An Open Letter to Celine Dion

Celine Dion recently announced that she has permanently canceled all upcoming tours because she was diagnosed with a rare muscular disorder called “stiff person syndrome.” She held back painful tears, acknowledging that she’d no longer do what she has always done: create magic with her voice. I saw sadness and emptiness, as she lamented, “All I know is singing. It is what I have done my whole life and it is what I love to do the most.”

I don’t have the privilege of knowing the famous singer, and I’m more of a Sinatra crooner myself, but her sentiments really touched me. If I could send her a note, I’d send her this…

Dear Celine,

Twelve years ago nearing my 40th birthday, I had a midlife crisis and decided to become a modern-day Sinatra crooner while still maintaining my day job. I recorded a few albums, made some videos, performed some great shows, and tried desperately to break into a very tough business.

After a few years of hitting the pavement, I wrote a new one man show and was ready for my big break. A camera crew, family and friends all came to celebrate my upcoming one man show. The day of the show, I had lunch and suffered vocal paralysis due to a reflux attack. Darn that babaganoush!

It was so devastating. Not only did I have to cancel the show and disappoint a whole lot of people, but I realized that my singing career - and all of my dreams - were in serious peril. That evening marked the beginning of a long arduous three-year journey.

I kept saying to myself, Why would God do this to me? My lyrics are a lot cleaner than your average rapper, and I don’t even perform on Shabbos. After a year of doctors and surgeries, I was relegated to constantly clearing my throat. I used to say, “God, if there was one body part I wish you wouldn’t touch, it’s my throat.” I entered the worst depression I had ever experienced. I kept saying to myself. What am I going to do? There is nothing else that I enjoy that I’m good at?

So in some small sense, I can relate.

I failed to realize then that God specifically chose my throat to get my attention. Every single thing we endure is already known by God and many times what we think of as an accident is in fact the opposite.

I was here to do something more than entertain people with my singing voice. But I couldn’t see that at the time.

God, in His infinite ways, knew that I became too involved in my career and was failing to see the bigger picture. I was here to do something more than entertain people with my singing voice. But I couldn’t see that at the time.

After much soul-searching, I started focusing on another dormant talent: my speaking voice. Who knew? After all, I was a very poor student in high school and college, and the last thing that anyone would ever think of me is that I would be writing books and articles. It took me a few years to figure it out, but I took the advice of Ellen Weiss, a light to many, who told me “Avi, you’re just being repackaged.” I didn’t understand what she meant at the time but I came to understand that sometimes we are faced with insurmountable challenges, but they are really rerouting us to a different place where we need to be. Usually these reasons are not apparent at the time, but hindsight has a funny way of bringing clarity.

I came to realize that I had other hidden talents which I ignored since I was hyper-focused on singing. A completely different world opened up to me that only could have happened once I stopped singing.

Celine, God Who created your molecular structure, from your pinky toe all the way to your vocal folds - and everything in between - gave you the talent to move millions with your voice. And He is acutely aware of everything you are feeling in your heart, as He told Moses, “Who makes a mouth for men or who makes one dumb or deaf, or sighted or blind. Is it not I, God?”

Celine, may you find an inner peace that brings you wholeness of being and purpose.

Think of how Christopher Reeve or Michael J. Fox, two wonderful actors and supremely talented individuals who were forced to give up all they knew and loved: acting. Yet both of them became pioneers, raising hundreds of millions of dollars and a greater awareness about their respective conditions.

Celine, your golden voice will never quiver or shake thanks to the recordings that will last eternally. Your voice touched hundreds of millions of people and will continue to do so whether or not you can sing. Your singing voice may be diminished, but your heart and speaking voice can effectuate change and still touch the hearts of millions of adoring fans throughout the world.

The road is tough, but your heart – and your voice – will go on.

At first I didn’t realize that my setback turned out to be a setup - for a different type of career. Today, through the grace of God, I was given my singing voice back, but my focus has changed and it has become less of a priority. Celine, let this be your prayer: That you see yourself as more than an iconic singer and that you find an inner peace that brings you wholeness of being and purpose.

Respectfully yours,

Avi Ciment