Whenever I’m in a car by myself, I sing. It never fails. I sing – HARD! You would think I’m in concert. For the longest time, I thought I could actually carry a tune. So much so that I considered recording myself and posting it on YouTube. I was singing a gospel song and wanted to share the inspiration I was feeling.
There I was, on the road to San Jose. I was headed to see Oprah and I was rolling solo. No husband, no kids – just me time. I was singing my heart out. So, I hit record. Then I played it back. Thank the LAWD I played it back and wasn’t so bold to immediately post it. Oh my goodness, everyone I know would have judged me. Yes, I had a cold and sounded all kinds of nasal – but still. I was shocked that I sounded so not good. Here’s a shot of me singing my face off.
Don’t even try to hit that little triangle to have a listen. It’s a screen shot. You don’t want to hear my nasally crooning. Trust me! You’re welcome.
When I listened to the recording, my little feelings were hurt. I felt like I had just found out a secret so old that someone should have told me a long time ago. It doesn’t mean I’m going to quit singing though. It’s my release, y’all. I just won’t be trying to go on the road with it!
I was able to pull a few lessons from my singing mishap.
1 – Ignorance is bliss. You can believe you’re really good at something and as long as you don’t know you suck, life is grand. All that stuff you love doing – keep doing it. Even if you suck, it’s worth doing if it makes you happy.
2 – Know your limits. I knew that video was not ready for prime time so I had enough sense to keep it to myself. It’s always good to know when enough is enough and be OK with pulling the plug.
3 – Know when it just doesn’t fit. One lesson that came through from the “Life You Want Tour” was Iyanla talking about not forcing yourself where you don’t fit. It’s like squeezing yourself into a dress that is two sizes too small. It doesn’t fit. It looks bad. You don’t even feel good about it. That applies to other areas of life too. If it doesn’t work – consider letting it go. At the very least, don’t post it to Facebook. 🙂
When is the last time you laughed at yourself?
19 Comments on Everything Ain’t for Everybody
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I laugh at myself all of the time. Recently, I thought I was doing something cute for my daughter by purchasing a Christmas tree skirt for her tree. Do you know she said, “Mommy, this looks silly!” My feelings were butt hurt, and all I could do was laugh.
I definitely sing along with the radio sometimes. I have to laugh at my self after of course!
It is great when we can just have joy in our lives, be able to laugh at ourselves, and not take things too seriously. We all need a bit more shalom in today’s busy world
I am sure many, many people would be shocked at how they really sound if they recorded themselves. Enjoy it though! No harm in having a good time, and being able to laugh at yourself makes it even better!
I love being able to laugh at myself. It makes life so much easier.
Not everyone can be a talented singer. But everyone can have fun while singing
Girl, you just keep smiling and singing. I have known for years singing is not my professional insight.But I love it anyway.
LOL! I recorded myself on my phone a few weeks ago just to hear what I sounded like to other people… DIED. Ignorance IS bliss, no doubt! Never hurts to have a good time though. 🙂
You are so wise to have learned so much from a single incident. You are very inspirational!
I laugh at myself all of the time. I think it is daily. Even when I am belting it out in my car.
Don’t force yourself where you don’t fit is really good advice and something I have learned through the aging process. Be yourself, embrace your life and that is all that really matters. Everything else will come in due course.
What a fun post. I sing in the car all the time but I don’t think I have enough guts to record myself. I’d be afraid to watch, because I enjoy thinking I can sing, even though I know I can’t.
How fun! My kids recorded me once being silly and singing and I couldn’t help but laugh. I sound terrible, even my voice when recorded just talking it’s all good:)
I sign in the car when I am alone now. One time when my son was younger he was with me and my favorite song came on. I started singing and he asked me to stop. He said I was going to make his ears bleed. I didn’t think it was funny at the time, but now I laugh about it.
I totally clicked the picture. I wanted to watch! Glad you were able to take away something from that experience.
Think how much better the world would be if people took more time to laugh (even at themselves) and less time being mad or offended about everything? I do my share of silly things and my little ones aren’t shy about letting me know about it and it makes me smile every time.
Haha! Great post. My feeling is, if you love to do something — do it, even if you aren’t ‘great’ at it. I sing in my car and in the shower like I’m friggin’ Whitney Houston. Do you, girl! As long as you are having fun…keep it up.
My husband has been in a bad since he was in grade school. Guitar, drummer and/or lead singer at some point in time. There is no way I am even going to try. But, I do, and I know I can’t sing. LOL
I so hit play on that triangle before I kept reading. It opened the image in a new window where I then tried to hit play. LOL. I totally sing as well in the car and I don’t even care that I probably sound like a dying seal.