“If you are lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you have to find the courage to live it.”
-John Irwing
I have been thinking about this quote since the day we got the assignment and this made the most impact on me. This quote by John Irwing just hit me. I started young with my fear of singing. I was in choir in the 4th grade when we all auditioned for singing the National Anthem. I got up because before then I would sing in front of everyone no matter how bad I sounded. I realized when I got up there that I knew the lyrics but I had no clue what the tune was. So I got there and strung the lyrics up to some horrible blah blah sound. My face got redder and I knew that I was totally butchering it. When voting time came I peeked and saw that only one hand went up when my name was called. To my horror I stopped singing in front of everyone unless I was in a group.
During High School, I always loved to sing. Never in front of others, but, I would sing in the shower and around my house. I have always been one for theatrics and expression through any way possible. I chose this life lesson because even though I loved to sing so much, I had horrible stage-fright. Yes, I had stage fright, but only when it had to do with singing. And most of those that know me can probably find that hard to believe…because I’m a bit obnoxious at times.
Not only was I afraid but I also was being controlled by someone. During most of my 8th grade year through my Sophomore I was never really living for myself. This person influenced a lot of my life and after my sophomore year I began to hate being so confined by this person. This person told me what to wear, how I should act, what classes I should take and even how to talk to my parents. This person was the reason for my rebellious streak and I know I learned from it I just hope they have. I learned a courageous way to live and I have been progressing through my fears. This year I helped a friend with a project and it required singing. I recorded my voice for their project and then took an even bigger step when I performed at the poetry café…several times. Soon after I joined the Jazz choir and much to my delight got my first ever solo.
So the most influential lesson I learned in High School was to live for yourself and any way that makes you happy. Be happy with your life! If you don’t, you are going to be miserable. Don’t be miserable. After you are happy, have or gain the courage to be the best you can be. Don’t hide behind silly fears like stage fright, because almost all the time you are way better than you think. So go out there and live your life with the courage to love it. (: 
Not caring about the judgment of others. This is definitely a lesson I can get behind! I've definitely been in the place were friends are few and far between, and given that label that really just doesn't get you much positive reinforcement. But around sophomore year I also started to look at those people that despised my differences, and basically flipped them the bird and went on my happy way. Frankly I couldn't be happier with the direction I've taken, and I couldn't agree more with this post!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great lesson! Since we all care so much about what others think of us, not many people would step out of their box like you did. I think that, when it comes down to it, we all have stage fright. Especially when it comes to first impressions in any case. For example, when you sing in front of someone for the first time, we care deeply about any small feedback. Even if you only had one person not like what your performance, you might not have the confidence to tell your self to forget about that person's opinion. I loved the post, thank you! :)
ReplyDeleteI find this so true and important in life. I think it is all too easy to get stuck on the present matters at hand and we quickly lose sight of the big picture. If we take one second to look at our fear for what it truly is in the big picture of life, I think most of us would feel embarrassed for how deeply we allowed it to affect us. And yet, it can still strike us down. I hope to soon be able to overcome my trivial fears as well as everyone else I’m sure but I suppose mine could be a little more time sensitive than others. I am, after all, going to Brazil in a couple months. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThat is very cool. I think we all have fears where we feel that we can't do certain things. I feel though, that if we, like you, have the courage to just face our fears and just do whatever it is that we are afraid to do, that sometimes, maybe not oftentimes, we will find that our fears are in a sense somewhat irrational. I think the story you shared is very cool and kind of ironic that a thing that you were once probably self conscious about turned out to be one of your talents. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely loved your post, because I could relate to it. I had horrible stage fright, too. I hated it, and one day, when I was singing for a group of people, I decided to let it go. I understand when you say you only had stage fright when you sang, because it was the same for me. I had no problem dancing at Movin' Concerts, but I was terrified of singing for people. I was my own worst critic though, so even when people would tell me that I was good, I still wouldn't believe them. I learned from your post that it was a good thing that I let it go, because I was holding myself back, and I wasn't happy. Thanks for your post.
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