New Years Resolution- Sing

I have a New Years resolution that I must tell you. If I don’t talk about it, then it will be a lot easier for me to quietly pretend I didn’t make it. This year I resolve to sing.  Before you cringe and cover your ears, I have to tell you a couple reasons why this is my resolution.

Tone Deaf?

When I was in 3rd grade my music teacher at school told me that I was tone deaf. Nice, huh. What I didn’t know was that anyone who has never tried to sing is probably tone deaf too. And that only with practice do we get good at anything.

So what my teacher had really been telling me was that she didn’t feel like teaching.

Fast forward to high school. I had been in my church choir for years, ignoring that teacher’s mean-spirited comment. I auditioned for our school’s top choir. It made my year when I got in! It was a choir that only had two people singing each part. There were only 2 first sopranos, 2-second sopranos, and so on. It was a small sixteen member choir, and you really had to be good to get in. Making it into that choir showed me that I had finally learned to sing.

Just Sing

We performed all over. It was so fun!! And when I went to college, I continued to sing. I loved it! But I had never had the courage to sing a solo. I have done a few duets. But a solo is nearly enough to make me pass out with nerves.

About 7 years ago I decided it was time to conquer this fear, and I started taking private voice lessons. Unfortunately, I had only been studying for two months when I ended up with blood clots in my lungs and had to quit.

The last several years my lungs haven’t been strong enough for me to sing more than a few measures.  I am very blessed that I am not on oxygen for life. So I’m not complaining. But the rebuilding of my lungs has taken a lot longer than I realized.  I’ve come a long way.

Benched

When it first happened I couldn’t do much without being winded. And finally, this year as we practiced for our Christmas performance, I found I can sing the whole stanza again. So it’s time for me to finally accomplish my goal.

My unfortunate Ward (congregation) will get to be my guinea pigs. But no goal was ever accomplished without effort, and maybe a few tears.

I love a quote I heard Michael Jordan say: “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” So I’m going to keep trying. And one day I will accomplish my goal- I will sing and be happy with my performance. But I have to start somewhere or I will never accomplish anything.

This new year is full of possibilities. Go out and do something great. I have faith in you.