothing melody, tender lyrics, warm harmonies, and slow tempo capture the quiet strength of gentleness—not a weakness or passivity, but a force that softens barriers, invites connection, and makes room for something deeper.

From Music to Everyday Life: What My Bunnies Taught Me

Surprisingly, some of my greatest lessons in gentleness have come from two unexpected teachers—my bunny twins, Evie and Mercy. Watching them interact is like witnessing a masterclass in tenderness. They play and groom each other every day. Even when they bicker over food or water (despite having two water bottles, they always want the same one 😆), their disagreements never last long. A soft nudge, a quiet snuggle—they always find their way back to harmony.

Spending time with them changed the way I move through the world. I started speaking more softly, moving more slowly, and paying attention to the energy I bring into a space. And something shifted. I realized that gentleness isn’t just a personality trait—it’s a capacity we all have.

How Gentleness Changed My Life

For a long time, I believed that being tough on myself was the key to becoming stronger and more independent. The more I loved something, the harder I pushed myself to earn it. This determination worked for goals and ambitions—but with the people I loved, it was a different story.

When love and toughness mix, it can be like lemonade with too much lemon—not everyone finds it easy to take in. I thought my intensity showed how much I cared, but over time, I realized that sometimes, a softer touch speaks louder than effort alone. This realization wasn’t discouraging—it was freeing. It showed me that love isn’t just about how hard we try but also about how gently we give.

As I embraced gentleness, I discovered a new kind of strength. The more I softened my approach—toward both others and myself—the more open life became. Gentleness creates a welcoming space for beautiful things to enter and grow—understanding, connection, and a sense of ease that makes everything feel a little lighter.

A Gentle Reminder

The softest approach is often the most powerful—like water, which can slowly shape even the hardest stone. And it starts with small actions. Something as simple as a smile or a kind word can shift the atmosphere around you.

The next time you hear Aura Lee (or Love Me Tender), let it remind you: gentleness is about being kind—to others and to yourself. And when you embrace that kindness, you create space for warmth, connection, and the beauty life has to offer.

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〈奧勒莉〉原本是一首浪漫的抒情民謠，由喬治·R·波爾頓（George R. Poulton）譜曲，W·W·福斯迪克（W. W. Fosdick）填詞，創作於1861年。這首旋律柔和的歌曲在1956年被改編為貓王（Elvis Presley）的經典名曲〈溫柔地愛我〉，進一步廣為人知。

我的烏克麗麗版本從單旋律開始，逐漸融入更多音符，將細緻的聲線交織成更豐富的和聲層次。再搭配烏克麗麗溫暖的音色，營造出恰到好處的氛圍，詮釋這首歌所傳遞的愛的本質—愛既純粹又深遠，如同溫柔的旋律綻放，綿延不息地成長。

對我而言，這首歌的舒緩旋律、溫柔歌詞、溫暖和聲、以及緩慢的節拍，完美地詮釋了溫柔的靜謐力量—它不是軟弱或消極的，而是一種能化解隔閡、拉近距離，並為更深層的情感騰出空間的力量。

從音樂到生活：我的兔子教會我的溫柔

令人意外的是，我對溫柔的深刻體悟，來自兩位意想不到的老師—我的兔兔雙胞胎 Evie 和 Mercy。看著他們互動，就像在觀賞一堂關於「溫柔」的精妙課程。他們每天都會一起玩耍、梳理彼此的毛髮。即使偶爾為了食物或水發生小爭執（明明有兩個水瓶，卻總是搶著要同一個😆），但這些不快總是轉瞬即逝。輕輕的一碰、安靜的依偎，他們很快地就重新回到和諧之中。

與他們相處後，我開始改變自己面對世界的方式。我變得說話更輕聲，動作更柔和，也更留意自己進入一個空間時所帶來的能量。然後，我感受到某種轉變—我發現溫柔不僅是一種個性，更是一種每個人都能夠擁有的能力。

溫柔如何改變我的人生

過去很長一段時間，我一直認為對自己要求嚴格，才是讓自己變得更強大、更獨立的關鍵。我越是熱愛某件事，就越會鞭策自己去爭取它。這種堅持在目標與夢想上確實奏效，但在愛的人面前，情況卻完全不同。

當愛與嚴厲交織時，它可能像一杯加了太多檸檬的檸檬水—並不是每個人都能輕易接受。我曾以為自己的執著能夠表達我有多在乎，但後來我才明白，有時候，比起努力，溫柔的接觸更能打動人心。 這樣的領悟並不令人氣餒，反而帶來了自由。它讓我明白，愛不只是我們付出多少努力，更在於我們能否溫柔地給予。

當我開始擁抱溫柔，我發現了一種全新的力量。當我對他人和自己都更加柔和時，生命也變得更加開闊。 溫柔能為美好的事物敞開大門，讓理解、連結與輕鬆自在的氛圍得以進入，讓一切事物變得更加輕盈而流暢。

溫柔的提醒

猶如滴水穿石，最柔軟的方式，往往擁有最大的力量。而這一切，都從最細微的行動開始。一個微笑、一句溫暖的話語，都能改變周圍的氛圍。

下次當你聽到〈奧勒莉〉或〈溫柔地愛我〉，希望它能提醒你：溫柔，就是對他人和自己心懷仁慈。當你擁抱這份善意時，你將為生命中的溫暖、連結，以及無數美好，預留出一片空間。