For our Simple Gifts performances, Sam Bohlander-Green shared a story of gratefulness for the simple gifts around him in nature.
“Recently, I laced up my hiking boots for a 6 mile trek at Willow River State Park in Hudson, Wisconsin. I brought with me everything I needed – water bottle, a granola bar, sunglasses – and I left my phone in my car.
Normally, my phone is on my person counting my steps and buzzing whenever a text or email comes through. Not this time. My pockets may have been only about 6 ounces lighter, but the weight taken off of my mind was immense.
Typically, my ears are covered with headphones studying and memorizing music. My ears also serve me within the rehearsal room – nitpicking my colleagues about vowel shape, timbre, vibrato, intonation, phonation, placement, rhythmic integrity, historical performance practice, stage presence, chiaroscuro… On this day, however, my ears were treated to the breeze stirring tall grasses, the tumble of water over the falls, grasshoppers darting out of my path, and the rhythmic crunching of my feet treading the ground.
My eyes witnessed the changing of the seasons: beautiful hues of chartreuse, scarlet, gold and fading emerald showing from all directions.
I felt the sun’s warmth on my neck and shoulders. I found and focused on my breath. What a gift – to escape the urgency and din of city life and and simply be present with the earth and oneself.”
Read another of our stories of gratitude at the link below.
And there’s still time to join us for Simple Gifts online (Oct 23 – Nov 8) to hear more of our stories of gratitude paired with some of our favorite choral classics and newly beloved tunes.
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