Wendy K. Laidlaw

And so even though I loved music and listened to music, I had a lot of musician friends, I recognized usually their talent.

I didn't have the talent they had.

And I knew good singers.

And I'd go, why even bother?

But I found myself in these situations, and it turned out to have to do with people suffering.

And I remember being in this several times in these situations where something was needed.

And I think all the right song would work.

And then I realized no one's going to do it.

And then I go, OK, I'm going to try this.

And so it actually happened in sizable groups of people.

when I was afraid to do it at all.

But the reason I did it was because I thought we were at an impasse and the suffering in the room or the situation was so apparent.

And the next word was going to make it worse, not better.

And I burst into song.

And it wasn't because I had been learning these chants just because I liked them.

And then that started to come through me.

And then I realized, and at first I only did it when the pain was great.

And then eventually I realized, no, that's actually a really good thing to do like every day or every morning or in many situations.

And then I realized that the idea, sure, some people, most people that sing in public have better voices than I do.

That's fine.