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 | Music Branding Expert ;Author; Composer; Pageant Coach; Singer and Speaker,
Beth Lawrence
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Beth Lawrence's August Voicegram |
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Greetings!
Summer is winding down and Fall will be upon us next month! Because Fall is a time of harvest or gathering in, I thought that I'd share a personal epiphany I've had about sharing the harvest of my musical life!
In the 'summer of our days' it's important to notice what we've been putting off, who we've neglected to call; what we're imagining we'll do 'Someday'.
My question to you this month is 'Has your 'Someday' arrived yet?'
As always, if you are inspired by these Voicegrams - please share! Cheers! Beth Lawrence, Viva La Voice |
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Online Voice Coaching!
Beth Lawrence
800-567-1718 |
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Has Your 'Someday' Arrived Yet? �2012 Beth Lawrence
Are you living in the present, but dreaming of 'Someday'......when you'll finally have the time to do all those things you really want to do? I got a kick in the pants to make my 'SOMEday', a 'TOday'.
Recently, a dear friend passed away. He and I had written many songs together, and we even shared the same birthday, July 19th. Although we hadn't written anything together lately, we kept in touch and I considered him a long-time, dear friend. Upon hearing that he had died, I was devastated, and sobbed for hours.
Many thoughts passed through my head and heart - 'why hadn't I called him on 'our' birthday this year, like I usually did?' - 'Could I have helped him in any way?' - 'Why didn't I visit him the last time I was in California?' Of course, the answers to these questions are probably all too familiar to you, also......'Gosh, the day just got away from me, I'll call him next week.' - 'He never mentioned anything about being sick.' - 'I just don't have time on this trip to drive 2 hours out of the way.' And so it goes. And yet now, all those excuses are meaningless compared to the joy I would have derived from talking to, and visiting my friend. Of course, if I had known he'd be gone so soon, I would have made the effort. We always think our loved ones will be around forever, but we never know when they will suddenly be gone from our lives.
My point of this story is that what crushed me the most about my friend's passing was the thought that he and would never create music together again. Long ago I wrote a story draft for a new musical, and in my mind I always knew that it was Jeff Day who would write the music with me. Each time I would pull it out over the years I'd think 'Someday Jeff and I will write this.' And guess what -- 'Someday' never came. 'Someday' never comes.
How much of our lives are spent thinking about 'Someday', when we're financially secure; lose 10 pounds; have the time to travel; when the kids are grown.....and the list never ends. The time is never right to do those things on the 'Someday' list. Yet, aren't those exactly the dreamy things that simmer in our hearts, eventually making a stew of regret when time finally runs out for us, or for someone we love?
The positive in this experience is that a day after I dried my tears, embraced my loss, and took a deep breath, I began to go through all my old original music; all my old demos; all the songs I had written through the years. I am cataloging all of them, updating my charts, and getting them ready to jump out of my filing boxes and on to a stage - anywhere that people can hear the magical music of friends like Jeff Day. His, and our music deserves to be heard, no matter what the venue. I was amazed at the library of music I had - all of it like old friends I was meeting again after a long absence.
Creating music has always been a joy for me, and sharing that music is equally fulfilling. Will there be a new audience for my music? I don't know, but I owe it to myself, and to my co-writers to get out and share those songs that reflect so much of what my life is about. There are stories about spacemen; hookers; dreamers; gypsies, and everyday folks who create magic out of the mundane. There's redemption, there's hope, there's inspiration, and there's love in all of them. I believe that almost everyone would find some commonality in this music.
I'm not going to wait for 'Someday' to get out and share my lifetime of music, because you know where that leads. That illusive future date when we think we'll do something will remain in the future until the lights finally go out on the marquee. Yes, Life keeps us so busy just treading water that those 'Someday' things seem like a life raft out in the distance. I think it's time to swim to that 'Someday' life raft, and hold on for dear life!
I am blessed to have had a friend like Jeff Day. I have a renewed purpose to keep in touch with my friends more loyally; and I will make time to call, write and visit. Most importantly, I will honor his memory by sharing the magical music we wrote together. My music is my soul. It is doing no good sitting unheard in banker boxes, or gathering dust on a CD shelf. What's sitting in your 'banker boxes of life' waiting to be shared or experienced???
There will be no more 'Someday I'll start performing my music' for me... my 'Someday' has arrived. Has yours?? |
Featured Video of the Month
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In Memory of Jeff Day, Composer
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This is a song written by Jeff Day and I,
and arranged by David Benoit.
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