Happy Thanksgiving!

An American tradition that I have tried to maintain since moving to England is celebrating Thanksgiving. For my family, this holiday was just as big as Christmas and much effort was made for the entire family to get together.

I've been five years now in the UK and I've noticed the trend of restaurants and pubs offering a traditional Thanksgiving meal. In fact, Neal and I are headed to London to have a vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner. I'm hoping that Thanksgiving will be even more celebrated in the UK, because the essence of this day is simply giving thanks and we all have a reason to be thankful!

I have so much to be thankful for so I thought I'd take a few moments on this Thanksgiving day to express my gratitude. I'm blessed to still have both my parents, Christine & Arthur Miller who are in their early 90's. Last Sunday I celebrated being married for five years to the man of my dreams. I'm thankful to the City of Portsmouth where my business is based. The city's acceptance of me as an entertainer and business person has been amazing. Honestly, my life plan did not include moving to England and starting a business, but that is what has happened and the success of my business so far is largely due to the faith that the venue owners and companies in the Porstsmouth area have shown by booking me and many of my acts over the past two years. Special thanks to the following clients for their continued business: The Jolly Sailor, The Wine Vaults, The Piranha Bar, and Tinkers Team Rooms just to name a few.

Finally, I want to thank all of the GME Acts that I am blessed to represent! I renew my commitment to each of you to do my best to find quality work for you because you really are the best in the business and it's an honor to work for each of you.

What are you thankful for today?  

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Gloria Miller Entertainment

Laughter!

I met the lovely Lisa Sturge of Laughterlines Coaching last year at a networking event, and earlier this year I attended her Visioning Day! Meeting Lisa was like meeting a kindred spirit and I love her encouragement to use laughter as a foundation for everything being it personal or business. In her latest newsletter she shared some insights into laughter and I'd like to share them with you. Enjoy and remember to laugh often!!

8 Surprising Things About Laughter:-
1. It clears the drains
Laughter is an essential part of who we are. It is a powerful tool that expresses how we feel and helps us to be free. Our laughter can be grumpy, tired, joyful, elating and surprising. It also clears the airwaves, making us cough at times and clearing our windpipes. It is a constant release valve that helps us to get rid of yucky, stressful feelings or emotions and also lets us celebrate life wholeheartedly; mind, body and spirit dancing in laughter unison!

2. It makes us go aaaaaaaaaaaah!
After laughing comes relaxation. The peace. Knowing that everything really is ok despite our mind’s ability to knock loudly on brain’s door with worries, ’shoulds’ or ‘have to’s’. It relaxes our muscles and our grip on trying to control life, be perfect…etc. It helps us let go and ‘be’ rather than constantly ‘do’.

3. It lets us out to play
When we laugh with someone there is an instant bond, an invisible connection that goes beyond words. Even a twinkly smile signals a readiness to play and have fun. Life is so much better when we are having fun, yet to some people it can seem a dirty word or a waste of time. Our laughter reminds us that playfulness is a gift and that we are here to enjoy life as much as possible.

4. It’s cheap as chips
If you think back to the most positive memorable times of your life, they were probably with people you loved, where you were having fun. Not expensive fun; fun of the gleeful kind, where you were maybe creating spontaneously, sharing happiness with others without the need for expensive surroundings, preparation or equipment.

5. It heals from the inside out
Shared laughter can be very healing and incredibly powerful. It can mend not only grievances but also strengthen relationships. It can break down barriers in an instant. Laughter can be very forgiving.

6. It acts like spinach
Our bodies are healthier with laughter. When we laugh regularly, we are less prone to colds, flu and infections as it strengthens our immune system and re-balances our para-sympathetic nervous system. It activates the whole brain and refreshes our body with a boost of oxygen. We can choose to smile and laugh daily to enjoy these benefits, either with simple exercises or by looking for laughter opportunites. By choosing a playful attitude we can transform a dull, boring day into a lighter experience.

7. It can turn on the tap
Laughing lots can mean crying lots too. It’s important to embrace sadness as well as joy. It is a kind thing to let go and immerse ourselves in tears if that is what we need. Being human is a complicated business and if we are to embrace laughter and joy then that means welcoming all of the emotions. Some of them feel very uncomfortable but it would be unrealistic and exhausting if life became a laughter fest from dawn to dusk.

8. It is our choice
The key to laughing more is realising that the source of real laughter lies not outside but inside us. It is realising that our laughter never leaves us, it is always present in the body, waiting to be tapped into. Sometimes we just need to give it a little encouragement and get to know it better.

When we start to laugh and play a little, then a little more, we can recognise and welcome this joyful part of ourselves that is unaffected by time, work, problems, family hassles, deadlines…etc. We can discover our true self underneath all the rubble; our magical, playful self where we can enjoy unlimited imagination and unlimited play, unlimited joy and unconditional love.

It’s a colourful journey, the laughter journey. To embrace our laughter and let it free we need to embrace all of ourselves. Even the messy, difficult bits. And it’s all worth it.


I hope you found this information helpful. Click here to learn more about Lisa and Laughterlines Coaching. 

Personal Invitation ... Fundraising Event for Portsmouth Cathedral Innovation Centre!

I want to personally invite you to join me as 'Supremely, Diana Ross' for a fundraising event I am doing for the Portsmouth Cathedral Innovation Centre!

I am supporting this organization because they are supporting me. In January of this year I started running my business from the Innovation Centre who have taken GME under their wing offering me office space at a hugely discounted price, mentoring and marketing support. There are several small business who are benefiting from the Innovation Centre and they are able to offer us all these cost savings by putting on fundraising events! I am partnering with LinkedUp Fundraising, another small business benefiting from the Innovation Centre, to put on their next fundraising event and we need your support to make it a success!

Please buy tickets to attend this fantastic fundraising event! Tickets are £12.50 per person and can be booked on-line at: www.linkedupfundraising.co.uk. Dinner, Dancing & Diana!  Sounds like the perfect combination to create a fun-filled night out! Contact me or clare@linkedupfundraising.co.uk for more information or to purchase your ticket!

I hope to see you on the 9th of May!

Gloria

Letter to Beyonce

Dear Beyonce!

I'm watching 'Beyoncé Takeover' on demand in the UK and I want to thank you for the inspiration. At this place in my life being a 47 year old woman in the music business, I no longer want to be in pursuit! I just want to enjoy the very blessed life that I'm now living. As a child I wanted your life, but I now realize that any step that would have taken me off the path of meeting my 'Jay Z' would have been the wrong path for me. Four years ago my amazing magician husband put a ring on it and now I'm drunk in love! I perform on a regular basis, and I share your attitude that you should feel what you sing about and pour the whole of yourself in every note! I've had my share of loses, but I'm learning the lessons and moving on. 

Sometimes, there's only a few people in my audience, not the adoring thousands that you perform to like the show I just experienced at the O2 in London! However, I experience what I can only imagine you do when I connect with those few people. I try to connect with each person in the room, but if just one is moved in some way, I feel like a super star! Then I get in my car and return to the arms of my man, and I feel like the richest woman in the world!

I feel like I'm performing better than I ever have, and the difference than just a few years ago is that I'm living in the moment, showing up in front of the mic, and surrendering to the flow! Going with it and not against, leaving my ego at the door! Performing for British audiences has been an education in itself! They don't like what they're told to like, they like what they want to like and they will shut you out if you're fake. I had to learn quickly to put aside what I needed from them, and to focus on what they as my audience needed from me! I try to 'see' my audience and connect. When I was at the O2 I felt like you saw me among the thousands! And I saw you ... not the superstar, but the woman.

I want to be the best at what I do, not better than anyone else, just my best! I just heard the announcer say that when you're faced with any situation, you take a step forward! I love that! I'm incorporating that philosophy into my inner dialogue. I will step forward no matter what! 

Thank you Beyonce for being fearless with your vision, your dreams, your sexuality and your life! When I watch you I see a whole woman that's not afraid to flow in her own power! I believe that this comes from a deep sense of knowing who you are! At 47 I feel like I know who I am better than I ever have, comfortable in my own skin and free to celebrate me! No apologies, I am who I am and finally, that's enough!

Thank you Beyonce for helping me see myself through your amazing life! Love you XO!

Merry Christmas!

Balloon Art by Rob Driscoll

After what has been a very busy year, it's very nice to have some time this Holiday Season to spend with friends and family. I have to admit it has been amazingly easy to not think about work since my last gig this past Saturday with the Vixens, and Neal and I are looking forward to a lovely Christmas lunch today with our friends Rob & Nat at Cafe Rouge in Portsmouth.

From my family to yours, here's wishing you a Very Merry Christmas and I hope that your day is filled with love, peace & joy!

Cheers,

Gloria

GME Year In Review - 2013

Please join me in taking a look back over what has been a fantastic year for me and GME! I have put together a photo collage of GME events, shows and performers in remembrance of a great year and as a way to look forward to 2014 with hope and anticipation! If you spot yourself in any of these pics, please drop a line on the comments section! It would be great to hear from you!! Gloria

GME Week In Review - 13 December 2013

Opus 20 Next Show

This week started with a dream-come-true performance in Bournemouth Square with Opus 20 Jazz Orchestra. I had the priviledge of lending my vocals to this amazing orchestra performing some Jazz and Holiday favourites. The Orchestra formed about 3 months ago under the leadership of Mike Hopkins and 9 December was our very first public appearance. Our next concert is scheduled for 16 December at the Conservative Club in Poole.

On Wednesday I went to a Talk Network event at the Square Tower in Portsmouth and had the most amazing two hours of laughing, playing and galloping!  You must try galloping, it's quite liberating! Lisa Sturge, Creative Director of Laughlines Coaching, presented some fantastic information about laugh theraphy, the mechanics of laughter and a bit of laugh yoga!  The galloping was introduced by Robin Brinkley of Maxwell Communications and thankfully, Lisa incorporated it into her talk because we were all in hysterics after being given permission to laugh and play! I'm looking forward to attending the Visioning Workshop with Lisa in January. Please visit Laughlines Coaching website to learn more about laughter therapy!

I also had the pleasure of meeting Steve who runs the Square Tower, which is a lovely, unique venue that's available for hire, and Steve also hosts events in this venue. The Square Tower was the perfect venue for laughing and galloping, and it just may be perfect for your event too.  Visit their website to learn more about this venue or to see 'What's On!'

Talk Network Meeting

After a couple hours of laughter, I headed just up the road to the Cathedral Innovation Center to discuss office space and hot desking. I had a lovely chat with Francis and I'm happy to announce that I have secured myself a bit of office space which will allow me to work a few days a week away from home and the various distractions that come with working from home. In addition to office space, they also offer mentoring and other help with growing my business. Thanks to Lee of Addo Accounting for recommending me to Francis!!

Earlier this year I put together a Diana Ross tribute show and have performed Supremely, Diana Ross a few times around Portsmouth. Next summer this show will be hitting the high seas on the cruise ship circuit, and yesterday I had a meeting with Tommy Bond of Upstairs At Eric's Studios and Grahame Laurence of writemusic.co.uk who will be working with me to get orchestra charts and professional backing tracks done. My last public performance of Supremely, Diana Ross is on Saturday, 14 December at The Jolly Sailor in Southsea. 'Move On Up' party band will be joining me bringing you two shows in one ... Diana Ross Tribute for the first set, and upbeat party set for the second set featuring the best in Soul, Funk & Rock music!

Kathy Fitchett - Food Fiend Exp.

Tonight, I am so looking forward to spending an amazing evening at 'Food Fiend Experience' where Kathy Fitchett will be laying out quite a spread of home cooked food. The menu is a surprise, but I'm m not worried because I've enjoyed Kathy's cooking before and I know tonight's meal will be fabulous. Just hope I can still fit in my slinky Diana Ross dress on Saturday!!

That's it for now ... 

Gloria

Being Diana Ross!

I never thought I would do a Tribute Show, but now that I've developed 'Supremely, Diana Ross' I'm wondering why I waited so long to do it!  I performed the first show back in September at The Old Vic and was immediately addicted to taking on the persona of such an iconic entertainer. Yesterday I was watching Oprah, Behind The Scenes and they were featuring the show where Diana Ross was appearing.  I was really struck by the fact that Oprah Winfrey felt just as indebted to Miss Ross as I do for being a trailblazer for showing black beauty to the world! Click here to see a clip.

Here's what I wrote in my bio about Diana Ross ...

Twenty-five years ago when Gloria first started performing professionally she didn’t know that she would be paying tribute to the woman who had paved the way for her all those years ago; but now Gloria realizes that everything she’s done before has been preparing her for the moment that she would become Supremely, Diana Ross! Maybe the desire to do a Tribute to Miss Ross was Gloria’s way of saying thank you for breaking through racial barriers and stereotypes, to allow countless others to have the opportunity to share their gifts and talents.

Since I've been promoting Supremely, Diana Ross I have come to realize how loved Miss Ross is by pretty much everybody. The response has been amazing. I have several shows booked through the end of the year and a few already booked in for next year.  For my next performance of the tribute show, I'll be backed by my fabulous function band, 'Move On Up! for our a special Christmas performance at The Jolly Sailor on Saturday, December 14th! The first set will be the tribute show followed by a 2nd set of upbeat party music ... two shows in one!!

I really enjoy paying tribute to Diana Ross and giving my inner Diva a platform to shine! In addition to performing the show solo or with Move On Up, I am also developing the show to be performed with a 10-piece orchestra and will be touring the show next year to include theatres across the UK and cruise ships. I will keep you posted as the tour takes shape!

Please contact me if you are interested in booking the Supremely, Diana Ross Tribute Show for your next event or celebration!  gloria@gloriamillermusic.com or 07504 611173.

Earn Money from Performing Your Own Songs!

Did you know that you are owed royalties if you are performing your original songs at gigs?  Look into PRS: http://www.prsformusic.com/creators/joiningus/Pages/Benefitsofmembership.aspx

and Sentric Music:

http://reverbnation.sentricmusic.com/AboutUs.aspx

 

to signup and start earning more money from your songs!

If you are already signed up to ReverbNation, Sentric Music will automatically upload your show data from ReverbNation and administer your royalties. That's how I earn money from my songs.

Take a few minutes and look into these great services and the financial benefits they offer.

Booking Agent: Defined

I am approaching a month of officially being in business as a booking agent, and I am finding that most artists don't really know what the role of a booking agent is and more importantly, what it isn't!

A booking agent is responsible for finding work for individuals working in the entertainment industry. Agents continuously work to find jobs for musicians, bands and singers and are employed independently or work for an agency. A booking agent represents the talent and negotiates a contract with the talent booker. Talent Bookers are responsible for booking musical acts into venues and are the booking agent's point person. Music booking agents might also be involved with promoting the events they book.

The negotiation process includes reserving the performance dates for the venue and determining the artist's fee or percentage of ticket sales.

Booking agents work strictly on commission and take a percentage of anything the band makes for a show. Typically, a booking agent will take anywhere from 5 to 20 percent of the booking fee or the artist's income from ticket sales.  Some agents also take 5 to 20 percent of merchandise and CDs sales.  

A few other things to remember:  

1. Always confirm your start and end times with the venue you're booked with the day before you are scheduled to perform because performance times can sometimes change.
2. Always take your signed contract with you to your booking.
3. Always make sure you get your money before or after you perform and count it before you leave the venue.  Booking agents are not responsible for any short falls in pay. This fact is usually stated in the contract.
4. Always remain professional in front of the client. 

I hope this information is helpful to anyone currently working with booking agents or hoping to do so in the future.

Gloria

Perky

perk·y ˈpərkē:  Adj. Cheerful and Lively!

This is the name I was called for the first five years of my life.  I didn't know my actual name was Gloria until the day before the first day of school.   I asked my mother how to spell my name (Perky) so that I could have a bit of an edge in my kindergarten class the next day.  Much to my surprise, I was told my name was Gloria and not Perky.  It was quite embarassing sitting in class on the first day and completely not responding when this name, Gloria, was called because it really wasn't my name yet.  It took me a while to take full ownership of it.  

During the Yoga retreat I attended last weekend I had a visit from Perky.  You read right.  During one of the morning meditation sessions, my young self paid me a visit and I'd like to tell you about it and what I think it meant.  What you will read next is taken directly from my journal ... here goes!

Sunday, October 9, 2011:


Today is the last day of my Yoga retreat and during morning meditation I had a visit from Perky ... my young self.  I first appeared as a shy little silhouette; then as the figure sharpened, I recognized it as me!   I was wearing green pants, a white top, white sandals with the straps under my heals instead of on them, with white barrettes in my hair.  It was like I stepped right out of one of the only photos I have of myself as a youngster.

There was my little self looking up at me with awe and wonder in her eyes.  Perky was offering me something cupped in the palms of her hands ... her arms were lovingly stretched out to me.  And there in my young hands was a lotus flower.  Only the night before I had learned what the lotus flower symbolizes:

The lotus flower is one of the most ancient and deepest symbols of our planet.  The lotus flower grows in muddy water and rises above the surface to bloom with remarkable beauty. At night the flower closes and sinks underwater, at dawn it rises and opens again. Untouched by the impurity, lotus symbolizes the purity of heart and mind. The lotus flower represents long life, health, honor ... light!

I accepted this blossom, this light from my young self with the full understanding of what it meant.  Perky was proud of me.  She looked upon the woman we've become with fascination, awe and wonder because she knows better than anyone that we started with nothing, we often times felt inferior, and we certainly couldn't have imagined the path our life has taken!  The lotus was what connected Perky to me.  We had blossomed from nothing into who we are today ... and she was proud.

Pride was the last thing I was feeling when I arrived at the Tilton House to begin my 3-day Yoga journey.  I came to this retreat feeling like a failure.  Like my life hasn't really mattered and like I've not really done anything important.  My intention for my practice was to get some clarity as to what I was going to do with myself.  Since moving to the UK just over a year ago, I've been feeling very small and lost ... like all the things that made me "me" in the US only made me invisible in the UK.  I'm not quite sure how to be me in England. I've also realized that I've spent my whole life trying to be what I thought people wanted me to be and I've consistently failed at this. I've never been the "favorite" and I have so often wanted to be.

My talent has been treated as mediocre by so many people that I sometimes follow suit.  It's hard to believe in yourself when no one else does. I've tried so hard all my life and it's exhausting.  I seem to always be trying to get noticed, trying to have my talents recognized, trying to be good enough ... well, I'm sick of trying.  I just want to be me ... even though right now, I'm trying to figure out who I am.  I just want to be happy with the life I've lived and with the life I'm living.  I want to be proud of myself!

Perky is proud of me.  She looked up at me and I could see utter happiness and contentment radiating from her face.  Like she couldn't believe the life we're living.  I smiled at my little self and took the lotus blossom in our hands and allowed the light to shine between us.  Then she turned and started to walk away, waving as she went ... leaving me with the light!

I so enjoyed my brief visit from my self as I was so many years ago, and I will continue to let the light of simply being shine through me, and at dawn of each new day I will rise and open again to the possibilities of life!

Self-Esteem

I have discovered a wonderful blog ... MyThoughtCoach ... and wanted to share it with you.  I particularly enjoyed the post on Self-Esteem.

It is so easy to base our self-esteem on external things when those things really have absolutely nothing to do with who we are and what makes us great.  I've attached a song from my CD, Life Lessons, that speaks to the idea that we're not what we do, but who we are.

I recently asked myself who I was outside of being a wife, daughter, sister, friend, singer, songwriter ... what's left?  Or better yet, who's left?  Just me ... a human ... being, not a human ... doing!  Because I'm a person who likes to be in control and enjoys being busy, it's very hard to just be and allow myself to live in the moment.  I'm getting better at it and what I find helpful these days is meditation ... sometimes guided, and sometimes silent.  Through meditation, my thoughts are directed to stillness which allows me to see, feel and understand me a bit better.  MyThoughtCoach offers a lot of great guided meditations, so if you're looking to tap in to you, I encourage you to visit this website and discover who you are without all the stuff!

Enjoy ...

Gratitude!

Hello, my name is Gloria Miller, and I'm a whiner!  Ah, let the healing begin.

No one said moving to a new country would be easy, but that's no excuse for the amount of whining I've been doing lately.  My poor husband has to put up with my constant mood swings, while being forced to ride the roller coaster of my emotions.  He's been absolutely brilliant at being there for me while maintaining his own sanity.  I'm sure it helps that he travels a lot so he misses out on some of my mania.

Over the weekend while wallowing in my own self-pity, I was also browsing Oprah.com and found so much inspiration.  The running theme that screamed out to me was Oprah's gratitude for the life she's been blessed with.  Take a look at this clip:  http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Oprahs-Finale-Sign-Off-Video.  This is the final sign off for the Oprah Winfrey Show. 

After I watched this clip I stopped the whining and began to thank God for all that is amazing about my life.  The list was long and the remembering sweet!  Just that slight shift in my focus put a pep in my step, a smile on my face and a new determination in my heart to focus on the positive and live in the NOW!

What are you most greatful for today?  I look forward to gaining inspiration and insights from your gratitude.  Leave your thoughts in the comments section!

Glo.

Nourishment

During my month-long hiatus I met the most amazing baby … Sweet Annie. Annie is a ball of sunshine and her smile simply melts your heart. Honestly, every time she smiled I wanted to give her money … and she smiled A LOT! Annie belongs to one of my best friends, Kimberly!


I had an epiphany while watching Kimberly care for Annie … and I want to share it with you. Kimberly was bringing Annie back into the front room after nursing her and I noticed that Annie’s cheeks were very rosy … no really, it looked like she had red Christmas lights in her cheeks. I asked Kimberly about it and she said that this happened all the time after Annie would nurse. It dawned on me that Annie was showing physical signs of being nourished by her mother! She sometimes even looked a little tipsy after nursing because her mother’s milk was so satisfying!

The idea of being nourished went around in my head for several days after my visit with the beautiful Lies family, and then when I was having lunch with my sister Ruth, she asked me how I liked being married and I said to her that I had rosy cheeks. She looked at me a bit strange until I told her about Annie! Later, I started to wonder if I’m being nourished in all the areas of my life … physically, mentally, spiritually and in my relationships.

Physically … am I making good choices about the food I put in my body? Am I exercising as much as I should? (Well, now I am ‘cause I’m training for a marathon.) Mentally … am I making good choices about how I spend my time? Am I resting enough? (After a month’s vacation, yeah, I think so!) Am I learning new things and challenging my brain? (Use it or lose it!) Spiritually … am I connected to my local church? (I’m working on it.) Am I able to still myself enough to connect with God? Can I feel his guidance? Relationships … am I surrounded by toxic people? Do I have the strength to walk away from toxic people? Am I a good friend?

I’m not sure if my cheeks are “Annie” rosy in all of these areas, but I do feel nourished in them. What about you … are your cheeks rosy? If you feel that they aren’t in any one of these areas, then it’s up to you to connect with the things that nourish you and to walk away from the things that don’t!

Love,
Glo.

There is Therefore Now

I am the first one to admit that I probably watch too much TV, especially in the “reality” TV era where talent is no longer in the equation for fame. However, sometimes you’ll find a place of solace amid the noise that drowns our airwaves. I found this place in the middle of an episode of “Without A Trace.” One of the actors said, “screw the results and enjoy the process!” and it stopped me in my tracks. Here’s what I got from that statement … “The result of life is death, the process of life is living, enjoy the process.”

 

This is a Great Read!

Maybe as I come into middle age I'm more aware of my own mortality and often this awareness colors my thoughts and even my actions. Death is inevitable, but life is NOW! So hearing that statement reminded me that the only true power we really possess is the power of now. I think we need to pour as much living into the moment. I often quote this scripture from the Bible … “There is therefore NOW …” Not the past or the future. But now! This is a powerful place in which to live!



Hope

Why did I have a panic attack at 12:05 am New Year’s Day? Why was the idea of starting a new year, this one in particular, so frightening? What I do know is that fear is irrational so I’ve decided to start there in trying to understand why crying uncontrollably over my pink champagne was my first act of 2011.

I know that my fears have absolutely no basis because faith in God is the foundation of my life. The beginning of a year is always such a hopeful time, however, it’s a big responsibility when you have this brand new, mistake-free year starring you in the face. You can’t help feeling that the New Year will magically be different than the old one, and you hope that you’ll magically be different too. You some how feel that come January 1st you'll stick to a healthy diet, you'll have the energy to get everything done that you need too, you'll be more diligent in yyour work and in pursuing our goals and dreams, and the list goes on and on and on. The reality is December 31st and January 1st are no different than any other two days! Why do we think they are? 

This question brings me back to hope!  The challenge then becomes how do we keep hope going throughout the year … beyond the first week of the year when we all feel invincible? Setting quarterly goals is a good way because every three months you can renew those hopeful feelings you had at the beginning of the year by seeing what you've accomplished so far, and by refocusing on your next set of goals.  Something I’d like to focus on this year is not wasting the precious time that I’m given on this earth with activities that aren’t yielding results or enriching my life in anyway. I’m a firm believer of working hard and playing hard, and I think a part of working hard, while maximizing how you use your time, is working smart. Smart people don’t waste time. I’m reminded of something I heard Denzel Washington say on the Oprah show … “Do what you have to do so that you can do what you want to do.” Sometimes we waste valuable time because we don’t want to tackle the task at hand. However, if you get the things done that you have to, that frees you up to do the fun stuff!

Then there’s the fear of the unknown. There’s so much happening in our world and life is full of ups and downs, joys and sorrows … yet, we journey on trusting that God is with us every step of the way. With this thought, my fears always fade away knowing that God is ordering my steps and that my future is safely in His hands.

A few minutes after my New Year’s day panic attack, I accepted that the fears that caused it were completely irrational and allowed myself to hope … knowing that my faith in God will give substance to everything I hope 2011 will bring!

Keep hope alive!!!

Retreat!

Glo @ Yoga Retreat

ri-treet:  a place of privacy; a place affording peace and quiet; hideaway: an area where you can be alone; withdrawal for prayer and study and meditation; withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat.



Last weekend I was able to retreat to a lovely Georgian country house for 3-days of yoga, meditation and vegetarian food with Michelle Cross.  I don't know that any other "retreat" that I've been on changed me as much as this one and in so many different ways.

Since returning to my life, I feel so much stronger in my body.  Yoga may look like stretching and bending, but there's also a great deal of muscle involved in getting into poses properly and then being able to hold those poses.  I can feel the strength that developed from doing 10 hours of yoga during this weekend.  Yep, you read right ... 10 hours of yoga.  I've noticed this new found strength in my other workout classes, and in how I'm carrying my body.  My back is straighter, I'm holding my head up just a bit higher, and I feel calmer and more in touch with myself.  Not to mention how it's affected my singing.  This week I've been preparing to compete in the Finals of Concorde's Got Talent (which is tonight, by the way) and my breathing is more consistent, my notes are more supported because my core is stronger, and I'm discovering new things that my voice is capable of.



Tilton House

 The other big change has been unplugging a bit more.  Unplugging from the internet and from TV.  It's amazing how much more productive and focused I feel.  I've been reading more this week, I've started to think about the book I want to write, and I've gained some major insight into finding the courage to only doing those things that I really feel passionate about.  When it's quiet and your spirit is still, you're able to hear what's in your heart ... there's beauty in stillness!

Lastly, after eating a completely vegetarian menu and having so much more energy and less strange smells coming from the nether region, I've modified the way I'm eating.  No, I've not gone vegetarian, but I've added more fresh fruit, veggies, and grains to my diet. 

So I ask you, what would a retreat mean for you?  For me it was stepping back from myself in order to see myself a little bit clearer.  Maybe you can't get away for a weekend, but I'm sure you can find a hour over the coming weekend to retreat, be it into a book or magazine (this month's Oprah Magazine is very powerful), or a meditation or Yoga session (or both), or taking a much needed nap.  I encourage you to find a way to retreat in the coming days.  I guarantee you will immediately feel the benefits! 

I'd love to hear about your journey ... happy retreating!

Glo.

Life in the UK - Three Month Review

It's been just over three months that I've been living in the UK and it's been a bit of a roller coaster ride.  In hindsight, I now realize that you can't really mentally prepare for being uprooted from everything that felt safe and familiar and replanted in a place that at times feels unsafe and really unfamiliar.  By unsafe, I don't mean that I worry about getting "jacked" in the sleepy little town of Waterlooville where I live, I mean unsafe in not having all the comforts of the familiar that YOU are probably taking for granted right now!

The biggest, on-going adjustment is to Neal (the hubs) being away so much.  He's an entertainer who works on cruise ships and most of the time he's on a ship and I'm home alone.  "Johnny No Mates," is a term I've picked up over hear and it aptly describes how I feel most of the time since I've only made a few friends since moving to England in July.  It's strange, because sometimes when Neal is home, I feel like he's impinging on my life ... like I have to drop everything to spend time with him.

Honestly, what's taking up most of my time is working out.  I go to the gym and/or yoga class five days a week.  Which brings me to another adjustment that's taking some time.  The Brits are a laid-back people and the Americans are typically not.  I'm a typical American in that I'm friendly, chatty and maybe at times a bit "in-your-face."  This doesn't go over well here.  In the fitness classes at the gym it's dead silent accept for me going "woohoo," "yeah" or making any sound that might come out depending on the level of pain I'm in at any given time.  Even in Zumba class, I'm the ONLY one keeping up a ruckus!  I can't help myself, and I've tried!  Also, no one comes up to speak to you.  I feel as if I'm constantly breaking the ice.  One day just before "Step" class, one of the girls from Zumba struck up a conversation.  Well, apparently it takes just one brave Brit to speak to the newcomer in order for the rest of the Brits to pipe in.  And pipe in they did.  Suddenly, I'm surrounded by ladies and we're all chattering away.  I'm thinking, finally, the ice is broken and I'm no longer "Johnny No Mates."  Wrong!  The next week I was right back to nobody speaking to me. 

There's is hope, though, because there are two ladies, Belinda and Tania, who seem to be of the same "tribe" as me and on several occasions we've been chatting away like old friends.  They even invited me shopping today!  Maybe I'm up to five friends now!  I do have some awesome neighbors and I've joined the wives (Clare and Maureen) for Yoga on Monday nights. 

Driving is coming along quite well.  I'm no longer terrified of roundabouts and driving at night only slightly terrifies me.  The fact that I've been doing some performing has made me have to face the night driving.  Speaking of performing, I did my first official gig this past weekend at Thirty Three Restaurant Cafe in Poole which is about an hour from my house.  Prior to that I entered "Concorde's Got Talent" sponsored by The Concorde Club and I performed in the Semi-finals in October and will compete in the Finals on November 12th.  I'm making some good music connections and have even been invited out to Cypress in January to perform at several 5-Star Hotels.  I'm still negotiating the terms, but it's looking promising.

I love the convenience of where I live.  Everything is within walking distance ... the grocery store, the gym, the eye doctor, the medical clinic, shopping in general, to name a few things.  I'm trying to walk more because I entered the "Moon Walk" Marathon in London that will be held in May next year.  I've always wanted to complete a marathon but wasn't thrilled with the idea of running one.  This one you walk during the night and it's proceeds go towards Breast Cancer Research.  I've been trying to talk Neal into walking with me, but so far, he's not having it!

Overall, my first three months have been awesome.  I feel like I'm in my stride now and relishing the adventure and the newness of everything!  I miss my friends and family back in the states and I sometimes feel disconnected from my old life.  However, I'm loving my new life and learning how to cope with the occasional bouts of loneliness.  In American tradition I'm planning a big Thanksgiving Dinner, and I'm looking forward to sharing it with my new family and new friends!  I have so much to be thankful for!

Competition

Lately, I've been noticing how competitive I can be.  My competitiveness seems to be surfacing in the strangest situations.  I recently joined my neighborhood fitness center and have been going to various workout classes.  Because of my competitive nature, I find that I have a much better work out in class because I want to be the best in the room, so I end up pushing myself.  My competitive spirit also reared it's head during Yoga, of all things!  There's one lady in the class who rocks at Yoga, so I found myself holding poses longer and going deeper into stretches with the mindset of, "If she can do, so can I."  And again, this competitiveness is making me a better Yogi. 

My first instinct in seeing my competitive side surface was to suppress it, thinking "you don't have to be the best, just do your best."  But then I thought, if being competitive is making me work harder and push myself beyond what I think I can do, then it's all good.

I guess I've always been competitive, but haven't found myself in situations where it's come to the surface.  I did see glimpses of it when I was living in Milwaukee and booking gigs.  My friend, the fabulous singer Jeannine Rivers, and I definitely had a unspoken, friendly competition going.  I would find myself checking her website and seeing how many bookings she had and then get stirred to action if she had more than me.  That got me on the phone book and on the net researching new places to perform.  I even went after gigs and places she played.  That's right, I'm not afraid to admit it 'cause I know she was doing the same thing ... LOL!  (Jeannine, if you're reading this I just have one thing to say ... "Twist 'N Olive" ... LOL).  That friendly competition with Jeannine kept my calendar filled because I was not going to be outdone!

So many people have asked me if I'd try out for one of the reality shows like "American Idol" or "Britain's Got Talent."  I always say "no" because I can't imagine putting myself under that type of pressure.  However, I have entered a local contest based on one of these shows called "Concorde's Got Talent."  I auditioned for the competition on September 25th and was put through to the Semi-Finals, which are being held tonight ... YIPS!  My competitive nature is stirred up more than ever.  I've got seven minutes to wow the judges and the audience and I haven't been this dedicated to rehearsing and fine tuning my performance in a very long time. 

With this competition, though, I don't feel the need to be the best singer.  I'm focusing on giving the best performance that I can possibly give, and I've been rehearsing and preparing to do just that.  Don't get me wrong, I WANT to win, but I also want to absorb the lesson that I'm to learn from this experience.  It's given me such a boost that I'm thinking, maybe I will try out for Britain's "X Factor" next year, especially since they're doing the over 28s category.  You never know, right!

So, I said all that to say this ... a little "healthy" competition is a great tool to make you the best that you can be.  If you find that you have a bit of a competitive nature, use it to help you grow at whatever it is you're endeavoring to do!  Win or lose, I guarantee you'll discover a little bit more about what you're really made of.

Jeannine recently told me that she may be moving to London to go to school.  It seems Jeannine will be keeping me on my toes, even in England ... bring it on, sister!!

Quit Your Whining, Move It!

The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. Hi, my name is Gloria Miller, and I’m a whiner. Well, lately anyway. I’m not usually a whiner, but the past six weeks of living in this strange country called to UK … yes, I’ve been whining … a lot! I thought it would be easy adjusting to life here but it hasn’t. I haven’t at all been motivated to do the things I know I need to do to plug in to this existence. As much as the US and UK are alike, they are equally, if not more, different. Just because you’re using the same words does not mean you’re speaking the same language.

Example … I asked my niece (in-law) Millie to hand me my purse. So she rummaged around in my purse and brought me my wallet. I said, not just the wallet, bring me my purse. Then she stood there perplexed ‘cause she had already brought me my purse. You see, in the UK purse means wallet and bag means purse. So the proper thing to say would have been “Millie, bring me my bag.” It took us 20-minutes to sort that out.

Also, I’m starting to lose some of my words … to the accent. I didn’t think it would happen, but it’s starting to. I met this awesome lady, Marlene, who is also an American who married a Brit and now lives in England. However, when I first spoke with her on the phone, I thought she was a Brit! She has an amazing British accent. It wasn’t until we were out for drinks that she told me she was from the states. I couldn’t believe it! I never would have guessed it. Then I started to worry about my accent (which is a strange mix of Midwest meets Southern meets Ebonics). Marlene said she picked up the accent so that she could be understood by the locals. And strangely enough, I get that. I wasn’t expecting to have so much miscommunication in a country that speaks the same language.

Then there’s the fashion. The UK style is not quite European and not quite American. It’s a strange in-between look that I’m not sure I want to adopt. There are definitely some fashionistas that know how to bring it, but the typical look is unique to this part of the world. Admittedly, I’m no fashion plate, but when I walk into the City Center of the bustling metropolis of Waterlooville, my new town, I feel quite fashion forward.

I do love that the full-figure is celebrated in the UK in a way that it’s not done in the states! Thanks to Gok, I love my big bangers! Gok hosts a show called “How To Look Good Naked” and it’s been an education for me on dressing for my body type (and age). My sister Ruth always says I dress like an overgrown teenager. I’m working on that. However, I did go shopping with Millie this weekend and was introduced to a wonderful store called Hollister featuring clothing for 12 to 18 year olds. Alright, maybe I had a minor relapse ‘cause I bought the cutest pink top … LOL!

Wow, did I get side-tracked. Anyway, back to what I was saying about whining … something seems to have clicked in my mind yesterday to kick me into gear to get my life up and running. I’ve been idling for six-weeks and today when I got out of bed, I did so with purpose, focus and a clarity that both surprised and excited me. Now that I’m back in gear, there’s no stopping me.

Today, I’m happy to say I’m in recovery from whining. I know I have to take it one day at a time and that there might be the temptation to whine again. My intention, though, is to stay whine-free!

If you haven’t done so already, please check out “The Power” by Rhonda Byrne. It’s the sequel to “The Secret.” I just started reading it today and it’s a great read so far.   Click here to preview the new book.

Glo.