May’s Songs To Live By

What do you do when the worst happens?

It happened for the woman I interviewed this month. Singer/songwriter Kellie Haddock found grace and gratitude during a time of unimaginable sorrow and pain.

You may already know Kellie from the uplifting video of her efforts to find and thank the medical professionals who saved her infant son’s life after a horrific car accident that killed her husband.

That video – The Thank You Project – has been viewed more than 100 million times, and Kellie has become an “ambassador of gratitude.”

Like her Thank You Project, Kellie’s music will bolster your faith in human connection and open your heart.

I am so proud to announce that our May 2017 Songs To Live By selection is Kellie’s newest album: Wild Love

Wild Love CD cover

In this lovely album, you’ll discover a voice of such sweet clarity — hopscotching from sunny to sultry — above the buoyant, captivating melodies.

Kellie’s lyrics of innocence and inspiration are a pure channeling of emotion.

And watch for Kellie’s Wild Love & Mending Hearts Tour in your area. Her performances have been called “a tsunami of hope.”

You can check out tour dates and even book a show from her website at kelliehaddock.com.

While you are there, you can sample the songs from all three of her albums: Wild Love, Leave the Light On and Mandarin Lights.

I know you will be as enchanted by Kellie’s music as I am.

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April’s Book To Live By

Have you ever stepped from another’s shadow to stand in your own light? Now that is something to sing about!

In the April membership interview, “20 Feet from Stardom’: From Superstar Backup Singer to Solo Spotlight,” I spoke with songstress Lisa Fischer, who has spent three decades sharing the stage and studio with such superstar acts as the Rolling Stones, Luther Vandross, Sting and Tina Turner.

To celebrate this amazing woman, this month, instead of a book to inform and inspire you, I want to introduce you to music that will touch your heart and make your spirit soar.

I am so proud to announce that our April 2016 Songs To Live By selection is Lisa’s solo album:

So Intense

So Intense by Lisa Fischer

In this incredible album, Lisa unleashes a superb range and thrilling, emotive delivery that will knock your socks off.

You may already know the monster-hit single “How Can I Ease the Pain?” — one of three songs on the album that Lisa co-wrote — which won the 1992 Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. The yearning in Lisa’s voice can bring you to tears.

From get-on-your-feet dance beats (“Save Me”) to soulful ballads (her cover of the classic “Wildflower,” produced here by Luther Vandross) to goosebump-inducing vocal acrobatics (“Chain of Broken Hearts”), So Intense is a stunning, soul-soothing, heart-pounding encounter. I cannot recommend it more highly!

And if you get the chance to hear Lisa in person — she is currently on tour — you simply must go! Lisa is a true gem.

 

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In the arms of an angel

We talk a lot about angels here.

At Women on Fire, we are angels to each other as we walk this path toward our dreams – or on the journey to figure out our dreams.

And this week I got to meet an angel whose work and music has inspired my own life’s path and miracles.  Many of you have told me you love her too!

Canadian singer, songwriter Sarah McLachlan is an original Woman on Fire.

When her passion to fully share her music was thwarted, she found another way to make her dreams happen. And she chose other women to help her do it!

In the 1990s, Sarah became frustrated with concert promoters and radio stations that refused to feature two female musicians in a row.  (I shudder to think of the “logic” behind that!?)

Outraged and empowered, she set out to change the disparity by highlighting and promoting her musical sisterhood.

She co-founded the successful Lilith Fair, a touring music festival, to shine the light exclusively on female solo artists and female-led bands.

In its initial three years of concerts throughout North America, Lilith Fair advanced the popularity of women’s music to new heights – and raised more than $10 million for women’s charities.

And while Lilith Fair is no longer, Sarah McLachlan, now 46 and a mom of two daughters, is back and stronger than ever touring the United States and Canada this summer.

A couple of nights ago, I had the great fortune to meet her before her concert in Bangor, Maine.  As I approached her, wanting to be proper I reached out to shake her hand.  She laughed, opened her arms wide, smiled that beautiful smile of hers, and informed me: “I am a hugger.”

That she was.  And for a moment there, I am pretty sure I was in the arms of an angel!

Every day I hear stories of how you are helping each other. How you lift up each other and support one another. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for our sisterhood of angels — and keep the stories coming.

Just as Sarah discovered in her career, and we know here, joining forces with other women is one of the best strategies to get to your goals and dreams. Who can you reach out to this week?

As inspiration, I thought you might enjoy the lyrics and video to one of Sarah’s best-loved songs.  It’s a reminder that we are in this together.  And that a big hug and a loving arm goes a long way to provide comfort on the journey.

Angel
Spend all your time waiting
for that second chance
for a break that would make it okay
there’s always some reason
to feel not good enough
and it’s hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction
oh beautiful release
memories seep from my veins
let me be empty
and weightless and maybe
I’ll find some peace tonight

In the arms of the angel
fly away from here
from this dark cold hotel room
and the endlessness that you fear
you are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
you’re in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here

So tired of the straight line
and everywhere you turn
there’s vultures and thieves at your back
and the storm keeps on twisting
you keep on building the lies
that you make up for all that you lack
it don’t make no difference
escaping one last time
it’s easier to believe in this sweet madness oh
this glorious sadness that brings me to my knees

In the arms of the angel
fly away from here
from this dark cold hotel room
and the endlessness that you fear
you are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
you’re in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here
you’re in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here.

Have a great week, angels!

I’ll see a number of you this week in Columbus, Ohio when I speak to 14,000 women (angels;-) about the power of building community at 31 Gifts national conference at Nationwide Arena.

(Next week in The Spark! I’ll share how I overcame my phobia to speak to more than a handful of people!)

Love,

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Links That Light Us Up

18th Edition

Hello Woman on Fire!

We want to thank you for the beautiful display of love and support for Jane and her family and friends. The overwhelming response from our community is a reminder that the human spirit is stronger than we can imagine. We will continue to honor Jane’s life everyday and will deeply miss her presence, love and contributions within Women on Fire. We hope that the links this week find you well, and attempt to bring a little more light into the end of your week.

Best Cuddle Buddy- Debbie was recently all wrapped up in her favorite alpaca throw and it inspired us to hunt for the perfect blanket. We think Brit.Co compiled a pretty excellent list of choices here.

15 Blankets we want to curl up with via Brit.co

Best New Use of Science-  Have you ever considered genetic testing? The founder of 23 and Me was featured in a recent article by Wired Magazine and it got the whole Women on Fire team thinking that maybe we should opt in. For only 99$ you can receive as much or as little information about your genetic and hereditary history as you want.

 

23andMeLogo_MagentaLime

Best Biz Podcast-
The Women on Fire team LOVES podcasts! We listen to them while driving, while making dinner, and usually have them on in the background while we are working. John Lee Dumas from Entrepreneur on Fire (great name or what?) is by far our favorite business podcast out there. Debbie recently did an interview with him and the energy was off the charts!

Entrepreneur On Fire from John Lee Dumas

Best Tune- Nothing puts us in a better mood than this song by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. It’s called “That’s What’s Up” and we think you might enjoy the video just as much as the tune!

Best Butternut Squash Bite-
This creamy butternut squash pasta from the talented chefs of Two Peas and Their Pod had us drooling at our desks. This dish screams fall and we couldn’t be more excited to try it out this weekend. #WomenonFireApproved

Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta from Two Peas and Their PodTwo Peas and Their Pod

Best Home Remedies- Sometimes at Women on Fire HQ we don’t want to always immediately reach for medicine, so you can imagine how happy we were to find these 18 bizarrely effective home remedies from Jeremy Bender at Buzzfeed.

18 bizarrely effective home remedies from Buzzfeed

 

Best Home Buys under $100-
Looking to spruce up your place before Winter forces you back into hibernation? Here are 50 rad buys for your home that are all under $100 from Refinery29. We are 100% inspired to give Women on Fire HQ a makeover after browsing through this list.

50 Rad Buys for yoru home under $100 from Refinery 29

We hope these links light up your week and let us know if anything has caught your eye recently!

xox

The Women on Fire Team

p.s. Did you miss last week’s links? Look no further!