Salley Lesley becomes psychotherapist, beats cancer, and releases a CD
When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened." - John M. Richardson Jr.
By Mike Cox MWC423@bellsouth.net

Salley Lesley performs her new CD, which was inspired when she counseled others to release their creativity.

Salley Lesley was one of the winners in the Through the Eyes of Art songwriting contest in October. River of Love was selected to be part of the Saluda Shoals celebration of waterways. In November, she

released her first CD, I'll

Stand By You… My Dear

Friend, dedicated to cancer victims and survivors.

Lesley is beginning her third vocation at a time when most her age are paying close attention to the annual Social Security printouts.

Lesley grew up playing piano and singing in the church choir. In college, she picked up her first guitar and began performing.

Marriage, teaching school, and raising children shifted her focus away from music. After her kids left the nest, she went to graduate school and became a psychotherapist and started her private practice.

Nine years ago, Lesley

was using the book The Artist

Salley Lesley's CD Cover

Way, by Julia Cameron to help women remove obstacles from the creative process. The sessions also touched her, and she started playing again.

She purchased a guitar and took lessons from teacher Barrett Smith. Almost immediately, Lesley wrote her first song. Her husband learned to play banjo and joined her for Bluegrass jam sessions.

Lesley was struck by the horrors of deadly childhood illnesses while volunteering at the Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, and she was moved by the positive attitude of victims.

After surviving breast cancer in 1995 and seeing several close friends fight the disease, Lesley used a gift certificate from her husband to Sugar Recording and made a CD to raise money for those affected by the illness.

The CD includes six original songs, one original arrangement, and covers of songs by her favorite artists; Joni Mitchell, Shawn Colvin, and Paul Simon among them.

One of the original songs in the collection is

based on the book Daughter

of Iraq, Mayada, by Jean Sasson: the story of an Iraqi woman who was imprisoned during the Saddam Hussein regime.

Sasson, along with syndicated columnist Kathleen Parker, have spoken with Lesley and spread the word.

Lesley says her husband Edwin has been her biggest asset, giving her complete support and encouragement. She also credits her daily habit of prayer, meditation, and yoga with keeping her creative juices flowing.

Information can be found at her website; www.salleylesley.com