For the relaunchers

Darling,

If you are one of those who find it hard to begin again with your singing, or acting, or dancing... if you are one of those who can't even start talking about it because there is so much disappointment, so much pain associated with the subject, please, please make an effort and stay here with me. Don't push the "X" of this browser's window.
I am here to encourage you and to make you believe in yourself again but let me tell you the biggest secret: I am hurt as much as you are. Maybe differently, but very much alike. I have my own disbelief, my failures, my hopes that were crushed and a lot of work that came to nothing because I didn't know someone who knew someone else, or didn't afford or choose to pay my place into anywhere. Also, because of a lot of defeat, I was unprepared some times and I failed. Is it OK for a teacher to tell her students that she failed? Well, I promise I will always be as honest as any good friend would be. Your voice cracks, you are off tone, your sweaty hands make the microphone a bit unsteady, you forget the choreography, the words, the next thing that you have to do. But it's OK, you know? It's normal. All of us go through it. The secret is how you manage to transform the moment. Make ridiculous become funny, make unacceptable become motivational, make awkward moments develop you into resourceful. Of course the fight is serious, of course you will want to crash all those walls before your eyes, of course you will get mad, frustrated, feel ashamed, not good enough. But you can rise above that. You know why? Because all those mixed up feelings show that you are so sensitive, so different than the grand majority of all the people you know, that you are special, that you want to make a difference. Yes, it's all about that, about who is capable and also willing to fight this special fight that needs your full commitment in all the fields you could imagine. Because once you start on this path, you can't really go on another one. You're a believer, a warrior, or you're not.
First of all, you were born to try. If you're gonna tell me that you already tried it all, you must try it again. It's a matter of not stopping to improve yourself in any possible way and also not stopping all the trying part. And the believing part.
Secondly, taking a break is also OK. Focusing on other activities for a while, maybe another talent that you've put on hold, or just making some peace with yourself. Nobody will tell you what to do when you are at a crossover, because everything will always be theoretical to others. So this would be the perfect time to use your intuition (which you most definitely have if you are reading this and resonating with it) and follow it as much and as brutish as you can. If it feels fine, it actually is. Always double check with your heart everything that your mind decides.
And one last thing: the best way to know if your voice is ready to relaunch itself, is when it starts singing again. The place and the audience doesn't matter; it might as well be your cat.

Yours faithfully,
Your music teacher