When private poems turn into public testimonies

I'm overwhelmed with gratitude. I went to a cool venue last night in Cleveland called the Grog Shop. I sang one of my songs, "Didn't Mean To Do It" which is a deeply personal song I wrote years ago about giving myself time to heal from unhealthy relationships. It initially was a short poem in my private journal that no one was supposed to read, but a melody for the poem kept coming to me. It was the toughest song for me to record. I couldn't stop crying through recording sessions. It was so hard to get through the verses because the truth was hitting me so hard. I considered not putting in on my cd because I thought it would be too revealing and I should keep that part of my life private. I'm glad I decided to include it though, especially because of moments like these: After singing it last night, getting off the stage and chatting with some people for a while, a young woman pulled me aside, hugged me really tight and thanked me again and again for singing "Didn't Mean To Do It." She shared a bit about what she was going through and after hearing the song, she feels like she is ready to make some positive changes. All I feel from this moment is gratitude. These moments are the reason I can't stop writing, singing, creating, sharing my music, my heart. These songs are not for me, although they feel like it when I'm writing them. Ultimately, they are a gift for someone else. I thank God for the gift of putting my life experiences, however hard they may be, to words and melodies. I don't take this gift lightly. I cherish it. I'm so glad I went to the Grog Shop last night..every moment to share my gift is worth it!! If you haven't heard "Didn't Mean To Do It," check it out on my site and feel free to download by clicking on the musicstore link.

A big thank you to my collaborators Rhett George and Vencott R. Palmer for expanding my short private poem into what is now one of my favorite songs.

I can sing "Didn't Mean To Do It" now without crying! Healing is sometimes hard, but it's always worth it.

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