When I posted about my One Word back on January 1, my hope was frail. Skeptical might be the best word to describe how I felt about the One Word that wouldn’t leave me alone.
On January 15th, just two weeks after writing about Jubilee, I received an unexpected email.
Let me back up to last summer. In June of 2013, I joined the Songwriting and Music Business (SMB) community and attended the annual conference held in Nashville. {You can read all about it here.} While I continued to write lyrics after the conference, my hope faded quickly.
By mid-August I was devastated by the events that led me to walk away from church. The music I once loved to sing in church soon became a mockery, so I tried to avoid thinking about music at all.
In November a friend asked me speak and sing at a women’s event she was coordinating for December. It took me a couple of days to respond yes. I spent the next few weeks preparing, grateful for the opportunity to sing again. Wile I’m pretty sure I rambled and didn’t make much sense the night of the event, I was reminded of my love and passion for music.
Then came Jubliee, and I was highly cynical even as I published my One Word post on January 1.
But then I received that January email. Amanda Williams, founder of the SMB community, informed me that we needed to set up one of my two free 30-minute phone consultations that I receive as a member of SMB. Um…huh? I rarely checked the SMB website anymore, and certainly had no idea about the consultations. Nevertheless, we scheduled an appointment for the following week, and I jotted down a few questions to ask during the consultation.
Much to my surprise and delight, by the time the phone consultation was over, I had a renewed hope that Jubliee wasn’t some cruel joke the universe was playing on me.
By the end of January, I had joined the SMB online songwriting school, and was making an appointment for a co-writing session with another SMB member. I also attended a local songwriting clinic.
By mid-February, my co-writer, whom I’d not worked with since last Spring, contacted me about working on some songs we’d left unfinished.
As I write today, I can hardly believe all that’s transpired over the last two months.
I’m still taking the Songwriting and Music Business online class; I’ve recently been to Nashville twice for writing sessions; I’m working on a small, but exciting project with my co-writer {more about that another day}; and I’ve already bought my ticket to the SMB conference this summer. In addition, I’ve been playing the piano quite frequently and watching video piano lessons. {Maybe one day I’ll be able to accompany myself.}
I still have days when fear speaks loudest, and I wonder why I allow myself to hope again. Mostly, though, I remember to keep moving forward, one step at a time.
My friend, Jennifer, gave me this bracelet as a reminder of my One Word
