Can I Really Have it All ?

I don’t know. I’m still trying to figure it out. But, I’m sure going to try.
I question myself, I cry, I have doubt, and then when I’m finished with my pity party, I try again.
But I do know this. If you….

– Think it
– Want it
– Write it down
– Define it
– Believe it
– Believe in Yourself
– Plan it

AND….

– Do it

Then, you’ll be that much closer to your goals.
I’m no expert, I’m just like you trying to be all I can be. As I’m encouraging you, I’m also encouraging myself. 😉

Now, let’s go get it !!

#Beth
#DaughterofaFunkBrother

What Makes Me Happy ?

“Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.” ❤️

Can I tell you something ? Can I really be honest with you ? Sometimes, I can’t make up my mind. Sometimes, I don’t even know what I want. But the one thing that I’m sure of is that I want to and have always wanted to be happy with myself. As I’ve grown in life and relationships and experiences,  I’ve made mistakes and I have regrets; a few actually. But, I think we all have a few. That’s what molds us and shapes us, especially if we learn from those mistakes. But what happens when we don’t learn, and we continue to spin in a cycle of defeats and repeats ? What happens when you are just not happy with yourself ? That was happening to me, and I got soooooo tired of it and myself ! Although you may have seen me smiling on the outside, many days I walked around in pain because I was not happy with myself. Have you ever felt like that ?

Well, let me tell you my story.

I’ve always wanted to sing. I thought I was pretty good. But, I was always afraid of what people would think of me and how they would perceive me or if they would even receive me. The thought of rejection controlled me. I allowed that thought process to hold me hostage for years ! It controlled my growth process and it slowed me down tremendously !  I would get up to sing sometimes and couldn’t concentrate because I was worried about peoples thoughts who probably weren’t even thinking about me ! I even had panic attacks and fainting spells. Can you believe that ? That dysfunctional behavior continued for years until I got  “sick and tired of being sick and tired“ (we all know that saying). I was tired of feeling inadequate for not pursuing my dreams to the fullest. I felt like time was passing me by and I was accomplishing NOTHING ! I felt un-fufilled and stuck in a rut. I felt like I was being tortured mentally by my own doing. I was determined to stop the cycle immediately.

One day I made a decision that I was going to be happy; not just happy, but, happy with myself. I promised myself that I would figure out what I wanted and go after it. No more excuses. That was one of the best decisions that I had ever made. That day was one of the best days of my life.

The first thing I did was to get a notebook that I could keep with me to list thoughts, random notes,  goals and to-do lists. I then made a list of goals, set up timelines and wrote down what I really wanted to achieve no matter how crazy and far fetched it sounded or seemed. I didn’t wait until the beginning of the week or New Year’s Day to start this new plan of thinking. I started on that day. And finally, I began to release some of the negative thoughts that I had about myself to free myself from bondage. I realized that I was creating a lot of my own anxiety !

I can tell you today, I am actually happy and I’ve wanted this for a long time.  I am a work in progress and I am enjoying the process of becoming a better and happier person.

So I ask you today, be kind to people and love people because we never know what inner battles they are fighting inside.

So, what makes me happy ? Me……..😉

#Beth #DaughterofaFunkBrother

Welcome to My Life

So, you wanna be a rock star, huh ?

The stage, the traveling, the lights, the cheer of the crowd, the parties…..

I did too, at one time ! LOL !

That’s what I wanted. At least that’s what I thought I wanted. I thought the best way to achieve my goal of stardom was to just sing my heart out and everything else would just happen. Well, to my surprise, it wasn’t that easy ! Then I thought that singing in a girl group would be the answer. Everyone can guess how that ended up ! My last brilliant idea to make it ‘BIG‘ was to be a background singer to the “STARS“. I figured that I would still be on the big stage, have the lights, get the applause, but with much less pressure. I quickly learned that being a background singer takes a lot of skills and experience and was much more challenging than I thought. You must maintain your stage appearance and voice, blend with other singers (vocals and attitude) and most importantly manage your health, just as if you were standing up front as a lead singer. Endurance is a MUST ! I had become content in the background and was willing to accept that as my position.

But then, I soon realized that it wasn’t about being a star. It wasn’t about the fame or fortune (although all that stuff is nice), it’s about the love of music, the push to be better, and working to the full potential that is within you. I never knew what I could really do or the fire that was deep inside of me until I met an amazing woman.

That small fire started burning in me when I met and worked with the late great Whitney Houston. You see, it had been a dream of mine to meet her and to work with her. I thought that would NEVER, EVER happen. In my travels of over a few years of background singing, I had met and worked with many great stars, but never her. She was such a SUPER STAR; seemingly a vision that was untouchable to me.

But when I did meet her, and not only meet her, WORK with her, it was unbelievable ! I still pinch myself when I think about this incredible experience ! Meeting her was probably the one wish that I thought would NEVER come true, but it did and……. WHOA !!!! My world changed ! Everything in me changed ! My thinking, my faith, my determination, and my drive to achieve my goals had just become amplified !

*photo taken November 2012

So, actually, this journey that I am on was planned; it didn’t just happen. I have been on course all along, with some victories and defeats. I understand the process and the journey now. I’ve learned so much from my previous experiences (good and terrible) and I’ve traveled the world as a background singer and loved every stage and every show !

Well, are you ready to jump on board and ride with me on this journey ? I want to share this exciting time and transition in my life with you. Some of my posts will be about everyday life; how I balance on and off the road. You’ll also see pictures and short videos. Some posts will be about what city or country I’m traveling to or in, and the AWESOME shows that I (we) are about to do. Some posts will even be about some great past experiences.

You ready ?

Welcome to Backstage with Beth ❤️

#Beth
#DaughterofaFunkBrother

*Photo credit – Wayne Norman
Fox Theater – Detroit, Michigan –  Kem’ s “What Christmas Means” Tour