"Being" or "becoming" has never crossed my mind. There have been many who say they want to be singers.
I ask them, "Are you singing?
Are you in your church's choir?"
Some say that's not "big time" enough.
It lets me know that they don't want to just be singers, they want to be supernovas.
There's nothing wrong with lofty goals, I suppose, but it makes me sad when people are hankering for shortcuts, hookups, or have false perceptions of the business of music.
There is nothing keeping anyone from singing. Bathrooms everywhere have great acoustics.
It's not the singing that's desired, it's the platforms.
Church lofts provide great ones that never have to be totally abandoned.
That's where the education is--not just vocally, but morally and socially.
I'm often asked, "How did you______?"
The only reply that makes any sense to me is "God did it".
That may not seem fair, or may even infuriate someone who is breaking their neck to "become" something.
While it may seem that opportunities are falling into the laps of others who aren't even trying, perhaps their good fortune is merely divine intervention--and a little home training.
How one behaves, can be the difference between an open door and a closed, locked and bolted one.
The last place I want to be is in front of people, but there, to my surprise, I have been, and it is slowly getting easier to keep my eyes open.
The labels that others have used to describe what I do, have always been theirs, not mine.
I just like to sing.
That's all, and I'm thankful for any, and every opportunity to do so--but one need not have a stage nor an audience.
I like harmony.
I think I love hearing other people sing most of all. The voice is an amazing instrument, and I get a kick out or hearing what others do with theirs.
Listening really is a gift.
I feel sad for those who dismiss the wonder, joy, education, and inspiration that comes with being an audience member, because they want so badly to be onstage.
I feel sad for those who dismiss the wonder, joy, education, and inspiration that comes with being an audience member, because they want so badly to be onstage.
The audience has a prime position.
They see the end result of lots of work, and are not encumbered with the madness going on backstage.
Sometimes, those with onstage aspirations don't see it either--all they see is fickle admiration.
All they hear is temporary applause.
All they perceive is material wealth.
It's good to have goals and dreams.
It's good to have goals and dreams.
Attitude, however, is everything.
There are times when one--in spite of one's accomplishments/ talents-- should just sit quietly, listen, learn, and take notes.
No one needs to know that one is even in the room.
It's possible to miss so much wisdom, valuable lessons, and even opportunities, when one's mind is obsessed with constantly trying to find ways to make everything about oneself.
"I'm just as good as they are" or "I'm just trying to get the hook-up", or "They have to know that I'M here", exposes true motives that are laced with covetousness, envy, arrogance, and an inability to appreciate or respect what others have to offer.
It's darn near impossible to admire or applaud someone, when what one truly wants is to be them--or suck the life out of them and take their place.
It's okay to aspire to reach the heights that others have attained, but one must soberly evaluate the cost to oneself, and determine whether it is feasible, reasonable, or wise to follow the path of another.
Does one have the time, the stamina, the skill, or the freedom to do what another person does?
Has one considered that there's no such thing as an overnight success?
There's much to be admired about those who have patiently put in the hours, days, weeks, months and years and can finally focus all of their energy on what they love.
Even while their attention was divided, however, they didn't get anxious, or discouraged.
Most of all, they knew they'd continue to do what they loved, regardless of the way the world may perceive success.
How does one even enjoy a journey, or the fruit of one's labor, when so consumed with being one-up on everyone else, or seeing oneself in the light of others?
There's assertiveness, and then there's arrogance. There's confidence, and then there's desperation. Competing with people who don't even know there's a competition going on, is foolish.
Compete with oneself, and growth can be seen.
Insist on competing with others, and the misery of consistently being eclipsed by someone who's just running for the fun of it, will be overwhelming and potentially unhealthy.
One must follow well, perform well, and be patient. One must know one's honest worth.
One must be thankful for what one has.
When more emerges, one will know how to behave with the increase-- and with others.
Scheming to either set oneself apart, or prove that one is on equal footing with others is futile--and annoying.
Doors will open.
One need not build one's own shaky doors to nowhere, misrepresent oneself, make a scene on the porch, break a window, or steal keys to gain entry. Doors will open. One need not kick them down.
All that does is frighten the people inside, who would have gladly opened the door had one simply knocked properly.
The right people will notice, and one need not make a spectacle of oneself.
Funny thing, though.
The people who will most appreciate what one does, may not be the people one suspects.
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