Where's The Song!?

"The very strength that protects the heart from injury is the strength that prevents the heart from enlarging to its intended greatness within.  The song of the voice is sweet, but the song of the heart is the pure voice of heaven."  -Kahlil Gibran

   
WHERE'S THE SONG!?                                                                                
Last week, I was given a gift by my dear friend Tom Kelley, founder of Life Leaders Forum here in Nyack. His gift was a simple story.  

Tom Kelley showed up at a gathering, sat down, participated in conversation and when everyone was asked to say what they were thankful for, he did.  Tom was moved, inspired and grateful.  He showed up, he said the right words and then......Tom was called out.  

"Hey Tom, where's your song!?" A woman in the back asked.

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After Tom told me this story, we rounded up our kids and moved on with our Saturday afternoon, but the story stuck.  It decided to plant itself on the cushy sofa that sits in the corner of my mind and hang out.  As I went along with my week, that simple question "where's your song!?" kept on ringing inside my head. 

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By definition, a song is a short poem or other set of words set to music that is meant to be sung.  

Ok, so that's the official meaning, but what does a song REALLY mean?  
  
For me, a good song has a strong melody, but a great song has heart.  When a song has heart, the lyrics come from an authentic place where the listener can walk through walls, see through windows and witness vulnerability.  And let's face it, when you're vulnerable, it can be the scariest place to be, but it is also the most honest. 

Back in High School, I was pretty serious about my song writing.  My best ones were true, simple and usually never shared with anyone.  I would hoard those little ditties in my journals and sing them quietly in my room as I strummed a D7 chord.  LOVED that chord. It was squeezed into every single one of my tunes. Ok, I didn't say they were versatile.  I only knew four chords on the guitar.  Give me a break will ya?  As I got more comfortable, I think I did eventually sing one or two out in public, but I totally did the old Jim Morrison mumble trick.  No one could ever understand a word I was singing.  People thought it was a style.  I pulled it off.....(Sort of)  

Like Tom at his gathering, I was putting myself out there and playing the part, but I wasn't actually letting my song be heard.  I made sure no one was invited to my vulnerable party.  And how many of us do just that?  We reveal our beautiful melodies but never show the heart of our music.  We throw the noodles and take on the creative, but when it gets uncomfortable or scary, we do the old mumble trick and fake it.  We take the easy way and the safest road because after all, it's quicker.  And it doesn't require the vulnerable ingredient.  

Sure, at times it will be scary, but let your lyrics be heard and throw your noodles with heart. When it's real, you may experience some turbulence, but you are bound to soar.  

So, when you throw your noodles, remember to ask yourself, "Where's the song!?"    

                     Comment or email me at [email protected]

                         Tom Kelley at Life Leaders Forum HERE

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