Hollywood? Uh, yeah. And soon.

My life has been in upheaval this past year. I’ll be honest; I’m looking forward to 2012 with more anticipation than a child counting down the days to Christmas. In one year I lost both a steady job as well as my freelance jobs, jumped into developing ILoveToSing.com (a dream I’ve had since 1999), depleted my savings, struggled with family relationships, and slept in my car more than one should. Then in August just as I was really getting fervent and doing what is necessary to make ILoveToSing.com successful, I experienced the hardest thing I’ve come to know: my beautiful younger sister Karen died.

I’ll admit I just about gave up on everything. I thought I could not possible face any more and I was knocked down for a few months. I avoided family, friends, the general public—I didn’t even want to get out of bed most days. I have been fortunate to have Keith in my life for as much of a burden as I seem to be. But normally overlooked miracles have been happening every day rekindling my voice. I’ll tell you when so much has been dreary in my life, singing is healing my soul.

This coming month I face another uprooting as Keith and I will be adventurously moving to Los Angeles for his new job. But I welcome it with open arms, great faith, and a newly-spun song in my heart. I actually believe my sister Karen has been instrumental in orchestrating this new start. Not very long before her death she and I talked about how much I needed to be there. Phoenix is a good city but being “out of sight out of mind” to L.A. means missing opportunities and connections needed to be taken seriously in music. The name “City of Angels”—which remains the epicenter of music industry and culture—will have more meaning knowing Karen believed I would enjoy great success there. The doors have already begun to open… I get quite exhilarated thinking about it in light of a couple lessons I’ve learned this year:

• Life is short and full of the unexpected so go after what you want. Whether you subscribe to all the 2012 hoopla or not, this year could be the one when you chart a new course: the path you’ve been waiting for. And what keeps you or me from it? Are you ready to stand in that place you dream about?
• To be successful is not what it seems. It demands a “fearlessness” and a fierce imagination. An inner fight or flight that throws caution to the wind, leaps with no net, and charges forward into the unknown. Those who do, at some point radically alter how they do things and jump outside the comfort zone, following instincts and urges in a way that others would say is crazy, unreasonable, not rational – not SOUND. You have to be a little crazy? Maybe. It’s true that anyone who has ever created something brilliant—Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Jeff Bezos, Oprah, Rosa Parks, Frida Kahlo, Joan of Arc,—something we had never seen or imagined possible before—didn’t listen to common sense. They stretched themselves way beyond societal boundaries and certainly listened to an inner voice.

So this year, I’m off to stretch myself while chasing my dreams of inspiring you and helping you reach yours. I want to rally a community of singers who need to sing as much as they need to breathe… and have lots of fun along the way. I want to be among great and influential people and even be one of them.

Becoming a great singer is a process. It doesn’t matter if you are just starting out or already conquering the music world you are on the path to pursuing your passion. As far as I’m concerned, you don’t have to be good. You just have to love to sing. Sing from a fearless and fiery inner voice and you can get through anything.

Like Karen believed in me, I believe in you. Let’s get singing!