Happy Thanksgiving – Giving Thanks
Posted on 24. Nov, 2011 by Per Bristow in Communication, Performance, Singing
It is Thanksgiving here in the USA – a holiday that I have come to love tremendously.
While giving thanks is not limited to one single holiday, I love the idea of a special celebration to reflect on gratitude and giving thanks.
Therefore, I want to take his opportunity and really give thanks to YOU. I am tremendously grateful for all of you: Visitors to my websites, subscribers to my newsletter, customers of the Sing With Freedom program, members of The Singing Zone and private clients.
I am not only grateful for the fact that you inspire me and drive me to grow and improve. I am also grateful for the fact that you are out there also striving to improve, wanting to explore capacities within you, wanting to sing and express and communicate in some way to have a positive impact on other people’s lives.
If I turn inwards, one of the things I am most grateful for is that some time early on in my life, I developed a belief system that focused on possibilities. I accepted that I have no idea of what is possible, and therefore nothing can be impossible.
I recognized moments when I surprised myself, such as the understanding that nervousness actually made me better, that fear had a purpose to propel me to learn, that changes could be made. I learned that the enormous power of the mind can change you from loser to winner (and vice versa) in a matter of minutes or even seconds.
In times of utter darkness and pain, when things have just not been working out (oh yes, there have been many such times) I have always trusted myself to find solutions. The more I learned to not blame outer circumstances, the stronger I became and the greater the possibilities became.
In all of this lies the desire to learn, grow and improve. It is something I love so dearly and that I have always been able to turn to when I am faced with great challenges. I devoted my life to coaching not because I wanted to “teach”, but because I want to help others learn and discover unknown possibilities within themselves.
And that is why I feel so grateful for who you are, and that you are on this path.
Gratitude is easy to feel when things are going well, but is not easy to feel when we face tough times. But it is in the darkest moments I have learned to turn inwards and be grateful for having a desire to dream, for wanting to improve and learn, for trusting and accepting what is, and for trusting that I can discover inner resources to improve the situation. I have never stopped discovering and learning, and for that I am immensely grateful.
THANK YOU – who in some way are a vital part of my life.
Facebook Like Box
Natalie
26. Nov, 2011
Thank you Per,
What a beautiful message of gratitude, thanks, perseverance and all the things that make us human beings so wonderful. And a huge thank you to all the messages posted here, some of which has moved me to tears. I love when words and song move me to tears, it stirs my soul and lights my fire, re-ignites my passion and gives me strength. This is what I need when life gets hard and appears unforgiving. I am so pleased already with the confidence and improvement of my voice, I’m so grateful I found you and these lessons. Thank you Per and Merry christams to all x x
Nofrianty
26. Nov, 2011
Thank you very much for your Thanksgiving message, thanks also to the ways of good singing. That is very useful for the development of women’s choir that I lead at our church.
Sorry I can not speak English very well, so I can not talk much with you,, I just say thank you…
Nofrianty
Denise
26. Nov, 2011
I am very thnakful for your wisdom & all the lessons you have taught me.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas.
May the New Year bring you Health and much Happiness.
Denise
cjm
25. Nov, 2011
Dear Per,
I also thank you for including me in your Thanksgiving message. The individuals who are drawn to your website and to your musical message are like friends and family to me. I can identify with each and every one, and it is comforting to me in this world of diverse ideas to find a place where I truly feel I fit in. Age seems to be no limiting factor, gender is no issue, and the important factor is a belief that we can all learn and improve.
Your insight is genuine, and I have incorporated so many of your teachings into my life…my gratitude is deep and sincere.
Carolyn
Venlonge
25. Nov, 2011
Thank you Per, I almost feel as if you are speaking directly to me just this morning I was thanking God for someone who done me wrong, for truly when I look at the situation even though the immediate retuns were unfavorable in the the end I stand to gain tremendously and for that I am GRATEFUL tough times indeed seem to be my friend after all. Happy Thanksgiving to you and everyone else out there, It’s reeally good to give thanks.
Margaret
25. Nov, 2011
Thank you for your gratitude. It takes humility to be thankful. your singing lessons have always been part of where my inspiration comes from. I love 2 really learn more from you, infact i wish i could just meet you face to face because i have very much i would want you 2 teach me better. i love you you for your positive impacts. i pray God bless and give you the grace to continue doing good…
claudia butler
25. Nov, 2011
Thank you Per. I hope you had another happy thanksgiving in the USA. I am so grateful for your singing lessons. They bring me the joy which comes from expressing increasingly improving sound, breathing fully in the now, and improving my sense of wellbeing. I go to Unity Church where I feel the most secure and love to join with the congregation and choir, singing descants and my own harmonies. I was blessed with perfect pitch since a child but my self-esteem was so low, I could not express myself when anyone else was present. By the age of 6, I was doing exams in piano and violin and later, in my teens, had singing lessons with an Italian master. But my insecurity prevented me from really singing with the master present. So I could not carry on. However, I have loved Opera ever since and attend every opera event I can. We have our own Opera company in Victoria, British Columbia, where I live.
The latest opera here was a world premiere of a new Opera by
Andrew P. MacDonald, ‘Mary’s Wedding’. I also attend all the cinema presentations of The Met when they start another opera. I am anticipating a wonderful tour this spring entitled ‘European Spring festivals’. Music is the dominant focus of my life and opportunities for symphony performances, chamber music, opera, ballet, etc, abound here.
Thank you so much, Per, for all the increased enjoyment and knowledge you have enhanced my life with.
Love and light…Claudia Butler
Marchi
25. Nov, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
I hope you enjoy the period!
Here in the UK we have no such special dads. However THANKSGIVING is a personal/global phenomenon in the sense that people are always giving thanks for different reasons in their lives
It is good of you to use this period to write to inspire people in an indirect way. THANKS to you!.
John Ng
25. Nov, 2011
I too THANK YOU Your optimism and fighting spirit are so admirable. Such wonderful thoughts!
Rose
25. Nov, 2011
Hi, Per.
I am considering buying your course, and reading this has given me confidence in you as a person.
I respect what you say about not blaming outer circumstances but going within and finding one’s own strength to handle the dark times. I feel too that it is the essence of living a good life to be helpful to others and to trust one’s own ability to find solutions and create a meaningful future.
Best wishes to you,
Rose
Vesi
25. Nov, 2011
Hi, Per!
Great post and there was a paragraph that I’m truly grateful you’ve sheared: the one about your system of believes based on the acceptance that one has no idea what is possible, so therefore nothing shouldn’t be impossible. Very logical and I like logic, and one embraces what he likes
Thanks for all you did, do and will do for my development as an artist and human being!
Best,
Vesi
Anna Timchenko
25. Nov, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving Per and all who read this!
I would like to thank you for your open hearts, for sharing your best feelings, for this possibility to send you my love and respect! To you all who believe and go.
Hope to join one day))
ronit
25. Nov, 2011
thank you Per, you always have something good to give and you remind me these things that I know but forget… your voice is deep, free and warm and that’s why I believe you… I am 57 and never stoped dreaming to become a better singer.
Sonda
24. Nov, 2011
Music is the Magic that Makes our World a better place. Thanks Per for sharing your talents and helping others to find their way.
May you be blessed for your generosity.
PREM
24. Nov, 2011
Dear Per,it is indeed a lovely message you have out there for each one of us!May the Almighty bless you and keep you safe to serve humanity always.
Jim
24. Nov, 2011
For a number of years I toiled in ad agencies during the day, writing ad copy and developing market strategies; at night I fulfilled my dream of unburdening myself in song, while getting paid to do it…….allowing a regular emotional catharsis. My wife and I had many reasons to say “thank you”. At 86 I have retired vocally by choice; my wife through dementia. To everyone still waiting to live their dream please do it while you can. And, finally, Per a special Happy Thanksgiving to your for helping so many others reach out for their dreams. God bless.
Aggie VanNote
24. Nov, 2011
In Thanks
I know I never say some things as often as I should, or as frequently as you should hear them. So let me take a moment to set forth my declaration of thanks…..
I am thankful for friends who touch the heart, and give justification to life and love.
To those who caress the essence of the soul and give me a deeper purpose.
And those who light my spirit and dance into my life and light that spirit with fire.
For the friends who truly care and always help along life’s path.
For those that pick me up when I fall, those who are there to lean on, when I’m too weak to make it alone, and those who embrace me when I need the comfort……
For my love, whose understanding and compassion enfolds me, whose desire is endless and passion is fervent and unrelenting.
For family, whose love is without conditions and is limitless.
For the stranger, who smiled and brightened my day.
For My God, who gives me breath and eternal hope.
To All, I am thankful, and grateful, for it is all of you who make my life complete. May your world always be filled with the same friendship and love you have given to me, and much more…….
- Agnes VanNote -
when the funds are available… I shall purchase! Happy Thanksgiving, today and everyday you wake up!
Kevin Hancey
24. Nov, 2011
And thank you Per for instilling in all of us that confidence that is so sorely lacking and for showing us that with thinking positively as you do we can move forward and give a backseat to the fear that was holding us captive and strangling our vocal chords. Yours is a method that I can attest to wholeheartedly, confirming that my singing voice has definitely improved and my tone and range has expanded from what it previously was.
Singing is not my profession or business but a strong passion within that I enjoy tremendously … so much so that I spend hours at a time singing by myself because of the enjoyment and happiness it gives me.
Thank you for all that you have given and shared.
Wanda
24. Nov, 2011
Dear Per,
Thank you for including me in your Thanksgiving message.
At age 72 I have realized the unfulfilled dreams I had and am now able to accomplish. I had to put Art out of my life for so many years and never dreamed I would one day draw and sketch to my hearts content. I am now living my dream in that area.
My second dream was to sing again. Not professionally, just comfortably. I am now sining in my choir and enjoying very much but know I need to improve and be able to enjoy and express how I feel inside. That’s what my drawings to for me. I want the same with my voice. I do pray that soon I can take advantage of your opportunities to learn.
Thank you, Wanda
Elizabeth
24. Nov, 2011
Thank you! I value your passion, your wisdom and your generosity. I love remembering that learning and possibilities and transformation can happen when we are open to examining and changing our perspective!