I’ve learned a lot from jazz musicians, but one of the most important lessons I’ve learned is how to listen. And from that, I’ve made a life-changing discovery: that using my ears is key to finding my voice.

You’re not supposed to decide what your child is going to be when he grows up, and certainly not when he’s only five weeks old. But I’ve decided: my infant son is going to be a foley artist. You know, one of those people who make the sound effects on radio dramas. I realize that, in the 21^st century, this pretty much limits him to the one remaining gig on A Prairie Home Companion, but I think he’s got a pretty good shot. In the middle of the night, he makes the most incredible sound effects. He does a convincing runaway stallion, the creaky basement door from a B horror flick, and - his best one by far - the bad boy peeling out of his girlfriend’s driveway in his red Camaro. It’s as impressive as it sounds. But there’s one problem with his budding talent: I can’t sleep through it. At all. As if the sleep deprivation from being up when he’s awake weren’t bad enough, I’m also up when he’s asleep.

Dear Pinkies, please welcome Tara Sophia Mohr, a life coach, workshop leader, and author of the blog Wise Living. Tara is here today with some thoughts on backing up and making time for ourselves, even in the face of fear that we'll be letting others down. (Sound familiar at all, Pinkies?) Thank you, Tara, and welcome to the Pink Posse!