Showing Up

I have just finished my 10 day tour Life is Wide Open 2, which took me from Regina, Sask to Kelowna, BC. I had six shows in all and I am grateful for each one. The biggest lesson for me was the reminder that it is important to show up. I reconnected with friends from my grade 12 class (1977) and with other friends whom I hadn’t seen for several years. It was also a healing journey for me as I reconnected with old friends from my church life. I was very involved with my church life and Christian faith from the time I was about 12 until I made my transition to being a lesbian/bi-sexual person. This decision took me out of that life as I came out in 1992 and the Lutheran church was struggling with this issue. As well, I was married to a Lutheran pastor and my decision was a shock to my friends and family. I was angry at God for the unforeseen challenge (we’ve made up since) and I had a long road of transformation ahead of me. I had thought that I knew what was going to happen in my life, but I found out that I really didn’t have a clue.

Secondly, after the yoga retreat I attended, I decided to be clearer with my intentions for my shows. My intention is to bring the listeners into a space that opens their hearts. This helps to remind me as well what my intention and hope is. I have composed a short guitar piece to welcome listeners into the space. The feedback at each show was very encouraging and gave me more commitment to this path. I had so many good conversations and now I have a few days to absorb them. I worked on six songs in Cypress that had been started. I was happy that I made some progress with all of them. Thank you for coming along on this journey. I appreciate it a lot! It means everything that my music touches people and can help to open hearts.

May you find time in your day/week to pursue a creative endeavor!

Yours in creativity and music,

Wanda Gronhovd