Hey brilliant vocal hive mind! I come seeking possible answers; I have been getting the sensation of my ears being blocked or plugged, like you get with altitude changes when I sing. I can't "pop" my ears when thos happen and if you know what I mean. It really messes with my hearing when it happens, it's usually when I am singing in choir. I've asked other singers and voice teachers, and everyone is baffled. It's been happening on and off for a year now, not allergies or ear infections. I'm not having this happen randomly when speaking. Dan mentioned a connection between the tongue and one of the ear bones in the recent "make your tongue your friend" video. (Honestly bursting to make dirty jokes here!) I DO struggle with tongue tension, I swear it's too big for my mouth. Could I be doing something with my tongue that is causing the ear thing? Anyone else ever have this? How do you release it? Thank you for your thoughts and wisdom!

Sunday morning share.... be like Judy!

Thinking of that song "Purpose" from Avenue Q -- This week I sent an email about hooking into your purpose and how being a musical theatre singer harmonizes with that. A big part of my purpose is to help people heal. I've experienced a lot of healing in my life, and few things are more satisfying to me than hearing a singer say, "I enjoy singing again" or seeing them able to access themselves in new ways. Watching someone become kinder to themselves. Pointing people in helpful directions and sharing what's worked for me. Even when I sing, I want the sound of my voice to be a healing medium, a vibration that communicates to the hearer -- you're precious, God loves you, and you're here for beautiful reasons. What's one thing that's part of your purpose, and how does singing resonate with that?

Does anyone else have a "spirit performer/voice", kind of like a spirit animal? One of my "spirit performers" is Florence Foster Jenkins. She inspires me to do what brings me joy. Who inspires you?

It's a band AND a question. This has been profound for me, and I want to invite you into this. I want you to open your heart and give yourself some deep permission to listen and discern what your immediate purpose is right now -- what's your most alive mission? And in order to live that mission, WHO do you have to be to handle that responsibility? Let yourself bubble and fizz on that for the next few days. See who that person is, and know that in your entire timeline visible in all its completeness from quantum mechanical and divine perspectives, you're already that. So what if you let that you-tree go ahead and grow now, deepen roots now, inform the choices you're making and the time you're investing now? This question has come for me in the last few months, and it's changing me into who God put me here to be -- I want you to meditate on it, too. There are folks who need you to do that thing you've been pretending to do but skillfully hiding. Tell me what yours is, and I'll share mine in the comments later. Let us know. Love and purpose to you