Hi Everyone,

It’s just after 7am in Brooklyn. I got here last night and made it until 4am British time before I conked out. I’m in my new place for the next three months (the longest I’ve stayed anywhere since I left my room in London at the end of January last year).

This is my 17th place to sleep in this year so at least I don’t have to move around a lot whilst I’m here. I really got questioned though going through customs. My heart was in my mouth. What am I doing here etc…..? I’ve now been told not to come again for another year after leaving as I’m spending too much time in the US. In my eyes I’m not really doing anything wrong. I’m just spending 12 weeks in a different country to my own, paying into the system, volunteering to help the homeless and singing for free. I’m slightly panicking inside about what I will do later in the year but at the same time I’m saying ‘you gotta just trust Nick. You’re here now and that’s all that matters right now. Let it unfold’.

Before I left Hebden Bridge I saw a clairvoyant and one of the things she was saying was that ‘someone is going to come and meet you at the airport’. No one has ever met me here before so I was like ‘ok’, and then two days later my friend Ellen said ‘I want to come and meet you at the airport’.

What a lovely welcome that was. Never had such a welcome before. It’s her birthday on Tuesday and she’s off work so I’ll be a ‘birthday bitch’ for the day because I love a good birthday. It will be ‘let’s do what Ellen wants day’.

It was only two weeks ago that I left Hebden Bridge and it feels like ages ago. What a great time I had there overall. At the end I’d started to make a life for myself and was getting myself out there singing for the people. I’m going back at the end of June.

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One of the things I did was sing for Joan, a 99 year old lady who is not able to get out and about so much anymore. I met her neighbour Sharon in a charity shop and we got chatting and before I knew it I was saying ‘I’ll come and sing for her’, so I did. A few other people were invited, a buffet was put on and I turned up as a nice surprise for Joan. I went home with a full tummy, a doggy bag, and on a high from knowing I’d given joy to people. I got a couple of other gigs from it, sold a few cd’s and got given a donation as a gesture. Money was never in the equation from my side but I’ve worked out when I am just ‘me’ and doing ‘me’ that’s all I need to do. The rest just takes care of itself. I think that’s the secret to it all. If I just get up every day and be ‘me’ and go out and do the things I enjoy it works. Be positive, chat to people, sing to people, shine my light and I’m giving off a vibe that just comes right back at me.

I’ve also worked out that we have a choice every day. A choice whether to have a good day or not. I spent the last week in London because I had a few gigs on and I wanted to see my teacher too. London messes with my head. In Hebden Bridge it’s easier for me to feel positive because I love the town and the vibe etc….but with London I just can’t take the lack of communication and the way people won’t even look at you. It really messes with my head. I just see people rushing around ‘going somewhere’ and completely missing the point, and even though I had some nice gigs I feel myself slip as the week goes on. My light gets dimmer and dimmer because I thrive off connection and I don’t get it there. Don’t get me wrong, I did some nice gigs. I sang at a private birthday party for a 91 year old lady in Sidcup (I was there last year for her 90th too), and the theme was Hollywood this time and then on Monday I sang at a big conference for a police convention.

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Over 600 people from all over the world. I did it in two parts. The first half was on a posh balcony all ‘Juliet’ style (‘Where is my Romeo?’) and the second part was in another room on the floor with the people. I much preferred the second. I love being on the floor, walking around the people, chatting (I was super cheeky with my comments), singing, going for it, and go for it I did. I’ve never let go like that. I was on a complete high afterwards just because I let go and just loved it. They fed me a three course dinner,

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put me up in the four star hotel, I had wine and walked back to the hotel like the cat that’s got the cream. It was same when I sang for ‘Music for the Many’ in Todmorden, the night before I left Hebden Bridge. We know that funding is being cut in schools for music lessons so a guy called ‘Daniel’ said I’m going to start an initiative that gives all children the opportunity to learn a musical instrument if they want. I was invited to their first year anniversary to be part of the concert and sing and chat about my story to the audience. I am the product of free music lessons. Someone came into my classroom when I was 7 and offered brass lessons and that’s how it all began for me so I am the perfect spokesperson. It was just lovely to be there. Watch the kids do their thing and then share my thing. Another absolute ‘heart and high’ moment.

Not got any photos unfortunately. Waiting for them because they have to be approved to be used. I’ll put them in my next blog post.

It brings me back to my point that ‘we have a choice’. London had really got to me one day. I also saw my teacher and the poor guy lost his son suddenly a few weeks back so I’m all upset for him too. Him giving me a lesson just distracts him from being on the floor. Guts me too because he’s in pain.

I also went to see ‘Così fan tutte’ at The Royal Opera House.

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It was ok. Not anything that blew me away. Just ok and then I get really pissed off that I don’t feel or hear the the heart in it and is this the best a top opera house can offer? I’m in London where people look right through you and I’m like ‘this is shit’. On a downer. Can’t be arsed.

‘Ok’ I thought the day after, ‘it’s now my choice whether I want to have a good day’. All up to me. I can sit and be negative or I can be positive. Ok, work on vibing higher. I kind of tested it out a bit, and over the last few days I’ve chatted to people, got upgraded to a top seat at the musical ‘Hamilton’, got given a seat with extra leg room on the flight yesterday,

got given free extra drinks by the air stewards after giving them compliments, a tip of £50 singing in Liverpool st station, a box of donuts from someone when I was singing in Charing Cross station, and a taxi driver who carried my bag to the door yesterday and was helping me find the right apartment. All because I was personable, positive and chatted to people. Being me. Being positive.

Connecting with others. I know how to do that and how unhappy it makes me feel inside when I am not doing it and have closed myself off, in a grumpy mood. I’ll just keep doing my thing. Making the choice every day. It’s all up to me. Here’s my version of ‘Imagine’ for Joan and the people……. ‘Imagine all the people sharing all the world’. Let’s not imagine it. Let’s make it happen. Go out and connect with others…..talk to strangers, smile and show them your shine…..get your shine on!!!!!!!! (Can’t you tell I’m back in the US? Ha ha).

Check me out on Instagram and Facebook (Nicola Mills Opera for the People’ and my website at www.iamnicolamills.com