When Chris Melton tagged me to participate in Dayelle Schwartz’s ”Creating Better Habits Challenge,” I wanted to write about a recent change of habit or attitude for the better without going into the archives and regurgitating something from the past.
It had to be new material.
Fortunately, something happened last night that gave me just what I was looking for. I hope it inspires you.
Once a month, my church holds an open door coffeehouse where everyone from the community is invited to showcase their artwork, share personal stories and poems in addition to singing, dancing or playing a musical instrument of their choice. Shouldered between solo acts are karaoke sing-alongs with lyrics on a video screen.
Let me just state for the record that I’ve never cared much for karaoke music. For the longest time, attending the coffeehouse was nothing more than a means of getting out of the house, nibbling on a snack or two and giving moral support for my good friend Joni, the organizer. The moment I got itchy, I’d cut my stay short and bolt for the door. After all, why sit through 3 hours of music that I can’t hear anyway? While no one ever forced me to go to this monthly event, I certainly didn’t have a very good attitude about it either. (Photo: Dave Gorman)
Just before I left the house last night, I decided to upgrade my way of thinking about the whole thing. Instead of going there with the “same old, same old” attitude, I replaced it with the thought that I was somehow going to have a great time even though I can’t hear anything.
It took me several minutes after arriving at the church to warm up but when the lyrics of the third karaoke song appeared on the video screen, my whole way of being suddenly underwent a stunning transformation. There I was, standing to the side and belting out the tunes with unbridled joy and exuberance like a carefree child. The very surprised organizer quickly came over and handed me the microphone. In the past, I would have shoved it away, vigorously shaking my head as if to say, “Get that damn thing away from me, don’t you know I can’t sing!?!?”
But not this time.
What I didn’t know was that while I was singing my heart out, something magical was happening. According to Joni, it was like that electrically-charged night when Paul Potts sang on ”Britain’s Got Talent,” the British version of “American Idol.” If you haven’t seen the video, you’ll understand what I mean when you watch it here.
You see, it wasn’t my voice that sent shock waves throughout the room. Oh good golly, NO! You’ll never see me on American Idol nor will I be signing a record deal anytime soon.
What the people was responding to was the pure essence of my inner spirit that was allowed to come out to play because of a simple change of attitude I made earlier that night.
And that, my friends, is the raw power of changing a habit!
Food for thought: Step out from behind the cloak of oppressive darkness and allow your inner child to express uninhibited joy for others to see and experience. It will change their life and ultimately yours.
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2:09 pm on December 17th, 2007 1
You’re not competing on American Idol? That’s a disappointment.
You could compete in the trials and then spin your new interview program!
You are an inspiration. I think I would be shy about competing in a song fest and I can actually hold a tune!
You bite into life and swallow it whole! All the time.
2:40 pm on December 17th, 2007 2
Corinne:
I enjoy the process of biting into life and swallowing it whole! Nothing like it!
7:47 pm on December 17th, 2007 3
Stephen – your rock! Brother, you know how to make a statement and make the rest of us feel it at the same time. Great post and a great idea. But what’s even better is that every time that we try something new, we increase our creativity. Keep inspiring me.
9:26 pm on December 17th, 2007 4
Chris:
Thanks my friend. Coming up with new material can be challenging at times! But when I am successfully able to flesh it out of my mind, I always feel great about it. You inspire me too. I love watching your personal journey with the Rotater. It motivates and excites me to see your life turn around in a short period of time!
10:44 pm on December 17th, 2007 5
You know your story reminded me of the time I decided to let it go and just enjoy the fun.
You see as you would know, I spent years of feeling sorry of myself because of my deafness and my weight and not get too involved in any functions (work or otherwise).
I felt this year was the beginning of a new cycle of my life and I just decided I needed to break free.
So I did! I went to my work’s Christmas Party couple weeks ago, at the start I was like a bit shy and feeling a bit of a party pooper, but my work mates was encouraging me. Normally I got myself a soft drink and that was it but my workmate was telling me to just have fun and encourage me to get a ALOHOLIC drink for once! I was umm-ing and ahh-ing then something just told me to just enjoy myself so I did.
Then i felt really good I soon relaxed and started to enjoy myself.
I was able to have a good chat as opposed to just pretending to listen to everyone and didnt really made an effort. I was feeling really awesome.
Then the music was played and everyone started to dance. I thought oh no I dont want to dance (cos i could not understand the music although i was told i dance really well in GREEK dance)
Two female workmates was dragging me to dance i was like oh okay. At first i was a bit tentative and little silly (dont ask me why!) Then one of the lasses took me and encourgae me to dance.
By the end of the evening i was really enjoying it and surprised myself as well as others how well i dance! It was the first time I actually had a great time at a work function.
I thought okay i really underestimate myself big time!
So i plan to do some dance classes next year (ballroom dancing!)
I really learnt alot that night.
7:49 am on December 18th, 2007 6
Elias:
What a fabulous, incredibly inspiring story! You certainly stepped up to the plate, didn’t you? That’s incredibly powerful, thank you for sharing your heartfelt story. Whoever reads your story will learn a lesson from you.
Congratulations on taking up ballroom dancing next year! What an amazing discovery because you decided to go to your company’s Christmas party. That’s how miracles are created, when you step up to face your fears and do it anyway.
Excellent story, thanks for sharing.
10:53 am on December 18th, 2007 7
This is a great story, Stephen! So often we pre-judge ourselves and put ourselves into little limiting boxes. What’s wrong, after all, with doing something “badly,” just for the fun of it? Art and creativity – and singing! – is about joyful self-expression, after all. If we get attached to a result (like singing beautifully) before we even start, we stop ourselves dead in our tracks.
Anyway, here’s to “bad” singing, art, and – my personal favorite – “bad” pottery, which was my new creative endeavor this fall.
Thanks for sharing this inspiring story!
Blessings,
Andrea
11:24 am on December 18th, 2007 8
Andrea:
YES, let’s make a toast to BAD SINGING, BAD POTTERY, BAD, BAD, BAD!!!
And then let’s turn around and make a toast to our inner spirit that screams for joy and love when we unshackle and let it roam free. That’s usually enough to win over even the grouchiest person on the planet!
So glad you came by to tell me you were inspired by this article. As you can see, I get such joy out of writing and I feel good about it afterwards. Sometimes when I attempt to write, it gets off to an awkward start but once I let the words flow from the spirit, there’s no stopping me. And it’s all for your benefit!
6:47 pm on December 18th, 2007 9
Great story Stephen, I sure would have liked to see you belting out all those tunes! You are a great writer with a special gift, please keep sharing it.
7:37 am on December 19th, 2007 10
Brad:
You might have had to cover your ears if you were there! Seriously though, it was fun and I had a good time. It felt good to “just let it out.” Thanks for the compliment about my writing skills – I’m grateful for this gift.
7:38 pm on December 25th, 2007 11
Thanks for participating in my Creating Better habits Challenge Stephen! I just put your post on my Challenge page.
8:15 am on December 26th, 2007 12
Daylle:
Your Creating Better Habits Challenge was a fun event and it gave me a chance to think creatively for one of my posts. Thanks!
10:37 pm on December 28th, 2007 13
That experience sounds amazing. Imagine how a simple change can spark multiple reactions from those around you. Een just reading about your story is giving me a strange sense of strength. It’s a little strange, considering I’m just a blog lurker but your story is really inspiring.
8:11 am on December 29th, 2007 14
Jay:
As we close out the year, I continue to be grateful for the power of writing and publishing via a blog like Adversity University. There is nothing to censure or stop me from writing down my feelings, thoughts, words, ideas and whatever comes through my mind. It is visitors like you who take the time to let me know that they are touched and inspired by spending time here. That, my friend, makes the time I take to create a post all the more worthwhile! Thanks for stopping in at the university. I hope you come back again!