WE ALL NEED CHEERLEADERS!

YUP!  I was a cheerleader growing up.  Imagine that!  LOL!  Thankfully, just about the time I was phasing out of my cheerleading days…tricks and stunts were phasing in! Whew! I got out just in time!!!

​Why do our favorite teams need cheerleaders anyway?  Why do we see players pumping their hands up to get the crowd involved?  Because… even the best players need encouragement when the going gets tough.  

We all go through times in life when we feel we’ve been tackled out of nowhere, or we trip and fall, or have to take a knee, or even get benched!  It’s the cheerleaders in our life that help us get up again and give us the strength to keep going.

I have been incredibly blessed throughout my life to have cheerleaders support me during the darkest times…times when I questioned God, life, and myself.  It is amazing how just a single encouraging word or phrase from someone who believes in you can release confidence in your heart to keep going.

​Since I try to keep these blogs related to my musical journey, I will share one particular cheerleader moment that relates to music. 

I studied and performed classical music all of my growing up years.  After college, I was somewhat burned out from all the practicing and performance pressure so for the next couple of decades I spent more time singing and playing worship music with my husband and raising a family.  At some point, I began thinking I wasn’t capable of learning any serious music any more.  Then came my cheerleader, Dr. Margaret Evans, pianist and teacher extraordinaire.

Margaret and I grew up in the same home town and although we had different piano teachers, we traveled to piano competitions together in high school.  We have remained friends ever since. ​

At the NC Symphony together!

Several years ago, we were having lunch together and I was pouring out my heart to her about how I felt I couldn’t play anymore.  Margaret’s words changed the course of my musical journey!  She said “Marlowe, it’s all still there.  You just have to start!  Start by playing music that is easy and not too long, just to build your confidence and you will see... it will all come back to you.”  You know, she was right!  Getting back to playing music has led to a church accompanist position, composing music, releasing my first recording, and even performing at the Grand Ole Opry.  All of this would have never happened without Margaret's encouragement!!!

If you feel you don’t have a cheerleader in your life, start by BEING ONE for someone else.  Let someone know you believe in them and give them a very achievable goal…that is, if they ask for help.  If we are willing to listen, cheerleaders are out there waiting to be asked to be on our team!

I would love to hear about one of those "cheerleader" moments in your life!