When we are reaching out and sharing our gifts with others, it can feel vulnerable and tender.  I sometimes have to take a pause after doing a FB live, posting on IG or after hitting the send button submitting one of my songs.  It’s during these times that I reach into my inner reservoir of self-love and compassion.

I have to remind myself it’s not only me putting myself out there, it’s me + Spirit.

By anchoring in my faith, that I am walking alongside Spirit and being a conduit for spreading love and peace through my songs, I find the courage to keep taking action with nothing attached it to it. Reaching out gives purpose and meaning to my work.  Even when it isn’t perfect, because we may never know whom we might touch with our actions.

I received a message from a fan recently…

“Dear Christine, My mom died Wednesday. It was her time to pass; she had just wasted away for so long. It was a peaceful and loving passing. I just played your CD over and over again.” 

With Easter and Passover almost upon us, I want to remind you that life is a gift.  Even when it doesn’t feel like it, there are gifts even in our pain.

We can choose to turn our pain into courage.

I was thinking about this as we were filming the video entry for the NPR Tiny Desk Contest “That’s How The Story Goes” is a song about empowerment.  This song is deeply personal for me.  It goes back to a time when my life felt like it was one perfect storm.  My marriage imploded, my mom passed away and I had to start all over.  I remember doubting myself when my first album was being made; the abuse was so rampant I barely recognized myself anymore. He was controlling about how I sang, what I wore, even down to how I ate.  I remember one time, I was afraid to eat because he would yell at me about the noise the fork made as it touched my plate!

Fast forward to now, the strength, love and connection I have around me—this album is like a musical diary I’ve been keeping, the testament to my growth, my family and my mentors.

While I made this video for the Tiny Desk Contest, this video is also for you.

It has kept me taking inspired action through all of the dips and valleys without giving any thought to it other than “just do it.”

And here’s the proof in the pudding.  This week, we are #9 on the Roots Music Report’s Top 50 Americana Country Chart.

Look at whom I am keeping company with! (Yippee, imagine me jumping up and down in my living room.) We’ve made the TOP TEN! And I am keeping company with Chris Stapleton, and Margo Price. Can you believe it? This is with ME releasing the album on my own. Without a huge entourage or agent (yet 😉

This! This is what I want you to know this week:

“During the hardest times in your life, don’t give up. You don’t know where you will be led next, but know deep down inside, this brave, fierce, loving, compassionate version of yourself, is taking steps to transition to a version 2.0 of you.  A new you, filled with gifts, turning whatever pain you are going through into quiet strength.”

A reviewer wrote last week that it’s been a long time from my last album to this one.  I could have seen it through the lens of negativity but instead—this has nothing on me.  It hasn’t been easy to self-release this album, but your continued love and support made it happen! Whoopee!  Today, I can celebrate that!

I am proud of what I’ve done and who I’ve become. 

5 years ago, I couldn’t have done it, and today I stand before you. I am going to keep taking next steps and I hope you will too.

Here are some behind the scenes photos from our Tiny Desk Contest Video Shoot!