A Happy Easter

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday today! Though mine was not an eventful Easter, it was still restful and fun. I once again stayed in bed just a little too long this morning, enjoying the idea of a day with nothing to do and making some more progress on The Happiness Project. Even if you aren't interested in reading the whole thing, just pick up the book next time you're in a bookstore to read pages 10 and 11. She's got some gems on those two pages!

I love the idea of inserting tiny efforts into your daily routine that can dramatically change your outlook on life. Even if it's just writing down what you are grateful for at night, or choosing to pick up a book before falling asleep rather than turning on the Netflix.

It's the small efforts over time that make the most lasting impact, and that can be said for a lot of things. One of Gretchen's pieces of advice: "What you do every day matters more than what you do once in a while." And I think that speaks to what lies at the heart of this 30 Day Challenge. In order to change your life, you must make small efforts toward that goal every single day. There is no "day off" from leading a happier, healthier life.

I also found out about an iPhone app that is like "happiness training" with games and exercises that train your brain to be more optimistic and open to positive influence. I've completed day 1, we'll see how it goes! If you're interested, it's called "Happify" and has gotten some amazing reviews! I'll keep you all updated on my progress. Let's put this baby to the test and see if it really works!

Now, for my Daily Practice #5, I decided to work on a song that I want to get into my book as soon as possible. Sometimes you just come across a song that feels written for you. It fits your voice like a glove and the lyrics seem as though someone reached inside your mind and scooped the words right out of it. "Out of My Head" is that song for me!

Minutes: 30

Repertoire: "Out of My Head"

Technique: I sometimes tend to press too heavily into the lower notes, especially with all of the chest voice I've been utilizing in Chicago. I wanted to lighten it up a bit and make the transition from verse to chorus smoother. 

Musicality: Because the song resonates with me already, it's easy to fall into the trap of assuming I'm already connected to it.... it's tempting to not do your acting work at times like these! I spent a good chunk of time really thinking about the words and the journey of the song and thinking about how that manipulates the musical approach to the song. It helped me make some clearer decisions about dynamics! Yay!

Happy Easter-- I hope everyone had a wonderful day,

XOXO

Jadi Rae