The Dream I Never Tried For — and the Lesson That Changed Everything

I used to dream of singing the National Anthem at a San Antonio Spurs basketball game. I love singing our nation’s song. When I sing it, I feel proud, hopeful, and deeply connected to our country. Back in the day, the anthem meant so much to me that I had to be in my seat before it began, just so I could sing along with the performer as they took center court—while I sang from the stands.
(Yes, not everyone would admit to such a passion. I’m owning it.) 

If you ask professional singers, most will tell you the National Anthem is a challenging song to sing because of its wide vocal range. Just look up Roseanne Barr’s attempt on YouTube—you’ll quickly see her voice was not built for it. At the time I held this dream, I could hit the notes and deliver it well. (Not so much today.) 

Here’s the thing: I believed that if I were selected to sing at center court—if my dream came true—any self-doubt or self-criticism I had would magically disappear. I imagined I’d be left with pure, unstoppable confidence. The kind that would spill over into every area of my life and make me successful at anything I set my mind to. 

Every year, the Spurs organization held National Anthem auditions to select performers for the season. You might be wondering if I ever applied. 

Nope.
I never attended a single audition. 

I missed every opportunity for one reason or another. One time, I found out about the audition the day of and didn’t have a babysitter. Another time, I convinced myself I needed sheet music or a pitch pipe to set the first note. I came up with excuse after excuse for not even trying. 

So what was really stopping me? 

A brain short circuit. 

Looking back, it’s clear my mind was completely jammed. I had a strong desire to fulfill this dream and a crippling fear of failure. I was terrified of messing up at center court. That fear, paired with my desire for success, created contradictory thoughts—and here’s the truth: the brain cannot hold two opposing thoughts and still move you forward. 

When that happens, you freeze. You stall. You stay exactly where you are. 

Maybe you’ve experienced something similar. You want to change jobs, start a business, or leave a relationship—but you don’t take action because part of you wants the outcome while another part fears the unknown. I encourage you to push past the fear. Even if the result isn’t perfect, the reward will be worth the effort. 

Someone once asked me why I wanted to sing the anthem. She said, “Do you want to go around the NBA opening games?” 

My answer was simple: No.
I just wanted to know that I had done it. And done it well. 

It was never about recognition. It was about personal satisfaction. 

One night, I scored extraordinary seats—floor seats at the end of the Spurs bench. As always, we arrived early. The anthem singer walked to center court. The crowd stood. And just six feet away from me stood Spurs head coach Greg Popovich. 

I sang along—loud, proud, and clear—hitting every note perfectly. 

When the song ended and the applause began, Coach Pop turned to me, looked me straight in the eye, and said, “Nice job.” 

That moment filled my heart. His validation was all I needed. I didn’t need 25,000 people to hear me. One unexpected acknowledgment was enough to fulfill my desire. 

The purpose of sharing this story is two-fold. 

First, I want you to push through fear and go after what you want. Your mind will tell you all kinds of B.S.—back story—to keep you “safe.” Most of it is completely made up. In my experience, about 99% of what your mind tells you in those moments simply isn’t true. 

Second, never feel like you have to defend your heart’s desire. Your desire is your desire. It may not resonate with anyone else—and that’s okay. It doesn’t need to. 

We all have big dreams. Some we’re afraid to say out loud. There’s no shame in keeping them private. But when you never share them, you block others from supporting you—and you miss the opportunity to inspire someone else through your courage. 

My hope is that you’ll feel encouraged to challenge your contradictory thoughts and step into at least one meaningful desire in the coming year. You deserve the joy and fulfillment that comes from honoring what truly matters to you.