Scared, but your heart says Yes? That’s where the energy is.
Last week, I did something exciting and scary - and it filled me with so much energy.
It was my birthday. And I got on stage to sing solo for the first time in my life.
I used to sing in the choir all through school.
I sang constantly - out loud or in my head, while cleaning, biking, cooking.
But then… life happened.
Work, pressures, responsibilities - it all took over.
At some point, I realized I had completely stopped singing.
I forgot the songs I knew by heart.
My voice got rusty. I lost the desire to sing.
Through self-reflection, I saw how often we abandon things that bring us real joy and energy.
So I signed up for lessons.
As part of the program, students can perform live twice a year.
The summer show fell on my birthday.
So I took it as a sign to follow my heart.
And I signed up… slightly hesitantly.
What I didn’t realize was that the show would take place at El Mocambo - the legendary Toronto venue where the Rolling Stones, U2, and Blondie once performed.
When I found out, my heart sank.
The pressure was on.
When I got there, it hit me even more:
A real stage. Lights. Sound. An audience.
As a longtime jazz fan, I picked
“Let’s Fall in Love” by Ella Fitzgerald.
Not an easy one, but I practiced and felt ready.
Then the moment came.
I stepped on stage - and instantly felt my heart racing. I could barely catch my breath.
Was my performance perfect? No.
I didn’t hit all the notes.
I blanked on one line and did a little “la-la-la” improv instead. 😆🤦♀️ (but recovered quickly, and most didn’t even notice.)
And in the end, I was proud of myself (and my family was too).
The experience left me with a few takeaways:
✔️ If something feels exciting but also scary - it’s probably exactly what you should do. It might be your energy source.
✔️ Everyone feels fear. Everyone makes mistakes. You’re not alone.
All students in my set felt the same - forgot lines, had shaky voices - but we all felt incredible at the end!
✔️ Most people are kind - they admire you for trying. The ones who aren’t? Not your crowd.
Successful people don’t judge others for showing up. Those who do are likely dealing with their own fears.
✔️ If you try and succeed - amazing. If you don’t - even better. Mistakes are where real growth begins.
When we follow our curiosity and passions - especially the things we loved as kids, that come naturally, bring joy, or involve creativity - we activate the right side of the brain.
That’s where our intuition lives.
That’s what helps us show up from the heart -
with joy, clarity, and true alignment -
not from logic, pressure, or overanalizing.
And I think we all need more of that.
What’s your childhood passion you forgot about?
Please send me a note and share - I’m so curious to hear!
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