Backstory: One of the Nudges I’ve enjoyed again and again is listening to new music. After going through our own collection for this Nudge, I’ve since regularly requested CDs from the library, learning about jazz, opera, even some country music. Nina Simone was a revelation. How had I never heard about her before?

In addition to simply loving the music, part of me listens with the thought “Could I sing this?” I used to sing. A lot. In large and small ensembles, with the occasional solo. The last time I learned a new song was almost three years ago, when I rehearsed for weeks to perform “Think of Me” from Phantom of the Opera for my husband (it’s one of his favorites). It was so fun to seriously challenge myself, to reawaken those muscles, to use my gifts.

So I’m going to listen to a new few tunes this week and pick one to sing. It may all be for an audience of one (Louie the dog), or I may get a revelatory “Ah-Hah” out of it.

What did you used to love to do that you’d love to do again? Feel like giving it a new go this week?

What Happened: What happened? Life. Real Life. An early-in-the-week phone call from a family member in crisis, leading to my taking a last-minute flight out of town to help as best I could.

Everyone is okay-ish, but there was no singing. Because sometimes that’s the way things go.

The Ah-Hahs: Life happens. Sure, I could have pushed myself to work in the extra time this week to complete this Nudge, but my time and energy was needed elsewhere. Would learning a new song have helped me through with a bit more grace? Maybe. Would singing have lifted my spirits? Possibly. But Life happens, and sometimes the best you can do is let things pass, pick yourself up at the end of the day, and make a fresh start tomorrow. So this Nudge goes back into the bowl for another day.