What Makes Your Heart Sing?

This week at a choir rehearsal, I introduced our singers to a new close-harmony jazz arrangement I had penned of Girls Aloud's ‘The Sound of the Underground’. The ladies of Corvida were so happy with it, that I couldn't help but feel awesome for making them feel good! It reminded me of that episode of Friends where Joey makes Phoebe acknowledge that there's no such thing as a selfless good deed.

Every week in our choirs, workplace and other singing workshops, there a moments like this. Moments when someone laughs the hardest they have all week, when they suddenly realise that something that had been occupying their mind has escaped them, or when they achieve something together, whether it’s a demanding harmony or tricky dance step, and feel wonderful for being a part of that result. And every week, it makes me feel wonderful too! Does that matter? No. If everyone’s well-being benefits, surely you’ve hit the jackpot of life?! 

I've been reading Carmine Gallo's book 'Talk like TED' recently. Gallo asks, ‘What makes your heart sing?’ and for me the answer is community. I am passionate about people coming together for and with each other, sharing those personal moments of awesome and the happiness they can bring to a community. At Starling Arts, we do that through singing and the benefits, as mentioned above, are uplifting! And there are, of course, so many other ways to bring people together, physically and virtually, that make everyone feel valued, fulfilled and loved. 

Charlie Brown had the right idea

But it’s not just creating communities that’s important; it’s sustaining, growing, challenging and improving them together as time goes on, and always doing that in the interests of everyone. The value of being part of a supportive community outweighs anything else for me. Anything else is just a cushy bonus! 

Renowned anthropologist and primate expert Jane Goodall said, “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”

So what and who are the things, places and people that you have an impact on and that make your heart sing? Nurture and care for them and it’ll make you all feel awesome, together!

- Anna