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Real Life Rockstar!
Submitted by: Manon Ward
Nashville, TNI am a 22 year old artist/songwriter living in Nashville, TN doing music as a full time gig! I grew up in little Laramie, WY with 2 sisters, my parents and some crazy pets! I come from a very open-minded family who luckily introduced me to The Secret at the perfect time. Since then I have used my own power and the power of the Universe to create a life I am in love with- and it gets more and more exciting each day. The crazy part is that it will continue to get even better. :)
Although The Secret has influenced my life in so many more ways than would fit in this submission, I wanted to share the story of my very first glimpse of proof The Secret is constantly working in our favor, before I even really knew it existed. Looking back on this story makes me teary. How lucky was I to have such a big experience with The Secret so young?!
Back when I was in junior high, I “fan-girled” over a particular boy band for a couple years just like every other tween my age. This boy band was very well known and pretty much the best thing since sliced bread. I listened to their music on repeat for hours on end, and even imagined myself as the girl in their music videos. Cheesy right? I was so passionate about this band and they were woven into my thoughts all day, every day. I am also a musician, so I felt like I could relate to them on a deeper level. I also just thought they were really cute!
There were 2 particular songs of theirs that I sang along to more than the rest. I had watched these particular music videos so many times I could probably act them out without any cues from a director! After a few months of drilling these songs into my brain nonstop, I got bored with the regular music videos and started creating new scenarios for the songs in my head. I would listen to them on repeat through my headphones, close my eyes, and imagine that I was the one singing the songs to them. Let’s be real, I was ready to steal their show and steal their hearts all at the same time!
My grandparents lived about 45 minutes from my hometown, so every time my parents would bring me over to see them, I would listen to these same 2 songs on repeat the entire drive and kept imagining the scenario that I was singing to them. I remember actually feeling what it would be like when they were impressed with me, to the point of tears. Yes I am a goofball, but it was addictive to place myself in this imaginary scenario over and over again.
After junior high I had become a little worn out on this band’s music, and moved on to other things in my high school career. I focused on creating my own music a lot, which led me away from spending hours every night listening to other bands. A few years later and what seemed like the blink of an eye, I had reached my first semester of college. I was walking with a friend on campus, when I saw a big sign with this particular band’s name in big letters. I had totally forgotten about them at this point, so of course it sparked my interest! I walked over to the booth to discover that our University was putting on a concert with this band and a couple of my other past favorites in my tiny little college town in Wyoming!? As if my jaw wasn’t already on the ground, the club putting the concert on was looking for volunteers to help work the show, and in return they would get to meet the bands. Needless to say I signed up right then and there.
Fast forward to the morning of the show, my stomach was in knots. I had dreamt about meeting this band for years as a teenager, so there was a lot of pressure on this big moment! As I was helping set up the equipment, I remember standing right in the middle of the stage and looking out on the theater of empty seats. I had goosebumps knowing that I actually had a chance to show this band my music just like I had always imagined as a goofy fan girl. I didn’t know what I would say when I met them, but I felt something special was about to happen.
A few hours later it was time for the big meet and greet. I was already blushing when they walked in the room, and the lead singer walked straight toward me without even looking at anyone else. Weird right? Next thing I know we were exchanging numbers. The band took pictures with the rest of the volunteers then left the room to go soundcheck. My friend picked me up and started spinning me in circles. We couldn’t believe what had just happened. I had his number in my phone!
I sent him a text that said “I know you are probably busy, but I would love to show you a few of my songs. Any feedback I can get would mean the world to me!” He responded and asked if I wrote any of my own music. I told him that indeed I did, and he said he would let me come back to the greenroom when they got off stage. My heart was pounding louder than footsteps from a giant. I tried to enjoy the concert, but I was too nervous for what was about to unfold! I kept leaving the auditorium to stand in the hallway and imagine how things were going to go. I practiced my songs under my breath and finally made the decision that I would do well no matter what.
Fast forward, and sure enough I was in the greenroom with the band. I had my laptop with me from studying during breaks, and pulled up a Youtube video I had made about a week before. The lead singer paused the video about 30 seconds in, to tell me how good he thought I was. He asked if I would play something live, then proceeded to let me use his guitar like it was no big deal.
I played an original song. Next thing I know his band was drumming on the tables, and the other two bands were singing harmonious “ooo’s” in the background. Was this real life? I couldn’t even process what was happening. After hanging out with the band and getting a short guitar lesson, their bus showed up and it was time for them to hit the road. The lead singer gave me his email and asked if I would send some of my songs to him because he also produces artists on the side. We said our goodbyes and the band hit the road. As if that wasn’t already the best thing ever, the lead singer continued to mentor me with my music for about the next 3 years.
I still get chills thinking about how all of this panned out. I visualized myself singing to this band for several years in my early teen-hood. I felt it so strongly that I was constantly moved to tears being in this unreal world inside my head. Then it randomly happened in real life when I got to college!
If this isn’t proof that visualization works, I don’t know what is. There are no coincidences, and thoughts absolutely become things. This all happened before I was even aware of The Secret, and now The Secret continues to amaze me every single day. I am so thankful for the power of the Universe.
Rock on friends!