Happy Thanksgiving!
It's an American holiday, but it's still a sentiment worth celebrating the world 'round: gratitude. Quite simply, to live in a state of gratitude is to live in a state of happiness, to see your cup as half full and not half-empty. To count your blessings is to feed your happiness. So I'll start my list of blessings, and you are welcome to continue it, right here or just for yourself!
I'm grateful for:
This community of supportive people at Violinist.com, who feed each other's love of music with their knowledge, their playing, their enthusiasm and their diverse perspectives.
My loving, supportive, and patient husband, Robert, who also makes my (and many of your!) ideas for Violinist.com become reality with his techno-wiz skills!
My noisy, creative, exuberant children, who surprise me at every turn.
My students, past and present, whose progress is a joy for me to witness; and their parents and all the support they lend to that effort.
My own teachers and mentors, whose artistry has inspired me and whose patient attention has helped me grow toward the light.
The great artists of our day, who give over so much of their lives to the perfection of this art, who take risks, who get past themselves to bring so much to us all.
The Orchestra, every orchestra: its supporters, its audience, the people who administer it, the music it upholds, the conductor who holds so much together, the family of musicians.
My friends and relatives, flung all over the world, yet so close in my heart.
Fall leaves, rain storms, first snow, Chestnut soup, vanilla lattes, long walks, long talks, and of course: music, music, music.
Replies
Happy Thanksgiving to the Niles Family and also to the v.com family.
Thanks Everyone,
Coleman Family
Happy Thanksgiving, Laurie! That is such a nice list. There is so much to be thankful for, including life, health, family, music, and Graeter's Ice Cream.
I give thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ, who helps me in all things. I am thankful for family and old and new friends that support, encourage and help me along when I least expect it. Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Jerald Franklin Archer
I am grateful for for many reasons. First is violinist.com. I am part of a virtual community and have friends whom I've never met in person. I've learned so much about all aspects of the violin, including techniques for playing, ideas from other teachers and students, knowledge about great violinists who have passed on, enough links to youtube to keep me up all night, and other people's relationships with their friends, family, and violin. Students, I especially appreciate what you say because it helps me to understand and help my own students. Thank you so much, Laurie and Robert Niles.
Next are my violin and bows, especially my #1 violin which I've been playing since adolescence. It used to belong to my violin teacher, and it has a beautiful sound.
My professors in college, who believed in me when I didn't. They changed my self image and many paths I chose later.
My close friends, people who obviously care about me and whom I can rely on.
All the opportunities I've had to listen to good music live and on electronic devices and all the opportunities I've had to play music with friends.
Living in the U.S., where I have freedoms and a good standard of living.
My occupation as a violin teacher. I love to teach one on one, to help people, and to make them smile. After a while, they seem like extended family to me.
My inborn musical talent, which has enriched my life in so many ways.
I am thankful for Violinist.com and all the funny, sarcastic, enriching and educating people who contribute to this wonderful little community we have here:)
I am thankful for meeting the people on here that I have. I enjoy reading all the blogs about personal experiences and learning from the discussions.
I am thankful that my family has survived this long through the tough emotional times.
I am thankful that my family has a very good house and things within.
I am thankful for my mom and dad. They have worked hard their entire lives and now my family is very well off and I wont have to worry about not having a place to sleep like some children sadly do.
I am thankful that I can get a new bow next week.
I am thankful for my close friends who make me laugh and smile when I'm sad and don't want to... That they make it hard to stay depressed. And Lexus, who makes me do crazy things I would never do without her forcing me to and dragging me kicking and screaming from one crazy thing to the next...
I am thankful for my musical oppurtunities that I have access to. My violin, my bows, and the money that goes into maintanence and repair. The oppurtunity for me to have nice shoulder rests and order expensive strings and rosins etc. The ever increasing demand of sheet music which I've spent hundreds if not over a thousand dollars on, and that my parents pay for almost all of the things I require.
I am thankful for my grandma who offered that she would like to go to Philadelphia in the summer with me to the Strings International Camp if my dad or mom can't.
I am thankful for all the material things my parents have worked hard for me and my brother to be able to have. That we are able to wear nice clothes everyday. Have electronics like my laptop I'm typing this on. So I'll have to say the thing I'm most thankful for is family! They make everything I do and have possible.
______________________________________
Well, my list isn't that impressive but that's all I've got for now:)
I'm busy with family visiting but would like to say heartfelt thanks for violinist.com. Without it, I am not sure if my daughter or I would still be playing at all. But, my daughter is making progress and will be playing Christmas Carols in the church pageant on her violin, and I'm playing concertmaster for Handel's Messiah in a few weeks :)
I want to thank Laura Niles and the violinist community for this wonderful website which has aided me tremendously.
I would also like to wish everyone "Good Health, Peace,and Happiness" for the upcoming holidays and New Year.
Joseph
First of all, I have to thank God, because without Him, I wouldn't have anything.
In these trying an uncertain times, I am thankful for having a home (although it needs a lot of work), food on the table and clothes on everyone's back. I am also thankful for my children who have kept me grounded and focused on the above. I look at them and see what they have sacrificed and they smile at me and tell me it's ok.
Sometimes, when I wish I could have more money or have materialistic things... I look at my family and think, I am rich, but just not the way most people think. :)
On a much lighter note (no pun intended) I am also thankful for the V.com website which is about the friendliest website online. Thank you to those who have truly helped me in the passed. My daughter wouldn't be where she is now, if it weren't for the online help. :)
Happy Thanksgiving to all V.commies!!
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November 27, 2008 at 09:49 PM ·
I am so greatful to my wounderful and very talented violinmakers who had made the violin of my dreams and who really are truthful to the art of making violins even in this so commercial era!
I'm so greatful to my teacher who shares her great knowledge with me and takes so well care of her students. Furthermore, for the fact that she had taken me and gave me a chance as a student when I was so desperate about my playing and had a very poor level/skills because I had started late + being so patient for all the horrible noise she has heard from me!!!!!!
I'm greatful to my parents for their financial support and sacrifices to allow me to have a skilled teacher and good quality instrument even if they do not understand me because I'm the only musician.
I'm so greatful to my wonderful instrument with who I share everything, very bad moments but also the most wonderful ones of my life. It plays so well that I refer to it as a partner instead of just a simple tool... It has the sound and flexibility of my dreams and this and the fact that I was lucky ennough to find it is priceless
finally, I'm so greatful to my modern Idols: Vadim Repin and Sarah Chang for the wonderful tradition they make alive still today! + my ultimate idol of the older generation David Oistrakh who's playing change the world and brought joy and hope to his generation as well as the following ones!
I'm not forgetting this wonderful site and all the fantastic V.commers that help me to see that are people who love and play violin (because I have to confess that I know no musicians where I live and don't have time to go out very much to know some with my studies.) I am glad to see that I'm not an alien! THANKS Laurie and Robert!
My religion is music and I'm thankful for all the wonderful things it brings to humanity!
Anne-Marie