Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ingrid Smith. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ingrid, appreciate you joining us today. So, let’s start with a hypothetical – what would you change about the educational system?

In todays world it is crucial to prioritize the following subject that focus on the following:
Teaching about empathy, digital literacy, meditation practices to promote mental health and stress
Health education to cover physical, mental and emotional well being
Exploring spirituality, understanding and respect
Community service and volunteer work
These changes could help students become well rounded, empathetic and responsible individuals in today’s and tomorrrow’s complex world.

Ingrid, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I was born during WWII in Germany, my father got killed in 1945 the last day of the war, my mom had to take care of me alone. So she left me alone at home, because she had to work to make a living, so did all her family and friends. It was a tough time, more for them than for me. I loved it, we had a dog, he was my companion and we roamed the woods with other kids in the same situation and lived very dangerously. Walking through ponds, climbing trees, eating berries we did not know, if they were poisoned, skipped school ….. it was great …. We read books, when we were around 10 we learned English and French …. I wanted to become an actress, my mom and family were against it … I wanted to perform, I wanted to sing …… When you are 21 they told me, you can do anything you want …. So I did, after school working for a bank , I decided to join a band which worked for the American USO in Germany. I became a singer and drummer and pretty soon we got a contract to work for the USO in Greece, Turkey, Italy and Spain and Germany of course. I did this for 10 years …. and so fate set in … I met an American Soldier, fell in love and we are together since the early 70s. I stopped singing with the band, we lived in Spain for a while working together for a fashion company and came 1981 back to the States. I was impressed about fairs, flea markets , art shows ….. you can make money with this ???? So I started making jewelry working on my own, there was no internet, so I went to the library and got books about jewelry making …. That was the beginning. I made shows, later on moved to Orlando and got an offer by Disney World to have my own business in a theme park. Appr. 10 years ago , the desire to make music came back and I was lucky because of Social Media I met composers, musicians and Frank Starchak, music producer in Deltona, Florida. It made all the difference . He understood what I wanted to share, we created 27 songs, I started making videos ….. I got over 20 music awards since 2019 …. yes, I will celebrate my 82nd birthday in September 2024 and I am not finished ….. Follow your dream, it is not easy , but with music and a creative mind …. you can do it ….

How’d you meet your business partner?

My business partner is my daughter Angela Alexander, she is not only the best daughter a mother can wish for, but she also married a gentleman with a creative mind, Tom Alexander, who also became my partner. We own Gem Creations SA Inc for over 20 years …. between my old fashioned ideas and their 21st century brain storms , what can go wrong ? It just works.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I cannot believe, but my life is getting shorter and shorter, I cannot image not creating anymore, so being creative on a daily basis, gives me the feeling of living forever. I will continue with music, I am working on a booklet DECADES AND THEIR PURPOSE IN LIFE, I am working on a CD project including CHAKRAS and a CD project working with ASTROLOGY.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: instagram.com/therajewels or instagram.com/eclipsethesongmaker
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eclipsethesongmaker
• Twitter: @therajewels
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/TheIngridSmith
• Other: https://facebook.com/gemcreationsinc

Image Credits

Thirl Hupp, photographer