What do you want to be when you grow up?

When I was little, and people would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer was always the same . . .

"I want to be a famous singer on a stage."

I know that probably sounds cute or ambitious coming from a 5-year-old.

But what if I gave you the same answer today?

What if my answer hasn't changed.  At all.

What if I'm a 36-year-old-mom-of-4 with a mortgage and a church calling and a career and husband and a cat?

Is it still "cute?"  Am I still "ambitious?"


At times I have been too fearful to share this desire, feeling that it was unworthy of my time and attention.

Those were the times when I listened to the outside voices.


But recently, I remembered that I also have a Voice.

And so, I asked that Voice what I want to be.

And then I listened.

And my answer was still the same.

And I don't feel bad about it.

In fact, I feel awesome about it.

Because every part of this answer is important.  To both of us.


I’ll explain . . .


"I want to be a famous..."

I have no problem stating that I want to be famous.  I want fame.  And fortune.

I don't want self-absorbed popularity.

I don't want to live a shallow life.

And I don't want to live in Beverly Hills.

I want to be famous because, ever since I was a tiny kid I have known that humans are made to influence eachother--deeply, largely, powerfully.

I want that.  I want to be connected, and moved, and changed by other people.  I want to connect with and move and change other people.

Many famous people are famous because of their ability to touch something inside the hearts of others.  They have interesting and inspiring stories to tell.

I know this because of Gloria Estefan.

Growing up, I idolized Gloria. Her voice; her story; her presence; her hair--all real and raw and powerful.

And, as an 11-year-old-Latina, daughter-of-an-immigrant, from a broken home, in lower-middle class America, it was important to me to see a Latina providing hope & inspiration to millions of people around the literal world.

With her voice.

"I want to be a famous singer..."

As a kid, it was important for me to sing because I LOVED--no I LIVED THROUGH--singing.

Singing seemed to be my natural expression of self.

I would make up songs and sing them to myself.  I remember one song I wrote about the sunshine when I was about 4, not because of the melody or the words, but because of the feeling.  In that moment, and through that song, I was open to the entire world and everything beyond.

I wanted to use my voice to express the emotion and intensity that I felt about living.

I experienced moments when singing became transcendent, when I felt that I was part of something higher and nobler than myself.

I wanted more of those moments.

So I looked for every opportunity to sing, to use my voice.

"I want to be a famous singer on a stage."

I've always wanted to be a singer on a stage.   

Even at a very young age, I realized that live performance is a unique medium that has the power to move people to action.  In real time.

The exchange that is shared between a performer and his or her immediate, physical audience becomes a power that flows in both directions.  The audience members and performers both become givers and receivers.  Both are given a voice.

I find unprecedented value in living out a moment.  My voice is meant to connect with others, to give them permission to use their voices.


But this post is not about stages. Or singing. Or becoming famous.

It's not about Gloria.

It's not even about me.


This post is about you. And your voice.

It's about connecting with the Voice that is inside every one of us.

The Voice that knows exactly how to answer when asked "What do you want to be?"  Not tomorrow, not next year, not when you grow up--but NOW.

This post is about listening to that Voice.

And not feeling bad about it.

In fact, feeling awesome about it.

It's about using your voice to share hope & inspiration.

It's about using your voice to share that part of you that is higher and nobler than yourself.

Using your voice to connect with others, to give them permission to use their voices, too.


Listen for your Voice.  And then listen to it.

And love every answer it gives you.

Because every part of the answer is important.  For both of us.

For all of us.


What do you still want to be?

What do you want to be next?

What do you want to be NOW?


Do it. Be it.

Embrace your fame.

Embrace your voice.

And give others permission to do the same.