Go where the doors are opening. Might be the best advice I’ve ever gotten.
We all have doors right? Doors we long to open. Doors we’re afraid to knock on. Doors we’ve tried beating down to no avail. I had one such door this week.
My sweet Tommy was asked to play at this cool liberal christian festival in North Carolina called the Wild Goose Festival. People like Jim Wallis, T-Bone Burnett, Tony Campolo and Beth Nielson Chapman are all on the bill of speakers/performers. My mouth waters just looking at the list. As soon as he was invited, I was making plans to go with him. Figuring out who I wanted to hear speak. What gigs I would try and catch. High anticipation on my end. And then the letter came in the mail saying that Caroline had to take a class in summer school. No absences allowed. Bummer. I went on a quest to see who might be available to stay with the kids while I went with Tom. The girls’ dad? Busy. The girls’ grandmother? Also busy. My mother? Lives too far to drive every day to make sure the girl is in school. I knocked on door after door after door. Nothing was working out.
You know that feeling you have right before you know you need to give up? The one that says, hang on just a little longer? But deep down, you know you’re hanging on for the sheer sake of hanging on? That’s where I was Sunday night before I let go of the rope. And got a little depressed. And admittedly had a little pity party about the whole thing. Sometimes you just have to.
Come Monday morning, the world looked a little less bleak. I felt a little less miserable. Probably because I had something fun to look forward to that night. Be Music and Entertainment was sponsoring a “Nashville style” songwriter in the round at 41 Entertainment Production Studios. I was invited to be part of an audience privileged to hear great hit-writing Nashville songwriters. The guys that wrote Jesus Take The Wheel (Brett James), Live Like You Were Dying (Tim Nichols), and Oscar nominated Coming Home (Bob DiPiero). It was a great night. Made even greater by a new unexpected door that was placed in front of me.
While at 41 Entertainment, Robin Creasman, one of the producers for the upcoming TV show that I’ve been cast in asked me if I was busy this saturday. When I asked why, he said that he had a gig for me. Opening for Jon Christopher Davis (who has had his songs covered by Dolly Parton, Hal Ketchum, Tammy Cochran, Sherrie Austin, Billy Ray Cyrus etc) at a big beautiful amphitheater in Plano. They’re expecting a crowd of over 1000 people. Outside of playing at festivals with Tom, probably the biggest gig I’ve ever had. And not only that, the Troubadour,Tx film crew will be coming to the house on saturday afternoon to film “fly on the wall style” what it’s like to be a mom with kiddos getting ready for a gig. And then filming the gig.
Whenever I pause to remember…go where the doors are opening…I don’t fret. I don’t beat my head against the wall. I sit back and allow the universe to work it’s magic. Because it definitely has magic to work. In my life and in yours.
Go where the doors are opening. I’ll say.
June 24, 2011 at 4:08 pm |
Carrie, This one of the things I love about your posts about real life. Amazing what happens when you let go of the rope. My friends and I have a saying, “everything I’ve ever lert go of, has claw marks on it”.
My door is my mom. My love just got a job in Florida so we’re moving. My mom is 87 and I do her grocery shopping and get her a few groceries and take her to doctor appointments. I take care of her. Shortly after we found out we were moving, I ran into a friend and was telling her about the new adventure. She had the name of a woman we both knew who had taken care of my friends dad. I called this woman up and she would love to help me out. Mom met her and I thought I had my bases covered now for mom. Last night mom tells me she doesn’t like the woman and won’t work with her. I heard a door slam.
So I really appreciated your story. The universe hasn’t brought me this far only to drop me on my head now, so to speak. So I’m reminded to let go of the rope. We’re moving on th 16th of next month which will be here before we know it. I’ll just beleive things will work out. One way or another. I just need to be open to whatever pakage the solution comes in. Thanks Carrie. HAve a great Plano gig.
June 24, 2011 at 4:13 pm |
i will hold all good thoughts for you rich! the right door will open. trust.
June 24, 2011 at 5:07 pm |
funny how the lessons roll thru, isn’t it !!? LOVE you !
June 25, 2011 at 5:08 am |
yay! congrats dahlin’!
June 25, 2011 at 7:53 am |
Thank you so much, Cary. You will be tired tomorrow, but you will make it through. You will shine, carried on the wings of that snow-white dove.
I have been really feeling this message lately in my life, too. Over and over again I have seen this – how when doors open, it is ours to walk through – or turn away. Or just stand there waiting. They say the universe will rise up to meet us and yet sometimes it seems as if it isn’t. But a lot of those times, we’re running the other direction, jumping off some cliff, instead of meeting that rise with a smile and open arms.
I’ve seen my share of troubles the past year or so, but also bounty upon bounty upon bounty, much of it a direct result of the seeming hardship. Sometimes the road ahead is rocky and so we long for some other path that appears smoother and sweeter. But it’s not ours to walk. And then we see that on the other side of that rocky road, there’s something sweeter still.
So I’m guessing today will be even better than it might have been without the trials of yesterday. And yep, you’re right. Great TV!
Love you, Cary.
Thanks for shining the way.
With gratitude for all your wisdom and light,
Cindy
June 25, 2011 at 6:03 pm |
I think you have put into words what most of the world feels, but doesn’t know how to express. I’m by nature, a very stubborn and determined person. Letting go and “losing” really upsets me.
I had a cartooon drawing on my desk for years with a man standing in front of the door knocking and he had opportunity written on him. On the other side of the door was a person sitting in a chair ignoring it. The caption read “When opportunity knocks, make sure you open the door”. We all have lots of doors that close in our lives, we do have to make sure we are willing to open the new doors, because we never know what lies behind them.
I had the doors on my music close years ago because of situations beyond my control, and it pissed me off! So, I gave up. Now new doors have opened, and I’m scared to death and similar to what you expressed, feel like I am dragging down those around me that I feel are much more talented.
I am now fighting against myself, saying these doors have opened for a reason, and I have to continue to nurture the part of this that is exciting and new.
Thanks for sharing, made me think………………..
June 26, 2011 at 2:57 pm |
What an amazing and inspirational post, Cary! I always love reading positive posts, but couldn’t have needed it more than now. I’ve gone thru life thinking I always know what door I want and if I don’t see a door, have tried to go through a few walls a time or two, but recently I had a pretty major foot surgery and have realized that perhaps the door I thought I wanted opened has been moved for a good reason . I can not walk without a walker and only then for a very short distance and that is hard for someone like me who has done triathlons and seizes life by the horns! I had my own little pity party and have readjusted and happened upon your post and it is just what I needed. You are obviously a very talented woman, but you are also a very giving and motivational inspiration to others. Great job, Cary! I will patiently soul search and wait for my next door to appear.