Sing Out Loud

Sometimes life gets in a slump.

It does.

And when it does, it’s not fun. It’s like doing things over and over again and never reach a goal. Why? Because there is no more goal to reach. Life becomes a habit. And when it does, it’s time to shake things up.

I will keep on quoting S. who told me when we were in Vegas last month: “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”

It does.

The proof is in the pudding. A while back, my life was slowly taking the “slump” route. I could see it drift but I was too lazy to do anything about it. Monotony can be so comfortable sometimes. Then K., my roommate, suggested that I tried with her something called “The Artist Way“. The whole process didn’t go very far. But I kept something out of it that has become one of the most precious moment of my weeks: my singing lessons.

Many moons ago, my father shut part of my self-confidence by telling how horrible of a singer I was. I’m not saying he was wrong. But as a result, I’m the person in the back lip-singing Happy Birthday. Even on Bastille Day, I cannot make one sound when it comes to sing La Marseillaise. So singing lessons was a huge step out of my comfort zone. Bingo.

I went on a website called “Take Lessons” and picked a teacher. I set-up one lesson thinking “It can’t be that bad, I don’t have to go back if I don’t like it”. And then I thought of all the students that walk through the dance studio doors for the first time and probably are in the same state of panic that I was that day. If you had seen me in the street you would have assumed I was going to a dentist appointment. Really.

But Veronica did not allow me to apologize in advance for my miserable couacs, instead she was warm and friendly and made me laugh. Wait. I was actually having fun. So I went back a second time. And a third. By my fourth lesson I was actually feeling like I could sing. And I realized that when I walk out of Veronica’s house I feel like a thousand pounds just went off my shoulders, I feel like I could conquer the world.

A couple month ago, I got up and sang at a Karaoke for the first time. Last week I sang with a live band in a local bar. Oh I’m not super comfortable, my knees are shaking, my palms are sweaty… but every single time, I’m proving to myself that I can do it. That I can go beyond my fear and actually enjoy what’s on the other side. And that feeling, it warms up my heart.

It does.