Showing posts with label Taylor Swift. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Taylor Swift. Show all posts

Thursday, July 23, 2015

In What Ways Does God Give You Dream Clues?

This was one of the questions asked by a reader from my recent post Dream Clues. I thought you might benefit from the answers. I find a new passion is developing in me - to see others fulfill their dreams.  Is there such a thing as a dream coach? This blog is the start of something else unfolding.

I am certainly not an expert in these things, but I have learned a few helpful points along the way and I'm still learning. I'll share what I know so far.  


When I was as a child, I could sometimes feel the electricity of my dreams. 




For instance, I would sing on the door step looking out over the landscape of our buckeye tree, the swing in that tree and the lane going past the barn down to the road. I could sense that I was tapping into something futuristic, though ominous. There were no distinct lines or clues defining what it would be exactly. It's only in looking back that I can see how significant those moments really were because of how my life has unfolded. They were very connected to what I do now, without me realizing it.

So back to the first question the reader asked.  Since this was a personal question, I'll use mostly personal examples. 



In what ways does God give you dream clues?


1) Other people:

  • Someone else points out your abilities.  
Everyone in my immediate family seems to remember that I had a gift for picking things up by ear on the piano, but it was an Aunt who actually spoke it out loud and encouraged my mother to have me study with a teacher.


2) Your desires:

  • A desire that just doesn't go away.  
I was too young to voice or know my desires for doing shows or playing the piano. I simply did what felt natural to me. However, someone from the outside saw it and identified it. 

But as I've grown older, many things I'm doing now have stemmed from a growing desire and unfading longing. As a result, I've taken private lessons/coaching for voice, guitar, drums, songwriting, performance, etc. and loved every single lesson. I use those tools now.

More recently, I took up figure skating. Still pondering the significance of that, but I know if I would not have suffered an injury that , I would still be pursuing it.


3) Childhood interests:


  • What fascinated you as a child?
  • I didn't play chess when I was little.  I lined up the chess pieces like a choir and had them sing. 
  • I didn't just ice skate, I took my boom box out to the pond and made up routines to the music. 
  • I didn't just take piano lessons and participate in recitals, I wanted to do my own music recitals which included inviting my friends and having snacks afterward.  It became a concert AND a social event.


4) Your Soul Stirs Within You When:

  • You see someone else doing something similar to your dream.
One of the biggest motivators in deciding to do the Portraits of White Christmas concert was watching a documentary of the early years in Taylor Swifts's career. Her story so impacted me that I remember getting up off the couch that night, after watching it, and determining that if Taylor could make her own way and follow her heart, after she was turned away by the music industry, then so could I. 


And so can you! 


Sometimes our clues are that simple. 

Reflect on your childhood and things you did that weren't the typical way a child would act or think. 


A friend of mine told me recently that her daughter was unique in her preferences as a child....always putting things in order; did not like things getting scratched or messed up. If she took things out, they would go back in the same order and not just thrown in the box. Things were ordered by color, size, or shape when she played.  She also would create plots with her Barbies, as if they were in a story! Even her bookshelf in her room is categorized by either author or genre. 



Clues are simply sign posts along the way. Stop and take note of them as often as you can.

Do you have questions or comments about dreams and the pursuit of them?  I'd love to hear from you in the comment box below!

Friday, March 29, 2013

"The Elephant Diet" Day # 86 Couldn't say it better

I've been working on a song this week for a little girl with a permanent disability.  I do this from time to time for an organization called Songs of Love.  It has been a wonderful opportunity artistically.

Many times the child would list their favorite music artist so I could try to write in that genre.  The two names that showed up the most were Taylor Swift and Hannah Montana.  I began listening to the music of these two artists so that I could emmulate their style for the sake of the child that requested a song, as much as is possible with my little home studio.

Yesterday as I was walking, I pulled up a song of Miley's (Hannah Montana) on my iphone.  I've always liked this song, but when I listened again from the view that I have right now with this dream of a Christmas show, I couldn't believe how much I felt like someone has been reading my mind.

I couldn't say it any better.

The Climb

 I can almost see it

That dream I am dreaming
But there's a voice inside my head saying
"You'll never reach it"

Every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking

But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no, I'm not breaking

I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep going
And I, I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on

'Cause there's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!

Keep on moving, keep climbing
Keep the faith, baby
It's all about, it's all about the climb
Keep the faith, keep your faith, whoa

Songwriter(s): Jon Mabe
Copyright: Stage Three Music Publishing Limited