From the desk of Natalie Hughes, Musical Director:
This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine
This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine
This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine
Ev’ry day, ev’ry day
Ev’ry day, ev’ry day
Gonna let my little light shine!
As a songwriter, I have spent a great deal of time creating songs, pulled from the depths of my being. I take the experience that life has provided me and shape it with words and music until I make sense of it. For the first 10 years of my development, these songs of love, heartbreak, anger and joy were stuck in my living room hiding in my journal, to be played only for myself and a few loved ones. The process was very self-involved and autobiographical–I felt it was my story, and it was private. No need to be airing that laundry in public.
Then came a day when my perception changed…
I was at home on maternity leave with my new baby boy, watching the Oprah Winfrey show. Her guest that day was Gary Zukav, the author of “Seat of the Soul.” He was speaking on the subject of finding our life’s purpose–our passion. He said to just think about the things we do that make us feel most alive, most effortless and in the flow. It had never dawned on me before, but a voice (like my own voice, only with great clarity and strength) spoke one word in my head: simply, “Music.”
Shine my light both bright and clear,
Shine my light both far and near,
I began to gather my courage to begin playing the songs in public: a few songs at open mic night or the odd opening set for another musician. Time after time, people would approach me after my performance and tell me that my songs had struck something in them. Some had “a-ha” moments, some were moved to get in touch with emotions they had been avoiding, some people just felt understood. Really? My little song helped you?
In every dark corner that I find,
Let my little light shine. In May,
I wrote about the joy of creating; when we are creating, we are alive! This is absolutely true, but there is more … there is the act of sharing our creations! I can tell you with absolute certainty that I have infinitely more joy, more passion and more abundance in my life because of my willingness to use my creative force to be of service.
When we are able to merge our life passions with our courage to share, great things can happen! As the ones giving talent, we feel a sense of purpose and fulfillment like nothing else can provide, and for those receiving the benefit of what we have created, it is the perfect gift at the time they need it most.
There are countless ways that your desire to make, bake, build, sculpt, speak, write, paint, decorate or design can enrich the lives of others. You would be doing the entire planet a disservice by hiding your passion and keeping your creative abilities to yourself!
“Some say the time’s not right
But we say the time’s just right
If there’s a dark corner in our land
You got to let your little light shine…”
Lyrics taken from the song,
“This Little Light of Mine,” traditional.
Warmly,
Natalie Hughes
Singer/songwriter
Musical Director, Crystal Andrus Productions
www.nataliehughes.com
www.facebook.com/Natalie.Hughes.Music
www.twitter.com/songofnatalie