A friend sent me this and I had to share it. After the Singer speaks, hit pause and wrap your head around what she just said. How do you know you’re singing a correct pitch if you can’t hear it? You sing it over and over into a receiver that works much like a guitar tuner that has a pointer that shows when you’re on a note exactly. Then you make a picture in your mind of what the vibration in your throat feels like so that you can reproduce it exactly.

And then you teach yourself another note. And another. Until you can do this (warning: I’m still choked up just typing this):

https://youtu.be/ZKSWXzAnVe0

From this amazing woman’s web site:

“Mandy Harvey is an award winning singer, songwriter and motivational speaker who just happens to have an invisible disability. A Vocal Music Education major at Colorado State University, Mandy lost her residual hearing in 2006-2007 at age eighteen due to a connective tissue disorder that effected her nerves and left the program. She pursued several career options, including education, but returned to music in 2008, her true passion could no longer be denied. She quickly became a regular performer at various venues and has released three albums thus far. Though her hearing loss is profound, her timing and pitch are perfect and her passion is tremendous. With support from friends, family and her faith, Mandy continues to find joy in music.

In 2011, Mandy won VSA’s Top Young Soloist Award and lived a personal dream of performing at the Kennedy Center in DC. She continues to perform around the United States and has been recently featured on NBC Nights News, Canada AM, The Steve Harvey Show, and the Los Angeles Times. In addition to performing and speaking, Mandy has become an ambassador to both No Barriers USA and Invisible Disabilities Association with a mission to encourage, inspire and assist others to break through their personal barriers.”

Imagine needing something in your life so much that you have the drive and determination and just pure power to go to those lengths to get it. And that thing is singing.

I have a new hero.