Julie Andrews turned 80 this year. Surely, most of us grew up watching her wonderful performances in The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, and many more classic films. In those movies she helped the Banks children and the Von Trapp children get through their trials and tribulations through song. She brought families together with her beautiful voice ringing out so full of sincerity and heart.
I can remember, as a toddler, watching Mary Poppins over and over again. Julie Andrews inspired me to start singing as a child. As someone who is still singing today, I can attribute a lot of that to Dame Julie Andrews. There are some very important lessons I have learned about life from the great Julie Andrews.
1. Snap, the job’s a game!
As a child I was fascinated to learn that you could sing and snap your fingers and your room would clean up itself. Of course, this was only through the magic of Disney. However, I do still sing while I am cleaning, and that makes the job go more quickly and much more fun.
2. A few of my favorite things
Singing is an excellent way to improve your mood. Whether singing about raindrops on roses or anything that you love, you can express your feeling through song. The most important tip for being a singer is to really believe in what you are singing about. You have to choose material that is important to the way you feel, and that will come across in your performance. Even in everyday life, singing is a great way to deliver your message.
3. The hills are alive
When you approach the world from a singer’s standpoint, everything takes on new meaning. Look around you. You can find solace, passion, peace, even romance from the area around you. Incorporate those things into your attitude every day. Julie, as Mary, found comfort in the hills. She was unsure of who she was and what her purpose in life was supposed to be. A lot of us feel the same way. Singing helps bring those feelings to the surface and help us learn what we are passionate about.
4. Each time someone shows that he cares
“Feed the Birds” was Walt Disney’s favorite song from Mary Poppins. It’s easy to see why. Julie sings, “Although you can’t see it, you know they are smiling, each time someone shows that he cares.” She talks about giving and how being charitable helps others. This is an excellent lesson I learned through song. It takes so little to make a difference in someone else’s life.
5. When you don’t know what else to say
Many times in life, we are left speechless. Whether good, bad or indifferent, sometimes all you can do is shrug your shoulders and try to move on. Or, in the case of Mary Poppins, you could sing about it. No matter what mood you are in, singing always helps, even just a little. So the next time your kids are driving you crazy or your boss makes you mad, don’t forget to sing. At the very least, it will make you smile. If you don’t know what to say or what to sing, Ms. Andrews has given you the most epic word to sing about, and we are forever grateful for it: supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
No matter what your voice sounds like. No matter whether you sing professionally or only in private. No matter what life throws your way. Remember these songs and, even if you only sing them in your head, perhaps you will recall, however briefly, a more innocent time in your life. And maybe you will smile.
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