Being an adult is shite. One of the worst things is trying to make friends at my age. I’m rubbish at it. Seriously, as an introverted extrovert (it’s a thing, I promise) I genuinely break into a cold sweat at the thought of having to speak to new people or generally go anywhere that I’ve never been before. Music makes up a huge part of my life. I sing around the house to the point where my children ask me to ‘just stop that’ on regular points throughout the day. It’s easy to gauge my mood depending on what I’m listening to. If it’s Queen, you’re safe; if it’s Kanye West just run and hide.
Fun fact: WHEN I win the lottery my first splurge will be to put on my own production of Jesus Christ Superstar and cast myself as Judas just so I can sing ‘Heaven on their mind’ and people won’t be able to stop me. He gets the best songs and there’s no way I’d ever be able to reach *that* note in ‘Gethsemane’ – I don’t have the gravitas for Pilate. Yes, I’ve thought about this A LOT.
This paints me as someone who can actually sing – I can’t. I can hold a note, but anyone that’s heard me attempt karaoke can attest to the fact that I should probably just sit the hell down. I make up my own words and a key is really something to dabble in more than a necessity to the process. I’m currently in my office wailing along to ‘Eleanor Rigby’ as I type. You can’t stop me, family, my chair is against the door and my headphones are in so I can’t hear you shout. Suckas!
I’m getting off point: making friends.
I’ve always held the belief that I pretty much peaked at primary school and one of my favourite things to do there was sing in the choir. I got to sing and I also got to hide behind much better singers in the process (hooray!)
In my attempt to actually get out of the house and meet people – the worst – my mother suggested I join a local choir. I hadn’t sang publicly since primary school but I knew a few people that had already joined which made the whole process a lot easier.
It was easily the best decision I’ve made this year. For two hours a week I get to be no one else but me. It’s so much fun. It’s such a huge release to just sit and sing and laugh with a group of women who all just sing for the fun of it. It also helps that Kathy, who runs The Choir Studio, is basically the nicest human you’ll ever meet. It’s like Snow White runs a choir – seriously. She’s the only person who gets away with calling me ‘Lizzy’ simply because I don’t have the heart to tell her otherwise. It would be like hitting a puppy to disappoint this woman.
I’ve met so many lovely people through this and it’s such a huge lift to my mood each and every week. I wish I was one of those people who feel the fear and do it anyway, (there’s basically a list of things I’ve always wanted to do, and for one reason or another, I don’t) I doubt I ever will be BUT I’m very proud and relieved that I took the leap and went that first week.
The whole point of this post is to emphasise the fact that there’s no age limit on trying something new, especially if it’s something you previously loved.
You want to sing? Sing.
You want to learn how to kick someone’s ass and defend yourself? Right on.
You want to burlesque like a boss? Fucking do it.
You want to ride a unicycle without a seat? Phone a healthcare professional and take a long hard look at yourself.
Can you imagine what you could achieve if you weren’t afraid? I think Monday would be a pretty spectacular thing if that was the case.
I’m not there yet but I’m working on it and that’s wholeheartedly down to a bunch of women who like singing for the sake of it and I’m forever grateful.