𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗮 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗲. Let me share a li

𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗮 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗲.
Let me share a little secret: you don’t have to be the next Beyoncé to make an impact with your voice.
I’ve been hopping on stages since I was three—singing in school plays, dancing like I was auditioning for Fame (minus the leg warmers and the questionable 80s hair).
Loved every second of applause, because let’s face it—claps are like a high-five for your soul.

Now, my daughter Maya might not choose to grow up to tour the world headlining pop concerts, but let me tell you: she will achieve whatever she puts her mind to.

𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁: she took on Michael Bublé’s “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas”—learned it in the car—on the way to the Fairmont Hotel in Dubai, no less!

𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻.

She performed for a lobby packed with wide-eyed tourists, families juggling tinsel and suitcases, and possibly a slightly bewildered Santa wondering why he’s boiling in the desert.

Did she nail it like she wanted to? No. She's a perfectionist and always want to improve even when she's rocking it.
Did she absolutely give it her all? 100%.
That takes professionalism.
And that's the point.
You don't have to nail it perfectly every time—just keep on shining, tweaking, and singing.

I love that Maya’s not afraid to show up—no matter what the stage (or school, or teacher, or random hotel crowd) throws at her.
She’s an artist at heart.
She’ll paint the world her way.
Not mine.
Not anybody else's.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀, 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗮'𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝘀.

I’m beyond proud. So’s her mum Azizah.
The whole Crane clan is dancing on cloud nine.

Special shout-out to Sharjah English School—especially the legendary Ms. Snodgrass—for seeing Maya’s spark and passing her the mic.

Thank you for being such an amazing school.

But my real hero is Maya:
• She stood in front of total strangers, belting out a holiday tune learned 20 minutes prior, radiated confidence, joy and made everyone smile.

𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱.

And that’s the punchline, folks: Use your voice, your art, your ideas—whatever it is that makes your heart sing—and don’t wait till it’s too late to discover how incredible you are.
Whether it’s Christmas, a random Tuesday, or just a spare moment you have to yourself, celebrate YOU. And if you want to serenade your cat with a Michael Bublé classic, go for it.
I promise, the audience will be captivated (…or at least curious).

From two proud parents to the rest of you out there, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and if you don’t celebrate at all—then treat yourself to a quiet moment of self-appreciation.

You’ve earned it.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗮, 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 '𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁'.

#holiday #mayacrane #speakonstage #davecrane #xmas