As 'America's Got Talent' starts another season, I am reminded yet again of the greatest tragedy to ever grace my life: realizing that I can't sing.

While many people are blessed with the voice of an angel, there are those of us who sound like a cat getting stepped on. Accepting that singing is not one of my talents has made me more deeply appreciate people who can sing and the hard work they put into their skill. People who cannot sing typically go through a similar route to arrive at this heartbreaking realization.

1. You live the first 6 or 7 (or 12) years of your life in sweet, sweet denial

2. You dream of killing it on a live stage in front of an enormous crowd

3. Then one day, you hit a note that sounds a little off

4. But you keep singing because it's your ~destiny~

5. Then it happens AGAIN

6. Someone (lovingly) tells you, "You just can't sing. Please stop."

7. You try to prove them wrong, but you sound like a helium-filled frog

8. Your dreams of being TEEN POP SENSATION HANNAH MONTANA are crushed before your very eyes

9. You swear that no matter what happens, you will never sing again

10. Buuuuuut you still secretly jam out in the shower

11. And in the car with your best friend (because that doesn't count)

12. You realize that life's too short to care too much about what other people think

To all my fellow whale-noise makers out there, keep on singing.