I’ve been wanting to write a newsletter for a few weeks now. 

I write daily in journals or notebooks, brain dumping mostly, but for Creative Hydration I want to feel inspired and it just wasn’t coming.

I’d also been looking for an interesting quote to post … the same, nothing was hitting me in the heart … until today.  

BTW, isn’t the idea coming just the best part about creating???  I love it so much. 

What’s your name for that feeling?  I call it the “twinkles” … like from a firework.  Don’t judge!  It’s how it feels to me! 

Oddly enough, I went to hear a friend play last night at a BBQ joint and as I was driving home, some kids were shooting fireworks off in a church parking lot. The twinkles were everywhere and  it’s not even July 4th!!!  I relate that to receiving exciting ideas, so this should be a good newsletter!  

The quote that finally got my attention is: 

“Life is short, what can I do the most beautifully?”  

The author, George Saunders, said this in an interview with songwriter/author Mike Ericco published in Mike’s book Music, Lyrics, and Life.  

George was talking about how a person might do lots of things well, but it’s a very mature thing to notice which of those things lights others up and that points to what you should consider doing.  

How can you tell what you do most beautifully? 

… By the way you feel and the way that thing makes others feel. 

Tim McGraw once said this about highly awarded songwriter, Craig Wiseman: 

“Some songwriters will tell you how they feel, but the great ones tell you how YOU feel … and you didn’t even know it.” 

I’d say Craig got the memo on what he most beautifully does. 

So last night, I listened as my friend, Gary, played for 3 1/2 solid hours in a small restaurant that just opened.

People enjoyed the BBQ, hearing their favorite cover songs and being entertained with jokes from the stage in between songs.  

My friend was the first person I knew that made 100k … in college! He did it with grit, the love of music and a guitar strapped on his back … solo acoustic gigs all over the south playing covers.  

Gary loved writing songs and sometimes laments over what he could’ve done with his original music, but this guy has entertained people around the world!!!  He honed his hosting, comedic, guitar, vocal and writing skills and said yes to every opportunity.  He  makes every audience feel special by giving them a custom designed experience. 

He’s literally made a million people happy using his gifts in music and entertainment.  

And there he was … giving his all for a small crowd on a Saturday night because a friend asked him to play the opening.  … Like f-ing Bruce Springsteen.  

That’s what he does most beautifully.  And ya know what?  It’s freakin’ awesome and successful!!! 

Maybe your most beautifully done thing will land you in stadiums, on the Grammy stage or sitting in a circle at the Bluebird … I truly hope it does. 

And I also hope you pay attention to the beauty that your life already is and the people that are benefiting from the unique gift that you have. 

We’re accomplishing dreams and not even realizing it!  Funny thing about dreams, they can morph and change and look a little different than our version, but the ones that have come true for me are always a better fit than the one I had in mind.  

After listening to an original song recently during a private session on zoom, I looked up at my songwriter client to find tears in the person’s eyes

… because they were overcome with gratitude by their life at that moment.  For this person, having a song created by them being truly heard and appreciated was a successful moment.  That is not lost on me. 

I’ve based my business on creatives being seen, heard, and encouraged.  And this person probably thinks I gave them something that day … but the gift was a two way street my friend. 

The validation of knowing my path not only lights me up, but others too???  That’s what I can do most beautifully. 

So thank you to that songwriter.  You know who you are.  

P.S. Love to hear your feedback on this one … and hey, send this to someone who’s doing something beautifully. I’d love to have more like-minded folks in the community:  Sign up for newsletter