Who Stole Your Song

Yesterday I was at the grocery store, when the guy bagging my groceries started singing a popular Sarah McLachlan song.  He looked at me and asked me to join in with him (I do live in Nashville ... a.k.a. Music City, USA! ). With everything in me, I wanted to belt it out, but couldn’t.

You see, I am a singer with vocal problems. The last few years have been rough vocally and, a few months ago, I was even struggling to talk. I have worked with vocal coaches and breathing experts. I do a myriad of strange exercises for the voice, I’ve started swimming, and I vocalize regularly. My speaking voice is stronger,  but my singing problem is still a mystery. In August I will visit the Vanderbilt Voice Clinic and, hopefully, finally get an official diagnosis.

I have good and bad days, but it’s all very frustrating, because everything I do depends on my voice.  I believe I’m dealing with something much like Shania Twain. If you haven’t heard her story, she also lost her voice. Hopefully,  it looks as though she is getting it back.

Everything I thought I would be doing during this season of my life is on hold. My plans did not pan out. I cannot sing the song that is in my heart. So I’ve been singing a different tune lately: I’m painting! I'm also building a business to encourage creatives in their marketing pursuits. My song is now being sung in new and different ways. Most of the time, I’m fine with it. Today, I’m not. I miss singing.

What song do you long to sing? Have circumstances, difficulties or a lack of funds stolen your song? Is there an ache inside you to do something that you simply cannot do?

What do you do with that disappointment? Do you ignore it or deal with it? I’m doing all I can to get my voice back. What are you doing to get your song back?

"Most people die with the music still in them."  Oliver Wendell Holmes

Don’t let life go by with your deep desires buried inside. You were created with a song to sing and to be fully alive you MUST sing it. Life has a way of silencing our song, but we must be intentional and fight to get it back. Some of us don’t even know the song anymore? We can’t even hear it.

Here is the rest of the quote: "Most people die with the music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out."  Oliver Wendell Holmes

Determine to set aside some time to listen to your heart. What is the song? It may be faint, but odds are, if you listen long enough . . . you will hear it again.

Are Artists In Touch With Their Heart's Desire

"Most of us don't know what we want; we've never defined our goals, values or passions, so we're out of touch with our hearts' desires." ~ Mark Batterson author of Wild Goose Chase~

I'm just wondering if the above quote applies to creative types . . . to musicians, dancers, poets, painters, artists, to you? Creatives are extremely talented and disciplined in their art form. At the same time, these disciplined artists are sometimes totally disorganized with their time.

Does disorganized thinking and lack of time management rob you of your ultimate goals and dreams? Do you make the most of every day? Do you know how to begin a productive day? Do you know which projects to tackle first?

If any of these questions hit a hot spot for you, it's time to make some changes, some drastic ones!

Let me help you do that by asking some questions:

1. What is your heart's desire ?

2. Are you fully alive?


3. If nothing changes in the next 5 years regarding your art and your income - are you OK with that?

4. What steps can you take that will move you in the direction of your goal for your creativity?

5. What obstacles are standing in the way?

6.What can you say NO to - that will give you more time to work on your creative endeavors?

7. Can you get up 1 hr earlier, or maybe 2, and give this time to work on your art?

8. Is there someone you can connect with that will encourage you to make headway with your art?

9. Is there a message behind your art - a greater picture or cause that you could link your art to?

10. What does the story of your life say about you thus far? Do you inspire others?

11. Is anyone helping you come up with a plan to support yourself with your art?

12. Do you know how to make real money with your art? (is there any other kind?)

13. If you need an extra $1,000 this month, do you know how to use your art to raise that money?

14. Do you think of your creative expression as a business?

I'd love to hear your answers! I'm in a transformation process myself and I'm learning how to view my creativity as a business that needs to be stewarded! I hope what I'm learning can help you too! Any questions? Fire away!

I'd like to recommend this as a wonderful tool to move you in the right direction!
It's created by my coach, Carrie Wilkerson. I can assure you that she has some answers that we as creatives need to move forward. If you want to reach you goals you must have a plan, and a way to organize your day!

Juggling?? Time Management Tips - Strategies for Your Success from 3 Experts!