Take Back Your Life!

“Never give up. You only get one life. Go for it!” Richard E. Grant

About twenty-five ago, after having all sorts of battles with my inner adventurer’s reluctant nature, I decided to just go for things. The first thing I did was go to Greece by myself. It was nerve wracking and I cried a few times, but in the end it was one of the best things I ever did for myself. That opened the door to all sorts of adventures.

Since then I have just gone for it many times. Each time it gets easier.

Last May, I got up at our Town Meeting to speak against a component of a noise by-law, specifically entertainment at some restaurants. I spoke about not being able to do karaoke.

Well, someone watching at home was impressed a) that I spoke up on the issue and b) that I could sing. He called me up and asked if I wanted to be in his rock/blues band.

I’ve wanted to sing in a band since college and was recruited into one in my thirties. Then I developed a voice issue which nixed that. I thought my singing days were over.

A small miracle helped me get back to not only karaoke but also singing harder songs than I ever did before my voice began to sputter.

Well, I said, “yes,” right away and we spent the summer practicing. Conditions are perfect at karaoke. You walk up to the screen, the lyrics are there and the sound usually sounds perfect. Not a lot of moving parts.

Bands are an altogether different story. I had to learn the lyrics and went to come in or when to start. I had to really listen to the music for my cues. It’s a completely different ballgame.

I loved it and we did our first “gig” two weeks ago and I got paid. My mic had a few glitches but we will work that out next time. Now, we are learning some new tunes. With a band, I can do songs men usually sing and just have my fellow musicians adjust the song up into my range, which runs from mezzo-soprano up to soprano.

I always get up at Town Meeting to speak my mind, which I love, and this time I even got a creativity reward for being civic minded.

Now, it is time to talk about you.

Do you regularly go for it? Or do you need some prodding?

If you need some prodding, I’d suggest the “hell yes” rule. You see it, you want to do it, you feel excited. So, right then and there you need to sign up for whatever it is. The more time you give yourself to think about it, the less likely you will do it. It is too far away. It is too expensive. It is too much time.

Blah, blah, blah.

Why? The fear lord or lordess living in your brain wants to talk you out of it. They don’t want you to have fun or live on the edge. It makes THEM nervous. They want to stay at home and watch sitcoms …

You got one life … why not live it to the max?

Muse thanks, Giulietta