If you don’t have a go you’ll never know…
Last weekend I went to a concert in a local church, a small village called Salle in North Norfolk. Once a year this group of singers raise money for a local charity. There were around 80 people singing and the church was full to bursting with family and friends who had all paid £7 each to hear the group sing.
So, what’s so special about this, you might ask? Well, most of the people in this choir believed, when they joined the group, that they could not sing. They just wanted the opportunity to have a go in a relaxed, informal atmosphere with no pressure to perform.
Sing For Joy gives anyone who wants it just that chance. Each of those people singing took a risk, joined the group, had a go, tested the water, tried it out, call it what you will – they followed a dream, a passion, a yearning, and the result is they created the most wonderful sounds when they thought, in the beginning, they would never be able to.
Yes, they have a great leader who coaxes the best out of all of them, she encourages them and teaches them in a way that suits each individual. We all learn in different ways and she is able to recognise their strengths and build on them. But it took the brave step from each one to join the group in the first place and have a go at something they knew nothing about.
It’s the same with anything in life, if you don’t have a go you will never know if you can…
Enjoy the journey.
More From mandyallen
Hi Mandy, this is so very true and can be applied to just about everything in life.
Driving lessons for example, who wasn’t worried the first time they got behind the wheel? and how long have you been driving safely since then?
All we need is someone to show us how and the ball starts rolling as your confidence grows.
Great post Mandy, hope you’re well my friend.
Regards, Barry
Very true, Barry. We have to brave enought to take the first steps but also we need inspired people to lead us and help us.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy,
I like to see people having a go at something new, in whatever area. You can’t beat the spirit of adventure.
The old saying is very true – “The man (or woman) who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything”, (and boy have I made some).
Regards,
Bill
Hi Bill, thanks for dropping by. I agree, in fact the title is a regular saying of mine, and it spurs me into action!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy,
Thanks for the example of how we should be conducting our lives. Taking a bite out of life is what it is all about and if we let fear get in the way, we’ll never find out what we were really capable of
Great post Mandy…
Kathy
Hi Kathy, lovely to see you here. Yes, let’s just get on with it and get the most out of it. Hope you are well.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon.
Hi Mandy, just like in the ebook informational business. Some learn about all the work involved and just quit. Some say to themselves, its not going to work out. Everyone starting out in the ebook informational marketing business should understand if you don’t have a go you’ll never know. Terry Conti
Wow, thank you for like giving me an inspiration, I could really use some of this now, I am really convinced that I have to believe in my self so that all my dreams can come through.
I used to say, “If I want to fly, I have to try.”
It was a favorite of mine when I was training for a half marathon. I NEVER thought I would do that in a million years. But I gave it my all, and did.
Love this quote, it’s so true. We really do have to push out of that box to get experience and confidence.
Hi Terry, thanks for visiting. Yes, there is a lot of work involved but if you want to succeed then the work must be done. Good luck!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Angelia, thanks for visiting, nice to see you here. I love that expression you use too! I might adopt it…
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Kay, welcome, and thanks for visiting. Glad to have inspired you, keep on going forward.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy, yes, have a go and take your best shot… I always thought rollerblading was a crazy idea until I saw a group of people flyin’ down the boardwalk at full speed together. I soon tried it myself and it wasn’t difficult at all but it sure is great fun
Brilliant, Steve! Thanks for sharing that.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Great post Mandy,
You CAN BE what you want to be, you just have to give it a go.
Thanks to your encouragement, I am now what I have always wanted to be – an artist. People actually pay me to paint pictures for them.
Just do what you like doing, keep doing it, and eventually you get good at it. Practice makes perfect. 
John
John, you always were an artist, and a good one, you just needed the incentive to paint more often and to promote your work to others. I’m so pleased it is working out for you.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy,
“If you don’t have a go you will never know if you can…” has been my advice to my shy niece. And, I apply it to everything – from trying new foods to experiencing various activities. Sometimes we stick too closely to our perceived safety and comfort zones. “You never know until you try…” is similar enough. Both statements open us up to unlimited possibilities.
Kim
Hi Kim, thanks for visiting. Yes, and another, ships are very safe in the harbour, but that’s not what they were built for. Carpe Diem, as they say!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hey Mandy
How true, that especially applies to internet marketing, you have to start as you mean to go on, otherwise like anything in life you lose the game, cheers for that!
Ed.
And you, Ed, have lived your words and bitten the bullet. It’s good to know you.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy,
I related to your topic of singing in a choir. I think that is good analogy for a lot of things in life. I like to say it’s the learn by doing factor. Sometimes you just have to jump in and give it your best shot. What else can people ask for?
Julie
Hi Julie, thanks for visiting. Yes, I agree about learning by doing, and we have to be brave enough to take those first steps. Jump in? Yes, with both feet!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
As a person who is vocally challenged I love the fact that people can come together in a forum where they can drop their inhibitions and let it fly without fear of humiliation. Sounds like it showed the inspiring side of human nature, something not common enough these days.
Tyler
Hey Mandy, I am always willing to try anything once, well maybe not everything!
It’s nice to know there are still lots of lovely people in the world willing to raise money for a good cause.
Loved the name of village, nearly the same as my name lol, Sally
Exactly, Sally, except they pronounce it ‘saul’, funny old english language. I had a splendid evening and really appreciated the effort put in by these people. I also sing in a choir and we sing free of charge at local churches to help to raise funds to keep them open. It’s a great pastime. Personally I don’t fancy trying bungee jumping…
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Thanks for visiting, Tyler. I hope everyone here can be open with their comments and get responsible responses.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy…
Most of my life I’ve been surrounded by people with limited vision and lacking the ambition or confidence to try anything new. They settled for whatever situation they found themselves in and wouldn’t even recognize new opportunities for exploration when they popped up in their lives…new jobs, friends, activities, attitudes etc.
Sad as that is, I believe we all make personal choices and have to live out the consequences or wallow in the new avenues presented to them. I believe that’s life’s journey and I am fully enjoying my journey…makes me smile.
Pat
Hi Pat, thanks for visiting. Yes, vision and confidence are both important. I’m so glad that you have been able to explore your adventurous side!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy .. just realised I wasn’t getting your posts .. not sure if you’ve got an RSS feed .. but I signed in for the email send.
I can’t sing for toffee .. but this sounds fun and encouraging .. – a worthwhile project benefitting a local cause and I’m sure the Church too ..
One day I shall give singing another go .. I love to hear it though .. have a great weekend .. happy summer days .. Hilary
Hi Hilary, thanks for popping over. I don’t update as often as I should and I know nothing about RSS feed so no idea whether it works! Terrible technophobe! The concert was brilliant, I really enjoyed it, and funnily enough I have worked with some of the young people in the grou the money was raised for, although I didn’t knw that until afterwards. If you’re ever in Norfolk give me a shout and come for dinner!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy,
I saw your post on Barry’s blog and followed your link back here. The post is a great read and reminds me when I took my first steps at creating my own personal business working on the internet. That was many years ago now and I’ve come along way since then. Looking back, those first steps starting my own business from scratch were more of giant leaps although I didn’t know it at the time.
Hope to come back and check out more post Mandy.
Thanks,
John
Hi John, nice to see you here, thanks for visiting. It takes a little bit of bravery to take those first steps but we benefit greatly from having a go and learning new things. I’m hopping over to your site now to take a look!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Lovely sharing – Thank you and I wish I could have heard the concert myself.
My parents did not know that I had dyscalcula and so did not know that I would not be able to swim or drive a car, my father just threw me off the dock as a baby and I could just swim!…It did take a special teacher and 5 tires to drive a car, but I am so happy that I am able! What we did not know kept us trying.
Marshall Rosenberg, the author of Nonviolent Communications – Compassionate Communications, was allowed to read comic books in school during music classes because the teacher could not help him sing or fit in vocally. He became a Psychiatrist and at 55 learned to play a small guitar and he writes songs about feeling and conflict resolution…he has at least 2 CDs out and has inspired several others to sing and write songs.
You have shared some brilliantly inspiring stories, Patricia. Sometimes we have to jump over so many hurdles, what euphoria when we achieve these things though!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Mandy,
That’s so true, “…if you don’t have a go you will never know if you can.” What you said reminds me of the saying, “A journey of a thousand miles, begins with one step” We never know where those steps will take us but the journey can be oh, so enjoyable.
Hi Barbara, thanks for visiting. Yes, and that first step is the bravest we take, isn’t it.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
[...] Of course this really is my belief, as you may have read in my earlier post, ‘If you don’t have a go you’ll never know’. [...]
This place is stunning, I appreciate what you are doing here. Keep them rolling.
I don’t usually post on blogs but had to on yours. You have a very easy to read writing style. I really enjoy posts about this topic, they give me a lot to reflect on. I don’t have time to read everything right now, I found this site when looking for something else on Yahoo, but I’ve bookmarked your homepage and will check back soon to see the latest thoughts.
Thanks for visiting, glad you like it. Please call again sometime.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy