Meet Cinder Shine

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cinder Shine. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cinder below.

Cinder, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
I looked up all forms of definitions and concepts of resilience as I was getting ready to write about where I get my resilience from. I have everything “they” talk about. The one attribute that I have, that I think most important, no one mentioned. Optimism.
I am an optimistic person and that is the core belief that makes me resilient.
I am always looking for something going right.
In the midst of things going wrong, I look for what’s right. This focus makes me follow the trail back to OK, no matter what. That is resilience, being OK no matter what.
I don’t look back for my silver linings…I look forward with the question…I wonder what the silver lining will be with this shit that’s happening right now.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
They call me Cinder Shine because I bring a joie de vivre to everything I do and everyone I do it with. From the endless cancer treatments that prolong my life, to each song collaboration, I bring a smile and an uplifting attitude. I look for and find the good in everything. My optimistic outlook makes each day a gift and mostly a joy, no matter what.

In 2019 I got off my motorcycle and couldn’t walk, cancer, metastatic to the bone. I am diagnosed with an incurable blood cancer that occasionally (OK often) fractures my bones and has almost killed me a couple of times. After I got over the shock and awe in 2019, I asked myself, “what if this were the best thing that ever happened to me?”

That question changed the direction of my life. I decided if it wasn’t fun, I wasn’t doing it. I won a song writing contest and the judge said, oh that song could be in a movie. I thought…oh that would be fun. Next thing you know, I found myself in a class of 350 song writers and musicians from around the world studying how to make songs for TV, ads and films. I started my shiny and fun music journey at that time.

Now, I write, produce and sometimes sing, songs for TV, ads, and films. I am known as the “hook queen”. I see and hear song hooks everywhere and bring them to my collaborators. My ability to see and hear hooks is directly related to my focused optimism. I start each day the same, if I’m not good, I look for OK and take it from there. If I’m feeling good then I fly with that. I put feeling good first. I am able to separate the physical drama from my emotions. So I can have a good day no matter what.

The funny thing is, I’m happier now than I’ve ever been and you can’t believe the pain and hardship I live with. So was cancer the best thing that ever happened to me? Yes. In 2021 the cancer got into my skull and face and I had to be radiated. My friends did a GoFundMe to get me to LA to make a record before radiation stole my voice. So were those tumors the best thing? Yes. I have an amazing record out called Trace the Sky.

This past December I almost died (again) and not knowing what might happen next I got to LA to make 2 more songs releasing later this year. Each chapter of my life gives me lessons to teach and songs to write. I go live on my socials to share my experience, strength, hope and joy. I inspire many.

On March 1 I am releasing a collection of 4 songs (3 from Trace The Sky) called Songs for Your Rainbow Bridge Heart. People who love an animal knowing their hearts will break, that is a rainbow bridge heart. I will be asking people who stream the music to donate to a local animal shelter. When they send me a screen shot of a minimum $100 donation, I will gift an online live performance of the songs for a group of their friends.

I will be releasing a book called Fun Fun Fun Dead in the spring, how to live like there’s no tomorrow without a terminal diagnosis. Right now, with the drug I’m on (they keep coming out with new drugs for me just in the nick of time), I am planning on a good year of living.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I got a guitar for my 7th birthday. My mom made me practice even though it hurt my fingers. I never learned to read music but I developed a great “ear”. My singing and playing through the years brought me and others great joy and opportunity. Never think less of your musical skill because you have no theory. I have great ears, it’s enough. Learn to trust your ears, theory 0r no theory.

I have always been a little weird. Kind of a loner. I often see a way of doing and being that is different than mainstream. I have been able to know and follow my own path. When I see or know something is a yes for me, I take a step towards it. A small step is all that’s needed. I am happiest when I’m on my own trail. In motorcycling it’s called, riding your own ride. Know what’s important to your heart. This will point you in the direction of your own path. When you think you’re on your path, or you see the opening, take a small step, do it now. This is the best feeling of satisfaction. Take a small step on a path that YOU say is important to YOU.

I know what mood I’m in before I do anything. This is my morning practice I told you about. When you are in a good mood, OK or better, I call this Wisdom Head. Wisdom Head is the time to take action or pay attention to your ideas. When you are in Worry Head (I never have to explain this to anyone) try not to take any action except trying to get back to Wisdom Head. Your Wisdom Head ideas will feel good and will put your on a smoother path. You will have more fun.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did for me? The easy answer is to get me a guitar and lessons when we could hardly afford it. The harder answer is how my parents died. My Dad died in 1992 from cancer and he lived his best life up until the last day. My mom chose no treatment in 2005 and we did her bucket list, again until her last day. As I face my own end of life, I appreciate the grace and consciousness my parents taught me through their own dying. I am not afraid to die and my folks taught me that.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Productivity
Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic

Productivity
Tactics & Strategies for Keeping Your Creativity Strong

With the rapid improvements in AI, it’s more important than ever to keep your creativity

Productivity
From Burnout to Balance: The Role of Self-Care

Burning out is one of the primary risks you face as you work towards your