Hi Everyone,

I wanted to share some books with you. These are books that I read this year that have totally helped me in my personal journey.

I’m hoping that you will get one or some of them. I know they will have a very positive impact on your life. Please share your feelings once you have ready the books. I’d love to hear how your life was changed by implementing the lessons/techniques.

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, A Toltec Wisdom Book

This book has changed my life, really. I’m not kidding or being light about this. 4 simple agreements with myself and the world around me have freed me to a place I’ve been looking to be. If you have any self esteem issues, or you are a perpetual people pleaser and you find you get hurt, get this book. I recommend it to anyone who deals with people, and all of us do!

The Artist’s Way & The Artist’s Way Workbook

These books are awesome. Many of us are artists, in fact, I’d venture to say that we are all artists, regardless of what you ‘do’. You may not paint, but you may sell and that is an art in itself. Then there are those who think they are not artists, but they are. They are just ‘blocked artists’. Are you one of these people? I discovered this book through my best friend Adama a few years ago. We did the course together and it was a huge catalyst for change in my personal and professional lives. We are actually doing this course again together right now and I already feel the movement of positive energy because of the work I am doing with this book. I highly recommend that you do this book if you want to explore your creative side and get back in touch with the ‘little kid’ inside you. Don’t ever forget to ‘play’. Even when you are 85, you NEED to play!

Learned Optimism: How To Change Your Mind and Your Life

Wow, talk about a great book. This one delves into the SCIENCE of optimism, which is something my own analytical brain really could appreciate. I’m all for touchy, feely books, but I crave hard science for much of what I do and relate to. This is a super book for those who are a bit on the pessimistic side. I totally admit, I am bipolar in this way…. some days I’m totally an optimist, some days I am so the ultimate pessimist. I really was getting frustrating with my pessimistic side, so I got this book and it gave me some solid techniques for nipping it in the bud when it threatens to spread moss over my sunshiny insides!

Man’s Search For Meaning

If you think your life sucks, please read this book! This memoir written by psychiatrist Viktor Frankl has opened my eyes! We all have heard of the holocaust and how horrid it is, but until you read this book you don’t really know. He describes his life in Nazi death camps and about his self discovered lessons for spiritual survival. Between 1942 and 1945 Frankl labored in four different camps, including Auschwitz, while his parents, brother, and pregnant wife were all exterminated. It’s disgusting, what happened in this period of time in our worlds’ history, just as it is disgusting what happened in Rwanda. Genocide is appalling. I can’t even begin to understand it. What makes this book amazing is that this man made it through with his positive thoughts and lived to share his philosophies with generations of others who will never have to even endure anything 1% as bad as what he did.

Energy Medicine

This is another book I was introduced to by my dear friend Adama. This is a self healing kit. I’m not saying you don’t need a doctor, because sometimes you do. But many of the things we suffer with are problems stemming from improper energy flow, or blocked energy. I’ve just begun implementing these concepts into my own life and already I have great results. I am a big believer in natural and energy medicine and I recommend this book for anyone who’s a beginner to energy medicine and self healing. A really awesome read and great exercises.

Well, that’s all for now. I have another blog I’m working on that was inspired by a dear friend here on MySpace and I must get that up.

I hope you are all well and getting ready for a super holiday season. Enjoy every second and please don’t forget to tell those you love that you love them. Most of us don’t tell each other that we care enough. We think we’ll always have that chance and sometimes that once chance to say “I care” or “I love you” passes us by. Don’t let that happen.

Love,
Nat

Copyright 2007 Natalie Brown

10 Vocal Health Tips

1.) Rest is very important. Get as much rest as you can. Even if this means cat naps in between shows, on the bus… rest wherever you can and learn to sleep in busy or noisy places.

2.) Eliminate any unnecessary talking if you have a heavy singing schedule. If you can come up with a series of ‘hand gestures’ or sign language to communicate with others to cut out unnecessary talking, this is good. When touring, make an Artist Pass/Lanyard or sign that says “Today is a no talking day for me”. Do this if you feel that your cords are particularly fatigued. People need to understand that you make your living with your internal instrument and it needs plenty of TLC.

3.) NEVER WHISPER! This is about the worst possible thing you can ever do as it grates the cords together like sand paper and this is terrible for your voice!

4.) As much as possible, avoid coughing and clearing your throat. Try to swallow or sip water instead.

5.) Drink as much water as you can. Think of yourself as a plant that needs to be watered every day. You need water to keep your cords moist. Moist cords make for healthy cords.

6.) Try steaming with Vics Vapo Rub: Put 1 Teaspoon (or more if you like) of Vics Vapo Rub into some water. Stand over the kitchen stove and let this mixture work up into a good steam. Make sure you put a towel around your head to trap the steam. Take deep breaths and allow the steam to penetrate your lungs. This is a great prep for recording sessions. It opens you up and moistens your entire throat area.

7.) Avoid most citrus juice and caffeinated drinks while singing, since these can negatively affect your throat’s natural lubrication.

8.) Don’t eat a very heavy meal just prior to a show. Your body won’t have time to digest the meal, and the heavy volume of food in your stomach will make it harder for you to breathe, thus affecting your vocal reach and projection.

9.) As hard as it may be for you to do, avoid excessive loud talking and yelling, since this can lead to vocal strain.

10.) Never sing out of your range, and try to keep the most vocally demanding songs to the middle or end of each set where your voice has had a chance to warm up. Rest your voice and avoid excessive talking in between sets.

Natural Throat Coat/ Throat Soother-Comforter

Any kind of Tea you like

Add 1 Tablespoon Honey (or as much or as little as you like)
Dash of Lemon Juice

Throat Sprays

Entertainer’s Secret
http://www.entertainers-secret.com/

Vocal-eze Professional Throat Spray
http://www.travelwellness.com/

Home Remedy Teas

An old home remedy for sore throats is a tea made with lemon, apple cider vinegar, cayenne, and honey.

Add one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper, the juice of 1/4 lemon, and one teaspoon of honey to a cup of hot water. Stir.
Typically, up to four cups a day is suggested

Natural Sore Throat Remedy

4 cloves of garlic, minced
4 chunks of ginger root, grated
1 lemon, juiced (or bottled lemon juice can work)
1/2 teaspoon of honey
small dash of cayenne pepper

1.) Prepare all ingredients and place them in a large mug/measuring cup/teapot
2.) Cover with just boiled water and infuse for 15/20 minutes
3.) Strain and drink

Gargles

Cayenne Gargle:
-1 Tsp (or as much as you can handle) of Cayenne Pepper in room temperature water
Gargle as needed
Swallow bits if you can
***NOTE ABOUT CAYENNE***:
Cayenne Pepper is a very effective blood thinner and so, like aspirin, you shouldn’t take it prior to surgery.

Saline Gargle:
-1 Tsp of Salt (non-iodized) in room temperature water
Gargle as needed

This helps cut back Phlegm somewhat. But do remember that your body can also produce phlegm as a result of a sinus problem, allergies or something else. Always to get to the root of the phlegm when there is an underlying problem that is causing it.

Hearing Awareness and Protection

Custom Fitted Ear Plugs
http://www.westone.com/

General Hearing Health
http://www.hearnet.com/index.shtml

Hi Everyone!

Please bear with me as I get this blog all set up. I am excited to walk with you in this lovely garden of thoughts and share with you what’s on my heart, mind and soul as I learn what is on yours also.

Talk soon!
Natalie Brown