1. It’s okay to say no to things I don’t want to do. With all the endless people-pleasing tendencies floating around inside my head, reminding myself that I can say no and not feel guilty about it is a huge relief. Of course, it doesn’t always happen like that, but when I started being more intentional about the things I agree to, it empowered me to do things I actually enjoy with people I actually enjoy! Couldn’t we all use a little bit more of that in our lives?
2. There is always something I can improve on. I think one of the biggest things I love about the music industry is that there is no end to the things you can learn and get better at! I will never know everything about everything, and that is so exciting! I love the idea of “perfecting my craft” and I also love the idea that “my craft” can extend to as many things as I want it to. “My craft” can be songwriting, playing instruments, singing, producing, mixing, live sound, recording, performing….it never ends!
3. I can handle a lot more than I think I can. This one is a hard one for me to say out loud, but it is one that Connor (my loving and wonderful fiance) reminds me of every time I get to my breaking point. I can handle more than I think I can, and everything is going to be okay. I may shed a few tears, but things always work out.
4. Loving my best friend/fiance is one of my greatest joys! This seems like a natural progression, so here it is. Twenty years on this earth has taught me what kind of person I want to be for other people, and it has taught me what kind of man I want to spend my life with. Thankfully, it didn’t take me twenty years to know that Connor was the one. (That took about twenty minutes). So for anyone reading this, don’t settle for anything less than what you want/need. When you have someone who is such a constant support and source of endless laughs, and even better when you get to be that for someone else….nothing seems as hard to handle.
5. There is no such thing as too much coffee. Caffeine may not be “good” for me, but it sure is good for everyone around me! ha! But for real, I’ve gotten to the point that coffee is the only thing that keeps me going sometimes! (and I’m strangely okay with that)
6. Doing what I love makes loving what I do really easy. It is amazing how much of a difference it makes when you can get excited about the things you are doing. It is way too easy for me to get caught up in all the details and forget what it is like to do something because you like it and not just because you have to. There is joy in the details and there is joy in the grand picture…and as my mom always says “Enjoy the process.”
7. Taking breaks is important, and knowing when I need to take a break is just as important. This is a lesson I have been learning for the majority of my life. I’m getting better at knowing when I need to stop and breath, but sometimes it takes something like..oh I don’t know…getting tendinitis in my right hand before I decide to work a few less hours and take a little time to relax. One day, I will figure it out, right?
8. There is no end to the goodness of supporting other people. This is something that I am so passionate about! I cannot tell you how much my life has changed because of the support of the people around me, both friends/family and strangers. I love being able to support and encourage other people to do the things they are too afraid to do, but the things they desperately want to do. I was there, and am still there all the time…I love being able to do that for someone else. Humans are delicate creatures, and believe it or not, we all need a little support sometimes.
9. I can be feminine and laugh a lot and also be good at what I do and demand to be taken seriously. Being a woman in the industry is both a scary thing and also a wonderful privilege. I think one of the most important things I have learned about dealing with people in the industry is that I have to demand to be taken seriously, because often times, if I don’t demand it, then it won’t happen. However, I think there is a way to demand that respect and still remain humble and kind, and true to yourself. It’s a balance, but it’s worth the effort.
10. My feelings are valid. If you all don’t know by now, you are in for a treat…because I am an emotional human. I feel things deeply, and let myself be affected by things. I am slowly learning that this is not a bad thing. I deserve to feel the things I feel, and so do you!