I want to stop today and encourage everyone who is thinking about following a dream.  
Perhaps you are thinking it is too late.  
I am living proof that it is never too late to start.  

I taught pre-school, raised a family and worked at my songwriting and performing when I could.  I am now officially retired and filling my life with family and  friends and music!!  All my years of slow but steady learning and improving are now finally bearing fruit!

I have just had an incredible two weeks and there is only one reason that I was able to be successful with the different projects that showed up in my life.  It is because I did my due diligence each and every day toward my goal of  being an independent and professional songwriter and performer.

My magical week started with a Sunday afternoon songwriting workshop that I taught to a wonderful group of young women.  They were intent and focused and I had the opportunity to share many ideas about songwriting that I have picked up over the years through attending a myriad of songwriting workshops myself.  A joyful and satisfying afternoon!

I organized a final band rehearsal for Carolyn Harley & the Davidsons on Tuesday for our show on Wednesday evening at a venue downtown Calgary.  This was a new venue for me and we filled the place!   We had a wonderful time with lots of laughter and an opportunity to forget the bitter economic times that many people are going through right now in Alberta.
An awesome evening and such a rush for us as a band of almost five years.   We locked in and made wonderful music.  My songs never sounded better!!

I got up on Thursday morning to  catch a plane to The Master Songwriting Workshop in Saskatoon!  I was so fortunate to learn from Jason Blume, a renowned teacher and hit songwriter who loves songwriting and teaching techniques for songwriting.  Michael Phillip Wojewoda from Toronto was also there to give insights into the power of  production and arrangement of our songs once we get into the studio.  I loved his ideas and insights.  

I was also fortunate to encounter songwriters in Saskatoon who loved my work!!   They loved my writing, my voice and my chord structures!  I came away with a powerful sense that all my years had paid off and that I have reached a place where my work has definite power.

I got home from Saskatoon on Monday afternoon and got ready to go into the studio on Thursday morning!!  I had decided before I went away that I wanted to do a CD of my wonderful band.  We were all practiced up from the concert the week before.  We headed into the studio and we just blazed our way through a bunch of tunes that we know and love!  It was a stellar experience in the studio.  I am so excited to share the finished CD with our friends and fans!

I believed in a future where I was an entertainer using my own repertoire of songs.  This week I believe I stepped into the world of the professional performer.  I am going to continue to work hard to improve and expand my horizons.  

This year is just starting and I am pumped!!!  

Whatever you are working on I encourage you to take a look at the big picture.   Know, in your heart, that whatever you are doing today has value for the future.  Keep working on your dream.    I love the saying "Somethings have to be  believed to be seen!".   Keep believing!!