Happy New Year! I hope the beginning of 2018 is treating you right!
It’s the time of year that we all like to start making (and, seemingly soon after, breaking) new year’s resolutions. Personally, I find resolutions to be strange; they seem to turn into rules that we make for ourselves for the upcoming year, as if the year itself will not be enjoyed unless we keep to these silly rules. I don’t like to make resolutions. I like to make goals – attainable goals – and plans on how to reach them.
My first go-to goal of every year (for the last few years anyway) has been simple: to focus on the positive. This would include speaking positively and encouragingly over others (and myself) and to remove myself from situations (and, sometimes, friendships) that strike a negative chord. Sounds simple doesn’t it? Not so much. It’s amazing how easily the negative can creep in under the guise of “humour”, especially with social media, where it seems to be the norm. I once was told the old adage, “you are who you surround yourself with”… and after arguing for hours on end with the person who said it, I relented and realized they were right. The more I surround myself with positive, encouraging, supportive people, I too become positive, supportive and encouraging. (Imagine that!) Thus where the inspiration for my song Space Between Us came from. I would like to continue this tradition and remind myself to focus on the positive and to speak positively over others. I encourage you to do the same!
The second goal I gave myself this year is to get out and play more music (i.e. at least once per month). Life can get crazy, hectic and complicated. I am in my happiest place when I am playing music. So, even if it’s just an open mic, I want to play MORE. I attended A Night of Music Open Mic on January 6 at Gorge-ous Coffee and I really enjoyed the evening. It was great to watch so many talented performers – and the audience was so appreciative of everyone who got up to share. Honestly, I was hoping to get out and play a few more times, but life kicked me in the butt a little. My 15-year old cat had 3 vet visits this month. For anyone who follows my instagram account, you know just how important my furbaby is to me – so, to see her as sick as she was, it was devastating. All of my energy and effort these last 3 weeks has been about keeping her healthy and on her feet (literally). Thankfully, she’s now on the mend, and I cannot say enough kind words about Dr. Heather James at Central Saanich Animal Hospital.
So, now, back to music… my last goal of this year is one I’ve already been doing these last few months (embedded in the monthly newsletter): I want to share a new video with you each month. Whether the video is a new song, a new cover, or an old performance (previously unreleased), I want YOU to be the first to see it. This month, I’m sharing a live video for my song “Just Can’t Stop” from my EP release party last June, featuring Lonnie Glass on bass and Brad Hawkes on percussion.
Thanks for checking in… and if you have any suggestions on a song you’d like to hear me cover, send me an email or comment below. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
~Nicola