The Music (Wo)Man

I have been afforded many amazing opportunities throughout my career. We have been invited into communities across the world to support work in the social innovation and social enterprise development communities, held positions that enable catalytic systems change, and supported the development of social and rural entrepreneurs internationally. This week, I got to do something that has stayed with me in such a profound way - and it has absolutely nothing to do with any of it.?

I got a call from the incredible Sobaz Benjamin from iMove asking me if I would help a young woman find her voice through the power of singing. Something you may not know about me is that I am a singer. Music has always been my first love. When I was young, I was determined to be a singer. The odds were against me - I had a low, raspy voice, and I didn't take singing lessons. But despite all of that, from somewhere, I had an immeasurable confidence when it came to singing which, upon reflection, actually came from an immeasurable love of music. I would walk the streets of my hometown listening to the world through my walkman - from Joni Mitchell to Whitney Houston, Van Morrison to Wilson Pickett. Throw in a long walk listening to the entire rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, and I was in love.??

With some incredible music teachers in school, I studied music at University and, upon graduating, broke up with music. My one true love. You see we were in a toxic relationship - I felt that I was never going to be good enough, be able to hit those notes, sing all of the music that I hated, and thereby had nothing to offer the world in that way. We broke up. I moved on. Found new loves, but always felt the loss.?

Fast forward 16 years, I have been slowly letting music back into my life - taking weekly singing lessons, singing with a totally fun cover band, and letting my voice be heard differently. Like an ex-partner, I realized that music made me so much better, we just got out of sync. Music gave me confidence, helped me love and lose, offered me opportunities to be successful and bomb all at once, and focused on precision while creating emotion and depth - all things that have made a difference in my professional life.??

So when Sobaz called me and asked a young woman to find her voice over a 1/2 hr Zoom call, I was excited to share. But what happened is that she gave me more than I gave her. That love for music, the indescribable pull to share her gift was clear. She reminded me that getting lost in it, sharing it, working on it and in it - that is what this human experience is about. I am forever thankful for what she offered me during our time together. I got to connect with 16-year-old me again, the person who was so passionate about every note, every breath, and all of the spaces between. Me and music, we are back together. Watch out.?