There's stuff I've #neversaidbefore until now...

Welcome to my very first blog post...I bet you didn't know I didn't feel like singing anymore.

Not too long ago, my whole world as a full time performer got ferociously and coldly dragged out from underneath me. No handshake, no thank you for all your hard work, no sorry we have to do this, no wishes of good luck in whatever you do next, just... there's the door, how quickly can you leave? It was my life and who I identified myself to be. It turned me upside down and slammed me on the floor...Ouch! For 9 years I had one of the best jobs in the world and the next day I didn't. As I lay on my back staring up at the ceiling and wondering how I got down there, I began to panic and my voice went deathly quiet. I didn't feel like singing much anymore.

Well, I know I'm not the only one that's gone through losing a so called "secure" job and I won't be the last, and the only thing you can do is pick yourself up off the floor, dust yourself off, make a cup of Hazelnut #Moccona and well,.....start again. I'm not going to bore you with a sob story, I'm looking forward...not back. Yesterday does not exist anymore, but to be honest it hurt bad.

Press Pause Please...

As the awesome Les Brown said "I paused!". I did! I stopped for almost 2 and a half years....I was pissed off, sad and slightly depressed, so I stopped being me. I forgot how to do it and didn't WANT to do it anymore. But on social media, I continued smiling, even when my heart wasn't.

"You't can't see the picture, when you're standing inside the frame"! #lesbrown

After much soul searching and trying to get a "real job", I came to the realisation that maybe that's not for me. I mean... I sent out my stuff to endless "real" jobs and either got no reply at all, or just a "wow your resume is amazing but no thanks!" UGH! I know in my heart that I'm built for music. Sure I can do other things....I've been a make up artist, a fragrance chic, was in charge of rostering staff, I trained people and I've scrubbed the skid marks from toilet bowls. YUP! You gotta do what you gotta do.

But my heart feels most at home when I'm singing and performing and teaching someone else how to do it too.

I started teaching singing again because I remember what it was like as a young girl with big dreams and how the people that taught me were integral in my journey down the yellow brick road. I want to make a difference for someone else.

I don't take rejections personally. I simply say "NEXT" - Harv Eker.

The lifesavers in these low moments, were my family, my beautiful fans and listening incessantly to awesome people like #tonyrobbins, #lesbrown, #waynedyer and #garyvaynerchuk and reading books such as #thankandgrowrich by #pamgrout (it's not about money, it's about being grateful!). The message is never give up on your dreams, believe in yourself, be grateful for all that you have NOW and never give up! like.....NEVER!!!!

It's funny how things work. Since I made my decision to stick to what I'm good at with full conviction, many doors have started opening up. People popped up from the past with new opportunities and #chrissieswan from #nova100 started following me on Instagram and asked me to come and chat on live radio with #chrissiesamandbrowny...TWICE! (didn't see that one coming!) Grateful!

So, was that worth telling you? I think so. I think the average person thinks that once you're a child star, you're rich and successful forever...I wish! The entertainment industry is just like any other industry and you can lose your job. You can have long periods of not much work, not much money and be made to start again. You have to keep your skills up, be relevant and be hungry!

The universe moved me on from where I was snug and comfortable because I needed to grow, to challenge myself and learn some new stuff. I needed some new skills, some new strengths and a different vision for myself. I get it. And sharing these real moments helps all of us realise that we're not alone. What have you picked yourself up from? Have you ever had to start again? What did you learn?

Nothing ever stays the same...that would be boring.

S M I L E

#singer #inspiration #Grateful #believeinyourself #nevergiveup