Relationships...No, not that kind
Relationships. No, don’t worry, I’m not going to rant on and on about how hard it is to date in today’s world. Been there, done that and I think all of us have our own opinion about dating apps and the “there’s always something better” attitude our culture seems to have today. What I want to talk about is how important ALL the relationships in our lives are. Friends, significant others, the random person who stops to listen to your music, family, they all play a crucial part in your life.
When I moved to Nashville a year and a half ago, I didn’t realize just how important those 2 people I knew who lived in Nashville would be. My producer, Matt, set up a few meetings for me when I arrived, and that kicked off an endless calendar of coffee dates. I’ll admit, I struggle hard with putting myself out there. Going to meet a stranger for coffee and thinking about how to fill conversation for an hour is nerve wracking, but boy has it changed my career path, my opportunities, and my overall well-being. And it’s not just networking. I’m not a fan of that word. It’s building lasting relationships with real human beings that makes this “unstructured” music career that much more attainable in my mind. I have found that the more time and care that I put into my relationship with fellow songwriters, with my bosses, with my boyfriend, with God, with my family, and with my friends, everything else seems to organically grow around me. One person leads to another opportunity and so on. I never know what exactly that next opportunity is going to be, but if my relationships are strong then it doesn’t necessarily matter what comes next, but rather who comes next. People bring opportunity.
Why else would we be here if not to connect with others? In music, I would have no reason to create if there weren’t people out there to listen. So, if you’re reading this, thank you! I appreciate you.
Perhaps the most difficult relationship for me to keep consistent is with myself. I would be lying if I said I was proud of everything I’ve done and always say the right things and never doubt myself. I think it’s normal to make mistakes and have some doubts but it’s a relationship I’m constantly building on and learning what makes me happy and doing more of that. I’ve only got a finite amount of time on Earth so why not do things that create happiness!? Music, love, wine, friends, family. Yup.
Staying open to opportunity and open to creating new relationships is the best thing I have done since moving to Nashville. Taking the necessary steps to stay in touch and connect on a deeper level each time I meet with someone makes the world a whole lot less lonely. So, I’m going to keep singing a little higher, saying hello more often and hugging my dog a little tighter.