“Who cursed your voice?”  She asked from across the table.

 

“Whaaatttt…? Who did what…?”  I said with a not-so-subtle mix of surprise and shock. 

 

Time slowed down in that moment. Scenes of my life passed before my eyes, as if from a movie; it felt like forever, but when I came back to reality, others of our party were still being seated for dinner.  

 

I’d just met this woman a couple hours earlier at the ICF Conference, where we were both presenting. I kept thinking to myself, “What a crazy thing to say.” 

 

I looked at her stunned and speechless.  She looked at me in silence. 

 

“My voice cursed? Someone cursed my voice…?” The words kept going through my head, until....  Oh my god, my voice had been cursed. 

 

Clear as if it happened yesterday, it was 5th grade, a shy little girl desperate to please— there I was, with five other girls, singing Danny Boy.  The same Danny Boy that had brought Miss Brostoff to tears just 3 months earlier at 4th grade promotion day.  

 

All summer I had been telling myself what a special person I would be when I’m selected for Senior Choir.  Here I was, the moment of 5th grade choir tryouts had finally arrived.  

 

"Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling...."

 

Without warning, my 5th grade eyes locked open, stunned, as my worst nightmare was coming true...

 

Miss Brostoff slams down the cover over the piano keys and jumps up, knocking over her stool; she turns, faces me and with an explosion out comes, “You sing like a dead cow in a bucket! Get out!”   My worst fear unfolded before me and there was nothing I could do to stop it! 

 

It felt like yesterday, and now, in that instant of reliving it, I was released. This wise woman, Barbara McAfee, gave voice to the truth.  My voice had been cursed. Once stated, it seems to no longer have power over me.

 

Fast forward to next Wednesday, September 12th, when I’m going to do something raw and real. And I’m terrified again!  But in a good way. Why do I get myself into these situations…? (No need to answer, it’s a rhetorical question.) 

 

The answer is simple: It’s because I’ve never had the courage to sing Happy Birthday (even in a group) to my two sons—both grown men now.  I have my first granddaughter coming to bless us in January. It’s time. 

 

So, Barbara and I will be together LIVE in her vocal studio in Minneapolis, where she is going to get me to sing (OMG) on air!

 

Really! Barbara swears that shy, mortified 5th grader is going to sing live, on air, for the first time since 5th grade. We will be LIVE on the Messages, Meaning and Money Radio Show this Wednesday S.... No taping to make me sound better, no milli vanilli here....

 

Reach out and let your voice be heard too.  She assures me, you will be singing along! 

 

You know what, I believe her.  

 

Mark Twain reportedly said; "Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching and live like it's heaven on earth."  

 

Here! Here! Mr. Twain.

 

Have a great week whatever your adventures.

To Life! To Success!

Sharon

 

P.S. About Barbara: Barbara McAfee, author of the highly acclaimed book Full Voice: The Art & Practice of Vocal Presence has been a voice coach for over twenty years supporting leaders from all sectors to unleash the full power and presence in their voices. Her book instantly went to the #1 Amazon bestseller in business communications when it was released in October of 2011. Learn more about Barbara's book, Full Voice at: http://sharonsayler.com/54zn

 

A professional singer/songwriter and keynote speaker, Barbara blends practical content, sassy music, useful wisdom, and sophisticated humor in her keynote presentations. She has released six CDs of her music. www.BarbaraMcAfee.com

 

P.P.S. People appear in our lives for a reason. We never know when it’s going to happen or who is going to propel us into the next step of manifesting our greatness. Keep your mind and hearts open to your next adventure.  If you have always wanted to sing too, or you just want to have a good laugh, or finally hear raw, real radio, listen in toMessages, Meaning and Money with Sharon Sayler on the Contact Talk ... next Wednesday, September 12th at 1pm pacific / 4pm eastern.