Abundance


Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude.
 
E. P. Powell

 
Happy Thanksgiving! This goes out to all of you, even if you are somewhere where you don’t celebrate this American Holiday. It’s time to reflect and appreciate what you are thankful for; your many accomplishments, the lessons learned by embracing your mistakes and failures; appreciation for your teachers, coaches, friends, family, and community – all those that help support your journey.
 
President of the United States, George Washington proclaimed the first nation-wide thanksgiving celebration in America marking November 26, 1789, “as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favours of Almighty God.” In the 1820s, Author, Sarah Josepha Hale, took up this cause because she believed we as a people needed a Holiday that brought us together without the boundaries of religion, ethnicity, or age, spent 40 years in pursuit of this goal. She wanted a Holiday to bring our nation together in celebration of our thankfulness for not only the fall harvest, but so we could have a time to reflect on the importance of family, friends and community. In 1863 President Lincoln proclaimed that Thanksgiving would be celebrated on the same day each and every year, the last Thursday in the month of November, by all the United States. And so here we are…
 
What a wonderful opportunity for you to truly appreciate all that you have contributed and accomplished in your life; your accumulation of wealth up to today. Not just career wise, but as a human being. It’s the small things that we often overlook that you might start realizing are the stepping stones needed to take you where you ultimately want to go. Real wealth comes when you choose to never make decisions from a place of lack. When you believe that you are worthy of being who you are as you present and represent your Personal Band, you always radiate abundance, trust and can easily connect with others which is sooo very appealing and catching. By deciding your own worth you negate the petty gossip and the ugly evil of the “status” game. It frees you from fear of how others see, hear and feel your presence. It’s a much deeper way to connect to others when you have the guts to invite others into your personal space and then treat them with respect and dignity as you actively listen to what they are saying. This authentic display of self is contagious and will come back to you a thousand fold. Then you have to be careful what you wish for, because it will happen.
 
Thanks for letting me be part of your process and journey. Until next time.
 
Carol
 

Carol Kirkpatrick

For as long as she can remember, singing and performing have always been in Carol Kirkpatrick’s blood. From her beginnings in a small farming town in southeastern Arizona, through her early first-place triumph at the prestigious San Francisco Opera Auditions, and subsequent career on international stages, Ms. Kirkpatrick has thrilled audiences and critics alike. “A major voice, one worth the whole evening.” (The New York Times) Since retiring from the stage, she continues to be in demand as a voice teacher, clinician, and adjudicator of competitions including the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.  Combining her knowledge of performance, business, and interpersonal skills, she has written the second edition of her highly regarded book, Aria Ready: The Business of Singing, a step-by-step career guide for singers and teachers of singing.  Aria Ready has been used by universities, music conservatories and summer and apprentice programs throughout the world as a curriculum for teaching Ms. Kirkpatrick’s process of career development, making her “the” expert in this area.  She lives in Denver, Colorado.   YouTube.com/kirkpatrickariaready