tag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:/blogs/bianca-basso?p=17Bianca Basso2018-10-27T11:21:25-04:00BIANCA BASSOfalsetag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/54887882018-10-27T11:21:25-04:002024-01-20T10:31:09-05:00Bianca's Blog has moved...<p><span class="font_large">Please go <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.BiancaPittoors.com" target="_blank">here</a> to read blog posts</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/45307842016-12-30T10:04:22-05:002016-12-30T10:04:23-05:00On the 6th day of Christmas<p><span class="font_large"><em>"The secret is to make sure your family comes before anything else, because no matter what you do you’ve got to come home." </em>-<strong> Barry Gibb</strong><br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/eefafb7dedf91193ea7971b6352693d4a7013cb9/original/photo-on-2016-12-30-at-9-19-41amest.jpg?1483110233" class="size_l justify_right border_" />This year marks 20 years since my last Christmas at home with my family. Christms has always been somewhat of a challenge or me, as anyone who moves away from home may know. All those years of gigging and signing <em>"I'll be home for Christmas"</em> knowing it was not going to happen, always seemed a little sad. I was away from my family and my traditions feeling like a woman without a home. Then I met Marc who loves, loves, loves Christmas.<br><br>In this new life, we have made our own traditions founded on our similar cultural history. In the process we have adapted for the reality of sharing our kids with their other parent and trying to create moments of happiness around the celebration of Christmas. Marc and I have often remarked how lucky we are that our kids get along. Having a reconstituted family can be such a challenge. For us the biggest challenge is to be together everyone. It happens once a year at Christmas time. This year it fell on December 29th at our house. We have our traditions. We all get stocking gifts to share and we open them one at a time, starting from the youngest to the oldest. There is a lot of laughter. As we go around the room, we take turns opening our gifts and discovering who the Santa is. I know looking for that perfect gift on a relatively small budget, is part of the challenge. We have a lot of humour and that tells me we also have a lot of love. It is not an obvious thing this new family: the kids didn't choose us and they didn't choose each other. We know this. Yet they get along; they are each their own person and have their own style with a common thread of artist in each one of them. They are kind, caring and loving and for this, we are very grateful. <br><br>Here's hoping each Holiday season brings families of all kinds together to share in the Joy and Love, just because. Merry Christmas.<br><br>Namaste,<br><br>Bianca</span><br> </p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/44444842016-10-30T18:27:46-04:002017-01-14T11:01:38-05:00#11 - Get rid of one thing a day for 30 days. <p><span class="font_large"><em>“A Sunrise is God's way of saying, "Let's start again.” </em><strong>― Todd Stocker </strong></span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Getting rid of one thing a day! I can’t think of 30 things to get rid of. Are we talking things things here? or … </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/97efcdf1ea233d48430150adfcbf99bd81902e89/medium/img-1010.jpg?1477866426" class="size_m justify_right border_" />The clutter that can accumulate in our lives is considerable. When I was younger and renting, I used to move yearly or less. I remember counting that I had moved 10 times in 8 years. So you can imagine that accumulating was not really in my nature back then. But funny enough, once you settle in, it gets easier to just put things here for now, to want one more of this or new of that without getting rid of anything. That is why professional organizers are in business. A friend of mine has a rule at her house: if something comes in, something goes out. Example, if her kids bring in a toy, they have to let go of existing item. When I learned of this rule, I remember feeling some discomfort; a slight panic even. Yeah, I had to face the truth that my stuff was comforting me as much as my carbs in the kitchen. Even if I wasn’t the kind of girl who was always shopping, I was very attached to the things I did have. Was it because I had spent so many years working hard for every penny? Was I compensating for my years of loneliness when I left home? Was I building a wall of security around me or what? Questions. All optional paths to venture out on as I start again each day. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">I sit here thinking about what to get rid of first, painfully aware of the discomfort that comes with it. Halloween candy doesn’t count either. Looks like I will have to journal this one as I go and let you know how I make out at the end of the month. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Namaste! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Bianca </span></p>
<p>This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/44392362016-10-26T20:30:59-04:002017-01-14T11:01:38-05:00#10 - Pay attention and enjoy your life as it happens. <p><span class="font_large"><em>“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”</em> <strong>- Maria Robinson </strong></span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Life is supposed to be for living. I am sure I’ve mentioned it before. But how can we make sure we arrive at our destination when we don’t know what that is? </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/0c8c8bc909ec471f7cdbc0de37465cc2662083b6/original/img-1785.jpg?1477527874" class="size_l justify_left border_" />I love road trips. I have taken my kids on road trips since they were babies so when we plan a 12 hour day of driving, it’s all good. A few years ago someone wanted to offer me car TVs for one of our trips and I just said no. There’s plenty to look at outside. As we leave the house we talk about what we see, the mist in the morning (we leave at 5:30 -6:00 AM) the Eardley escarpment, the hills and as we drive there is just more and more to see. We take turns picking which CDs we listen to and sing along of course. We talk a lot. We are in a small space for hours on end and sometimes more than one consecutive day and the kids are great. We love it because we understand that a road trip is about the journey. So we stop and go for a swim in lake Superior, the largest body of fresh water on the planet by the way. Or we stop and climb a hill or have some lunch. My friend Guy says that when he goes on a road trip with his family they stop at waterfalls. In the car for hours you learn to go beyond the boredom. Your mind wanders. Somehow as we drive along, I feel that time stands still and the only moment that exists is now. I am in my life as it happens; what came before is behind me and what road I decide to take right now, changes the journey ahead. Just like life. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">I am including pictures; stories from the road. Not just memories of a great trip but reminders to focus on the journey in life. No matter what your destination, fall in love with the road that takes you there. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Namaste! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Bianca </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! <br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/14e78052fbde736953583a18edff86d6a90b0c1b/medium/img-1734.jpg?1477527887" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></span></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/42121bbd7a1bad87710be16d8e5ea62ab0d5ace2/medium/img-3357.jpg?1477527949" class="size_m justify_left border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/12faf98f8fa773920baf72ecdd25602bb4ad8e8e/medium/img-3829.jpg?1477527974" class="size_m justify_left border_" />Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original vintage music, they are<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/c4cf09c1daedabc469fc1838c3ac5c4146631711/medium/img-3048.jpg?1477527920" class="size_m justify_left border_" /> distinctive in their contemporary style.<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/c7a44aace8ee6103aa3fa0073d68958ba2ccac48/medium/img-1533.jpg?1477527832" class="size_m justify_right border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/be508cd8e2ac04b5d802e5b5f95970bd15e93595/original/img-1405.jpg?1477527612" class="size_l justify_right border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/da6c56b91ff2d116ca04f9c735742c84000623ce/medium/img-1591.jpg?1477527826" class="size_m justify_left border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/6e4108ba19f16e55b9a8a7f2bc7cc603a7730f9f/medium/img-1595.jpg?1477527828" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/44333882016-10-23T17:16:55-04:002018-06-27T19:20:00-04:00#9 - Address and acknowledge the lesson in inconvenient situations. <p><span class="font_large">“The difference between school and life? In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.” </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">― Tom Bodett </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Such big wisdom in this quote. I love the undeniable truth that lies within it. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/f9b3ed81116305edcc97eb28f0400652a6abce73/original/photo-on-2016-10-23-at-10-15-38amedt.jpg?1477257364" class="size_l justify_right border_" /></span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Recently, I saw someone post how much they dislike when people say, “It must have happened for a reason.” Yet, I believe that life does tests us and everything has a reason for showing up in our lives. It is not that fate has a pre-written plot and we are subject to a pre-destined outcome. No. It is more that every choice we make, defines what comes next. Over the last year I have had recurring situations with a variety of difficult people showing up in my life; some toxic, some just annoying. Regardless of the degree of challenge these relationships have brought with them, they are all testing me. They all bring an obligation to examine what I can change about myself in how I deal with them. It doesn’t mean that I let everyone around me change me; however, it does impose an examination of what I can change, or should change, in order to better navigate the relationship. Or, if you prefer, what I am willing to change or adapt in that moment for the greater good. The outcome of every decision I make in these dynamic moments has a impact on what happens next. I have to examine my motivation; my deep rooted motivation may be trying to elude me. I have found that the various dynamics forced me to examine all of who I am and what is important. At home and at work, we have to learn to choose our battles. I ties in to our adaptability, our ability to see what is really important right now, our ability to learn from every situation. It speaks to me about what kind of leader I am in the world that exists outside of myself but also inside myself, inside my life. Letting go of our ego based reasoning is essential. Letting go of being right in order to do what is right is a core lesson that takes a lot to master. To be in denial about life’s tests and only see them as a burden does not help us. It only feeds fear, pain and sorrow. I don’t want to live in fear, pain and sorrow. I want to live in expansion and happiness. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">I believe that the purpose of our existence here on earth is to learn, grow and evolve. And so, inconvenient or not, that is the true meaning of life. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Namaste! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Bianca </span></p>
<p>This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! </p>
<p>Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original vintage music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/43747472016-09-15T21:30:10-04:002020-07-02T19:47:41-04:00#8 - Concentrate on being positive at all times. <p><em>“I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.”</em> <strong>- Stephen Covey </strong></p>
<p>And thoughts of course! But some times they creep in without an invitation. What do we do then? </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/fab939b7594bf0fae2dffe0729bdf5843d9c2c53/original/photo-on-2016-09-14-at-5-52-28pmedt.jpg?1473989261" class="size_l justify_left border_" />I have not achieved the ability to be positive at all times; however, I have learned to recognize those thoughts and stop them before it becomes critical. Being mindful of our thoughts, like a good little Jedi, is a lesson on a path to happiness. Just like seeing the silver lining on a cloud, there is a lot of good to focus on all the time; but there’s more. Tonight, Marc and I, did a pro-bono gig for an organization that helps children in poor urban areas. The MC who was a member of the board was telling us that he feels he gets so much more, as a human being, from his involvement than he does from his prosperous career. He spends countless hours and lunch times working to do good. Concentrating on the positive can mean choosing to make a positive impact, even in a small way, on the world we live in. We met dozens of people tonight who were investing in a good cause and were happy to be doing good. Good deeds bring us closer to our humanity. </p>
<p>If you find that positive thoughts and feelings escape you, maybe it is time to reconnect with yourself by being generous with others. Offer up some time or a service to someone or some place without expectation of anything in return. The payoff and recognition will come when you realize how good you feel. </p>
<p>Namaste! </p>
<p>Bianca </p>
<p>This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/43710302016-09-13T21:05:03-04:002017-01-14T11:01:38-05:00#7 - Treat everyone nicely, even those who are rude to you. <p><span class="font_large"><em>“My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.”</em> ― <strong>Dalai Lama XIV </strong></span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">It is easy to be nice to someone who is nice. And we know we should be nice to everyone. But not everyone is nice and then that just makes a mess of everything we can be feeling and what comes next. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/bc01ecf370b55545b11b68430aaf50b375229bde/large/photo-on-2016-09-13-at-8-57-00pmedt.jpg?1473815056" class="size_l justify_right border_" />This is a lesson I heard a long time ago. I almost wrote “learned” but that would not be entirely true because sometimes I find it hard to be kind to people who are not. I know I should. I know I must try. I know I should not judge but my emotions or my ego or will have a mind of their own. Although I could not always control my reactions, I learned a valuable skill that helps me travel the road to being a better person. When I am in a reaction, I notice and I stop. I put my reaction on pause. Then I start a process that has helped me a lot. I start down the emotional road to discover what is there. Where does the reaction come from? What is behind it? Why did I react that way? It feels like I have climbed out of my self, to observe and analyze myself. I have found that this process ,of learning to be more self aware, has taught me to be more patient and tolerant with those around me. Obviously, I am not the only one to have a story behind my reactions. Everyone can use a little kindness. I can succeed at being kind even to people who are rude. Sometimes I have had to deal with people who are ruthless. With them, it takes a different perspective and requires digging deeper. I am still working on that. If you weren’t able to succeed this time, try a little tenderness next time. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Kindness is a quality I admire in a person; in any person. I know it lives in me and, like love, sharing it makes me richer and my world a better place. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Namaste! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Bianca </span></p>
<p>This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/43617392016-09-07T21:28:19-04:002017-01-14T11:01:38-05:00#6 - Dedicate an hour a day to something you’re passionate about. <p><span class="font_large"><em>“I would rather die of passion than of boredom.”</em> <strong>― Émile Zola </strong></span></p>
<p><span class="font_large"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/e7137c21226bfaa65e1256aa33baab93a1344de2/original/photo-on-2016-09-07-at-8-57-17pmedt.jpg?1473298064" class="size_l justify_right border_" />An hour does seem like a big block of time for someone like me. How about you? But somehow, finding time to write to you right now is taking time for one of my many passions. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">I can assure you that I will not die of boredom. I have many passions: painting, writing (songs and such) cooking, singing and on and on. The one thing I find I am missing is time. Time is my most valuable commodity. So the idea of trying to find a whole hour to devote to a passion every day seemed like a titanic task. But I found time by thinking outside the box in what I can do when and how. Example: I do my vocal practice in the car on my way to work. I have 45-60 minutes in the morning of uninterrupted time. I get connected with my internal instrument and I wake up my voice in preparation for the day ahead. At one point I realized that writing my blog was therapeutic for me. The mere act of writing it brings me back to who I am; reconnects me after my day. I don’t know if anyone reads them and it’s ok. It helps me. If it helps even one person, it is a gift. So I take the time to write, sometimes in card or a journal instead of a blog, on a regular basis. Painting takes me somewhere else entirely. It is a study too, but I think every artistic expression requires an element of surrender in order for it to be accomplished. Once someone asked me where I got my ideas for song lyrics. The lyrics are already in the music and sometimes you just have to be still to hear the song altogether. I’m like a radio receiving that transmission. The stillness inside is there when I go to my creative space. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">When there is a will there is a way to find the time for your passions. Once you find a way to let go of something and let your passion live, you will open the door to order and be closer to finding your way in this life. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Namaste! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Bianca </span></p>
<p>This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/43580462016-09-05T21:25:13-04:002017-01-14T11:01:38-05:00#5 - Teach someone something new every day. <p><span class="font_large"><em>“Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another and feeling with the heart of another.”</em> – <strong>Alfred Adler </strong></span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Things I learned through my years of teaching voice are, that first you have to want to share what you yourself have learned and second, you have to take a moment to understand what is being requested of you as a teacher. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/4373b59cbfc1c2eff2a6884d423daa690736c014/original/photo-on-2016-09-05-at-9-21-04pmedt.jpg?1473125072" class="size_l justify_left border_" />As a general rule I have never looked for students or advertised for students or really did any serious prospecting for students. So when I got a call from someone asking if I was taking any students, I always felt that since they had found their way to me, there must be a reason and a purpose to us sharing part of our journey together. In the beginning, my students were musicians friends who had always focussed on their external instrument and now wanted to improve their vocal prowess. No matter who or how these people of varied walks of life made their way to me, the synergy and the timing was always very pertinent for both of us. In order for me to help them evolve towards techniques that would allow them to expand, I had to listen to the sounds they were making, simulate them, feel what they were doing physically and then make tweaks and corrections. I had to listen to the technical but I also had to listen to the emotional, the cerebral tune in to the behavioural. All of those things had an impact on their delivery. My job was to teach them to be better singers but in order to do that, I had to learn about them and learn what made me a better singer. I had to teach myself to be a teacher in order to effectively teach others and I had to care enough about them to be all in. If you are unable to listen to others, to have empathy and truly be on the receiving end of what they are putting out there, save your breath. The most important lesson I learned is this: there is nothing you can say that can be of any consequence if you are unable to listen first. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">So teach yourself something new everyday by actively listening to those around you. There is no telling what you will discover. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Namaste! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Bianca </span></p>
<p>This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/43556662016-09-03T09:48:36-04:002017-01-14T11:01:37-05:00#4 - Learn and practice one new skill every day. <p><span class="font_large"><em>“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.”</em> - <strong>Aristotle </strong></span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">If I may be so bold as to begin by adding to what Aristotle has expressed above, I would say, excellence is a choice. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/e89297f0710e09fc8460056d4eddc58cf2dd9f88/large/photo-on-2016-09-03-at-9-15-40amedt.jpg?1472910474" class="size_l justify_right border_" />I just finished reading an wonderful article in Scientific American Mind (once again putting my inner nerd out there) that was speaking about negative emotions. The article describes a problem that has been created in society because of an unbalanced emphasis on Positive Thinking. Now, I for one have read many articles over the years about how a smear of Positive Thinking over a mountain of suppressed Negative Thinking doesn’t provide any positive results. I have come to believe that our thoughts are our thoughts and our feelings are our feelings and Life is full of experiences. So in the end the life we live is built from the choices we make; how we choose to react or not in the face of those big and little challenges that show up every day. I have not written a blog in 6 months which is a big change for someone who used to write to you every day. I let some of the challenges I was facing in the last year and even last two years affect how I chose to live my life. One morning I read this: “Leadership is not a position or a title. It is an action and example.” I chose to turn a corner on my downwards slope and take pleasure in climbing my mountain. So to paraphrase Aristotle, Excellence is not an act but an action. An action that comes from your free will. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">So, our lesson for the day is about integrating a new practice each day. Time to go do that. Thank you to Nathan Tanouye and Dawn Cumberbatch who both inspired me this week. With their words, they reminded me that who I am is still in me and that finding time to work on my own creative projects is about living who I am. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Namaste! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Bianca </span></p>
<p>This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/40855742016-03-12T23:41:37-05:002017-01-14T11:01:37-05:00#3 - Perform one selfless act every day<p><span class="font_large"><em>“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know when it will be too late.”</em> – <strong>Ralph Waldo Emerson</strong> </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Oh yeah! I’m all over this one. I mean, I’m a mom, my whole life is selfless. Right? </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/3795e5158391d87382a548ebec332f86762b58b0/medium/photo-on-2016-03-12-at-11-21-33pmest.jpg?0" class="size_m justify_right border_" />Well, before I could really answer this one for myself, I had to think about selfless. Truly, what person can’t speak to the myriad of things we do for our kids, or our spouse, or a friend, a co-worker, etc. But does that mean selfless. Am I supposed to get out of myself? I had to think about it and roll it around in my head until I got it. I know my act is selfless when I barely realise I am doing it. When my intention is on the others, the ones I am doing it for, then my self is effaced and only the good deed remains. In other words, if you are being nice and it is important that everyone notices how nice you are, it is not selfless. If you can boil anything down to it being about you, you have missed the point. Don’t get me wrong a good deed is still a good deed. The real benefit and acquired consciousness comes when we let go of our expectations and are fully connected with our giving nature. The how or how much isn’t important when the intention is honourable. The gift you get is not recognition but something far more valuable. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">So take this challenge and surrender to your kindness. Put you ego in your back pocket. Do an anonymous good deed. Feel what it feels like on the inside. You’ll understand why this is a big one. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Namaste! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Bianca </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/40810972016-03-09T21:10:21-05:002017-01-14T11:01:37-05:00#2 - Try one new thing every day <p><span class="font_large"><em>“Start wherever you are and start small.</em>” <strong>-Rita Baily </strong></span></p>
<p><span class="font_large"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/727e94d5ed7f9a774e880afe32b51f1cce51c201/original/photo-on-2016-03-09-at-8-37-10pmest.jpg?0" class="size_l justify_left border_" />For the past two days I have been on a course. I wanted to get some tools to deal with people that are difficult. What I got were tools to be better at living with the human race on a daily basis. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Our teacher was an expert. Very competent and very good at getting her information out and into our heads. With humour, real life examples and relating to what her audience was saying, she was inspiring. What was very interesting, was discovering that ultimately we were not going to get tools to change our difficult people. Nope. We did get tools to change how we deal with people, all kinds of people. There are a variety of human recipes out there. Knowing what communication style will be the most effective with them is an art. Lucky for us, if we are willing, it is an art we can learn. And I might add, with the right teacher and facilitator, we can be on our way to trying something new. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">I think it is good to get out of the office once in a while. The change of pace is refreshing and a new perspective can feel like a whole new you. Tomorrow, I am going to start to change my communication, one small step at a time. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Namaste! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Bianca </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/40773212016-03-07T20:06:23-05:002017-01-14T11:01:37-05:00#1 - Use words that encourage happiness <p><span class="font_large"><em>“Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.”</em> – Albert Einstein </span><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/e895e538d0537955ebde3e92c02646e0846bcfec/medium/photo-on-2016-03-07-at-8-01-17pmest.jpg?0" class="size_m justify_right border_" /></p>
<p><span class="font_large">I noticed lately that I’ve been getting a bit negative. I know, I know. How could that happen? After all, to me? But it seems to be sneaky and easier than we think. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">The first item on my list of 30 blogs can change the world all by itself. Taking the time to choose our words carefully is always an investment with a sure return. Even when what we say is difficult, how we say it changes the outcome. Respect comes to mind here and so does kindness. I should say that I make no distinction between my business communication and my personal in the sense that I try to be kind, I am honest and transparent. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">I picked this quote because of what is implied here. Listen. Listen. And listen some more. Understand who you are speaking to and you will hear the words of kindness that will encourage and bring happiness to them. The peace you will find will be sown deep inside. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">May the force of peace be with you and bring happiness to all you encounter. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Namaste! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Bianca </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original vintage music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/40754922016-03-06T14:48:58-05:002017-01-14T11:01:37-05:00Expectations, hopes and fulfilment<p><em><span class="font_large">“If we will be quiet and ready enough, we shall find compensation in every disappointment.” </span></em><strong><span class="font_large">― Henry David Thoreau </span></strong></p>
<p><span class="font_large">I ended my last blog with <em>“Your blissful inspiration is out there. Send it an invitation then allow it in.”</em> What I did not realize was that I was already on a journey. On that journey, I was showed a gilded door. While it was it was partly open, I got a glimpse of what was inside. Wow! I thought. I want to go there! But before I knew it, someone came along and closed it. Yup! Closed it shut and said <em>“Although you would be amazing in there, it’s not going to happen.”</em> So what’s up with that? </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">It has been part of my journey, of course, to ponder this. So what happens to us when we are disappointed? What does it mean? My trusty go-to, the dictionary, says about the word disappoint (verb): <em>to fail to meet the expectations or hopes of; let down; to prevent the fulfilment of (a plan); frustrate.</em> Well I can say, I was plenty frustrated. The higher consciousness me was trying to understand the why and the learning opportunity, but my ego was just very very frustrated and upset. The next day, I learned that my cousin, a cousin I loved a lot and was really close to, died. She was sick. She knew she was dying. She left us. I was ready to be quiet. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/034ca3d613aba73f1310f0e8153fba33a2ed40f4/original/photo-on-2016-03-06-at-2-47-53pmest.jpg?0" class="size_l justify_center border_" />In my life, I have had many disappointments. Like you. What makes us go on? Where is your hope nestled?</span><span class="font_large">For me, it is getting back to what I believe in; in the truth that there is a purpose and a reason to everything. I write today because writing helps me clear my mind; makes me feel better. It is a way back to myself. I was running in a rat race and was getting away from who I am. Compensation did come in the quiet of my true self. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Now, I’m attempting to leave my expectations behind. I have thought about what is important in my life and will make it a daily practice to enjoy what makes my life worth living. Feel free to join me for the next 30 blogs. I will try to evolve on a theme while a cook, paint, write a song maybe... All challenges are just food for thought and creativity to an artist like me. Let's go!</span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Namaste! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Bianca </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/40283942016-02-06T10:44:27-05:002020-04-22T20:52:53-04:00Could this be the meaning of life? <p><span class="font_large"><em>“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.”</em> - <strong>Pablo Picasso </strong></span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">I went to bed last night, my soul wrapped up in a peaceful blanket of pure bliss. We were out at the Ottawa Winter Jazz Festival and were privy to a trifecta of musical enchantement, each group building on the previous wonderful performance, until we reached the evening’s final heavenly ascension. (audio) </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/6d0d9b842b4213e079a486df7549b0b42aa5e873/medium/img-0024.jpg?0" class="size_m justify_left border_" />The festival organizers had masterfully crafted the evening to be a mind, body and soul experience. The Chocolate Hot Pockets started us off with an intense driving musical set. The band was young, ambitious, their minds and fingers racing. A very tight group and certainly one to keep your eye out for. Nice writing, great playing. These boys are dynamic and full of life. I was living those moments vividly. Next was the Mike Murley trio setting up a beautiful contrast. I had not heard Mike Murley in a while and never in this format although it has been going on for many years. There was a transparent humanity woven in to the musicality here. A exquisite repertoire offered with mastery and feeling. Non-standard standards provided the template for a very touching experience. When that set was over, I was filled; filled with warmth and a happiness that music played very well can bring. I could have died with the contentment that I had experienced a very beautiful moment in my life. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/bf6af35721476cf4249d312012d8eb5cc6bbd760/medium/img-0780.jpg?0" class="size_m justify_right border_" />During the break I thought, “This has been really good” secretly wondering if the next performance, even if I knew would be masterfully executed, could continue to escalate the musical experience I was in. The Fraser Hollins quartet features living musical greats. With Fraser Hollins was Joel Miller, Jon Cowherd and Brian Blade. Playing original compositions by Fraser Hollins and Joel Miller (I just want to say WOW here) there was an interiority, a centering quality, from which the musicians allowed the music to take on an exponential dimension before releasing it through their instruments. Greater than us, this wave carried us out to sea with a gentle but unmistakable force. We were immersed in an authentic human experience. It built upon everything that came before it, to deliver a sublime moment, steeped in humility; humility that can only come from transcendance . It was a spiritual experience. In those moments, I was one with myself and with all. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Music, and art, can have such a powerful effect on us human beings. As an artist and a giver of music, when I am on the receiving end, my heart is as wide open as when I am the one on the stage. When the magic starts to happen, I just open my flood gates and let the flow of happiness in. The moments that were before me may have come to an end, but at home, we have a boy who got his photo with Brian Blade and a pair of sticks that are better than bars of gold. I have my memories of seeing such joyful musicians give us all of who they are, each one of them. Then upon waking this morning, wanting to write, to paint and sing the joy that is still resonating therein, I am inspired. Alleluia! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/a0d66c1f40f04957bee2596edd31e98bac0a38fb/medium/img-0782.jpg?0" class="size_m justify_right border_" />Your blissful inspiration is out there. Send it an invitation then allow it in. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Namaste! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Bianca </span></p>
<p>This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! </p>
<p>Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original vintage music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/39895562016-01-14T21:25:51-05:002017-01-14T11:01:37-05:00Good night my dear, good night my dear, I'll see you in my dreams.<p><span class="font_large"><em>“Nobody has a perfect life. What you see on the screen is the best of the artist.”</em> - René Angelil </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">As I have listened to Marc speak about his 20 years working with Celine and René, I can say, the best of the artist begins in the eye of the beholder. René saw good things in the artists he surrounded himself with. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/3d8a0b81db05a9156a5c2e5793ebcef5cab4afda/medium/images.jpeg?1452824721" class="size_m justify_left border_" />This morning Marc woke up and said, “I don’t know, I feel a kind of sadness…” We went on with our morning routine, getting ready, each going on our way. There was something. We sent each other some warm messages in the day; something we are usually too busy to do. Then on the way home in traffic, Marc texts me. He may be delayed, he’s been busy doing interviews regarding René’s death. It’s the day… Within minutes a reporter calls me on my cell wanting to know how to get in touch with Marc. The evening has been a whirlwind of calls and interviews, radio, tv and print media. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">I always wanted to meet René but never did. I would see him on occasion from afar. I knew him through Marc’s stories and account of his spirit and his generous nature. Once as Marc’s sisters were in Vegas waiting to meet Celine, René came through the green room and said hello, then said to them in his unique raspy voice, <em>“Marc is Perfect.”</em> </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">So now in the quiet of our home, we reflect, we mourn and we celebrate a man who has been such a big part of Marc’s life. Maybe what we see on screen is the best of the artist’s advocate too. Three cheers for a life well lived. Enjoy your next adventure lil' angel! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Namaste! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Bianca </span></p>
<p>This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! </p>
<p>Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original vintage music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/39681052015-12-28T12:10:13-05:002017-01-14T11:01:37-05:00The best things in life aren't things...<p><span class="font_large"><em>“Learn to die and you learn how to live.” </em> </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large"> - <strong>Morrie Schwartz</strong> via <strong>Mitch Albom</strong>, <em>Tuesdays with Morrie</em> </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/325754e0da46345ee4e74406a1bc6dd6eca19eac/original/photo-on-2015-12-28-at-11-23-48amest.jpg?1451322547" class="size_l justify_left border_" />This book carried me through the days before and after Christmas. I found little moments each day to read a few chapters and stayed up reading after Marc had fallen asleep. It is filled with so many lessons about life. I just loved it. </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">My daughter came home from school with this book, Tuesdays with Morrie, sometime in November. I recognized the title but I had never read it. As usual she fired through it, but this time, when she was done, she suggested I read it. I was happy to oblige her. What I didn’t realize was that the very act of reading this book forced me out of my usual over achiever routine to get on top of what is next on the holiday agenda: the next meal, desert, ready the stuffing, calculate this, run out for that. Marc often queries, “Don’t you ever stop?” I don’t. I get up at 5:30. I get ready, have a bite, a bit of coffee, get a lunch together and I’m out the door between 6:30 and 6:45 AM to get in to work by 7:30. I like to start early because I get ahead of the traffic and get a jump start on most people who get in later. Even if I have a lunch I don’t stop for lunch most days at work. I just eat at my desk and try to get ahead of the stack of work that awaits us every day. When I leave the office (rarely on time) I tackle my 60 - 90 minute drive to get home to start on supper for the family. On the way home I call to find out what is on the homework agenda, I need to get an idea of what is waiting for me. Sometimes I stop at the grocery store; that is if it wasn’t already done over my lunch “break”. Along with being the family cook, tutor, dishwasher,taxi driver, there is laundry and just a constant onslaught of to-do’s that comes with each and every passing day. Morrie’s story drew me away from this pace. This rat-race pace of existence. I always used to say, “Life is for living” but I have not been my own poster girl as of late. Was I letting something inside of me die?</span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">I finished the book this morning. I was touched by all the wisdom it contained. I was touched by the story of this beautiful friendship. Even more so, I was touched by the truth that reading it was a gift: a gift I bestowed upon myself. It brought me back to my humanity. Thanks Mitch for sharing your final thesis with a great life Coach! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Namaste! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Bianca </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original vintage music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/35326402015-02-15T15:51:53-05:002017-01-14T11:01:37-05:00It's a holiday tree. What difference what holiday?<span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“The stiff and unbending is the disciple of death.</i></span></span>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>The gentle and yielding is the disciple of life.</i></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>Thus an army without flexibility never wins a battle.</i></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>A tree that is unbending is easily broken.”</i> - <b>Lao Tzu</b> (c.604 - 531 B.C.)</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); min-height: 12px;"><span class="font_large"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/14822d8102f88a2f9b1fab9f90fa1a5f9f3a57d4/small/img-0066.jpg?1424033291" class="size_s justify_left border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/0144c6a62c2be7f91307b3bbac79f9f59f9df536/small/img-0068.jpg?1424033331" class="size_s justify_left border_" /></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/b058b2357f10d610c1bff55792a941796347ae8e/small/img-0069.jpg?1424033348" class="size_s justify_left border_" /><br>It’s February 15th and our holiday tree is still up… but it’s coming down today!</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">It came down actually. Every nutcracker and ornament has been carefully packed up for another 10 months. We are just waiting for a day when it isn’t -35 to put it all away in the garage. Good thing it is so sunny. We can stay where it is warm and cheerful. My son remarked that it seemed so much roomier without the tree. I think I am ready for the spring expansion because I was happy to see some regular homey things around. I think we went to the very end of the christmas decoration experience. </span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">So here are some pictures of our “Valentine’s tree”:) There were a bunch of hearts scattered about. Perfect!</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/34844702015-01-24T17:43:15-05:002017-01-14T11:01:37-05:00No Mockingbirds were injured in the writing of this blog!<span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“If you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”</i> – <b>Atticus Finch</b> in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)</span></span>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 36px; text-indent: -36px; font-size: 15px; font-family: Times; color: rgb(50, 51, 51); min-height: 18px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/f0a5b409c865e5a7cd666b5c2fa8f39d8b81c480/original/photo-on-2015-01-24-at-5-23-39pmest.jpg?1422139318" class="size_l justify_left border_" />It is nearing the end of January and my Christmas tree still reigns over the main level of the house. What to do? What to do?</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">It is interesting to look back at how each generation changes the shape of society. We look at how we were raised, taught, treated. We decide what we want to keep and pass along to our children. I do think we are more aware of our choices. That’s great! But it also comes with the responsibility of dealing with the consequences of those choices. As a parent, I can choose to be my kid’s buddy or my kid’s mom. I am their mom. I say things like, “You know I have to enforce consequences now? It’s my job as a mom to punish you.” Or at other times I provide them with the right frame work that will help them shape their lives and their choices. Being a parent has responsibilities. That hasn’t changed. What is different may be my relationship with my children. My kids know there are no second chances and I am not embarrassed about telling them their behaviour is inappropriate even if we are in public. There is room for discussion on any subject and I will give them an honest answer (even if it means I will opt for the “medical” explanation). My round about point is, I try to see the other’s perspective. There are so many times it has helped me be a better employee, team mate, musician, mother, partner… fill in your own blanks.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">What the heck has all that got to do with a decorated tree? I’ve got three people happy that it is still up and that it lights up our dark winter nights. When I crawl inside their skin, I’m happy too.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/34731112015-01-18T15:54:27-05:002017-01-14T11:01:37-05:00Going for a spin?<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“To be alive is to be dizzy and not to know exactly where to go.” </i></span><span style="color: rgb(24, 24, 24); letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;">― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/45650.Ander_Monson" style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #000000"><b>Ander Monson</b></span></a>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(102, 102, 0); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/22a54caf4acb099d6b37c338cc45258a07d8724b/medium/photo-on-2015-01-18-at-3-31-09pmest.jpg?1421614447" class="size_m justify_left border_" />Well I must be really really alive because I have been so dizzy that I can barely walk.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I have this weird condition that hits me every couple of years. Ten years ago, I woke up one morning, sat on the edge of my bed and was so dizzy I fell back and couldn’t get up for at least an hour. The dizziness made it hard to stand, or walk, and I certainly would not be able to operate a vehicle in such a state. A visit to a specialist confirmed what my research had uncovered. Inside the labyrinth of our inner ear there are sensors that float around in the liquid and send messages to our brain. It regulates balance and the brain confirms those messages with reports it gets from our eyes. In my ears, the sensors clump together and send skewed reports to the brain. The disparity with the messages sent from my eyes cause the vertigo to set in. Since it is a mechanical issue, there is no treatment or cure. The specialist could not offer any explanation as to why it happens or what the causes could be. So I spend the two or three days it lasts completely unable to do anything and virtually exhausted by the dizziness.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">So now I am at the end of day three. Having had a lot of time to just sit immobile wondering what could possibly be at the root of my issue, I still have no physical or spiritual answers. I hope I can work tomorrow as I have missed enough hours already due to my kid’s life changing accident. I am living in a whirlwind. My life has changed dramatically in all kinds of ways. Maybe I need to adapt to this new pace, this new direction…</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I can walk now. I still get dizzy. I am glad to be alive so I will find a way to march on.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/34692952015-01-15T20:10:14-05:002017-01-14T11:01:37-05:00I can do that.<span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“One friend, one person who is truly understanding, who takes the trouble to listen to us as we consider a problem, can change our whole outlook on the world.” </i><b>– E. H. Mayoli</b></span></span>
<p><span class="font_large"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/57fc7c2483e2e9701d651ab85f066b6e1113ba67/original/photo-on-2015-01-15-at-8-01-00pmest.jpg?1421370564" class="size_l justify_left border_" /></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-size: 1.4em;">Sometimes all I need is for someone to listen to me.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">It is a normal reflex in all of us to want to give advice or find a solution or to react to a part of what someone is saying to us. But it is soooo true that what all of us need is to be heard. I need that too. Even, I think that the ability to express verbally, not vent, but express what is troubling me, allows me to see clearer. I don’t want a solution. I want to free myself from what is troubling me if only for a while.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">So next time someone is pouring their heart out, just listen to them. Listen all the way. We all need to be heard. Sometimes that is the only solution we need.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/34650632015-01-13T19:37:33-05:002017-01-14T11:01:37-05:00step one: listen up<span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Listening is an attitude of the heart, a genuine desire to be with another which both attracts and heals.”</i> ― <b>Sura Hart</b>, Respectful Parents, Respectful Kids: 7 Keys to Turn Family Conflict into Cooperation</span></span>
<p> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 36px; text-indent: -36px; font-size: 15px; font-family: Times; color: rgb(50, 51, 51); min-height: 18px;"><span class="font_large"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/8880c64f0cfad7acd803a394e2e417379b299691/original/photo-on-2015-01-13-at-7-34-41pmest.jpg?1421195801" class="size_l justify_right border_" /></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I don’t know exactly where I would classify this one because it fits in sooooooo many places. I think it has to be the most under valued quality in a person and the most important gift we can offer another.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Generations ago, people sat around a table or a living room and conversed. That means one person talked and the rest listened. then one person replied and the rest listened. There was a culture where we did not interrupt or speak over someone loudly. When we listened, we really listened. I have a parenting book in my library called “The Discipline Book” and very compelling is the subtitle: “How to talk so children will listen and listen so children will talk.” Even if you never open the book what is on the front cover gives you tools to help you succeed in most of your relationships. How we say what we say and how we listen to others will determine, for the most part, what we can expect from our relationships. I have someone in my entourage that is always saying, “You never listen!” to everyone. The real irony is how little this person listens to others and even to himself that he does not notice how inconsistent he can be in a single sentence.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Let’s allow ourselves to learn from that guy. This week’s task: listen to yourself speak. Notice what you say, the words you choose and how you feel while you are speaking. No need to change anything. Just listen and notice. You can comment and share your findings is you wish. </span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/34614202015-01-11T15:15:04-05:002017-01-14T11:01:37-05:00Do it once, then a 1000 times<span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.”<br>- </i><b>Aristotle</b></span></span>
<p><span class="font_large"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/6e39e080405349cb770e243f19700d9d9f93aaf4/original/photo-on-2015-01-11-at-3-11-57pmest.jpg?1421007273" class="size_l justify_left border_" /></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This year, I have decided that I a few subjects would be recurring in the course of my week: our ability to create, be it our lives or our art; empathy, a much misunderstood concept and consciousness.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Increasing our awareness of all these things comes with visiting them on a regular basis. So if you are with me, I will try to publish something 3 times a week. I invite you to comment. It allows my writing to become more than a conversation with myself. After all the point is that authentic human connection I am always pursuing.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">So tune in regularly and we will see what we have become when we emerge on the other side of the worm hole ( or warm whole?) :)</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original vintage music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/34603872015-01-10T09:29:55-05:002017-01-14T11:01:36-05:00I get it!<span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“You can only understand people if you feel them in yourself.” – </i><b>John Steinbeck<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/38d448ea8fce79b7f45e409afe15140b47a0f3ca/original/photo-on-2015-01-10-at-9-03-24amest.jpg?1420900162" class="size_l justify_right border_" /></b></span></span>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">As a singer, I studied music but in addition, I studied lyrics. I dove into the stories and words and characters in each song. If the words didn’t resonate with me, then I wouldn’t sing the song. I had to get it under my skin, or had to get under it’s skin, or I couldn’t bring it to life.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I believe that we have an obligation to feel the music we are playing. In jazz we have this incredible legacy of great, timeless songs, just out there for us to borrow, learn from and earn a living with even. We have a responsibility too, towards all the writers that poured their heart and soul into each piece. We owe it to them to study them, to get to know a little about them, to try to understand who they were and what they were feeling. What was going on in the world when the piece was written. It is part of the art of interpretation, with or without words. It is easy to spot instrumentalists who do this too. When you stand in front of an audience, it is what you feel that reaches them. Only what comes from the heart can reach the heart. The rest is superficial and illusive. When we feel and sing or play what we feel, we allow the audience to go there too. In this way, even something painful can become something beautiful. To feel that heartbreak allows us to release it from our broken heart’s grip, if but for a moment. That is how healing happens. It happens through an authentic human connection.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">There is an art to life that I have discovered in my life as an artist. I have found a truth that allowed me to transfer this connection with people. The more I listen to others, the more I understand them and the more I understand myself.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/34574382015-01-08T11:40:17-05:002017-01-14T11:01:36-05:00A little crisis, a little adrenaline and a little faith.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“<span class="font_large">Sometimes you need a little crisis to get your adrenaline flowing and help you realize your potential.”</span></i><span class="font_large"> ―<b> </b><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>Jeannette Walls</b></span></span></span><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #000000">, <span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i>The Glass Castle</i></span></span></span>
<p><span class="font_large"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/8b0c2e642db8272f7b5ec7f31b99ed9e24dfaeb5/original/img-9852.jpg?1420735142" class="size_l justify_left border_" /></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-size: 1.4em; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Let me tell you, my adrenaline is flowing all right. Now, let the potential be realized!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I have been pondering in my “spare” time. (The word “spare” is in quotation marks because it is a farce to even think there is a parent on the planet who has more time than tasks but that is for another blog…) I have noticed that my life is a series of waves and patterns. Happy joyful moments followed by challenges followed by calm followed by something new. I have challenges. They are multiple and have presented themselves in many shapes and sizes. I can’t always see what my purpose is and I don’t always understand the evolutionary opportunity that is the treasure within but I believe there is a reason. I have observed that although I have had more challenges and failures than other people I know, I remain far more hopeful and open to good things happening. I have a secret weapon. It is faith. Yup good old garden variety Faith. It is the one thing my not always successful music career has given me. The strength to keep going even when I can’t see how it will happen. We do have to believe, I am talking really believing here not wishing, in order for anything to come. The energy we put into our dreams is not at all the same if we just wish rather than believe. Wishing has a element of doubt. Belief does not. That is what i leaned from my previous crises. </span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">We have a book at my day job: The book of answers. The idea is you randomly open it and will find an answer or a phrase of enlightenment. I have opened it to “There are obstacles to overcome” repeatedly. Good thing I know I have the potential to overcome whatever comes my way. I have had a lot of practice.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/34516132015-01-04T21:40:34-05:002022-01-07T00:55:11-05:00A year filled with magic could be fun...<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning.”</i> <b>-J. B. Priestly</b></span>
<p> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Imagine starting each day with the thought that it is magical.<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/11af310598ec28f789c764af713f0610eb2963a3/original/photo-on-2015-01-04-at-9-20-03pmest.jpg?1420425552" class="size_l justify_left border_" /></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I must admit I do not start each and every day like that. I do start each new year with the thought of something I want to work on, or achieve. I think it has always helped give me focus and direction. I don’t want to be the kind of person who just is there punching a clock or letting the days, weeks and years go by. It is so easy to let life pass us by when we are just working for the weekend. Every moment there is an opportunity to create. As I sit on my couch looking at the snow falling and the glow of christmas lights, I wonder what is in it for me this year. What do I want? Where do I want to be in 12 months? Right this second, I don’t know and I don’t actually mind that I don’t know. Maybe letting go is my motto this year. Letting go of those things and people I can’t change. Letting go of expectations. Letting go of fears. Letting go disappointments and wrongs I can’t right.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Without all that baggage it might be a year with more opportunity. Bring it on! I’m wide open to possibility and my calendar is as free as I am. Lucky me and Happy All Year to you :)</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/34433792014-12-28T23:45:50-05:002017-01-14T11:01:36-05:00A new resolve to ponder<span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you don't.”</i> </span></span>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>― Steve Maraboli, </b>Life, the Truth, and Being Free</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/1eb521a11ab9175109138293a8d9d07e4b54be25/original/photo-on-2014-12-28-at-10-10-23amest.jpg?1419828172" class="size_l justify_right border_" />This sounds like a very good New Year’s resolution. In my pursuit of fully being in the moment, I thought this one really deserved attention.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">So many of us are trying to create our lives with our thoughts and our feelings and all those other bits and pieces our modern day gurus keep telling us. Yet, for me anyway, there is always a bit missing here, and a frustration that bounces back there and things change but things don’t. How many people do you know who always end up back in the same place, same relationship same career dynamic. And the list can go on and on. I am one of them. Frustrates me. I wonder why I can’t get beyond it. Then I read that quote up top. Ah yes those sneaky control issues disguised as ambition or focus. They do keep us from clearly seeing that in order to create the life we want, we have to let go of the life we don’t want and more importantly all those things we can not change. Ever. No matter how much we try to do the right thing, or be nice to people because we don’t want other’s unkindness to change us. The truth is it changes us in a not so good way. So why not make a resolution right now. Change your mind about what your options are. Look for what you can change. Take a long hard look at what you can’t change and then change how you feel about that and change how it affects you. I suspect we may all start to feel like there is a shift in control; not in the control freak kind of way but in the “I’m in control” confident way. </span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">A confident person doesn’t have to control others. They are in control of themselves, their own lives, the decisions they take and the commitments they make. A person connected to their power is always aware that even if life is ever changing some things are not theirs to change. Letting go of what we can’t change is the first step towards incredible change. Who’s with me?</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/34406252014-12-26T23:59:42-05:002017-01-14T11:01:36-05:00Half-man or closet superhero.<span class="font_regular"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“In this world, who can do a thing, will not;</i></span></span>
<p><span class="font_regular"><i style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;">And who would do it, cannot, I perceive:</i></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24);"><span class="font_regular"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>Yet the will's somewhat — somewhat, too, the power —</i></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24);"><span class="font_regular"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>And thus we half-men struggle.” </i></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>― </b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/24391.Robert_Browning"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #000000"><b>Robert Browning</b></span></a><b>, </b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/263424"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #000000"><b><i>Robert Browning's Poetry</i></b></span></a></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/80ae381a41fd511f820d38d8f36cf38526ece2db/original/photo-on-2014-12-26-at-10-11-24pmest.jpg?1419656270" class="size_l justify_right border_" /></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I was looking for something as I do. Just the right words. Just the right thought. Just on the nose. Just to the side of it…</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Sometimes I wonder why I have faith. I wonder what I have faith for? Don’t you? I write music that people from all over, in different parts of the world, tell me makes them happy. I think, “Wow! Isn’t that the whole point?” Truly though, why are we here? It seems that lately I spend more time solving problems that I did not create and putting out fires that other people are feeding and feeding faith that is starving itself to a slow painful death. I can’t just sit on the sidelines. If I can make the world I live in a better place, I feel it is my duty to do so. So… is my will my ultimate power? Am I a half-man or is there hope for me yet? In french there is an expression about repairing broken pots. I don’t want that job anymore. I want the job that requires the part of me to make people happy to be ON. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">So who am I really? The one who can do…The one who would do? Stay tuned while I find my cape and my true power. To be continued…</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/33964842014-12-13T19:46:32-05:002017-01-14T11:01:36-05:00Counting: one, two, three...<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“We need deliberately to call to mind the joys of our journey. Perhaps we should try to write down the blessings of one day. We might begin; we could never end; there are not pens or paper enough in all the world.”</i> - <b>George A. Buttrick </b></span>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/d403c5655b56d50a74191810248483f0d29efd2c/medium/img-1773.jpg?1418517947" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Yesterday was the day of good news. I decided that today it would continue and that as long as every challenge is an opportunity to become stronger then there is no bad news only great lessons for which we can be thankful.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">That snippet of zen wisdom comes after the less zen stress I was not able to conquer. No matter how much I tried. The hardest thing for me lately was to be utterly and completely powerless. Let me explain. My daughter had an accident which completely crushed three fingers on her dominant hand. Over the last few weeks it has been meds and surgeon visits to follow up on extensive reconstructive surgery. Amputation was always hovering like a dark cloud. The stress, fatigue and worry about how to help my teenager deal with the psychological scar an amputation would imply was tortuous. I knew I had to let go. I knew her journey was not my journey even if she is on my journey. How could I send my daughter to school one morning and she be forever changed? I could do nothing. Or it felt like nothing… I could not heal her. I was not her doctor. I cared for her. I appreciated her unwavering good spirit. I even appreciated the odd moment when she was acting her frustrating teen age. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">We appear to be out of the critical moment now. I am very grateful for the wonderful and talented surgeon at CHEO, Dr. Duncan. I am very proud of my daughter’s strength. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This week we count our blessings. Marc asked me today what I wanted for Christmas. My answer was this: “nothing, I already got what I wanted.” Christmas has come early. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/33612682014-12-04T15:35:13-05:002017-01-14T11:01:36-05:00I can't hear you...<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” </i>― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1538.Stephen_R_Covey"><b>Stephen R. Covey</b></a></span>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/0937fd1c8d05d3e9df5d586063dd680dc4e514cd/original/photo-on-2014-12-04-at-3-33-48pmest.jpg?1417725278" class="size_l justify_right border_" /></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">On top of all the challenges that have shown up in my life lately, I have an opportunity for evolution (all suffering is evolution says Buddha) that is a true test.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I have long noticed that a lot of people don’t listen at all. They listen for the “space” that allows them to speak. They are just waiting for their chance to express their thoughts and opinions. When I first noticed this, I was genuinely struck with the desire to examine this behaviour in myself. After all, everyone is our mirror, so what we see in others or bothers us in others usually exists in ourselves. Like it or not, take notice and you’ll start to see the truth in that more often than you wish to admit. So I did. I chose to really listen. Speak less. I started to notice how many people who argued about not being heard were themselves horrible listeners. Most of the time arguing at some later point in time that you never mentioned this or said that, or I’m not aware. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">When you are the type of person that has a commitment to harmony, you listen and look for every solution possible. It is the solution that is important. Beyond blame, beyond the cause of whatever problem it is you are trying to solve, the solution itself is the goal. I also believe that every problem has several solutions and that if you are really committed to doing what is right for all concerned, it is possible to find a solution where everyone can be happy. This does require that the other person, or persons, involved also wish to find a solution. This can not happen when one party is more concerned about being right. There are many times when being right and doing what is right are not the same thing. When you are intent on being right chances are you are not listening at all, except for the opportunity to speak your mind yet again.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">So… harmony shmarmony? Well let’s just say even a peaceful warrior is a warrior. Doing what is right might mean changing our aim in order to reach the intended target. Practice makes perfect!</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/33447652014-11-30T23:12:53-05:002017-01-14T11:01:36-05:00Sheep to the power of 10 or empty your psychological trash bin<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">“Some people believe holding on and hanging in there are signs of great strength. However, there are times when it takes much more strength to know when to let go and then do it.” ― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/276090.Ann_Landers">Ann Landers</a></span>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/c40f50f44e6ed2bfcf26dddb2c357ea7a33dcd50/medium/photo-on-2014-11-30-at-11-10-13pmest.jpg?1417407146" class="size_m justify_left border_" />I am in an insomnia daze. I can’t sleep. My daughter makes a whisper of a sound and I am up like a flash (with my cape on I might add). I need to empty my thoughts and let go but it is harder to do than I care to admit.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The last decent night’s sleep I had was November 23rd. Since my daughter’s accident on the 24th, my life has been turned upside down. First it was the emotional trauma and since returning home from the hospital, it has been a rigorous med schedule with timers going off in the night to stay on track. Actually my days are driven around the next timer; everything happens in between. My mind is having a really hard time turning off, not to mention letting go. But I know I have to… It does come down to faith. What we believe in is put to the test every once in a while. So I’m sitting in my living room while everybody in the house is sleeping (thank God for that!) wondering when “tired” will take over and allow me to sleep. The next timer rings in 3 ½ hours. I have no choice but to clear my mind. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I guess I am going to find out what kind of strength I really have, one breath at a time. Good night. I hope…</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/33342732014-11-26T22:02:55-05:002017-01-14T11:01:36-05:00This little piggy had roast beef, this little piggy had none...<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">“Everything you can imagine is real.” ― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3253.Pablo_Picasso">Pablo Picasso</a></span>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/3c5667e6d319f7ffa6db17bcb8ccf2c6f86d3973/medium/img-8788.jpg?1417057134" class="size_m justify_right border_" /></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">When a child is born, we count their 10 fingers and count their 10 toes and are grateful when they are healthy. Then begins the challenge of life.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">When my son was 12 days old he started getting sick. He was a sick baby for the first couple of years of his life and spent them in my arms. For someone who was always suffering, he was a strong sport. I know many an adult who would have complained far worse than my little man. His sister who was always more dramatic was a little different. I used to joke that I hoped she would make her way to Broadway some day so that all this drama would pay off. Well this week, my daughter had an accident. Se had a very serious accident in fact. Her hand was crushed and the prognosis was not good. It was very difficult for us musicians to imagine the outcome for our graceful bird. In the hospital she was calm, she was polite and she was kind to all who tended to her. When the nurse who had been with us for her 12 hour shift came by before going home, my daughter opened her eyes and thanked her for everything she had done for her. Before going into surgery, we took a quiet moment together, to meditate, to pray, to focus on the healing. She had a beautiful calmness about her. She stayed positive. She was in great pain and yet stayed in control of herself.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">After the surgery, when the surgeon told me all her fingers were alive, I was struck with a feeling of euphoria and an overwhelming gratitude. Both plastic surgeons who had reconstructed her had big wide smiles; we had anticipated the worst and had come through with the best outcome. My daughter smiled at us. Back in her hospital room she said to me, “Mom, I feel like there’s all these little construction guys in there busily working on rebuilding my hand!” “You keep imagining them rebuilding you chicken, and remember to thank them for their hard work!”</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">In the end it is the little things that matter. We all have the ability to create a great life. So count your 10 fingers and count your 10 toes and then count all your blessings. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/32222022014-10-07T20:40:41-04:002017-01-14T11:01:36-05:00Hang on a second! <span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>"There is love in holding and there is love in letting go." - </i><b>Elizabeth Berg</b></span></span>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); min-height: 16px;"><span class="font_large"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/6081af6d287d2df05783e2255a2a9d4e912e7bf3/large/photo-on-2014-08-13-at-11-05-18pmedt.jpg?1412728810" class="size_l justify_left border_" /></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24);"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">From the beginning we go through life accumulating. Little babies come into the world and are showered with gifts. Soon the “I want” and “Mine” stages settle in for the looooong ride. It’s all about grabbing on to stuff. So when do we learn about letting go?</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">There is so much baggage that we carry around every day that we could let go of. Just think about it for a minute. Old ideas and perceptions and judgements (most about ourselves…) get heavy and weigh us down. Ever watch a kid in a play area just grabbing and accumulating toys? They come to a point where they can’t carry anything more. Then they are faced with the situation that they can’t pick anything else up without dropping something. This dilemma happens to all of us all through our lives, it just isn’t as obvious that we have to be willing to let go of the what we’ve been holding onto in order to make room for something new. Anyone engaged in the creative knows you have to create space for new ideas to come in. You have to let go. </span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The whole universe is engaged in a big recycling program of composting and transformation. In nature and in life, nothing stays the same for long. We were never meant to hold on to anything for ever, so let go and let life happen. </span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/31903782014-09-16T21:04:41-04:002017-01-14T11:01:36-05:00The proof is in the sharing!<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>"In performance, we have a greater purpose. The greater purpose is that we’re communing together, and we want this moment to be really special for all of us. Because otherwise, why bother to have come at all? It’s not about proving anything. It’s about sharing something." - Yo-Yo Ma</i></span>
<div class="captioned justify_right"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/2ad0d9edcad6e6b816b9400044a3a5e72d584bcd/medium/20140605-brazeau1.jpg?1402881330" class="size_orig justify_right border_" /><p class="caption">Photo by Claude Brazeau</p></div>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Tonight Marc and took a walk in our neighbourhood and stopped in on a friend. We had a glass of port and just listened to her tell us stories. Then she told us that a good friend of hers passed away last month and her last outing before she died was our show in June.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Marc looked at me. “Imagine” he said. I smiled. I smiled because I was happy it was with us. I know she spent an evening full of fun and love and authenticity. I know when I get on a stage I offer my heart and my soul for those who wish or want to take it in. I don’t care all that much about critics. There are always people who do not like (or get) what you do. But for anyone who is looking to feel something real, I bet on me and my music with Marc. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">So we raised our glass of port to Danielle. I will surely think of her when we go back to the NAC on Oct 2nd. Long live life and the memories of those we love!</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/31834792014-09-11T22:29:57-04:002017-01-14T11:01:36-05:00It starts with letting go.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”</i> -<b> </b><a href="http://boardofwisdom.com/togo/?viewid=1010&search=Gandhi"><b>Gandhi<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/454085efcad056c80677791550521b9b1f540a9e/medium/photo-on-2014-09-11-at-7-36-22pmedt.jpg?1410488909" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></b></a></span>
<p><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Times; font-size: 14px;">I had an experience with forgiveness recently that made me realize that forgiveness is more complicated a process than I had realized.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Times;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Firstly we must ask for forgiveness. In order for that to happen we must think we have done something that requires forgiving. I always have a bit of an issue with blaming and find it so unproductive. Blaming someone (or the need to blame someone) means they are pushed very far away, deep down and labelled with a big sticker that says “Wrong”. It puts them in a place where the automatic reaction is to not even want to apologize. There is nothing welcoming about someone who needs to lay blame. Blame breeds resentment not forgiveness. Yet forgiveness is what so many of us seek. That subtle ability to give something back to lessen the blow and lick a wound sort of speak. I personally found I could not ask for forgiveness unless I had forgiven myself. Asking it of myself was even harder than asking it of another. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">If we listen to Mr. Gandhi we will realize that learning to forgive ourselves is a sign of strength. After all how can we even think of forgiving others when we are unable to forgive ourselves? How can we accept forgiveness from another when we can not give it to ourselves? Let go of the blame and release it all to the universe. There is strength in letting go.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/31666352014-09-01T17:04:28-04:002017-01-14T11:01:35-05:00What time is it?<span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #181818">“</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>Life is too short to be busy.</i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #323333">" - <b>Tim Kreider <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/fe87476a259368cbdc50f31ddb6adfb17a2e591c/original/photo-on-2014-09-01-at-4-58-05pmedt.jpg?1409605343" class="size_l justify_right border_" /></b></span></span>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The most precious commodity I have is my time. I divide my time between Marc, my children (2 + 2), my interests (too numerous to mention) and my job. Then of course is a seemingly unending list of projects and exciting recipes…</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Life goes by in a blink, its rate of speed increasing like the rate of expansion of the universe. My to do list is never ending and sometimes I wonder what my kids think as they see me constantly fluttering about, planning and conceptualizing my next stroke of genius, with humility of course. The one thing I am just terrible at, is doing nothing. I believe that is an art. I do not master that art and ironically enough, learning to do nothing is on my “to-do” list. I am laughing at the very thought of it… Right this moment I am writing to you as I sit in the glow of a late summer sun, glass of white wine at my side in the company of another someone who is always creating. Any guesses?</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Life is short but living in the moment makes time stand still sometimes. It happens when I am singing, writing, playing, laughing… creating. Take a moment to be in the moment and life won’t feel quite so hectic. I promise ;)</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/31411202014-08-17T08:01:17-04:002020-08-01T13:55:24-04:00Like something out of this world<span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Paradise Lost is sometimes Heaven found.”</i> ― <b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/11352.Arthur_Yorinks">Arthur Yorinks</a></b></span></span>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">When I was in my early 20s I had a boyfriend who was just one of these lucky people. In the face of unmet expectations, he would always say, “It must be a blessing in disguise!” In the end it always was.</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">A few years ago, when it was Celine’s 100th show, I was fortunate enough to be in Vegas at the festivities. Although I had been with Marc for a few years at this point, the occasion had never arisen to meet this wonderful boss my boyfriend could only say kind things about. That night when the opportunity presented itself, we no sooner had said, “Pleasure to meet you,” that someone hurried us into a pose for a picture and then she was off to the next paparazzi engagement. I had always been disappointed that I, who believes that <em>"Anytime you can make an authentic human connection you have to go for it!"</em> just didn’t make any kind of connection at all.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/ecedbf869e39830075bbe7dda2cd1dadbb1b8d82/medium/img-1673.jpg?1408275786" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" style="margin-right: 20px; margin-left: 20px;" /></span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This week when Marc’s music career with Celine got put on hold indefinitely and he came home early, I was thrilled to have him home. There are the obvious reasons, of course, but also it meant Marc was free to do a gig with me on Saturday night. I knew the guest speaker for the event was <a contents="Colonel Chris Hadfield" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Hadfield" target="_blank">Colonel Chris Hadfield</a>, undoubtedly the most popular astronaut of his generation. When Hadfield was on the space station, we watched his videos. Marc had read his story and said, “This guy is like me. In 1969 when they landed on the moon for the first time, we were watching and we had the same dream. But Marc’s life propelled him into a different star system. So last night, after we were done playing our tunes, we sat in the audience and listened to Chris share a little about his inspiring journey but also about his view of how connected and the same we human being are on this planet. We were honoured to be there. It was a blessing for us to be together in that moment. Then the very talented Mr. Hadfield had Marc join him on stage to play his iconic version of the Bowie classic, Major Tom. And if that wasn’t enough, when he was done, he gave Marc his very very special and cool Space Station pick with his name on it. I’ve got pictures to prove it all happened in real time. It happened because Marc was not in Vegas on stage with Celine.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 16px;"><span class="font_large"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/edb67608ff8630ee3dd8e29e3ed9a065da5bbfe8/medium/img-1678.jpg?1408275800" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="Marc Langis & Colonel Chris Hadfield" style="margin-right: 20px; margin-left: 20px;" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/7bd9645f77bc5073cf9031aae88fe1259f57036d/medium/img-1682.jpg?1408275827" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="The pick that came from space" style="margin-right: 20px; margin-left: 20px;" /></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Originally at this event there were completely different plans. I wanted to be there so I gave my client a bunch of add-ons for free. I really wanted to come home with a picture of me with </span>Colonel Hadfiled<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">; my kids would be so impressed, I thought. In the end, I did not get a picture of myself with Chris. What I did get instead was a kiss on the cheek, a bit of conversation and an moment of authentic human connection that would not have come if I had been focussed on the selfie. The memory of that moment, that exchange, is the blessing I'll keep from what was a most lovely evening.</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Opportunities can happen at anytime. Be careful about what you focus on. You might discover that </span>with your unmet expectation, <span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">a golden opportunity is bundled up like the hidden blessings that it is.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 16px;"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></span></p>
</div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/31286622014-08-09T10:25:43-04:002017-01-14T11:01:35-05:00Live and let love<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Love is a decision, it is a judgment, it is a promise. If love were only a feeling, there would be no basis for the promise to love each other forever. A feeling comes and it may go. How can I judge that it will stay forever, when my act does not involve judgment and decision.”</i> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;">― </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>Erich Fromm</b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;">, </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i>The Art of Loving</i></span>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/8941c322fdab315fe1ccc54508313df336229bae/original/photo-on-2014-08-09-at-10-19-29amedt.jpg?1407594282" class="size_l justify_right border_" />I feel rather fortunate to have come across this quote because it does express how I feel. The promise part has always been a very big part for me. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Let’s start today by defining the terms used in this quote. I love going back to the dictionary because I find that sometimes we forget the full meanings of words. Judgement - <i>a decision formed after careful consideration; the ability to make critical distinctions and achieve a balanced viewpoint. </i>This last one really hit home for me, especially the part about achieving a balanced viewpoint. In love, as in other matters, that objectivity helps us make better decisions. Using judgement has little to do with judging others and more to do with evaluating what is before us. Balance is such a big part of life. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">When my marriage ended some years ago now, I remembered why I had married the father of my children. I had made a promise. My decision to leave was a long time coming. I let sound judgement balance what I was feeling. Leaving was the most difficult decision but I assure you that love and judgement provided a healthy outcome for all.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I know it may seem odd that I speak of the end of my former marriage in relation to this quote on love. To me it seems quite appropriate. Maybe in life if we remember that we love and why we love or loved, as the case may be, all our relations can be experienced as the high art of living they are meant to be.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/31066032014-07-29T21:38:16-04:002017-01-14T11:01:35-05:00Closing the distance<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Love is more than about distance, it's about emotions.” </i>― Yannick Heywang<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/837be66c1aa64137fb08c1b46a0365317bd7b6c4/medium/photo-on-2014-07-29-at-9-30-45pmedt.jpg?1406684272" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></span>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">As happens almost every time Marc goes away, since he goes away for long periods of time, I am asked how we manage it. I have found a way to fold distance and time. My own way of course.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">To put it simply, I write. I recommend that anyone who has to spend time apart from people they love do the same. If you did, you would find that every time you write you must bring yourself closer to them. Now, you can write a number of things in a number of ways. I write cards to Marc on a regular basis and I snail mail them to him at the Colosseum. As he reads them he is brought closer to me and to us and our life here at home. They collect all over his hotel room until he packs them up to take them home. If you are not a writer, you need not worry. It is not the words that you jot down on the page that matter so much as the intention you put into them. You don’t even have to mail them or ever show them in fact. The effect on you will be the same.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I will give you another secret. Just connect with how you feel and the words will come all by themselves, slowly at first but with more ease in time. It used to take me a whole day to write a blog and now the words flow quite freely. Practice makes perfect and every step bring us closer to our destination.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original vintage music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/30873582014-07-20T10:27:02-04:002020-03-11T08:11:52-04:00Kids being kids. Anyone game?<span class="font_large">"A characteristic of a normal child is that he doesn't act that way very often." - author unknown<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/8f98c07bc09453f9896e9249c404dbda9982b367/medium/image.jpg?1405866196" class="size_m justify_right border_" /><br><br>Earlier I my son, after being asked twice to remove himself from the center of the kitchen floor, decided he would crawl to the livingroom. As he got to the hallway he noticed his shadow on the wall. "I look so skinny!" he exclaimed. "I could be weiner dog" Of course this made him very very happy. Indeed!<br><br>I love being a mom. There is no greater test of patience or call to surrender than morherhood. Yet I just love all the quirky stuff my kids do. I am constantly finding "experiments" and observing odd behavior. It is amazing to go back into this wonderful world I left behind so long ago because I was in a hurry to grow up. Well, now I am not in a hurry to grow up at all. I want to stay right here in the deep end of childhood and laugh and giggle and be sad at sad things. I would have never had children if thier father had not wanted them. Thank God he did. <br><br>I think I will go lie on the floor and read or play or something. Coming?<br><br>Namaste!<br><br>Bianca<br><br>Bianca Pittoors is an artist: writer, painter, songwriter and singer. She is half of the group Bianca Basso creators of original music with a distinctive vintage style. Kindly respect this blog as the intellectual property that it is. You may share it in its entirety if you identify the source and the author. Thank you!</span>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/30797732014-07-16T10:57:21-04:002017-01-14T11:01:35-05:00Daring, missing, turning another corner.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Love is missing someone whenever you’re apart, but somehow feeling warm inside because you’re close in heart.”</i> <b>- Kay Knudsen<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/48f9bfce405699374edd83afd6b7cdc7a2f45cc4/medium/img-1611.jpg?1405522590" class="size_m justify_right border_" /></b></span>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I miss music. I miss my life in music. The opportunity to share music is the someone I miss. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">It is true that I never achieved any kind of fame or fortune in music. I am essentially a nobody. So why do I miss being a nobody? When I was busy playing a lot, enough to support my family which is no small feat in jazz in any city, I would spend far more hours in meetings and planning than I would on a stage. I was taking care of networking and bookings. All this was worth it for those few moments life would grant me in front of a microphone. In those moments I feel like my self ceases to exist and I am transported to a higher plane of existence. I am not hungry. I feel no pain. I simply am. It is like being in the centre of a perfect moment. Weightless, timeless, bliss. No wonder I miss it. Some might say I am one with God. Call it what you will. There is nothing like it.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">My life in music carried me through my most difficult years. I am grateful for it and I dare hope that an opportunity to create a new life in music is waiting around the next corner. Let’s go see…</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original vintage music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/30451752014-06-27T19:32:10-04:002017-01-14T11:01:35-05:00Road music<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“The end of a melody is not its goal: but nonetheless, had the melody not reached its end it would not have reached its goal either. A parable.” </i></span><span style="color: rgb(24, 24, 24); letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px;">―</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px;"> </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1938.Friedrich_Nietzsche" style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Friedrich Nietzsche</b></span></a>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/7c31714a6d28932433c8f2eb8acdf561cbf96fe4/medium/photo-on-2014-06-27-at-6-51-31pmedt.jpg?1403911870" class="size_m justify_right border_" />Well Mr. Nietzsche! I do wonder what he ate for breakfast to be so wise.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The dictionary describes a parable as, “<i>A short story that uses familiar situations to reach a religious or moral point.”</i> The melody, or the journey, is a destination within its self. Today was the last last last day of my school program. We had a wrap up to talk about our coop placements and what we did; what we learned. I am very happy that I am at the end, although my goal was to learn. Yet learning brought me to this end. Well, then there is the possibility of new beginnings… Life is learning. Life may have goals but the journey is our destination in this lifetime. I believe that is what we’re talking about here.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">So let the music of life play. It will accompany you on your journey.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/30409872014-06-25T22:23:29-04:002017-01-14T11:01:35-05:00Razor sharp or strong as steel?<span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Absence sharpens love, presence strengthens it.” - </i><b>Thomas Fuller</b></span></span>
<p><span class="font_large"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/53803a8c97fb2191f2743817c7d32897b7c53911/original/img-1520.jpg?1403749373" class="size_l justify_right border_" /></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">What a jewel to find today. The process of finding a quote as a starting point comes from something I have done since Marc returned to Las Vegas over three years ago now. You see I write cards, almost every day and mail them to Marc.</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">In the beginning I found quotes from Japanese philosophy, knowing that Marc appreciates this culture. Then it continued to evolve. It is a process I adopted for my blog too, because it allows me to reflect upon the wise words of others. It allows me to ponder more deeply than just a smear on a FB page. I noticed that this daily investment of time and careful consideration brings with it a presence of mind. Each time I write I am close to my heart and the place I have made for Marc. I hope that each time he reads he is aware of my presence in my words. Intention is another word to describe this process of choosing to be all there and this ability to live fully, give fully with heart.</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I believe I understand Mr. Fuller all too well. Absence creates an emptiness we long to fill. Presence comforts us and makes us whole. If you have not found presence in your world lately, don’t worry. You can be the presence in your life and be your own strength.</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/30176222014-06-15T21:17:39-04:002017-01-14T11:01:35-05:00Photos from our showFor this 250th post, I offer a few photos taken by Claude Brazeau at our show last week.<br><br>Enjoy & namaste!<br><br>Bianca<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/2ad0d9edcad6e6b816b9400044a3a5e72d584bcd/large/20140605-brazeau1.jpg?1402881330" class="size_l justify_none border_" /> <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/c39bf3c80a270ca0fa50219565a69683b5eee85a/medium/20140605-brazeau3.jpg?1402881341" class="size_m justify_none border_none" alt="" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/82d20e3781b68263305404bf4dc3209b439ac068/large/20140605-brazeau2.jpg?1402881337" class="size_xl justify_none border_none" alt="" />BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/29763082014-05-28T11:03:03-04:002017-01-14T11:01:34-05:00While singing a happy tune<span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.”</i> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #000000"><b>― </b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15321.Confucius"><b>Confucius</b></a></span></span>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(102, 102, 1); min-height: 16px;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/123e68737b00d43cc132b0bb4d88821c77b1cb50/medium/photo-on-2014-05-26-at-12-03-31pmedt.jpg?1401289241" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" /><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-size: 1.4em; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); font-family: Times;">Or maybe I sound say while happy singing a tune... as it is with me. Whenever I have the opportunity to sing, it has such a healing effect on me that I am happy for days after. What is it you ask?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Times; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 18px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Times; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I realize, now that my concerts are hand-picked therefore few and far between, how all those years of challenges, when I was gigging regularly, I was able to overcome incredible obstacles. I know it is because I was in music that I found a strength. Music is more than a pleasure, it has this healing effect. If it does with me, maybe it does through me. I hope. </span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Times; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><br><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">May you find the music that resonates with your happiness today and every day.</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Tickets on sale through TicketMaster @ <a data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://nac-cna.ca/en/community/event/9030" target="_blank"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">http://nac-cna.ca/en/community/event/9030</span></a></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/29632532014-05-21T22:11:24-04:002017-01-14T11:01:34-05:00Time to want more.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>It's not that often that I put a cd on and realize that I've listened to it in its entirety and want more.....Well, this is one of those times” - </i><b>Ken Ehrlich</b>, producer of the <b>Grammy Awards</b> since 1980 about <i>“i love”</i></span>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: rgb(24, 24, 24);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/37bd3d2ac1b59b14f0e59d1cf70c1b8a90fb6d85/medium/img-1520.jpg?1400724591" class="size_m justify_left border_" />Yes indeed. I must say that my life has been a real roller coaster of challenges as of late (and not so late) so when Ken’s email came in to Marc’s inbox it was a most welcome moment of bliss.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: rgb(24, 24, 24);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">We have to take them when they come you know. Thos moments of bliss and happiness or just a break from the alternative. Like now. I have just finished a report and before tackling my last project of my program, I am just enjoying writing to you. After my exam tomorrow I will enjoy playing music with Marc, preparing for our upcoming shows. In between scrambling to find a new tutorial sponsor, I enjoy people who tell me they listen to <i>“i love”</i> in a loop in the car or that they feel happy every time they listen. We all have moments when life challenges us. We just need to find those happy times so we can balance it all in the end.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: rgb(24, 24, 24);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">My challenge to you is that you allow yourself to spend a most delightful evening with Marc and I on June 5th. Like Ken, you may just end up wanting more.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></strong></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Tickets on sale through TicketMaster @ <a data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://nac-cna.ca/en/community/event/9030" target="_blank"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">http://nac-cna.ca/en/community/event/9030</span></a></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/29400312014-05-11T22:02:13-04:002017-01-14T11:01:34-05:00A mom is a mom is a mom!<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Being a mother is an attitude, not a biological relation.”</i> - <span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #000000"><strong>Robert A. Heinlei</strong>n</span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #000000">, Have Space Suit—Will Travel<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/52041a48fb1cad2c6bb5c7844e3ba026ff5fc317/large/photo-on-2014-05-11-at-9-59-53pmedt.jpg?1399860079" class="size_l justify_right border_" /></span>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Happy mother’s day. Last year I asked of my children that no matter what request was spoken on my behalf, that the answer be “Yes mom!” My son who thought this would take very little effort was quite enthusiastic at first. By mid-afternoon less so…</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: rgb(24, 24, 24);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">It is, in fact, a very happy mother’s day. On Friday night I was pondering the whole mother’s day thing and how to get around being served some high carb, turn the kitchen into a disaster area, breakfast. So I thought I would make the brunch myself. After all I like cooking. I love my family and isn’t that what being a mother is all about? Loving, caring and enjoying the process? It is. I love being a mom so why not celebrate by being the mom that I am?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: rgb(24, 24, 24);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The day was what it was. A typical day for any mom: conflict management, stress management, time management and some damage control thrown in for good measure. Now I can get back to “normal”!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/29157642014-05-02T13:51:58-04:002017-01-14T11:01:34-05:00To thine own self be true<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“If I’m going to sing like someone else, then I don’t need to sing at all.” - </i><b>Billie Holiday</b></span>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/55705a457ec9288f28c32e29fe8b908be00b9b06/medium/77.jpg?1399052982" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="Photo : Claude Brazeau" /></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: rgb(24, 24, 24);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Actually I just want to sing. I have my own voice. I have my own sound. It has taken me all of my life of exploring and learning and listening to arrive here. I just want to do it.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: rgb(24, 24, 24);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">In the beginning of my career, I used to have people come up to me and say, “You sound just like …” Which was rarely true, of course. I found it a strange comment until I understood that it was meant as a compliment. Nonetheless I didn’t want to sound just like anyone. I wanted to sound like me. That is when I shifted my listening to male singers primarily. I told myself that even if I unconsciously imitated a male voice, because I am a female it would transfer over in a different way. They were the baby steps on my way to finding my sound. I was never the belt out a tune kind of singer. Not my style. So I looked for ways that resembled who I am as a human being to express myself. I tell stories. I draw people in close to me. I am the kind of person who is not afraid of an authentic human connection. I live for it, so I offer it as well. There is a way to challenge ourselves and stay true to ourselves.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: rgb(24, 24, 24);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">With all my students my goal has been the same: to help them find their own voice. The day they find themselves in their songs, is the day a whole new life in music begins. Bravo!</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/28924372014-04-23T12:53:13-04:002017-01-14T11:01:34-05:00Do I hear courage thumping?<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“The only thing greater than the power of the mind is the courage of the heart” </i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #181818"><i>― </i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14312.John_Nash"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #021eaa"><b>John Nash</b></span></a></span>
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<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: rgb(24, 24, 24);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/33c303889ee1cbb03c563e20206c9cabbd474c5f/medium/img-1469.jpg?1398271944" class="size_m justify_right border_" />Today I don’t know who I am writing for. Well, actually, I think it’s me.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: rgb(24, 24, 24);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Yup. Even the girl referred to as smiley, giggles and Thumper (the inexhaustibly cheerful bunny from Bambi) has her days. My days have been lasting for a while now. I am pondering where I am headed and I have no clue. Sometimes I wonder what is the point. You see, even I have these quizicle moments. How do we get beyond such a funk? Right now I am not sure. I have to write an exam in about 25 minutes and I don’t even want to think. I guess that is what Mr. Nash is referring to… Sometimes all this noise in our head only serves to confuse the issue. What is my heart saying? Let me turn down the cerebral volume.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: rgb(24, 24, 24);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Right now my heart is very sad. It has been patched up so many times it must look like gramma’s quilt but it still ticks away. I’ll just plug ahead. Surely life will send a message my way.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/28735622014-04-15T18:32:00-04:002017-01-14T11:01:34-05:00Like a superhero kinda powerful? Yeah! Sure...<span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>Rules For Being Human</b></span>
<p><i style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px;">“</i><b style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px;"><i>What You Make Of Your Life Is Up To You.</i></b><i style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px;"> You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.”</i></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/99c1531bb7c2dfce02904023fc3fcdded3ccc45e/medium/photo-on-2014-04-15-at-6-20-37pmedt.jpg?1397601099" class="size_m justify_left border_" />Yup. The hard core truth of it. Right there on the page. Your life is your responsibility. Now, depending on how you want to look at it, that can be either good, or not.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">In my case, being a glass half full kind of girl, I see it as very good. After all, when I think of things this way I feel VERY powerful. I remember being a younger woman and having a friend who told me in her infinite wisdom, “You don’t have the right to complain about something you do nothing to change.” She may have been fed up with me whining about something (old me) when she said it but let’s move on… The truth of the matter is that when we take responsibility for our feelings and reactions we have the power to change them. What power is there in recycling bad feelings? Answer: NONE! If you can not change what has happened, you must learn from it. That is all that is left to do. And that is entirely up to you. I would be happy to speed up the learning process but as powerful as I may feel, I am not omnipotent. Too bad, I know. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">So we end with more good news. You can do it for yourself. After all, life is for living. How you live it, is all up to you.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px;">N</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">amaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/28347992014-04-01T09:49:49-04:002017-01-14T11:01:34-05:00Is it a dream, a mirage?<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“I would say true love means a genuine and unique connection between two unique individuals... if you think about true love as something that you're after, that you can have, you're missing it.” — </i><b>Joseph Gordon-Levitt</b></span>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/9720929fb736c6376369606a88feed1f8adf0a20/medium/img-1169.jpg?1396360035" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" /><br>Probably most people will have to re-read this quote a few times and ponder it carefully. There certainly is a lot of wisdom in it.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I find it interesting what falls onto my radar screen. I watch no television (long story short: old tv does not receive new digital stations) and only listen to the radio when I am in my car. I read the news on the internet but very little as I noticed years ago that reading the “bad” news (as I think it should be called) discouraged me. So when something does come across my radar, I know there is a message for me. The author of today’s quote has popped up several times int he last 24 hours. I found myself very intrigued with him and coming across these words just confirmed his message. It took me a few times of re-reading, looking at it from different angles, to grip it. Yet it seemed so obvious in the end: love is in us. That genuine and unique connection, that true love, can happen with anyone, everyone I dare say. Of course it is easier to show love and compassion to those we actually like. The challenge, should we choose to accept it, is to flip our perspective so to speak. Connect with the true love inside of you and transfer that out into the world instead.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Chasing after love can seem ephemeral but it isn’t as intangible as people think. The truth is just that we feel it with our hearts, not with our hands. So stop trying to catch what is already in there and unwrap the gift you been carrying all along.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/28286572014-03-29T12:50:39-04:002017-01-14T11:01:34-05:00Kids say the darndest things<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.” — </i><b>Stephen Hawking</b></span>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/d0b4b1c522d4866a09b6a89435f75da23eb3424e/medium/photo-on-2014-03-05-at-10-48-31pmest.jpg?1396111617" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" /></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">“I can’t clean up my room because of entropy” my 10 year old son declares this morning. “It is pointless to clean up my room because the universe is working against me. Entropy is changing and spreading and my room will never become neater.” Oh really?!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">That leaves us with Mr. Hawkings fine words. This imagining of knowledge people have because we are exposed to “smears” of information is misleading. If something you see on Facebook or Twitter or anywhere else piques your curiosity, go look for more. I have noticed that even I am influenced by this FB culture where we look at 2 min. videos or read only a short blog and move on. Yet, thankfully, I go back to my old self and do my research and dig deep into a subject that fascinates me. I don’t want to be the kind of person that quotes information from a FB post or a commercial as if it was acquired intelligence, because it is not. It is informational regurgitation. Why would you sell yourself short? Why do we exclude the actual thinking process from our ability to develop our intelligence? Research and study and coming to our own conclusions is the way. We don’t have to be a genius to be smart. Ignorance on the other hand, does not discriminate and is a pattern everyone can change.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Since no one in my house is an actual theoretical physicist just yet, my son must clean up his room, entropy or no entropy! This mother not only overrules the entropy of the universe, she understands that her thoughts, like the universe are expanding. Time to brush up on my physics!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/28231102014-03-27T12:55:08-04:002017-01-14T11:01:34-05:00Change towards wisdom.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Humility is the only true wisdom by which we prepare our minds for all the possible changes of life.” — </i><b>George Arliss</b></span><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/73d8efe5525c6a7c3a80f0d4d09d619bb4836684/medium/photo-on-2013-11-01-at-1-33-04pmedt.jpg?1395939271" class="size_m justify_right border_" /><p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><br><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I have a challenge at school. Sometimes I find it particularly difficult to have to trim down my efforts to meet the teacher’s requirements.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">It is true that I get frustrated because I have done the job I am studying for. I have been a boss. I have had to hire and fire people. I have managed budgets and have determined needs and planned training programs based on those needs. I am not perfect but I have a significant amount of experience and sometimes more experience than some teachers. It is there that I find it hardest to just listen and deliver only what the teacher wants but that is the what the teacher wants. If a boss asks me for something it is not my place to suggest he wants something else. To give him 20 pages to have to sort through rather than the 2 pages of precise data he requested is not doing any one a service. Learning comes not in doing what we know and how we have always done things but in allowing ourselves to try something new on for size. Value can be found in many ways. As I said yesterday, it is a matter of perspective.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">So back to my homework I go, humility in hand, towards change.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/28148532014-03-26T12:34:51-04:002017-01-14T11:01:34-05:00Well look at that! <span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional.” </i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #181818">― <span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #000000">Roger Crawford</span></span>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/85e3953499df2d648306377400917e3ce0e04db3/medium/photo-on-2014-03-04-at-7-27-34amest.jpg?1395851646" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Sometimes when I have an idea for a subject and I look through my references of quotes I come across so many I would like to expand on that it is hard to choose just one. Today although I thought that is where I was headed, I cam across Roger Crawford’s words and I felt they are so very powerful. Go re-read them now.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I can’t imagine a single person on earth who does not feel that they have encountered a challenge at least once in their lifetime. Now, challenges can vary and our abilities evolve but what we need, in a small degree at least, is the desire to overcome whatever it is that stands between us and our obstacle. We lose when we choose to stop trying. I have to believe that with certainty as I don’t think I would be alive today if I didn’t. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Whatever your challenges are in life right now, and I know this is not a comfort but rather a truth, there are people happy with less, who have overcome bigger challenges and who are in deeper trouble than you right now. Seek consolation in the balance of better or worse, then make your choice about how to live today.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/27974372014-03-23T22:30:07-04:002017-01-14T11:01:33-05:00It's your thing<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not.” - </i><b>Oprah Winfrey<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/d4f5aa64cad1ca33b8334a8bc985abffdfffe76c/medium/img-0496.jpg?1395628043" class="size_m justify_right border_" /></b></span>
<p><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;">I opened a can of worms the other day. I wanted to write more on the subject of integrity without drama, compassion and being kind to the unkind. You see, after I write a blog they kind of roll around in my head for a time. Of course the incident that fuelled the blog did too. It all gets interwoven with other situations and I start to see all these links everywhere. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">One of my favorite things to do is an anonymous gesture of kindness. I find the anonymousness to be a very important part of the growth process. Of course it has happened that someone has taken credit for my gesture, before my very eyes even, but that is also a lesson in letting go; letting go for the ego. The heart wishes to offer love. The ego needs to get recognition. Compassion feeds our heart; drama validates the ego. So where does integrity come in? For me it has it’s place in balance. The respect I have for myself means I would never compromise myself for another or allow another to compromise me. The respect I have for others means I would never expect them to compromise themselves for me. To me integrity is being able to value our human relations. When we are victims of a relationship or make victims of those we are in a relationship with, there is no doubt integrity is no where to be found. What happens to us when we allow that dynamic to take place? We lose our integrity and an unravelling starts to take place.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">It is funny that being factual and unemotional is also a very important part in compassion and integrity. Being emotional is drama and what we truly seek is an ability to care. Care enough to make a gesture of kindness for the sake of kindness. As Oprah says, real integrity is doing the right thing because it is the right thing.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/27905192014-03-21T20:05:02-04:002017-01-14T11:01:33-05:00Calling the great one.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“A time comes when you need to stop waiting for the man you want to become and start being the man you want to be.”</i> <b>-Bruce Springsteen</b></span>
<p> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/60f4c4ab56c0a82048e739e6c9fc17854993453f/medium/photo-on-2014-03-18-at-7-11-58amedt.jpg?1395446671" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" />The Boss’ words of wisdom are good for us girls too. Why do we set-up a list of conditions that need to be met in order to be who we want to be? </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I am in school, as you steady readers know. I have been in a program since the fall. We are a small group that got even smaller as time went on. Some people have banded together. A fact that bothers others as they feel excluded. There are all kinds of people in the group: some young ones, some with less experience, some that have come from a completely different environment and of course some who are very ambitious and competitive. After 6 months, pettiness* has not only come to visit but seems to have decided to stay for the duration. At the end of the day I spoke to one colleague about a job possibility. Later I was asked by another colleague why I was nice to her. “She hates you and is always mocking you in class.” My response? “It does not affect me. I won’t change who I am. I won’t stop being kind.” I am the woman I want to be. Every day I can create the world I want to live in: compassion for others and compassion for my self.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Why would we deny ourselves the opportunity to be great? Now is the perfect time to be the person you always dreamed you could be because you already are.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">*Worth noting it seems that pettiness comes from the french word <em>petit</em> meaning small.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/27652182014-03-18T07:34:19-04:002017-01-14T11:01:32-05:00Flying lessons today.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.”</i><b><i> </i>- Joseph Chilton Pearce</b></span>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/7e2f8bef907567eeee0824404e25c6d7f2c577ca/medium/mark-flying-elvi.jpg?1395142386" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" /></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Any artist attempting to earn a living from their art knows, first you have to learn to fly without a net.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">We have friends who used to jump out of planes, a lot. When I think of them dressing up as Elvis and deciding, “Hey, I’m going to hurl myself into thin air and float down to earth.” I can’t imagine what it must be like. It seems crazy courageous to me. Then I look at how I have lived my life, for most of my life, it must seem crazy to a lot of people too. One day I jumped out of the plane called “security” and decided to free fall into a new life as a musician. There is always the chance that you’re gonna end up splattered on the ground, picking up the pieces of what is left and starting again. I have done this many many times but since the most damage is done to the ego, recovery has an upside. Making mistakes teaches us to attempt things in a new way.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">It is true that a creative life can take on many forms. So let go of your fear and enjoy the freedom of flying. You’ll probably want to keep jumping.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">P.S. Mark Gillespie forgive me for using a photo of you without prior permission but it is soooo great and inspiring!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/27051782014-03-07T08:06:18-05:002017-01-14T11:01:32-05:00I've been ready my whole life!<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b><i>“</i></b><i>I think there is something more important than believing: Action! The world is full of dreamers. There aren’t enough who will move ahead and begin to take concrete steps to actualize their vision.”</i> <b>-W. Clement Stone</b></span>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/07300c101c6bac67f969b8fb8b0920874f63b305/medium/photo-on-2014-03-04-at-7-27-57amest.jpg?1394197547" class="size_m justify_right border_" /></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I have been in action this week. So much so that I could not take a moment to write my blog. Sweet irony! I will be taking my last exam of my second session this morning. Ready or not, here it comes.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Truthfully, I perform well when I have a deadline looming overhead. Maybe it’s the adrenaline. I am not quite sure but a deadline does imply that you must react. We are going to go beyond our creative beginnings today, because that is how they become reality for us. You’ve dreamed your dream. You’ve taken a few first baby steps. What is the way to action now? Examine your thoughts. Let go of expectations and let opportunities take their place. You will start to see possibilities to fuel your actions.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The most rewarding thing about action I think, is that often, you find you were ready all along. Go on. What are you waiting for?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/26545872014-02-26T23:17:56-05:002017-01-14T11:01:32-05:00Dream, dream, dream...<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“The secret to living the life of your dreams is to start living the life of your dreams today, in every little way you possibly can.”</i> <b>-Mike Dooley</b></span>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/9acbfc7b92b21ead39782a7afcffabb9cd59dad4/medium/photo-on-2014-02-19-at-10-23-06pmest.jpg?1393474634" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" style="margin-left: 50px;" /></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">What is the life of your dreams? I mean, how do you know what to live? How will you know when you get there, or where to start? Where do I begin?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I remember being told when pondering a career in music, “If you can think of anything else you would rather do, do that instead.” Even if the delivery can be a big part of the message, this message holds it’s own. Follow the emotional stream. There is a trend about doing what you love, choosing a career you love, etc. You can have a job you put honest effort into and do what you love on your own time too. My brother in law is an expert in his job, but when he is off the clock, it’s golf he loves. The more I do the things I love, like songwriting, singing, painting and writing, the more I am just allowing myself to live in my dream. I am happier because I grant myself the privilege of my passions. It started out as an occasional thing. Now it is how I live my life. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Everything has a beginning. You don’t have to map it all out to live what you dream of. I would add, you don’t even have to be good at it. Enjoy practicing and perfect won’t even matter anymore. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/26327962014-02-23T21:51:49-05:002017-01-14T11:01:32-05:00This is my friend, the starving artist. I don't think so!<span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #000000"><i>“</i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>Where any view of money exists, art cannot be carried on.”</i> <b>-</b><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #000000"><b><a href="http://artquotes.robertgenn.com/auth_search.php?authid=458">William Blake</a></b></span></span></span>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="font_large"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/532d71de4a7739be05e76b124ae51a63bea1e426/medium/buy-the-music.jpg?1393209925" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" /></span><br>Except of course if you write a blog and have bone to pick about something. Then you can magically be creative in your view about money and art and people’s stolid opinions.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">As recently as yesterday someone in my environment proclaimed that art should be free. Really? And why is that, exactly? As an artist, as a creator and as a tax payer, I strongly object. Why would any one deny me my right to be a contributing part of society, to strive from my innovation and enjoy the fruits of my labor? These are the privileges offered to any business person bold enough to carve their own path. I have invested time, much time, and money, more money than most people dare to risk, into my art. If you like what I do, it is worth the price of admission for the privilege of enjoying my intellectual property.<br><br>Had this person been in front of me I would have challenged his clearly obtuse view. I think George Lucas, Steven Speilberg, Steve Jobs, Madonna, Paul McCartney, countless poets, writers, technology inventors <i>- must I go on? - </i> would back me up on this one. What would you be doing with your spare time without us? What would you watch? What would you listen to? What would you read? What would you admire? What would you wear? What would you drive? What would you sit on? What would you be living in? <em>Sigh! </em>And one more thing, who will be around to create this <em>Art For Free</em> if we all die of starvation because we live in a money based economy and don't have any?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I am a writer, a painter, a musician and a songwriter. I am a contribution to my community. My art has value and I claim my right to earn a living from what I do.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">P.S. Allow me to add that I find it offensive to suggest that anyone who has taken the time to learn a craft should offer their services for free. I appreciate my dentist, my lawyer, my landscaping neighbor and all the rest of the people who send me a bill at the end of the day. I am happy to pay them for their fine services.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/26257622014-02-21T23:11:42-05:002020-10-09T03:25:57-04:00Mirror, mirror on the wall<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Others are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects something you love or hate about yourself.” </i><b>- Rules For Being Human</b></span>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/daece8047ecb794b2f02ec19a63e581a8b2c34d5/medium/mirror.jpg?1393042104" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" /><br>I decided to go back to this list because I had an encounter with this very situation the other day. I knew that what the person was saying had nothing to do with who they were talking about. It had everything to do with them. A fact that was obvious to everyone except them. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I find the above to be very true. Invariably, when someone is speaking, they are sharing a part of their inner world. Everything we connect to, whether positive or not, is on the same frequency as we are. If it isn’t, it doesn’t show up on our radar. We don’t even know it is out there. This process, that is so closely knit to who we are, is unconscious. Well maybe unconscious in the beginning. Yes there is good news. We can become more self aware. In fact this is a proposed path: start to listen to yourself. You heard me. Pay attention to what is coming out of your mouth. If you are always on the same cranky train then maybe you need to give yourself a tune up. Start by choosing your words and thinking before opening your mouth. It worked for me. I have faith it will work for anyone. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The people who show up in your life are there to “mirror” you in the right direction. Pay attention! You might just learn something... about yourself.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/26184892014-02-20T20:47:30-05:002017-01-14T11:01:32-05:00Mary, Mary quite contrary<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“You can’t offer anyone flowers if your garden is over run with weeds” </i>- Bianca Pittoors</span>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/52b865d9c5a0e339979dd447edf76282e1b84ec7/medium/img-8797.jpg?1392947204" class="size_m justify_right border_" /><br>When I was a child, we would be told, “If you can’t say anything nice, best not say anything at all.” I can tell you there are some people out there who probably would never speak if this was an enforceable law. I feel sorry for them. They are living in a garden that is so over run with weeds that they probably couldn’t find a flower in there if their life depended on it.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Yes I am quoting myself today. I was saying this to my neighbors cat Jules earlier today. He is visiting for a few days and understood right away what I meant, as he is a regular visitor to all the gardens, front and back, in the vicinity. You can’t give what you don’t have. You can’t share what you are lacking. This also means that a person who is unable to be kind is expressing the void that is the cause of their sufferability. It makes them insufferable too. I do not have any solutions for dealing with people other than yourself. You can’t change someone who won’t change, or may not even realize that change might do them good. You can change how you deal with them. Start with empathy. It may be difficult but it is not sympathy. Empathy is about <i>the intellectual identification with, or vicarious experiencing of the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another.</i> It is not how you feel about them but rather how you understand them. That garden is not yours to weed. Each must tend to themselves. What grows there is all we take with us in the end. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">You can not make anyone happy that is not happy to begin with. Happy is in there. Weed your own garden. Plant your own seeds. When you are done watering them with your tears and you let your heart shine bright, sit back and admire the blossoms.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Everything lives. Everything dies. Everything leans to the light.”</i> - unknown to me</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/26117772014-02-19T22:53:33-05:002017-01-14T11:01:32-05:00Perfection and perspective<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Frustration and Love can’t exist in the same place at the same time, so get real and start doing what you would rather be doing in life. Love your life. All of it. Even the heavy shit that happened to you when you were 8. All of it was and IS perfect.” </i>― <span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(2, 30, 170);">Jason Mraz<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/bcfdba2edc98816511c2984b87718a063c35d26a/medium/photo-on-2014-02-19-at-10-19-51pmest.jpg?1392868358" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></span></span>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><br><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Everyday I run into myriads of people. I enjoy so many meetings. Life is great. On occasion I run into someone who has not found themselves. When I say this I refer to finding our self inside us. If you can’t answer the question, “Who am I?” or you don’t have a dream, maybe the moment has come to look inward. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">There was a time in my life where I was not happy. Life was hard and stressful. It seemed purposeless. I was very frustrated with the fact that I was putting a lot of energy into work and seemed to be getting nowhere and all that stress sent all my creativity out the window. Expectations of how we should be can be the most crippling thoughts we can have. How many people don’t even begin? How many people line up their grocery list of excuses before they even start. Jack Canfield refers to our difficult pasts as the “So what.” Most people have some crappy thing clouding up their view. So what? So what are you going to do now? Remember the suffering on the path to evolution? Well you don’t actually get to evolve unless you are willing to move past it. As long as you are stuck in drama, in victimland or wallowing in self pity because your best years are behind you, there is no way you are going to clear the air enough to get a good view of the sun. Let go and let opportunity show you a new road.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">So to Jason’s apt words I would add, “Love yourself. You are enough.”</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/26039702014-02-18T19:22:12-05:002017-01-14T11:01:32-05:00Not just for kids anymore!<span class="font_regular"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Whatever you do or dream you can do – begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.”</i> <b>-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/fb4aa2486c2c39740cb999e1e2ebe1edd3cc3a56/medium/photo-on-2014-02-08-at-1-02-50pmest.jpg?1392769190" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" /></b></span></span>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_regular"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Earlier on FB a friend posted this, “Never give up on something that you can't go a day without thinking about.” Daniel Lacasse must have done a Vulcan mind meld with me without my knowing because that is my thought on the matter exactly.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_regular"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Where would we be without our dreams anyway? They are the difference between a life worth living and a life of suffering. Yes suffering. I can’t even imagine what life would be like if we do not dare to dream even a little dream. The process of dreaming is creating; creating a thought. Allowing that thought to flourish and become more complex and detailed and colorful and filled with passion. It then becomes a powerful fuel that drives us over obstacles and beyond “reason” to achieve, or taste, something truly delicious. My very literal son would want to know what particular taste I am talking about. For you grown-ups out there, I am sure you have had at least one experience in your life that you can go to and remember. </span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_regular"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">A long time a ago my roomy asked me if I could do anything in life what would it be? Well Nat, my answer is still the same today: sing! But my dream of writing songs is a spark I kept alive too.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_regular"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Daring to dream is not a luxury it is a necessity as real as breathing. The quality of your life depends on it. So be it big or small, dream a little dream of... yours. </span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="font_regular"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span class="font_regular"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span class="font_regular"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span class="font_regular"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/25961122014-02-17T15:03:56-05:002017-01-14T11:01:32-05:00Break out!<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“There are some things one can only achieve by a deliberate leap in the opposite direction.”</i> <b>-Franz Kafka</b></span>
<p><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/cf5331a2bf5cafadc5aa1515b0a82fd8dac3d52c/medium/img-9192.jpg?1392667387" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" />I am often asked how I am doing when Marc leaves for Vegas. A month is long time in the context of a family and his absence is felt. There are some advantages one discovers...</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Let’s imagine. In order to catch a ball someone is throwing to us, we must first let go of what we are holding. It is the same way I deal with Marc’s departures. I have mentioned before that when he is away I write to him, every day, a physical card that I put in the post (yes - snail mail) that gets there when it gets there. Why do I do this? Because when I let Marc go with an open heart, all these other riches flow in. Words, lyrics, songs and paintings are just some of the by-products of his being away. We are not really apart. As I write I feel close to us. When he reads them back to me from his land far far away, we feel close to us. You have to go in the opposite direction sometimes to find a real treasure. We can’t get stuck in our everyday lives and the fear that keeps us from discovering what wonders may lie just around the corner.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">It does take courage to look beyond our comfort zones but the change in perspective might end up being the most beautiful view you’ve ever had of your own life. 1, 2 , 3 ... JUMP!</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/25668662014-02-12T10:35:35-05:002017-01-14T11:01:32-05:00It's here!<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #000000"><i>“</i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>Love is friendship set to music.”</i> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #000000">― <span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/96360.Jackson_Pollock">Jackson Pollock<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/ace9352147996190e652af3ea44214880a80f901/medium/photo-on-2014-02-03-at-5-27-12pmest.jpg?1392219317" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></a></span></span>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">And what can we say of music you make with your best friend? Actually I don’t think we <i>say</i> anything at all. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">A couple of years ago there was an article which discussed the existence of a music shiver. I felt that when I was greeted at the door by Marc saying, “The CDs are here!”</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Yes ladies and gentlemen, our album,<i> i love</i>, is now a concrete material, I can touch it and feel it, reality. Today we just want to thank so many people who have been there for us; even those that have come and gone. We love everything about how this album came to be. We hope you feel the same way when you hear it. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Sometimes it’s just best to let the music speak for itself. You can do that here. <a href="http://www.BiancaBassoMusic.com/music"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(2, 30, 170);">www.BiancaBassoMusic.com/music</span></a> </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/25447282014-02-08T13:06:01-05:002017-01-14T11:01:32-05:00and we'll all live happily ever after.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity.”</i> <b>-Gilda Radner<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/94c66c92cfeacf7076c7d942b78383315a611837/medium/photo-on-2014-02-08-at-1-03-25pmest.jpg?1391882730" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></b></span>
<p><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;">Dear Gilda! I will always be a fan. She is right you know. What Gilda called </span><i style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;">Delicious Ambiguity</i><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;"> I call </span><i style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;">mystery</i><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;">. That unknown quality of life is what makes it delicious.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Think of it this way. If we knew everything it would take and what we would have to do to succeed, maybe we would not have the courage to begin. I don’t think too many women out there, when making a baby, were thinking about how it would have to come out. But once you’re committed, something else kicks in. We learn as we go, to trust the process. We are writing our story as we live it. We don’t know about the guy we are going to meet at the Christmas party and about that one person who is going to say, “Wow this is great! This is what I’m going to do for you.” Or about the one who comes along while your sweeping up the ruins of your tragic life and decides to help you rebuild it.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The not knowing part is the best part of the story. We just have to learn to love it while we are in it and let our story unfold with grace.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/25362882014-02-06T22:45:45-05:002017-01-14T11:01:32-05:00And we only get one life you say?<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">“It takes a lifetime to learn to live.” - unknown to me<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/6ee30585ac82130b47dbb93cdc94f94ca8270961/medium/photo-on-2014-02-06-at-10-36-16pmest.jpg?1391744680" class="size_m justify_right border_" /></span>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I said this the other day. I am sure someone has said it before me. I was actually thinking about something that happened in class and how I was the same at <i>that</i> age.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Growing up on the inside takes a lot longer than growing up on the outside. A lifetime of trials, errors, successes, births, deaths, challenges, losses, wins, disappointments and picking yourself up by your boot strings again and again and again. My life has been great. My life has been hard. My life has been rich. My life has been so very lonely sometimes. I still learn and I still believe. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I am currently in school but I have already earned a master’s degree in humility. You are currently reading what may become my doctoral thesis. Keep checking in to follow my progress.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/25091432014-02-02T16:39:52-05:002017-01-14T11:01:31-05:00Yup! It's everywhere you look.<div class="captioned justify_right"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/b0687b9fc9563d98e6ae20e90626df4657ccc199/medium/photo.jpg?1391376950" class="size_orig justify_right border_" /><p class="caption">The Steinberger bass, designed by Ned Steinberger. Re-creation mastery.</p></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #181818"><i>“</i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves, otherwise we harden.”</i> <b> - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe</b></span><br><br><font face="Georgia"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px;">Or die</span><span style="font-size: 14px;">…</span><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> One phrase I absolutely despise (you won’t hear me say that often) is “You can’t do that.” Why? Why can't I do that? What logic is behind this idea? Why are we so focussed on the “can’t” and our fears, rather than looking at the endless possibilities?</span></font>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I don’t know if there is a law or theory of creativity (like there is the law of motion or the probability theory or the theory of relativity - I will move into the probability of this being relevant later) but I have observed that everything in nature proves to us that possibilities abound. Throughout history, when facing extinction, plants, animals even diseases and bacteria learn to change and evolve to overcome the obstacles before them becoming super viruses or a Steinberger bass. You get it. This creative process is woven into everything. Life is constantly changing and providing opportunities for growth and re-creation. So why would humans think they “can’t” about anything? Whether you believe in science or whether you believe in God, it is irrefutable that our ability to re-invent ourselves is part of our design. It is part of everything in the universe’s design, including the universe.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">So now that that is settled (what a relief!) realize that whatever is challenging you right now, is part of your design to grow, change and evolve into some kind of super human that can be super happy.</span></p>
<p><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/24899862014-01-29T22:28:06-05:002017-01-14T11:01:31-05:00What is courage?<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“There is a difference between being strong and having courage. People that are strong change nothing by putting up with stuff. People that have courage change everything because they choose not to put up with stuff.” </i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;">― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1391130.Shannon_L_Alder" style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Shannon L. Alder</span></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;">, </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/25701585" style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i>Never or Forever</i></span></a>
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<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"><br><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/cb6968eb8093255a9f589cb409e98eac3633ac09/medium/photo-on-2014-01-29-at-10-23-18pmest.jpg?1391052443" class="size_m justify_right border_" />In my personal experience I would say courage is a combination of many things coming together. It is rarely easy. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Recently I had an encounter with courage. Some situations require it. First there is a lot of strength as described above, before coming to a point where you need to take action. I do recommend objective reflection if at all possible. Some decisions are more difficult and as I have come to realize, dealing with one problem may have after-shocks: other little problems resulting from taking action. Do I regret taking action? No. But I had not anticipated the full fallout that I would be required to manage. A learning curve. Another learning curve. I did create something new in my environment; I changed part of my world. I can say, next time it will be even easier.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Courage, I realize, is a very rare commodity with a particular quality woven into its currency. The more you spend it, the more valuable it becomes to you. Maybe, it is a real way for us to measure our own perceived value.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/24743002014-01-27T13:59:34-05:002017-01-14T11:01:31-05:00A real life rehearsal?<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/be1524cab9375bdd29ce1fb879c3d6bfcbfa4a04/medium/photo-on-2013-11-01-at-1-34-39pmedt.jpg?1390848899" class="size_m justify_left border_" />“Life is not a dress rehearsal. Stop practicing what you’re going to do and just go do it. In one bold stroke you can transform today.”</i><b> -Marilyn Grey</b></span><br> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Or in one bold thought... Why are we so afraid to dare to live? What incredible force wraps itself around us and tells us, “You’re not ready yet.No you can’t. Or LOOK at that obstacle” Nonsense!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Personally I have long thought that this idea of being ready is kind of like the concept of perfection. It is impossible. We can’t ever know everything about everything, so if that is what we are waiting for to live, we won’t. Marilyn Grey is the original Nike slogan, <i>Just do it! </i>You can figure out the details along the way. Take it from a chronic planner, you can consider every detail, of every item on your plan and things still change. The unplanned mishaps show up and we need to adjust as we go. When you are driving down the road and you come to a curve, you turn the steering wheel to follow the road; even when it wasn’t on the map. If you can be real then you are ready to live your life to the fullest.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">How we think and how we see what happens to us in our lives is the difference between living or not. Go ahead transform your day today and every day.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/24682772014-01-26T09:40:04-05:002017-01-14T11:01:31-05:00Lessons behind every obstacle.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Nothing is predestined. The obstacles of your past can become the gateways that lead to new beginnings.”</i><b> -Ralph Blum</b></span><br> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/c0abc1e78123b24edf106f9750a7bb60e6489667/medium/photo-on-2014-01-26-at-9-36-10amest.jpg?1390747178" class="size_m justify_right border_" />Indeed, obstacles are interesting. Are they there to challenge us? Are they there to show us our limits? What have they come to teach us? Ponderations worth having.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I had an obstacle this week. First I increased my level of observation to see what exactly I was seeing. I think life brings us challenges so that we can learn. I believe in this force that intervenes at times and says, “Go here. Do this.” The lessons that accompany these moments, and many others, allow us to grow and evolve. Sometimes we make a decision and we don’t know if we have done the right thing. Doubt is part of our learning process too. A healthy one I might add for when we doubt, we give consideration to the repercussions of our actions. We take the time to look back and say, “Would I do this the same way next time?” Sometimes we quickly see that we could have done things differently. Or is hindsight only available after fully grasping the consequences? </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Regardless of whether our decisions are right or not, every challenge brings with it an opportunity to learn. Mistakes are normal. It is in the learning that we begin again.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/24506972014-01-22T20:54:32-05:002017-01-14T11:01:31-05:00Can I get a map that will take me home? Sure can!<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/202e365dc0edafb04452b2c1228b115b960554b5/medium/photo-on-2014-01-22-at-8-28-27pmest.jpg?1390441487" class="size_m justify_left border_" />“<i>The place where you continually return for love and acceptance - that's home.</i>” <strong>- </strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(2, 30, 170);"><strong><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5082833.Richelle_E_Goodrich">Richelle E. Goodrich</a></strong></span></span><br> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Where is that place in your universe? How big is your universe anyway and how do you know it’s time to get back?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I think the place we call home isn’t necessarily a place. What I mean is it can be a feeling. Over the years I have moved so many times. I have been far from what I considered home to be and have had many a lonely moment. It was in these situations that I learned some of life’s important lessons. (Not all important lessons - as there are soooooooo many and they keep coming.) But in this process of wanting to be in a place that I felt like home and that I could call home, I found something even better. I found inside myself a state of being that allows me to be at home where ever I am provided I am in harmony with my self. You see, that harmony with myself became the place where I found love and acceptance. Afterwards I was able to find it in my life, outside of myself. Now, </span>that feeling, is <span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">home.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Tomorrow Marc comes home after being away for 4 weeks! For me it is always a celebration because where we are together, we are at home. Love and acceptance is waiting with open arms.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/24429062014-01-21T19:45:05-05:002017-01-14T11:01:31-05:00TAKE… What number are we at now?<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/9395249f37447aeaf2f0299ef5b1c16cc918e179/medium/photo-on-2014-01-21-at-7-33-18pmest.jpg?1390351453" class="size_m justify_right border_" />“Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.”</i> <b>-Henry Ford</b></span>
<p><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;">Tomorrow will be one of those days to begin again because today’s french test was a superb failure. I really love learning and I love school. I can even say I love my french teacher and I enjoy my class. But I still tanked on my little test today. How come?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I think it is important to realize that life is like being in school. We learn as we go. The more we pay attention the more sinks in. The more we apply ourselves the better our results. Right? Well unfortunately it isn’t always exactly like that. I spent years doing what I thought was all the right things for what seemed like very little return on my personal investment. But in the end nothing from something is never the case. We always learn something. Even if the only lesson we learn is what to do differently.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">So I am going to get ready right now for my new opportunity. One more time with feeling AND intelligence please!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/24300252014-01-19T20:37:43-05:002017-01-14T11:01:31-05:00Perfection is relative after all.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.”</i> <b>-Alan Cohen<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/aa46505ec37ce31c9cf24ce57ac8a0b6f0d4a49f/medium/photo-on-2014-01-18-at-11-21-09pmest.jpg?1390181749" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></b></span>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Those of you who follow my blog know that I have been sick. I had an engagement on my calendar that I had booked last fall, so I had to let them know it was likely I needed to be replaced. Funny thing was by mid-week I was feeling better and my replacement was sick so I was back on the gig.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This fundraising event is something I do with my daughter. It is a fashion show for LEUCAN and all the beautiful dresses are provided by a wonderful designer named Dominique Levesque*. Now my daughter is not one to pass up an opportunity to wear a pretty sequined anything so I found the courage to be at the podium with my counterpart Brian Henry** to MC this very lovely event. I was still feeling a bit sick, throat dry and a little tired but hair and make-up and an exquisite gown can do wonders for a girl. The conditions weren’t perfect but it was a perfect evening. It is true, just don’t listen to your critical voice or even the voice of reason. Go for it. Get off the couch. Get on your bike or treadmill or stage or whatever it is you are ho-humming about.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">At the end of the night the organization had surpassed its goal by 25%. There were women with glowing smiles floating down the hallways and in dressing room doorways. And me, well I was happy too because while I was up there, I wasn’t sick. I was happy. How perfect is that?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<ul>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(2, 30, 170);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #232323"><a data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://dominiquebridal.ca" target="_blank"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(2, 30, 170);">http://dominiquebridal.ca</span></a></span></li> <li style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><a contents="www.QualityEntertainment.ca" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.Quality%20Entertainment.ca" target="_blank">www.QualityEntertainment.ca</a></li>
</ul>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/24218482014-01-17T19:13:21-05:002018-07-05T09:07:02-04:00Just begin. Don't worry about the rest.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“When I face the desolate impossibility of writing 500 pages, a sick sense of failure falls on me, and I know I can never do it. Then gradually, I write one page and then another. One day’s work is all that I can permit myself to contemplate.”</i> <b>-John Steinbeck<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/5300cff86d9adc3fd6d9fe01a3cf0121f7e1bbcd/medium/img-8807a.jpg?1390003826" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></b></span>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I am still sick. I have returned to class but in the evening I feed my kids and fall asleep. My kitchen is a mess. I have fallen behind in my school work and if I think about it I start getting quite stressed as mid-terms are 3 weeks away. Already. How will I maintain my grade point average?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Obstacles, real or imagined, are a great challenge for all of us today. We live in a world that values our achievements, not our efforts. You are either a winner or a loser. If you can’t make it to the podium why should we remember your name? A harsh truth indeed. Our children are over glorified for each thing they do when are little but once they grow up we give them a whole new reality to function is. What is up with that? The whole don’t bite off more than you can chew is good advice but sometimes just putting gone foot in front of the other is even more pertinent. The only way to know for sure where we will end up is to stay exactly where you are. That doesn’t make for very interesting story as a general rule.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Mr. Steinbeck gives us his own trick that we can easily apply to many areas of our lives. Start by writing one page or taking one step or eat one bite at a time. Don’t worry about the end. Just begin.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/24079042014-01-15T22:40:22-05:002017-01-14T11:01:31-05:00Well look what's over here!<br><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Don’t look further for answers: be the solution. You were born with everything you need to know. Make a promise to stop getting in the way of the blessing that you are. Take a deep breath, remember to have fun, and begin.”</i> <b>-Jonathan H. Ellerby</b></span><br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/b3203a43f3bcd1ffeb4e2b72cfbb5ec25bc51f59/medium/img-1354.jpg?1389843430" class="size_m justify_right border_" /><p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The looking for answers thing is always interesting. How do you know? How do you know you have an answer, the right answer?Where is the guarantee? I will tell you.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Making this album has been a great journey. A journey with ups, downs, turns and challenges. Like any project of a certain depth and complexity, there are details and there are changes. There is life that is going on simultaneously. For me there has been a lot of shifting. I have changed the way I sing. I had to re-learn to sing as I had lost a part of my voice and could no longer do what I used to do how I used to do it. In the process I feel I had to learn about myself. Personally I had to see my own value as a songwriter and a singer and possibly something else. Singing is such a personal endeavor that I could not pretend, I had to re-connect, with myself.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Being the solution for me translates into : just let go. Let go of fears. Let go of insecurities. Let yourself shine through. Love yourself enough to be all of who you are.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
<div><div> </div></div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/23853842014-01-12T20:48:11-05:002017-01-14T11:01:31-05:00All aboard!<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth… not going all the way, and not starting.”</i> <b>-Buddha</b></span>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><br><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Notice he said, “On the road to truth.” When we look at a CD sleeve layout it either works or it doesn’t. You identify what doesn’t and fix it. Going all the way is relatively easy. When we look at personal issues, we are looking at things with a whole other view. That may explain why it takes longer to get there. <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/c0aa356968bbe580c76488728857bd08229c1aed/medium/img-1178.jpg?1389577653" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">There is always a parallel between little things and emotional issues going on at the same time. In all this business with getting started there is the issue of finishing what we started. (Then of course there is my mom’s constant reminded that if we’re going to bother doing something we better do it right. See mom I did listen.) So here we are still tweaking details. Up until 4AM looking a photos to replace one that may not work as well, etc. At the same time we have all these other nagging unfinished details on a whole other level. Hmmm. It always seems easier, and tidier, to clean up business details than personal details. Why is it we would rather spend three hours on production issues that 30 minutes dealing with a personal issue that would free our mind and our lives. That happy Buddha knew. It is because we are on the road to truth.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">It is true that solutions to personal issues are often not as obvious as non-emotional business ones. They are however an integral part of the life we are living. So since you’ve started, have the courage to live all the way.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/23822962014-01-11T23:22:11-05:002020-10-10T03:02:05-04:00But do something!<span class="font_large"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”</i> <b>-Theodore Roosevelt</b></span></span>
<p><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;">After crawling, it isn’t hard for things to start looking up. A few wobbly steps, actually getting dressed, and feeding myself something other than tea has been a veritable conquest! Ok, ok. I may be overdramatizing for theatrical effect a bit. Nonetheless, no one cheers when an Olympian walks across the living room but when a baby does it for the first time it is cause for celebration.<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/1980aadeb973b5ae2b6cf07cecd996d683d455cb/medium/img-9148.jpg?1389500411" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I had this conversation with Marc today after watching one of those TEd videos. There was a woman, stricken with a condition no medical professional can even name as it is so rare. She was labelled "The ugliest woman in the world" on some internet posting. Imagine! She was in high school when it happened. The recipients of these comments are not as insensitive as their originators, yet here was this inspiring young woman telling us all that she used all those negative things like a ladder to climb up to her goals*. Wow! Just what Teddy was talking about. </span>Some people have money. Some people have contacts. Some people have the right name or the right face to open the doors of opportunity. It still remains pertinent what you do once your foot is in the door.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">In life we are given what we are given. I do believe that success has many faces and it may not look the same to everyone nor look the same to you at a different point in your life. Work with what you have. It is probably a lot more than you realize. It is the ground you cover on your own journey that will make the difference in the end. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(2, 30, 170);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #232323">* Here is the link to the video for those who may not have seen it already: <span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(2, 30, 170);"><a href="http://shockable.com/called-worlds-ugliest-girl-response-unbelievably-beautiful-literally-cried/">http://shockable.com/called-worlds-ugliest-girl-response-unbelievably-beautiful-literally-cried/</a></span></span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/23637142014-01-10T14:37:33-05:002017-01-14T11:01:30-05:00It's all in how you look at it.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="font_regular"><i>“If all you can do is crawl, start crawling.”</i></span><b><span class="font_regular"> -Rumi</span></b></span><br> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Well for the last few days I have been so sick that crawling is all I could do. Litterally. I had the advantage, and disadvantage, of being alone. All I could do was crawl. So I did.<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/0a05d191f42f899c3f4e3214d5cbaa95b985ba7d/medium/photo-on-2014-01-10-at-2-34-45pmest.jpg?1389382615" class="size_m justify_right border_" /></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">It is interesting how being very sick can be very therapeutic. Over the last few days there was no one here to tend to my needs, or get supplies, or make soup or tea or run a hot bath or give me a hug. I had to do it for myself. Marc would be on the other end of the Skype looking at my patheticness, wishing he could help. I was glad he was not here getting infected! Today is the first day I have been able to spend time out of bed. I realize that being sick was a gift. Yes, a gift. It was a return to the most basic of basics. It was an obligation to do a clean up sort of speak. Time to eliminate what is not feeding me anymore. I was often too exhausted to do anything, even watching a film demanded too much of me. It has been a time to explore my thoughts about what I want and where I want to be in my life.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Any baby will prove that we can cover an amazing distance when we crawl. The bonus is a change of perspective that lets you see the world you live in in a completely different way. Be well everyone!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/23508362014-01-08T17:11:51-05:002017-01-14T11:01:30-05:00Decisions, decisions!<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want.”</i> <b>-Ben Stein<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/46396b090ff156ff112bd298c65afdb33b848c2d/medium/1403538-10152075006064489-807204012-o.jpg?1389219081" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></b></span>
<p><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;">And inevitably you will also be deciding what you don’t want. Had to go there today. Sometimes it’s just best to see it as housekeeping.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Every once in a while we need to re-visit where we are and where we are going. I mean are you still on the right track? Or are there any obstacles? I had an obstacle that was disguised at first as something else. It took me a long time to see it but through some (ugly) force of nature it revealed itself to be a situation that had run its course. It is time to move on. It's funny how we can have so many little things tug at our shirt sleeve that we shrug off. But we can’t do it forever. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Maybe the first step to arriving at our desired destination is listening to ourselves. That voice is in there and it’s just saying that... Yup I hear it. Can you?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/23390832014-01-06T22:23:55-05:002017-01-14T11:01:30-05:00Class is in session!<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Begin today. Declare out loud to the universe that you are willing to let go of struggle and eager to learn through joy.”</i> <b>-Sarah Ban Breathnach</b></span>
<p><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;">Have I mentioned I have gone back to school? Well I have. Today was the first day of my second session. Met a new teacher. Now I was never one to get excited about accounting, but my teacher’s passion and desire for us to understand completely what he was putting in front of us, was pure joy.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/48b86b8b85a7a7445ae287b6b6b3961638094de3/medium/photo-on-2013-12-31-at-9-41-31pmest.jpg?1388603895" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" />Preconceptions are dangerous things. Probably more dangerous for us because they cut us off from finding out the truth or just something different than what is stuck in our heads. Take me as a example. I looked at my schedule this morning and saw two accounting classes per week starting this afternoon and thought, “OK. Well, we’ll just buckle down and do what we gotta do to get through it.” I was SURE that it would be very dry and a bunch of tedious head cramming. Since I prefer dry when we are talking about the weather, I didn’t have high hopes on the enjoyment level for my Monday afternoon. However the teacher came in and started talking. “We are going to do everything on paper. I want you to understand why you are doing what you are doing. Accounting is about reasoning and logic, not about math. That is a misconception.” I thought to myself, “I am very logical and I love understanding why we do anything. This might not be so bad.” In fact it was great. The teacher was quite dynamic and intent on challenging us and making us think. AND, this is the best part for a libra girl, he is funny too! Amazing how when we decide to keep an open mind, our perspective can change. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I learned something today because I learned to let go of my preconceptions regarding accounting and just be in my joy of learning. Imagine what I will learn tomorrow!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/23300222014-01-05T00:25:50-05:002017-01-14T11:01:30-05:00You can walk, or you can run.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”</i> <b>-Martin Luther King, Jr.</b></span>
<p><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;">Tonight we watched a great movie. It was the Jackie Robinson story. Now I have to say if I paused the film once I must have paused it a dozen times to provide explanations. What happened in history was so much more than baseball.</span><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/88abea64af779ea8b185cc92d61eee46a8807fe0/medium/branch-rickey-tsl-jpg-85f20cd299f291a234ed2e38fc437e5b.jpeg?1388899414" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" /></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">My family lives in an environment which is multi-cultural, multi-racial and multi-lingual. For my children diversity is normal. So normal that I had to explain racism to them while watching this film. It was a good opportunity to teach them that the world has not always been, and is not always, like the world we know here at home. We also talked about our responsibility in abolishing discrimination. Just like Rickey, it is up to each one of us to dare to change the world we live in, to make it better. We must take those first steps to help those who may suffer from injustice and use the power bestowed upon us whenever we can. It is our duty and our privilege to help make the world a better place in any way we can. Real freedom lives in our ability to free ourselves from the fear of what is different. Love and respect are qualities we can cultivate and express to all human beings. Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson had the courage to change the world.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">So where do we begin in our humble lives? Through consciousness we become aware of the world we live in. Have the courage of your convictions to take a step. Who knows where the journey will take you.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/23268422014-01-03T23:59:25-05:002017-01-14T11:01:30-05:00Let me tell you a story...<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”</i> <b>-Saint Francis of Assisi</b></span>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"><br><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">It does seem that it is always the getting started that is the most difficult. It doesn’t matter what exactly I am trying to start or get into, it is getting enough thrust to get off the ground that is the essential equation for my success.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/ee81f5a72309f38a976006448526d7c6235b2c4f/medium/photo-on-2014-01-03-at-11-48-32pmest.jpg?1388811376" class="size_m justify_right border_" />Marc’s mom is a big fan of Saint Francis. Apparently he was talking aboutthe concept of Baby Steps long before Dr. Leo Marvin* published his book. Momentum is something that can keep us going for a long time with minimal effort but that first thrust has to come from us. I think of it as proof to ourselves that we really want what we want. Maybe it is the proof of the commitment we make to ourselves in that to begin engages us in a process that takes us on a journey. We have expectations. We have fears of failure or falling short. By just doing what is necessary first, we can begin. Then see. Saint Francis takes a lot of pressure off with his approach. He keeps it simple and tells us to think about the process more than the result.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Life is full of of people with stories of impossible journey’s. Let the next one you hear, be the sound of your own voice saying, “I started...”</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<div style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">* From the film <i>What About Bob</i>, 1991, Richard Dreyfuss and Bill Murray <a data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_About_Bob%3F" target="_blank"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(2, 30, 170);">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_About_Bob%3F</span></a></span></div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/23226452014-01-03T09:28:45-05:002017-01-14T11:01:30-05:00The Quadrantids dance in the night sky.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”</i><b> -George Bernard Shaw</b></span>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Tonight my 10 year old son started asking me what I thought came before the Big Bang. Then he went on to share what he believes happened and said to me, “Wait. I’ll draw you a picture.” As my son drew, he narrated and I filmed so I could capture the moment of his explaining to me his concept of how Life created itself.*</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/550020821f7dae5d3d3c1fc32f70d192bc9f55c4/medium/photo-on-2014-01-03-at-9-11-21amest.jpg?1388758353" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" />According to him there was a Big Crunch before the Big Bang. There’s something about an alternate universe in there somewhere which is transformed in the process into our universe. Pretty good explanation about what a lot of us go through in our lives right here on Earth in the “new” universe. Some of us go through a Big Crunch before we allow ourselves to re-create our lives. I think what I like the most about George Bernard Shaw’s words are that the message is clear. Who we are isn’t about anything we can find “out there”. There is a whole universe waiting to be created inside each one of us. Having been through it, I understand how intimidating and challenging it all can be. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">When you are done reading, close your eyes. Think about the life you want and start having fun creating your “new” universe. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"><br>* My son credits "Minute Physics" and his physics books in his room for what he explained to me this evening. The Big Bang would be better named the Big Expansion.<br> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/23138682014-01-01T14:22:06-05:002017-01-14T11:01:30-05:00Something old, something new...<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page.” </i><b>-Henry Ward Beecher</b></span>
<p><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/c840c2ab31642471a79c8124be0b1b08bfa4234d/medium/photo-on-2014-01-01-at-2-13-04pmest.jpg?1388603884" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" />I have decided to start this new year exploring the importance of beginning.Oh yes, I can hear your thoughts right now. “Haven’t we heard enough about </span><i style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px;">New Beginnings</i><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> already? Can’t we move on?” Well, I say let’s!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">It is a cold, sunny winter’s day here. I am alone in my house, happy with the tranquility that surrounds me. I like being alone you see. Winter always provides more opportunities for this, not just because of the cold that turn me into a wimp, but because of the isolation of closed windows and snow covered lawns. So I can ponder. The 1st day of January has many people pondering resolutions. Some new, some recycled from previous years. I usually make resolutions around my birthday, the 24th of September, but an opportunity to look at what goals I wish to accomplish in the year to come is always timely no matter what the date is. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/3eca5929b1e4f7ecad64b057533338cee2417c4a/medium/photo-on-2014-01-01-at-2-12-46pmest.jpg?1388603883" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/d18cea500d87858f7708259565536421e8863055/medium/photo-on-2014-01-01-at-2-12-57pmest.jpg?1388603884" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" /><br>So be reborn. Count your blessings on New Year’s Eve so you can take them with you on a new journey in the new year. Happy re-birthday to you.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/23115772013-12-31T17:57:21-05:002017-01-14T11:01:30-05:00To do or not to do, that is my question.<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“I used to be indecisive but now I am not quite sure.”</i> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #181818"><b>― </b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>Tommy Cooper</b></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I have been in the weirdest place all day. I don't know what I want. I don't know if I want. So I turn around in circles of nothingness. Maybe I should just be good with that...</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Earlier today I did not feel like going anywhere. It is cold where I am and I feel like a momma bear crawling into her cave. Let the storm rage <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/6e1921324ade4255e998aed62295431c7013ef2c/large/photo-on-2013-12-12-at-5-57-16pmest.jpg?1388530564" class="size_l justify_right border_" />outside. I won't hear it. But the day passes and a few must-dos come along. I don't know what kind of glue someone left on my dining room chair that I seem to be "one" with it without the satisfaction of that Zen-like bliss one expects from oneness. But there. Will I go out for a walk? Will I make it out of this room? Still a mystery at this point. Part of me wishes I was in Las Vegas for New Years, or with my kids. But I do have a bottle of bubbly and some interesting appetizers in my fridge so I am set to go, or stay, as the case may be.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I think after the incredibly action packed schedule I have had this year it is my system powering down to get ready for 2014. After all we have a beautiful new baby (CD that is!) on its way. Plus I have this wonderful feeling that I should just enjoy where I am at because things might just get real busy real soon.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Whatever you decide to do tonight, I wish you the courage to follow your dreams and live your life to the fullest in this year and every year.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/20253452013-12-29T17:25:39-05:002017-01-14T11:01:30-05:00More, more, more...<span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>Rules For Being Human</b></span>
<p> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>4. A Lesson Is Repeated Until It Is Learned</b><br><i>“A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can go on to the next lesson.”</i></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Who hasn’t heard the expression, “We learn from our mistakes”? It isn’t just a catchy phrase designed to placate the disappointed. It happens to be true.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/11acfdb5855340ead68988eaf964cce22275725f/small/img-1191.jpg?1388355378" class="size_s justify_left border_none" alt="" />I remember when my daughter was very small and we had to repeat things over and over. The no stage in children starts with parents saying no and a whole bunch of other phrases over and over and over. When we read parenting books we are told children learn by repetition. As it happens, so do we. As adults the lessons may not always be obvious because they are situations that just keep showing up, sometimes under a different disguise. That happens until we learn what we are meant to learn. So don’t ask yourself, “What is wrong with me?” that X Y or Z keeps happening. Ask instead, “What is there to learn?” </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Understanding that all experiences are opportunities. As one of my favorite Buddhist sayings goes, “All suffering is evolution.” Class is in session.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/21155312013-11-26T10:03:23-05:002017-01-14T11:01:30-05:00When in the city of lights and love...<span class="font_regular">Le Pont des arts - "In recent years, many tourist couples have taken to attaching padlocks with their first names written or engraved on it to the railing or the grate on the side of the bridge, then throwing the key into the Seine river below, as a romantic gesture.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> This gesture is said to represent a couple's committed love."<br><br>Yesterday I told you I was in love with Paris. Today I thought I would share that I am also in love in Paris. So as we<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/db4102e03126343f188b954ca4871d489bdc30c4/medium/img-1306.jpg?1385478020" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" style="margin-right: 40px;" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/f3c18d50bfd04afff3c88d47f42d28e854977530/medium/img-1302.jpg?1385478019" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" style="margin-right: 40px;" />strolled the magnificent places from the Eiffel tower and the Rive Gauche and down Saint Germain we eventually came accross the Pont des arts. As is the case for so many things for us, without looking we found. We purchased a padlock, red as our passionate love for each other and matching perfectly with the dapper Marc's coat and hat I might add. Of course! Finding a spot with the view we liked the best, we sealed our bond of love forever with a kiss while each threw a key into the Seine. <br><br>Is it kitchy and touristy? I don't care. I think the world needs more places like the Pont des arts, which is a demonstration that love is alive and well in the world.<br><br>To tell our story, we must begin by saying that we found each other without even looking. We didn't need to come to Paris to be in love. We just invited it in and life took care of the rest.<br><br>Namaste,<br><br>Bianca</span><br><br><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></span>
<p> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span class="font_regular"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/21098302013-11-25T12:51:53-05:002017-01-14T11:01:30-05:00I love France!“Intentional living is the art of making our own choices before others' choices make us.” <br style="color: rgb(24, 24, 24); font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: rgb(24, 24, 24); font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5821896.Richie_Norton" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0); text-decoration: none; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Richie Norton</a><br><br><br>It took me a long time to make it here. It was a lot of living and a lot of believing in what seemed like vaporous dreams. Yet here I am in Paris, in love.<br><br>Yes I love France, and I find the french to be quite friendly and charming contrary to the stereotype. Everywhere people are smiling and nice. The food is fabulous. The wine is art. The city is nothing short of majestuous in every direction I look. It is even more beautiful than I imagined and I love just being here. I am eating. I am drinking. I am living, by choice, every moment. Tonight a premiere of Celine in Paris. A treat awaits you lucky fans.<br><br>Life is beautiful. Keep believing. Keep dreaming. The dream we live is the greatest dream of all.<br><br>Namaste!<br><br>Bianca<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/4b004853b96b17c42f27c6fdb507516b867723a8/original/img-1246.jpg?1385401828" class="size_l justify_center border_" />BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/20035562013-11-06T22:06:16-05:002017-01-14T11:01:30-05:003. There Are No Mistakes, Only Lessons<span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>Rules For Being Human</b></span>
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<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>3. There Are No Mistakes, Only Lessons</b><br>There is a process of trial and error; experimentation. The 'failed' experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiment that ultimately 'works'.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/c2c0ec1215a3300084f72c7809197b6ea8004768/original/photo-on-2013-11-01-at-1-33-12pmedt.jpg?1383793531" class="size_l justify_left border_" />One of my teachers, a great jazz musician and philosopher would tell us, “There are no wrong notes.” What did mean? “Mistakes are good. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes as they eventually lead to good notes. Who cares?”</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Well knowing Kenny Werner from the short time I studied under his tutelage I can only imagine. My guess is all of the above and then some. When we were talking about music, we were learning about letting go of our expectations to make room for our musical selves to emerge. I often use this with my students. There are so many things around us that were derived from “failed” experiments: post-it notes, plastic wrap, Ivory “floating” soap. Possibilities come in all shapes and sizes. Who are we to judge where in the process of learning we are?</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Experience shows us a way. Trial, error, discovery, evaluation are all part of the experiment of life. So go out and make a few mistakes. Your life may end up with a added dose of wisdom when you are done. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/19757342013-11-02T13:12:30-04:002021-12-24T01:58:13-05:00Rules for being human #2 - You will learn lessons<span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>Rules For Being Human</b></span><br> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>2. You Will Learn Lessons</b><br>You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called Life. Each day in this school, you will have the opportunity to learn lessons - you may like the lesson or think them irrelevant and stupid.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">In doing my preliminary research on this subject I thought I would Google “learning tools”. I found lists of software and social media “tools” but nothing that deals with how a human being can learn. What state of mind do we have to achieve in order to to be able to learn?</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I confess, I was hoping to find elements such as : objectivity, observation, comparison, research and evaluation. So I decided it may have been the type of search I was doing that was inadequate (see I was learning!) so I decided to inquire about “How we learn”. That yielded better results. Scientific American (one of my favorite publications) has an interesting article on the subject that indicates that the fact that we are writing less and less with a pen and paper, our relationship with words and language is changing. So is our relationship to communication changing too? Communication remains an important way to learn be it verbal or written. In our process it is said there are four stages to learning:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Stage 1 - The Novice, unconscious and incompetent<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/1f60c1a14b01172abbad25f3086275717d008f78/medium/four-stages-chart.jpg?1383412275" class="size_m justify_right border_" /></span></li> <li style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Stage 2 - The Apprentice, conscious and incompetent</span></li> <li style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Stage 3 - The Journeyman, conscious and competent</span></li> <li style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Stage 4 - The Master, unconscious and competent</span></li>
</ul><p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Now this tidy little list has surely got many of you thinking about where you are situated and possibly even how could The Master be unconscious. I imagine where we are depends on the situation and the moment. Moreover I think it is important to be able to separate ourselves from our emotional reactions in order to observe what is truly there and therefore be able to learn. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Life is for learning everyday. So breathe, observe and think about things a little. You might just learn something about yourself.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/19709692013-11-01T13:38:42-04:002017-01-14T11:01:29-05:00Apparently we need to establish some rules...<span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>Rules For Being Human</b></span>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><br><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I came across this list of 11 rules that I found worthy of note and additional pondering. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. The author was unknown unfortunately. Maybe one day I will start my own list, until then I will let others inspire my writings. I hope you enjoy them :)</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i> </i><b><i>1. You Will Receive A Body</i></b><br><i>You may like it or hate it, but it will be yours for the entire period this time around.</i></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/e08efe1026c6530cafb9fe78cd73f965b6d3511f/large/photo-on-2013-11-01-at-1-33-41pmedt.jpg?1383327423" class="size_l justify_right border_" />Ain’t it the truth! How we perceive ourselves is often greatly related to our physicalness: our height, or wight, our skin color, our attractiveness according to social standards and I could go on. There is also our energy level, our stamina and our drive. So why is it we neglect this vehicle we live our life in?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">There is a young man at the gym who recently won a figure athlete competition (drug free competition) in the transformation category. I had noticed this kid always checking himself out whenever he passed in front of a mirror. As you can imagine, it was a lot because a gym has mirrors everywhere! What I didn’t know is this guy went from being 330 lbs. and 50% body fat to 174 lbs. and 4.7% body fat in a little over a year. He was committed to his process there is no doubt. And I can imagine every time he walked in front of a mirror he must have been amazed at his own transformation.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I love food. I am a very good cook but I want to maintain my vitality and my energy. So I make choices. I have not banned butter from my kitchen but I pick and choose. I also reduced my portions and I go to the gym. I move. I walk and depending on the season, I ride, I kayak, I ski. As recently as last January I was out of shape and I had a lot a pain in my body. I was thinking, “If I don’t do something soon, I am going to get old fast!” So that is when I decided to joined a gym and follow the trainer’s guidelines. I went regularly and saw results. I like the body I live my life in now. It serves me well. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Like the rule says we get one body. How we live today dictates how we will live 10, 20 and 40 years from now. My transformation may not be as dramatic on the outside as the young man at the gym, but it changed my quality of life today and for the future.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/19507512013-10-29T17:39:34-04:002017-01-14T11:01:29-05:00My 200th post!<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Everything that has a beginning has an ending. Make your peace with that and all will be well.” - </i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #000000"><b> </b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/59705.Jack_Kornfield"><b>Jack Kornfield</b></a><b>, </b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/565581">Buddha's Little Instruction Book</a></span>
<p><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;">Well today I had my first exam out of three exams and a mini-test on Friday. It was long. It was difficult. Let’s hope they get easier as the week progresses.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/f44fee71c5f49e370bb4a7d56826289e1fdedb76/large/photo-on-2013-10-29-at-5-37-19pmedt.jpg?1383082685" class="size_l justify_left border_none" alt="" /><br>I am in week five of my session. Some of the teachers have piled on the material. Lots and lots of reading. I had no time before I started school. I certainly feel the pinch now. But I like it. I enjoy going to my class every morning, meeting up with my colleagues and exploring the various subject matters. I have discovered I am very interested in the legal aspect of my program and I love exploring both sides of the interpretation. That is friday’s mini-test. I will let you know if I still love it afterwards. Hahaha! In the meantime I just breathe and take each day as it comes. I review a little. I make sure I am organised and I leave the rest to the process.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia;"><br><br><br><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">So on Friday, when I leave my class to drive to Piccolo Studios to do my vocal tracks this weekend, I will find my peace and all will be well.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35);"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/19361442013-10-27T20:12:18-04:002017-01-14T11:01:29-05:00Beyond Monty Python : The meaning of my life.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">“You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.” </span><span style="color: rgb(24, 24, 24); letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; ">― </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(2, 30, 170); ">Albert Camus</span>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Those who know me know that I am big on research. At our house dictionaries (yes plural) iPads and MacBooks are never far. Someone has a question and we are off looking for an answer. What am I always searching for anyway?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I think my penchant for research began a very long time ago. <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/5f43de002e33f86dcc9363231f16e5ce9da152b4/original/photo-on-2013-10-18-at-6-25-34amedt.jpg?1382919037" class="size_l justify_right border_" />I was looking for happiness. I was looking for validation and I was looking for some sign that I belonged somewhere. And search for the meaning of life? Well it was all roped into one big, “Who the heck am I? What am I doing here? What is the meaning of my life?” As you may remember I make a New Year’s resolution at my birthday, my own personal new year. This year I decided to live in the moment more. So far, after one month, I am happier and I am living. Right this moment I am taking a break from my exam studies to write, t</span>hankful to still be learning and challenging myself.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">What did I find with all my research? What I was looking for was within my reach all along because it was within me. That realization brought meaning to my life. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/18895872013-10-20T19:26:35-04:002017-01-14T11:01:29-05:00It's supposed to be easy.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><em>"We were together, I have forgotten the rest." </em>- <b>Walt Whitman</b></span>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Sometimes being together is enough. Walking among the fall leaves in the forest. Having a quiet breakfast. Each of us reading accompanied by the sound of relaxed breathing. The rest becomes details.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(50, 51, 51); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #000000">When Marc goes away I do not miss him for the most part. I miss his presence to be sure but I am not sitting here feeling the <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/ceed7abe52ced26dd6bbaa03c362cf10a9d80800/original/img-1145.jpg?1382311346" class="size_l justify_right border_" />lack because he is not here. If I did I would be miserable half the time! Since he is gone as much as he is here it goes without saying that the relationship has to be built on trust and confidence. Although both of these may seem to be the same there are distinctions. Trust: </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence. Confidence: full trust; belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability of a person or thing; belief in oneself and ones powers or abilities; self-reliance. Again we have a situation where both words are present in each other’s description but it unmistakable that trust is on the outside ( ... of a person or thing) and confidence is on the inside (belief in oneself, self-reliance). </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(50, 51, 51); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(50, 51, 51); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I guess the point I am trying to make is that life with others can be easy, be it in a romantic relationship, with our siblings, our children or with friends. When we are together, we just are and that is the best love I know.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/18841822013-10-19T07:25:00-04:002017-01-14T11:01:29-05:00Waiting for the sun to come up.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“You have to imagine a waiting that is not impatient because it is timeless.”</i> </span><span style="color: rgb(24, 24, 24); letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; ">― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/159504.R_S_Thomas" style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(2, 30, 170); ">R.S. Thomas</span></a><span style="color: rgb(24, 24, 24); letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; ">, </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(2, 30, 170); "><i>The Echoes Return Slow</i></span>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Today is day 12. Day 12 of what? Well day 12 that Marc has been gone to a place with no technology. I have not seen his face of heard his voice since the morning of Oct 8th. Seems strange, yet it changes nothing.<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/9df583b11903e25013310af0a19eae61e1a71e81/large/photo-on-2013-10-19-at-7-03-58amedt.jpg?1382181835" class="size_l justify_right border_" /></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">It changes nothing because my feelings are unwavering. Having him physically near does not prove he loves me or I him. Relationships live in our hearts. They are part of the choices we make and the way we live our lives. Whether the person is next to us or half way around the world, changes nothing. How we experience our relationship, any relationship actually, is entirely up to us. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I am waiting for the sun to come up. The new day will bring my love back to me. Eventually.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/18781002013-10-18T06:43:43-04:002017-01-14T11:01:29-05:00Whistle while you work? <span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">“Give me a man who sings at his work.” - Thomas Carlyle</span><br> <p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">And plays the bass! :) I have often been asked, “If you could do anything at all for a living what would you do?” Well, sing is <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/5312c16a7dda83d4b9294cc75dd9032291595351/original/photo-on-2013-10-18-at-6-42-13amedt.jpg?1382092969" class="size_l justify_right border_" />my answer. When I do I feel regenerated and all my booboos go away.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">But in the past few years I have performed very little. I have written a lot of songs and blogs. I have painted too. Although those things bring me happiness nothing compares to how I feel when I am singing. It takes me to a whole other place. If I sing when I am doing something, anything at all, there is a deeper level of joy that comes in. That is what Carlyle means. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">We don’t always have the opportunity to do what we love most, but we can choose to love where we are and what we are doing. It's all in how we see things.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "> </p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/18626122013-10-16T07:57:31-04:002017-01-14T11:01:29-05:00Why would I leave my cosy nest?<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><em>“No bird soars too high, if he soars with his own wings.”</em> -<strong> William Blake</strong></span><br><br><span style="color: rgb(35, 35, 35); font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px; "><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/536e498aae133b500a5d7bd0910229d1ccffc492/original/photo-on-2013-10-16-at-7-54-14amedt.jpg?1381924610" class="size_l justify_right border_" />This morning I sit in the quiet of my dining room, my breakfast half-eaten on the table, indulging in this pleasure I have of writing my thoughts (and sharing them with you :) ) My grandmother clocks tick-tocks, the coffee machine hums and rests waiting for me to steam the milk and pull the levers. It is very quiet. I am in solitude.</span>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The pale grey light of early morning invites me into my thoughts. You see usually Marc is here and we greet each dawn in quiet conversation before getting up and into the day. Marc is not here. This time he has gone for 12 days, today being day 8, to a place where I can not call or skype or email him. Of course I still write, but in the distance that separates us and in this solitude and stillness, he is ever present. I think about our life and about life. My life with Marc has taught me so much and allowed me to grow. I am still learning and I see many adventures just waiting for me and for us. I have this constant feeling that changes are coming, good changes, and when they do my life will never be the same. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I feel that I am learning to soar. After all even songbird fly...</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. Album out spring 2014.</span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/18478282013-10-14T10:07:48-04:002017-01-14T11:01:29-05:00Without even waving a wand.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>"Look! It's an actual 3D book. You can open it and read it!"</i> <b>- Jacob</b></span><br> <p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">These are the words spoken by my son last night and again this morning as he crawled into my bed with <i>Harry Potter and Philosopher's Stone</i> by <b>J.K. Rowling</b>. He was sporting a wide grin to go along with his sly sense of humor, a geneal inheritance from his grandfather I suspect.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/f8bc5929fe099ec06ac2410fa3077338d4620d96/original/photo-on-2013-10-12-at-9-49-39amedt.jpg?1381759347" class="size_l justify_right border_" /></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">In our house we read. Everyone reads. When my son was in kindergarten he begged me to teach him to read. Begged. Daily. I was too busy in the moments when he was home, preparing meals, looking at homework with his sister and I worked at night a lot. So I never taught him to read then. In the first grade he learned to read at the speed of light. If I get a book from the library and leave it lying around the kids will pick it up and read it because it’s there. I learn from my kids everyday. I learn because they teach me about what they are discovering but also because they can be such wonderful role models for me as to how I can live my life. They are in the moment about everything they do. Being a parent doesn’t mean we have just downloaded a program of ultimate answers to all of life’s questions. We’re still kids learning too. I am learning to be in the moment and enjoy what is here right now.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">So we read. Jacob and I, all snug and cosy under the blankets like a couple of kittens, read together, taking turns. This morning reading was a metaphor for loving each other in that moment disguised as a 3D Harry Potter book. J.K. Rowling really did give kids the tools to make magic happen. Thank goodness and happy Thanksgiving to all celebrating today. I certainly have a lot to be thankful for.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 14px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/18419942013-10-12T21:30:23-04:002017-01-14T11:01:29-05:00It's right here on the map.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">“The direction you choose to face determines whether you're standing at the end or the beginning of a road.” - </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5082833.Richelle_E_Goodrich" style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(2, 30, 170); ">Richelle E. Goodrich</span></a>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); min-height: 16px; "><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/b613da5ca6aa8ec008a84d83b5efddbed59968ba/original/img-1072.jpg?1381622130" class="size_l justify_right border_" style="color: rgb(35, 35, 35); " /></p>
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<br><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Following a path in life is an interesting process. There are moments when the fog rolls in and nothing seems clear. You walk along and things reveal themselves along the way. How do you know which way to go, when to turn, when to keep going or when to stop?</span>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Now maybe you are reading this and thinking, “Great! Bianca is now going to reveal the answer to this conundrum of life!” Sorry, but sadly, no. Apparently we all have our own path to follow. Imagine we all are born with our own personal road map. Like any map, we have lots of choices of where to go. Plenty of adventures are waiting in any direction. My map may have some of the same roads that your does, but it may also include a few that are not on yours. I see it like this: there are times when a pretty side road beacons us to enjoy life a little more. Or is it a test for us to affirm our desire to forge ahead? Hence the conundrum. As the quote says, it’s all about which direction you choose to face. I would add that what also matters is wether or not you are moving at all. Better to make a wrong turn than to sit at a stop forever undecided. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">My wise teacher Kenny Werner would say, “There are no wrong notes.” I say, in life every turn offers an adventure and an opportunity of some kind. Just keep moving and soon enough you’ll figure out where you are on that map of yours.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); min-height: 16px; "><br><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><br><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span><br> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/17890922013-10-05T18:14:27-04:002017-01-14T11:01:29-05:00Let me look that up.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“...we must face the choice between what is right and what is easy.”</i> Albus Dumbledore, <b>J.K. Rowling</b></span>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><br><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This is my quote today because I am sitting in my dining room doing my homework. I did start my day with a long bike ride but no kayaking till I am done. No outing later until I am done. No martinis, no bubbly... OMG! What have I done? :)</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/addb4d725027c37765964a26724df126231534cf/original/photo-on-2013-10-05-at-4-27-26pmedt.jpg" class="size_l justify_right border_" style="color: rgb(35, 35, 35); " /></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I have spent the week getting my head crammed with informa</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">tion. Business courses and a course on laws in the workplace and all I can say is thank God for my communications course. I think. Well it is all so very fascinating. I have fears. I wonder if I will be able to remember everything. I was sharp as a tack when I was 20. I am no longer 20 so it does tug at me a little. If you can image, I spent my Friday night reading my new French grammatical dictionary. French grammar being one of my most detested subjects throughout my school years. No the most detested. Well there I was, with Marc, reading about verbs and conjugating and all that stuff. I imagine I have just shattered your image of us being wild jet-setters partying all the time. All I have to say about that is, “There is a time and a place for everything.”</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I can see that all of my experience in business and my background as a musician are big pluses. I think I will just keep my focus, stay on top of my homework and see what happens. Wish me luck! </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "><br> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/17725992013-10-02T23:37:27-04:002017-01-14T11:01:28-05:00Found it!<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Seek not greater wealth, but simpler pleasure; not higher fortune, but deeper felicity.” </i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #000000">― <span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Mahatma Gandhi</span></span>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Today I had a Communications course where we discussed the intricacies of communicating wi</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">th others. Actually we discussed the inefficiencies of communicating and trying to be be understood, understanding etc. At one point it just seemed to me that the listening part is rally really important.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/708303742bd6588c17e98b937f12d465bf405c2f/original/photo-on-2013-10-02-at-11-25-55pmedt.jpg" class="size_l justify_left border_" style="color: rgb(35, 35, 35); " /></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Tonight I was fortunate. Marc took me to a concert of Baroque music with the London Handel Players. What a treat! The whole night was absolutely delicious. As I listened, I started to understand aspects about the music that I had not noticed before. I started to get ideas of how I could be a better singer. There were no singers but it was the level of musicianship and control and yet the unmistakable spirit inserted in each and every piece that was so moving; so inspiring.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><br><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">These musicians managed to reach something deep inside me and I am filled with joy. The communication was so clear. I think that is the deeper felicity Gandhi is speaking of and I feel so fortunate. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "><br> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/17401672013-09-30T02:37:53-04:002017-01-14T11:01:28-05:00Encore? One more time!<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">“The obstacles of your past can become the gateways that lead to new beginnings.” ― <span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(2, 30, 170); ">Ralph H. Blum</span></span><br> <p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">When I was accepted at university in my area, a singer could only study classical voice. I wanted to study jazz. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/463e9b2fe29e388d914292d827c5670870c72214/original/photo-on-2013-09-30-at-2-34-10amedt.jpg" class="size_l justify_left border_" style="color: rgb(35, 35, 35); " /></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I decided to go another route and proceeded to study privately. I spent many years traveling to different destinations to seek out teachers and mentors in my discipline. I was very fortunate to have </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">a background in sales and marketing which afforded me the ability to get gigs. Able to apply everything I was learning in the field, things were moving ahead by leaps and bounds. Although very busy working, even when pregnant, even with small children under foot, there was something that was missing for me. I never did get that degree I had originally pursued. So I am doing it now. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Sometimes you just have have to address those bucket list items. Life is for living I always say. Life is also for learning. So off I go on a new adventure.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span><br> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/16882382013-09-23T22:12:14-04:002017-01-14T11:01:28-05:00Happy New Year!<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><em>“Letting there be room for not knowing is the most important thing of all. When there's a big disappointment, we don't know if that's the end of the story. It may just be the beginning of a great adventure. Life is like that. We don't know anything. We call something bad; we call it good. But really we just don't know.”</em> </span><span style="color: rgb(24, 24, 24); letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; ">― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8052.Pema_Ch_dr_n" style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(2, 30, 170); ">Pema Chödrön</span></a>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); min-height: 16px; "><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/db8ace1c8e3229604ce6cd0df7626db6c4cc7892/original/photo-on-2013-09-23-at-9-48-03pmedt.jpg" class="size_l justify_right border_" style="color: rgb(35, 35, 35); " /></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. I always found the timing rather odd and it never made sense to me. So instead I started seeing my birthday as my own New Year and would take that time to look back at the year that had passed and forward to the year ahead. What did I see?</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">In the last year there were many new beginnings. I started writing this blog for one. A task I am proud of. I also took my health in my own hands and joined a gym. My dedication to reclaiming my vitality has been rewarded. There have been challenges. There have been changes. More changes are coming. I try to be careful of expectations. I put my energy into where I want to go and let life lead me to the right path. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">So that is how we can begin. Since we don’t know, we can set out on a new adventure and write our own story. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/16746802013-09-21T11:46:33-04:002017-01-14T11:01:28-05:00Calling Happiness<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“The happiest people don’t have the best of everything, they make the best of everything.”</i> - </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #181818"><b>Karen S. Magee</b></span>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I love this quote because it is true. What you see, how you see it, what you do with what life sends your way is all up to you. If you are unhappy why not try to look at life another way?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/e7a0bc741dcb3c766cea411ef30914ac591e150f/original/img-1037.jpg" class="size_l justify_right border_" style="color: rgb(35, 35, 35); " /></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">It is true that many people live in misery and poverty. We have touched on the concept of poverty of the mind in a previous blog and I wish to revisit this idea today. Poverty of the mind is the cause of misery. We allow our thoughts to be poisoned by wants and desires for stuff (and people) outside of us. The deeper the emotional attachment to the desire, the greater we try to justify these wants and desires. Recently I read two articles on the internet that I found vastly interesting. Let me share from the first one today. It was talking about how when our emotions decide to feel a certain way about something, the brain finds a way to explain our feelings. "<i>We want to believe we’re rational, but reason turns out to be the ex post facto way we rationalize what our emotions already want to believe."*</i> The article goes on to say. "<i>When people are misinformed, giving them facts to correct those errors only makes them cling to their beliefs more tenaciously</i>." Great! Isn’t that scary? The emotional, or the ego, only wants to keep believing what it has created. It chooses to be blind to the truth of what is really there. So if we can’t help anyone who won’t help themselves, what can we do? We can become more aware of our own feelings and stay aware of the emotional trappings that may be clouding our reality. Remember my good friend Russ’s advice, “Keep it factual and unemotional.” We can apply to everything in our lives it turns out. Now when I have a knee-jerk reaction, I stop myself and ask, “Is it true?” This is the first step on a path of self-discovery. Does this mean I have decided to turn off my feelings? No it means my emotions don't run me and that is a very different situation indeed.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Happiness is a choice but more importantly, happiness is a journey. Endeavor to find happiness where you are and wherever life takes you. It’s your calling.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "><br> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(2, 30, 170); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #232323">* About the brain: <span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(2, 30, 170); "><a href="http://www.alternet.org/media/most-depressing-discovery-about-brain-ever?paging=off">http://www.alternet.org/media/most-depressing-discovery-about-brain-ever?paging=off</a></span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/16576242013-09-19T09:04:33-04:002017-01-14T11:01:28-05:00It's all in how you look at it.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #181818"><em>“My interpretation can only be as inerrant as I am, and that's good to keep in mind.”</em> ―</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span style="color:#000000;"> Rachel Held Eva</span><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; ">ns</span></span><span style="color:#000000;">, <span style="letter-spacing: 0px; ">Evolving in Monkey Town: How a Girl Who Knew All the Answers Learned to Ask the Questions</span></span></span>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">There are so many things I have learned because I am a singer. I have often said that my deep faith came from living a life with so much uncertainty. I had to learn to trust. Then there is the art of interpretation. How many different ways can you see?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "><img src="//content.sitezoogle.com/u/61282/b60d4234449a14b6482ee4ea5acfb4048d351c75/original/img-0232.jpg?1379595858" class="size_l justify_right border_" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; " /></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Allow me to offer an example. In the earlier part of my career as a standards singer, I could not bring myself to sing <i>Don’t go to strangers.</i> The lyric goes like this: “Live your dreams to the sky above, but when you need someone true to love, don’t go to strangers, Darling come to me.” When I was younger, I looked at those words and thought that the person singing them was somewhat pathetic and deep in the victim mode. Drama with a hefty helping of self-loathing. “I can’t sing that!” I would say to myself. But as time passed and life evolved, I discovered a whole different perspective. A woman who is self assured and confident of where she stands can tell her man, “Go ahead and run after your dreams. My love and support for you is unwavering. You can count on me to be here.” That song became one of my favorite standards to sing. So what changed? Did the song change? No. I changed. I matured and evolved. Our expression and our interpretation is inevitably a reflection of who we are. In the beginning I could not sing that song from a pathetic place because I was not there. I also could not sing that song from a rock solid confident place. I had to I get there myself first.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">In life we need to look at situations like we would a song: from every perspective possible. Ask yourself, “Is there more here? Am I right? Am I being reactive?” Leave your ego at the door, start there and let your exploration reveal something new about yourself.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
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<br> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/16441452013-09-17T22:19:12-04:002017-01-14T11:01:28-05:00I hear it. I feel it!<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>"For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul."</i> - <b>Judy Garland</b></span>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Music is like that for me. It is such a deep deep experience that sometimes it is disembodied. Do you know it?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "><img src="//content.sitezoogle.com/u/61282/23251c0a64853d05136c6cad14684ab51f22cbf2/original/img-0973.jpg?1379470726" class="size_l justify_right border_" /></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I don’t think you have to be a music creator to have this experience. Music touches all of us. It is that universal language we all hear; even if we may have varied interpretations at times. That is the magic of music actually. It speaks to each of us. We hear what we need to hear, or we hear what heals us. Regardless, there is a universal and personal code woven into every piece of music. Can we define it? Do we need to? I say no. Personally I have always found it tedious to mentally explain my art. Art speaks to the beholder. Who am I to tell you what to feel when you listen to a piece of music or admire a painting? Even when I listen to my own songs I discover new elements. Music lives. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">With us, through us and beyond us music has a life of it’s own. We are the messengers. It’s all very humbling actually.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "><br> </p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/16351412013-09-16T22:09:10-04:002017-02-02T08:39:41-05:00In the garden of song<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” </i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #000000">- <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/233619.Marcel_Proust">Marcel Proust</a></span>
<p><br><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; ">And some people make our songs blossom. Today my heart is filled with grace. I have spent the day listening to another beautiful musician making such heartfelt contributions to our work that my heart, just like the Grinch, has grown three sizes today. :)</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/702c5812d657b4057c46ed63fc72760381ec630d/original/img-1024.jpg?1379383725" class="size_l justify_right border_" style="color: rgb(35, 35, 35); " /></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">When I get an album under my skin I have a tendency to play it over and over. Such was the case with Norah Jones’ <i>Feels Like Home</i>. I just enjoyed so many elements and the song writing was very tasty. I also fell in love with the guitar player. I remember thinking to myself, “I wish I could have a guy like that!” He was a real sculptor of sounds and painted so much color into each song. Now we’re talking about a girl who LOVES the bass and who trips on a great drummer and played all of her jazz career with piano, not guitar. So for me to even notice this guy, there was something that really spoke to me. Today as he played the first tune for our album, in the presence of his creative moment, I felt a swell in my chest. His music reached out to me from the place from which it came. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I am grateful. I am happy. I am blossoming. Soundtrack coming soon :D</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span><br><br> </p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/15855342013-09-14T10:22:33-04:002017-02-02T08:08:23-05:00I'm just trying to get a little peace<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“You cannot find peace by avoiding life.”</i> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #181818">- <b>Virginia Wolf</b></span>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Hello everyone! I have missed writing to you this past week and hope you are well. Sometimes, although anyone close to me knows it is rare, I have the need for quiet. I like to sit in my dining room where the sun streams in and have as few sounds as possible. In the calm, I find peace. It is like a Bibi re-boot. Ah that feels better.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">It was a busy week too. Marc and I have so many projects brewing. Monday next we are back in Almonte with the wonderful Ken Friesen and the very talented Kevin Breit. Plus we have a concert the following week and a full roster in between. So how do you find peace when there is a constant bustle? My answer is: breathe. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Singers learn to have an intimate relationship witht he breath at </span></p>
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/e166be1d91448841eb52c36abc0c71c64b3c352e/original/img-0928.jpg?1379168540" class="size_l justify_right border_" style=" text-align: -webkit-auto; " /><p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">one point in their journey. I discovered that all situations can be managed effectively with a few deeps breaths. Besides shutting out the world does not change our reality. That only changes our ability to deal with reality. If you stick a half-eaten sandwich under the carpet, a week from now that half-eaten sandwich will still be there beckoning even louder to be dealt with. That is life for you. In our world we have teenagers; experts in the dramatic arts on and off stage. But drama and peace of mind don't fit in the same sentence. Nay, they don't even fit in the same story unless you are saying, "When I let go of my drama, I found peace of mind." I would say when I deal with my junk, I find peace of mind. When I face the reality of the world I live in then I take care of what neds taking care of. No more nagging at the back of my head because my brain knows I have not yet dealt with the half-eaten sandwich under the carpet. Not to mention it starts to stink and infect the rest of your metaphoric house! And by the way, drinking, shopping, overeating and overworking can all be metaphoric “Febreeze” that doesn't hide the truth in the end. One deep breath is all it takes to sniff out the truth.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(35, 35, 35); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">So I invite you to deal with something today. Here is a hint on what to choose: the less you want to do it, the more you should. When you are done you will be glad that your half-eaten sandwich isn't stinking up your inner house anymore. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">More on Ken Friesen : <a href="http://www.kenfriesen.com"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(2, 30, 170); ">www.kenfriesen.com</span></a></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">More on Kevin Breit : <a href="http://www.kevinbreit.com"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(2, 30, 170); ">www.kevinbreit.com</span></a> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p>
</div>
<p> </p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/15432062013-09-06T14:34:27-04:002017-01-14T11:01:28-05:00Sunny with passing rain.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Love is the weather being good every day because wind and rain are just another kind of good weather.” </i>- from the film Casanova, screenplay by <b>Jefferey Hatcher and Kimberly Simi</b></span>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">What a wonderful phrase. Certainly the more I think about it, the more truth I find in it. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The weather is a metaphor for life. In my own experience, something changes in a relationship once you choose to be on the same team. First of all if your goal is to move the team forward, rather than improve your own personal standing, your approach to everything changes. In music each band member has to be on the same team. Playing in a different key or time signature is not only unthinkable it is disastrous. You might as well be playing an entirely different tune! In order to Wow your audience, and yourselves, there are things that need to happen. First you need to be on the same page, literally. You need to listen. Then you need to understand what it is that your are hearing. I also feel the need to disconnect from myself in order to be fully connected with the musical process. The music is part of the team too. If I don’t recognize that, I am putting myself over the music. The outcome changes. Relationships are the same. If an individual is constantly upstaging the relationship, problems are on the horizon. The relationship, in order to survive, has to be put first. We don’t sacrifice ourselves for our relationship but we do need to consider the relationship in our decisions and actions. “Is my position serving the relationship or is it serving me.” </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I have learned to become an observer I see situations differently. If something bothers me or upsets me, I try to understand what I am feeling and why I am feeling it. I examine my reaction and I learn. Because every situation can be an opportunity to build a better relationship, it becomes another kind of good weather.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>Namaste!</i></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.<br><br><img src="//content.sitezoogle.com/u/61282/8f0a4c37cd0afaca387e355c2d5c236970bb1c0b/original/img-0368.jpg?1378492442" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/15252312013-09-03T16:12:53-04:002017-02-02T07:23:31-05:00The way to happiness<p><span class="font_large"><em>“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.”</em> </span><strong><span style="color: rgb(24, 24, 24); font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; ">― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/570218.Dalai_Lama_XIV" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0); text-decoration: none; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; ">Dalai Lama XIV</a></strong><br><br><span class="font_large">Last night I went to see a show. Claude Brazeau, our photographer and good friend, is also a musician/singer. During the show Claude asks us, then me in particular, "What is the cost of happiness?" My answer, "I'll put it in my blog." This got me thinking though. The cost of happiness is not necessarily the price of happiness. So what are we really talking about here?<br><br>In the monetary society in which we live, we equate things to a price tag. I often say, "The price does not determine value." The best argument I have for that is the fact that I did not purchase my children but they are priceless to me. Let's turn to the dictionary, shall we? Price: the cost at which something is obtained. Cost: 1, the amount of money, time or energy required to obtain or produce something; 2, suffering or sacrifice. Value: the desirability of something. I find that the dictionary with it's inherant ability to distinguish the details of words can enlighten us. I love words. I am a singer. I spent my life singing words, studying their meaning, the different ways to interpret them. Now that I am a writer, it is even more pertinent. Money, time, energy, suffering, sacrifice with a soupçon of desire. Musicians who are happy playing music will sacrifice time, energy and money towards their art. They may suffer physically from hours of practice. The happiness that comes from their process however, is priceless.<br><br>Happiness is a choice. When we are filled with desire then the amount of money, time, energy, suffering or sacrifice seems irrelevant. So if I may offer an answer to a paraphrased question my dear friend Claude put out to us all last night, I think the cost of happiness is to love ourselves enough to live our desires and dreams. How badly do you want to be happy?<br><br>Namaste!</span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Bianca</span></p>
<p><br><span class="font_large">P.S. Congratulations to Claude Brazeau for a wonderful evening of music, elegantly performed with grace and style. His choosing to make himself happy reverberated to all in attendance. Lucky us.</span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font_large">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/b77000673797739348f057e5b3aebd41cdedc5e8/original/img-0913.jpg?1378239135" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/15203782013-09-01T22:00:15-04:002017-02-02T07:18:12-05:00Time and time again<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Time is the longest distance between two places.”</i> - <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7751.Tennessee_Williams"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><b>Tennessee Williams</b></span></span></a></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span style="color:#000000;"><b>, </b></span><b><i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/1324493"><span style="color:#000000;">The Glass Menagerie</span></a></i></b></span>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">We all know that feeling of time passing so quickly when we are having fun. Time is perceptual. Distance is also perceptual. Isn’t everything?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I offer an example. When Marc goes away to play music with Celine, he leaves for a month on average. The first few days and the last few days are always the longest. In between I tame the empty feeling brought on by his absence. It becomes familiar like there is Marc here and then Marc away. That is the feeling of Marc away. I know it. I recognize it and I live with it. It is the time we are apart that makes the biggest difference. Were he a 5 hour drive away or a 20 hour flight away does not really change anything. He is gone for a time. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Now I am counting the hours. There are less than 12 before he arrives home. Each one can be sub-divided an infinite amount of times. No wonder they pass so slowly.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>Namaste!</i></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/6d9792948d57c57eb85f8d482752fcf4435a4bb9/original/photo-on-2013-09-01-at-9-38-47amedt.jpg?1378087196" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/15198032013-08-31T23:59:33-04:002017-01-14T11:01:28-05:00Talk is cheap. “Love, I've come to understand, is more than three words mumbled before bedtime.” - Nicholas Sparks<br><br>Actions speak louder than words. What are you waiting for? <br><br>Namaste!<img src="//content.sitezoogle.com/u/61282/9501a1f5c3f43202d0233e002a6c457534805453/original/photo-on-2013-08-31-at-11-56-41pmedt.jpg?1378007933" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><br>Bianca<br><br>This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br> BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/15188462013-08-30T23:16:44-04:002017-02-02T07:16:50-05:00Love rises<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">“Love doesn't just sit there, like a stone, it has to be made, like bread; remade all the time, made new.” </span><span style="color: rgb(24, 24, 24); letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; ">― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/874602.Ursula_K_Le_Guin" style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(2, 30, 170); ">Ursula K. Le Guin</span></a>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(102, 102, 0); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Warm hands are for bread and cold hands are for pastry. Then there is the old saying, “Cold hands, warm heart.” Hmmm? Where do all these baking analogies take us?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I have had hands for pastry for most of my life. But since there is this wonderful invention called a bread machine, I can also make wonderful artisan breads. Marc says they are like cake. My last one you ask? Chocolate, hazelnut and pistachio bread. The best toast in the world is in my house. Come and taste for yourself. I am getting off topic because bread is the detail of what is quoted above; love is the essence. I love Marc. Each day I write to him. I do so because it keeps me close to him. When he receives my cards, it brings him close to me. I am making bread with every word. Sometimes my words are hazelnuts. Sometimes my words are sesame seeds. Always my words are the foundation for love that is life-sustaining and thus my love is living and thriving.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Once I had a love that slipped away. I know now that it was not meant to last for ever. I also learned that if I held in my hands a recipe for a happy life, I would put my heart and my soul into making it as wonderful as I could each and every day and I do. It is the simple things that makes life worth living. Toast anyone?</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>Namaste!</i></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/954790442ffa61ea89c39b3a249007aeb5d5ebdc/original/img-2702.jpg?1377918913" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/15106242013-08-29T21:24:42-04:002017-01-14T11:01:27-05:00Living the dream<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“It does not do to dwell on dreams Harry and forget to live.”</i> (Albus Dumbledore to Harry Potter) - J.K. Rowling</span>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(50, 51, 51); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Dumbledore, who is a wizard with the wisdom of his 200 years, enlightens us throughout the Harry Potter adventure. Interesting to think a 30 year old woman put all those words in his mouth. Obviously Jo, who is wise beyond her years, figured a few things out on her own.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Well if you’re going to dream, you might as well dream big. Why have reasonable dreams or realistic dreams? Where is the fun in that? Let’s be sure not to get confused with wishing. Wishing is the passive, sitting on the porch, watch a shooting star go by, hoping that, with no effort on your part whatsoever, things will happen. That is as likely as winning the lottery when you never buy a ticket. Those are the “dreams” that distract us from really living. Our respected headmaster is urging us to move beyond our fantasies. He know they are kind of like the excuses and justifications we were talking about yesterday. Another form of evil distraction* disguised as desire. Wishing is superficial. Dreaming comes from deep within. It can take us on a journey we could not have imagined. Go ahead and dream, but live your dream or you may find your life vaporous. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Dreams that are fueled with passion and drive us to overcome all obstacles are the things the best stories are made of. Dream, be passionate and write the amazing story of your own life!</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>Namaste!</i></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<div style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">* I am in Harry Potter mode - so I am in Harry Potter mode all the way! </span></div>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise.</span><br><br><img src="//content.sitezoogle.com/u/61282/a85b920a75d33657b5327348709ba425efbebba1/original/img-0910.jpg?1377825867" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/14983872013-08-28T23:37:22-04:002017-01-14T11:01:27-05:00I can see clearly now<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>"When you are told your negative points, you can change them or defend yourself. Your success or failure depends on that."</i> - <b>Tsem Rinpoche</b> </span>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Everyone knows at least one person who will spend twice as much energy justifying why they stay in their rut. They are comfy there and they don’t want to leave. In 10, 20 or 30 years, if they persist, they will be at exactly the same place, in the same relationship or in the same job. What kind of life is that?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I think one of the things that helped me progress at steady rate as a singer, was my ability to listen to comments from my musicians. I had a pianist who complained about my time, so I went and studied with a drummer for three months* Then I had other comments about my stage presence and my performance. I listened. Most times I gave my contributor the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes I would not agree in the end, but I always felt it was important to try things on for size. If we are emotionally attached to an issue or habit, our lack of detachment may cloud our vision. Then where do you go? How can you see clearly with all that emotional fog? Taking a step in a new direction, any new direction, will at least change our perspective. It may be all it takes to look back and see things more clearly. Then we can examine ourselves to see if adjustments need to be made. Only then you can decide what you keep or what you let go. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The deciding factor then becomes our willingness to change. No small thing. Well thought out excuses disguised as arguments don’t serve anyone (or fool anyone either.) Tsem Rinpoche tells us, our success and our failure depends on our ability to change our story. That takes courage. Be brave enough to try something new. You may find yourself closer to the real you in the end. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>Namaste!</i></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">*At my first lesson my teacher said to me, “Bianca, you don’t have an issue with time. There is nothing wrong with your time.” So we spent three months exploring notions of rhythm and it was great!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise.<br><img src="//content.sitezoogle.com/u/61282/4bfa8f98795f268d35349cf8a8b3ed3504e5dd67/original/img-0825.jpg?1377745520" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/14881782013-08-27T22:40:06-04:002017-02-02T06:54:06-05:00Planning to go with the flow.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.”</i> - <span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(2, 30, 170); "><b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2622245.Lao_Tzu">Lao Tzu</a></b></span></span>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">A challenging thing to apply when you are a person with control issues. Yup. But time has allowed me to learn and let go. To what end?</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I am a planner. I think of all the details and foresee possible problems to minimize them. Control issues disguised as organization. Control issues can have practical applications. My keenly honed planning skills are often very practical and appreciated by those around me. Meals are planned. Trips are planned. I can pull off fancy seven course dinner parties for 14 people flawlessly. But the hamster never stops. So in the end I am the one who doesn’t sleep and worries about the possible problems the future can bring. I must stay one step ahead or ... Or what? I won’t be happy? I can tell you living my life this way left no room to even enjoy my 7 course gourmet dinner party, or my life. I was always in the future. I was too busy planning to enjoy the present. I started letting go of little things. As I did, I noticed that often it didn’t matter so much. I was stuck in this pattern of Super-Planner to prove to myself that I had value. If I wasn’t the best at being a few steps ahead then I was not good enough. Good enough for what? Good enough for who? I didn’t really want to answer that question but it was an important part of my process. Learning to just be was a learning curve indeed.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">So to answer my earlier question, to what end? A happy end! Every time I let go of my expectations, everything gets easier. I focus on the present moment and I live in my happy place right now.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>Namaste!</i></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/674101ae38491f999b4c41d2b13d815d231a9bd2/original/photo-on-2013-08-27-at-10-37-52pmedt.jpg?1377657551" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/14830702013-08-27T00:15:41-04:002017-02-02T06:42:41-05:00Spare change?<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">“And that is how change happens. One gesture. One person. One moment at a time.” </span><span style="color: rgb(24, 24, 24); letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; ">― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2526.Libba_Bray" style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(2, 30, 170); ">Libba Bray</span></a>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I am changing. I have had these periods, here and there, in my life where I feel I am about to turn another corner. The more I am aware of them, the more of them there seems to be.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Most people can recall a moment when someone said something that affected them so profoundly that it created a foundation for change. Remember my blog on <a contents="April 8, 2013" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://biancabassomusic.com/blog/blog/17-persistence" target="_blank">April 8, 2013</a>? It was on persistence. I spoke about crossing the living room just as Marketa Irglova was brought back onto the stage at the Oscars to give her speech. Her words kept me going at a time when no one would have questioned giving up. Sometimes it is like that. Or the right door opens and you happen to be standing there so you walk right in. Or you say, “I would like this to happen like that!” and it does. Those uncanny coincidences are not what they seem. They are moments of pure creation we allow in. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">We invite change. We embrace change. One moment at a time.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>Namaste!</i></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/366e99b72c196224b64894764598a82594cb1f05/medium/img-0829.jpg?1377576338" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/c4d1e2a751f5971ee3c717f4f09b5c4e861c1923/medium/img-0834.jpg?1377576362" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" /></span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/14735092013-08-25T00:11:41-04:002017-02-02T06:35:39-05:00I am who I am.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><em>“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”</em> ― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/128382.Leo_Tolstoy">Leo Tolstoy</a></span>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I started my day today with an email from a client asking if I would change 50% of my agreed repertoire. The email came in at 8:39 AM. The gig set-up was at 4 PM. Obviously my client thinks I prepare nothing in advance. They don’t know me.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Several months ago, when I got the call for the corporate event, I asked all the right questions to get a clear idea of the audience and the customer: ratio of men to women, demographics, geographical origin, french/english ratio, will the conventioners be accompanied by their spouses, formal or not. And on and on. I do this so I can tailor the music for the event. That had been my specialty for over 10 years. I was the girl you wanted for a custom event. I would build the music, choose the dress, hair and make-up, all to coordinate with the event planner’s theme or decor even. I was really good at it too. Now that I am building something special with Marc, Bianca Basso, my interest is waning. Today I realized how important it is to be accepted for exactly who I am and what I have to offer. I have spent a great deal of my life customizing myself to fit to others around me. For a long while I liked it. It allowed me to do what I love, sing, and wake up with my kids every morning. I realize that I know very well what I am doing. I love who I am and I am at a place where I want to be loved for exactly who I am. Marc loves me for who I am and now I can't live any other way.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I am heeding Mr. Tolstoy’s words. I am changing myself in a way by deciding stop being what I think others want of me, but to be who I am. I am going to be true to myself from this day forward. I think my world is about to change because of it.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>Namaste!</i></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">P.S. I just want to say thank you to all those who write here and there. I really appreciate your words, your comments and the human connection!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/99b3c31c229cd9ac47bea9a5f2c26d3f192a6445/original/img-0646.jpg?1377403874" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/14497742013-08-24T00:29:52-04:002017-02-02T06:22:07-05:00Wait! I think it's this way...<em><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">“The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.” </span></em>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(2, 30, 170); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #181818">― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9810.Albert_Einstein"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(2, 30, 170); ">Albert Einstein</span></a></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I remember watching a movie where there was a scene with an arm wrestling match. Long story short the drag queen lets the macho factory guy win to let him keep his dignity among his peers. However since both are aware of what has happened, the factory worker must keep up his end of the bet. The drag queen challenges him to change his mind about someone.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Thoughts are harder to change than we think. We have a lot of social inputing we may not even be aware of. How do we get around that? How do we even know if we have it? I don’t have a definitive answer on that but for me, I tune in to how I feel in certain situations. I follow those feelings to be able to determine if they are based in fear or based in fact. Wayne Dyer tells us to ask ourselves, “Is it true?” Generalizations never paint a clear picture.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Albert was a brilliant man in so many ways. He died in 1955. How much has actually changed since then?</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>Namaste!</i></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/1624a6f9884c4c6a21e69bae4eed220081e5ec34/original/photo-on-2013-08-24-at-12-27-02amedt.jpg?1377318989" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/14300602013-08-21T22:36:04-04:002021-04-21T13:14:22-04:00Socks, light bulbs and nature<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><em>“They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.”</em> ― <span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(2, 30, 170); "><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1203.Andy_Warhol">Andy Warhol</a></span></span>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Actually, both are true. The latter creates change on the outside; the former sparks a change on the inside. If Andy had thought about it for a moment he would have figured it out. Beyond changing your socks and a burnt bulb, what are we talking about here?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #181818">According to the dictionary, <b>Change </b>is defined as: </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>to make the form, </i><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #000000"><i>nature</i></span><i>, content, future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone.</i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #0055bb"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(0, 85, 187); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #000000">The dictionary seems pretty clear that change can not occur when something is left alone.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> Action starts the process. What part of us is engaged when we are in action? It could be any number of things: ego, emotions, thoughts. All of these can propel us into action. The intention behind the action will dictate the shape and value of the change. There is another interesting thing I want to point out. It is one of those chicken and egg things. Does changing our world change us or do we change in order to change the world? I think they are so interconnected that lasting physical change can not happen without changing our thought patterns. This is true of any goal we set for ourselves; any challenge we wish to overcome. Change is actually a constant. Change is part of Life’s design. Everyday the sun rises at a different time and sets at a different time than the day before or following it. In nature every plant changes from day to day. We change. Our cells change some every day. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">If I were to re-write Andy’s words above I would be a little more precise. Time changes things, but positive and directional change happens when we we put our intention into action. Now go for it!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>Namaste!</i></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/ae899c6747599c4212294a3862bc5d7b734348ea/original/photo-on-2013-08-21-at-10-29-46pmedt.jpg?1377138917" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/14297252013-08-20T23:22:57-04:002017-02-02T06:07:01-05:00Thinking happens in many ways.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><em>“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”</em> </span><span style="color: rgb(24, 24, 24); letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; ">― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/61107.Margaret_Mead" style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(2, 30, 170); ">Margaret Mead</span></a>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This morning, I started my day by hearing on the radio about a woman who cowardly and anonymously wrote a letter to a grandmother of a 13 year old autistic child. She said that the child’s behavior was bothersome to her normal children and suggested that they should move or think about having the child euthanized. Really? Euthanized?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Obviously this person did not see this TED video about <a contents="Derek Paravicini" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.ted.com/talks/derek_paravicini_and_adam_ockelford_in_the_key_of_genius.html?source=facebook#.UhO4-Ys-Rkl.facebook" target="_blank">Derek Paravicini</a>. This little bit of news has caused many to write and post on social networks today. As it should. My son had an autistic child in his class in regular primary school. He never found him bothersome. My son saw him as a human being. Diversity should be part of his world and our world because it is part of the world. It is how the world is. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">“Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.” ― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/61107.Margaret_Mead"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(2, 30, 170); ">Margaret Mead</span></a> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I rarely put two quotes in my blog but Ms. Mead is right on the money. Maybe had this woman beed taught to think instead of reacting, she would have been able to see the human being inside the autistic child; a human being that did not ask to be born this way. He has no choice in how he is. She makes choices every day. We can choose to change our world by changing the way we think. Now is a good time.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>Namaste!</i></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/bab667885747ce7b239bac28556f77e4e5d1705d/original/7f03b6d2b0cfbfbc2191e0c5efbd8b933c80aeb3-254x191.jpg?1377055358" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span></p>
<div> </div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/14293502013-08-19T21:54:28-04:002017-02-02T06:06:14-05:00Mick and I<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find, you get what you need.” </i></span><strong><span style="color: rgb(24, 24, 24); letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; ">― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/152701.Mick_Jagger" style="letter-spacing: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(2, 30, 170); ">Mick Jagger</span></a></strong>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Here is a line I have disliked with great enthusiasm. (I have vowed to myself not to use the word <i>hate</i> as it is a very strong word and so overused.) My dislike goes way back. Furthermore if the phrase was directed at me it would actually make me angry inside. Why can’t I get what I want?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I find it fortuitous that I should come across Mick’s lyric today, because today I was still rolling around that “needing to need” concept I wrote about yesterday. Now, as I look at the phrase that has sent me fuming on many occasions, I see something new. Maybe it is the need to want that is the problem. What is the distinction anyway? The dictionary says that <i>want </i>is </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #323333"><i>to feel a need or a desire for; wish for.</i> Yet <i>need</i> is described as a</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i> lack of something wanted or deemed necessary. </i>So what does that tell us? Certainly since each word is used in the other’s description there is a very close relationship between them. Want however makes a clear case for how we feel and what we desire being an intricate part of that experience. Need indicates a more practical view stating it could be emotionally related but can also be based in fact.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Mr. Jagger in his rocker philosopher approach (let’s all see him prancing now) has taught us well for decades. Focus on the necessities of life. Keep things simple and always, always appreciate what comes your way for all that it is.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>Namaste!</i></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/835546ef369952090a9b5d62c79a2128ccdfb8c2/original/images-2.jpeg?1376963629" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/14290142013-08-18T22:51:36-04:002017-02-02T06:05:44-05:00What else have you got?<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">“In Kilanga, people knew nothing of things they might have had- A Frigidaire? a washer-dryer combination? Really, they'd sooner imagine a tree that could pull up it's feet and go bake bread. It didn't occur to them to feel sorry for themselves.” ― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3541.Barbara_Kingsolver">Barbara Kingsolver</a>, <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/810663">The Poisonwood Bible</a></i></span>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">So is poverty a perception? Do we drive people into poverty because of how we see them? Or is someone poor because how they see themselves? And what comes first: poverty or the feeling that we are poor?</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Yesterday I told you I don’t watch the news. Now I will tell you something that most people can’t conceive of. I don’t have any television reception at my house. So that means I don’t watch commercial television. (I am a musician anyway...) That means I don’t subject myself to a constant attack of “You need this dress, house, cleaning product, body, food, job, husband, car and on and on.” I shelter myself from the brainwashing of marketing that creates a need for their product. I don’t want to need. I want to be grateful for what I have. My previous years of T.V. conditioning have already created a pattern where when I get something I immediately see, and even focus, on what I don’t have. Getting more, creates an instant situation where I can see the more that I didn’t get. Unfortunately I am not from Kilanga. It occurs to me far too often to feel sorry for myself. Because I have become comfortable in the void, I seek it. I create it.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Our societal conditioning is stronger than we may realize. Even when we are aware it is happening, letting go is something that must be learned. I now understand that what I must let go of is the need to need. After all empty hands are ready to receive.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>Namaste!</i></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/82c60af55a5d46bd48fa3b70b1f6f9509650b05d/original/photo-on-2013-08-18-at-10-46-22pmedt.jpg?1376880683" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/14289732013-08-18T17:16:47-04:002013-08-18T17:16:47-04:00Transcript from Aug 15th audio blog<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Audio blog transcript from August 15th, 2013</span>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Every one of us has people in our lives that we eventually have conflict or difficulty with. I think all of us have these moments or people we don’t get along with. It’s really easy to take a big broad brush and paint them one colour and that’s their colour. Like sticking them in a box. But it’s never that simple. There’s always more there. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I have examples of that in my own family. When you find out that someone in your family has done terrible things and yet it’s someone that you love, you do end up looking at that in a different way. You may say, “OK this person isn’t all good.” It also means that no one is ever all bad. It does make us look at humanity in a different way, in all its complexities. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Recently I worked on a project with someone and what a wonderful project it was. We were putting together this person’s life story. As a writer it was really nice to be there to help this person. At one point I was saying, “What happened here? Your mom must have done this. Your dad must have done that.” The person I was collaborating with said, “Gee I never thought about it.” Because things that had happened when they were younger, as a young person or as a child, they had just come up with a conclusion and left it there for all those decades as if “That must have been what happened.” Looking back allowed us to see a different picture and allowed this person to see her parents in a different way. Sometimes we have confrontations or conflicts with parents and it isn’t black and white. Any one who is a parent knows that sometimes you make decisions you know your kids are not going to like but in the end they are better for them. In the beginning you can even say, “It is going to be good for my child to suffer a little bit now rather than a lot later.” It is a parent’s responsibility to apply structure and discipline to their children’s lives.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This film that I watched, The Reader, was so wonderful because it did make me think and I’m still thinking. I think empathy is the way to forgiveness and I think forgiveness is the way to Love.</span><br> </p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/14288722013-08-18T10:18:36-04:002017-02-02T06:05:34-05:00Have you heard the news?<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><em>“Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like Slavery and Apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great. YOU can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom.”</em> ― <span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(2, 30, 170); "><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/367338.Nelson_Mandela">Nelson Mandela</a></span></span>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I do not watch the news. I have not for many many years now. I do not read the news either unless Marc draws something particular to my attention. When I listen to the radio I usually turn it off for the duration of a news broadcast unless it is cultural news. Scandalous? Allow me to put it to you this way.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The news is there to keep us informed, but since sensation sells, we are overwrought with bad news in the media. I lost interest. Most people when they learn of my non-news habits say, “Don’t you want to know what is going on in the world? Don’t you want to be informed?” Well ironically I am quite aware and I am no less informed then most other members of my community. I just research my information more deeply and I don’t rely on one source of information. I also want to know what happened after. I have a question for all those outraged news addicts out there, “What does it change in your life? How do you change what you do, based on the information you receive, to make the world a better place?” Most people just go on living their lives. So being informed has no intrinsic value.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Perhaps Mr. Mandela is asking us to change that pattern. I believe that if you want to make a change in the world you have to be willing to make a change in your own back yard. You want the world to be a better place, be nice to your neighbor, be a good parent, be a boss who cares about the human beings in his employment. There are homeless and hungry people everywhere. Yes absolutely everywhere there is someone who is hungry right now. You could do something towards eliminating that in your community. Something richer and deeper than just unconsciously writing a cheque and sending it off to some far away place.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">It is strong communities that can reach out to help others. It is action that creates change. I am called upon to donate my time and services often. Maybe it is part of an artist’s karma. Pick a cause you believe in. Do even a little thing once a year to help a person, a family or an organization in your community. It will change you and that is the greatest gift of giving.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>Namaste!</i></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/0d8302af02c794d62f07ef2b5c8139e7b29e5d17/original/img-0067-1.jpg?1376835218" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br>At an event for Leucan with one of the participants who shaved her head to raise money for cancer victims. I was M.C. and was so moved by what each contributor shared with the audience. Sometimes it was hard not to cry. That's what happens with an authentic human connection.</p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/14231642013-08-16T17:02:04-04:002017-02-02T06:02:18-05:00To Love or not to love? There is no question!<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“I believe in the immeasurable power of love; that true love can endure any circumstance and reach across any distance.” </i>― <span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(2, 30, 170); "><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4491185.Steve_Maraboli">Steve Maraboli</a></span></span>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">And so it must be. Not just because circumstance dictates it but because there is no other way.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The feeling of being close together does not come with proximity. I have proof. Ever been a teenager at a party when everyone is coupled up except you? Plenty of people around doesn’t stop that feeling of loneliness from creeping in. Let me tell you story about the first time Marc went away to Las Vegas for the show in 2011. He was to be gone tow months with the rehearsals and first shows. My schedule prevented me from going to join him. So it was what it was. Every day I wrote him a card and sent to the hotel. I did not know how long it would take. In each card there was a piece of a puzzle. I had planned it so he would receive each piece before leaving except the last piece which I sent to his place in Montreal. It would be waiting for him upon his return. Every day that I sat down to write I would connect with my feelings. Then I would think about when Marc would read them. I would jump into the future for a moment. It is a ritual I maintain to this day. It is good for me and it is good for our love.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Loving is not a passive state. It is a verb. Love. Be in action to see the full extent of the possibilities before you.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>Namaste!</i></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/349677f84a07d2c7b6e3ee21954021720cc83c80/original/photo-on-2013-08-15-at-8-14-42pmedt.jpg?1376633614" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/14053772013-08-14T23:06:52-04:002017-01-14T11:01:26-05:00Hamstering on yesterday's thought provoking film<span class="font_large">Today, as I was driving, I thought I would record my thoughts. When I was done it felt "done" so I am trying something new: an audio blog.<br><br>Let me know what you think. <br><br>Namaste!<br><br>Bianca</span><br><br><img src="//content.sitezoogle.com/u/61282/864f9a861d0a1a38186c6eec0ba547fc7130a490/original/photo-on-2013-08-11-at-1-15-28pmedt.jpg?1376512266" class="size_l justify_center border_" />BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/13961482013-08-13T23:52:59-04:002017-02-02T05:46:37-05:00Art, judgement and humanity. A delicate juggling act.<span class="font_regular"><em><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">“The ability to observe without evaluating is the highest form of intelligence.” </span></em></span>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(2, 30, 170); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; color: #181818">― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/850512.Jiddu_Krishnamurti"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(2, 30, 170); ">Jiddu Krishnamurti</span></a></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Tonight I watched a wonderful film I had wanted to see for some time. It is called The Reader. It has so many wonderful elements to it but it also has so much depth to ponder.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">One issue come forth in the film is a trial; a serious trial. The film maker does not propose any right or wrong. The film maker does put us in a very uncomfortable position. I found myself feeling empathy for the judged character even if I was uncomfortable with the reality behind the who she was. Then, of course, it got me thinking as a good film or good book should. The film for me drives home a point: there is always so much more behind our initial observation. Besides it is not our place to judge. The subject matter gets touchy: post holocaust Germany and what the next generation had to deal with. I do not want to take a position. My own grandfather was tortured by the Nazis. It remains that not every German was a monster. This film reflects Krishnamurti’s thought. It is an observation, beautifully portrayed by wonderful actors. In the end it just made me feel more human. More human because we are complex and imperfect. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Everyone has things they are not proud of, big or little, and judgement satisfies the ego’s need to be right but teaches us little. I think I will be thinking about this one for a long while.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>Namaste!</i></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/ab3d35a129aa5bb8b294ed86e725690a72c2b1d7/original/thereader1.jpg?1376452363" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/14289062013-08-12T19:50:00-04:002017-02-02T06:05:37-05:00Live long and prosper!<span class="font_regular"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><em>“Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.” </em>― <span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(2, 30, 170); "><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7779.Arthur_C_Clarke">Arthur C. Clarke</a></span></span></span>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); "><span class="font_regular"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Some people feel like that about the world, never mind the universe. So what if there is intelligent life out there. How does that change your life?</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); "><span class="font_regular"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Or rather how would you change your life? Mr. Clarke is putting out a possibility with his comment. Possibilities means we take a moment to ponder something we may not have considered before. Or as he puts it, may have been too terrifying to consider. But considering plants a new seed of thought. To me that is always a good thing. In our lives many of us decide we just want to keep looking at our world like it is all that exists. There is no other possibility. But when that alien world collides with ours we have to look it in the eye and realize it is there. There is something beyond our comfort zone. Life is not always safe. There are lots of unknown factors and putting our head in the sand does not mean Spock isn’t standing there wondering why we are putting our head in the sand. </span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); "><span class="font_regular"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Allow yourself to see beyond your universe once in a while. Sure it’s scary but once you look around the corner, you’ll know what’s around the corner. </span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span class="font_regular"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>Namaste!</i></span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span class="font_regular"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span class="font_regular"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span class="font_regular"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/0b9feb082329f464afa23cc2c25782a65c19f79d/original/photo-on-2013-08-12-at-7-49-17pmedt.jpg?1376351487" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span></span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/13818412013-08-11T22:30:58-04:002020-07-02T19:47:08-04:00When you wish upon a star<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">“Every once in a while, people need to be in the presence of things that are really far away.” - <span style="letter-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(2, 30, 170); "><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/25281.Ian_Frazier">Ian Frazier</a></span></span>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Have you ever been at a cottage in the summer,out on a big rock or a dock, or lying back in a boat at night just staring at the sky. It is such a humbling experience. When I look up at all those stars, Suns of other worlds, I feel very small. It sure is a different take on things...</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Ian Frazier must be a stargazer. How else can we explain this fascinating insight? (Great word btw: insight = sight in) It is that forest for the trees thing. When we are busy looking at the details we might miss the big picture altogether. When you watch a movie I hope you are not looking at the pixels on the screen. In your life are you seeing the story or are you looking at the furniture, the costumes and the props? It is so easy to run through our lives and the daily details we tend to and forget to see our life’s story as it unfolds. Lately my personal mission is to live in the moment. To enjoy the moment and the people who are in that moment with me. I can let go of the planning. I can relax a bit on the desire to always be one step ahead. Happiness is now. Everything manages to get done and get fed.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; color: rgb(24, 24, 24); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Somehow looking out at those stars makes time stand still. There’s just me and the stars out there. I feel more connected with myself and I like it. I like it a lot!</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>Namaste!</i></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span></p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/9fc7c20d7702640832e314d42b15e8464db960a7/original/night-sky-hd-wallpaper.jpg?1376273713" class="size_l justify_center border_" />BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/13796682013-08-11T09:25:40-04:002017-01-14T11:01:26-05:00Upon closer observation<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“It is not other people who inflict the worse disappointments, but the shock between reality and the extravagance of our imagination.”</i> - <b>Hélène Grémillon</b>, The Confidant</span>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Here is a quote to ponder. Imagine you are at a show and a magician is performing an amazing feat before your eyes. From where you sit you are in wonder. Now go and sit to the side or behind the stage. All of a sudden you see how the trick is performed. It does change things doesn’t it? It is the same with feelings.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Feelings arise in us and often without warning. When I studied karate, our master would tell us that our goal was to not let our emotions overcome us. In the beginning of this practice we can not help our emotional reactions. In time we can learn to observe them. We see them coming. We feel what we feel. Our being is in control not our instinctual reaction. It was such wisdom. It IS such wisdom. Our emotions create drama. Sometimes I need to express what I am feeling. Not because I am blaming the other, but because I am observing how I feel. In order to learn from my emotions, I still have to be aware of them. They are messengers. Sometimes revealing profound elements of ourselves. I have learned a lot from asking, “Why do I feel this way?” When we get lost in our emotional state we may get lost in drama too. Good only comes from drama when we are on a stage. In life it creates more problems than it solves.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Our life is a matter of perspective. Remember to take the time to change yours to see what else there is to discover in your world with the people you love.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>Namaste!</i></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.<br><br><img src="//content.sitezoogle.com/u/61282/922335d5827cc0f0ecbade036930a8730edac470/original/photo-on-2013-08-11-at-8-34-39amedt.jpg?1376225436" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/13753862013-08-10T10:22:51-04:002017-01-14T11:01:26-05:00Once upon a time, far, far away.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>“Can miles truly separate you from friends? If you want to be with someone you love, aren’t you already there?” - </i>Richard Bach</span>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Didot; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">When I was not yet 18, I moved over 2100 km (or 1300 miles) away from home. I never moved back. I left behind everyone I knew and all of my family to pursue a new life.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Didot; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">For someone who had grown up in a very close-knit environment it was quite a feat. Sometimes the naiveté of youth is a good thing. All of that not knowing what you don’t know can have it’s advantages. The hardest part for me was being away from my family: my mother and my sisters particularly. I was on an adventure but a part of me was with them. As the years passed I learned that being close does not have to be being right next to someone. Closeness is a feeling. It is a choice to keep that person or those people in our thoughts and our hearts. We keep the love for them alive. It has nothing to do with proximity.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Didot; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Years later when many loved ones had passed away I realized it would be true there too. The ones we love are energy and light. That light only goes out when we let it. Even in my solitude I know all the people I love are right here with me. I make it so. (I think I may have just quote captain Picard with that last comment)</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Didot; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>Namaste!</i></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Didot; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Didot; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Didot; min-height: 20px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Didot; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. </span></p>
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</div>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/13699362013-08-09T12:18:18-04:002017-01-14T11:01:26-05:00Somewhere beyond the sea...“Absence is to love what wind is to fire; it extinguishes the small, it inflames the great.” ― Roger de Bussy- Rabutin<br><br>The only difference between people who have a great relationship and people who don’t, is how much you are willing to invest every day.<p>I remember reading something in a magazine a long time ago. It was an article about how to clean and polish various pretty things in a home. The writer said, “Owning things comes with the responsibility of taking care of them.” Relationships are not things we own, but they too come with the same responsibility. It is funny how many people are surprised that their partner moves on. It is like a tsunami comes along and wipes everything out. Yet if you are paying attention to your radar, the signs are always there. Getting comfy in receive mode can drain the life out of the relationship. In relationships where people are apart the physical space can create an emotional space. This is equally pertinent when always close together; routine in life can become routine in love. If something has value to you you will take care of it. Personally, it’s the little things that go a long way. It’s taking time every day. When we do take time and care, we remind the person we love that they are part of our daily life, even though they are not there. We invite them into our hearts and make room for them. And this, not only when there is nothing else to do or no one else to hang with. Telling someone you love them when you are lonely and telling them you love them when you are not lonely are two very different intentions. One says, “I love you.” the other says, “I am in need of you loving me.” The difference is always felt.</p>
<p>We all have the power to create a great love relationship in our lives. Love yourself enough to choose to create it with the people you love with each passing day.</p>
<p><br>Namaste!</p>
<p>Bianca<br> </p>
<p>This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </p>
<p>Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.<br><br><img src="//content.sitezoogle.com/u/61282/e71bbd2517bcefc0d87f83f75a6b7e49e74dfeb9/original/dscn3694.jpg?1376065042" class="size_l justify_left border_" /><br> </p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/13616592013-08-08T13:07:15-04:002021-11-03T11:30:21-04:00Do you see what I see?<em><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">"Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage."</span><span style="font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 0px; "> - </span></em><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>Victor Kiam</b></span><span style="font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 0px; "> </span>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I am an entrepreneur. When my beloved goes away for a month I see the advantages to our living our lives in this way.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">When Marc is away life is very different. The pace changes. We talk and write more. Sometimes technology malfunctions mean we can not get in touch with each other. Our conversations are different. Our perspectives get broader. I have time and space for my thoughts to evolve deeply. All these things are good to feed a relationship. I am a positive person who can see the silver lining in many situations. Obstacles are a perspective.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">See the challenges, the opportunities and all the ways life is good to you because it is.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Namaste!</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 16px; "> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.<br><br><img src="//content.sitezoogle.com/u/61282/3bd788758efea2d4b85992419544cac5e6cf9b56/medium/img-0511.jpg?1375981390" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" /></span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/13434322013-08-06T10:29:29-04:002017-01-14T11:01:26-05:00I found it!<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“Mostly it is loss which teaches us about the worth of things.”</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "> - <b>Arthur Schopenhauer</b><br><br>
This the same to me as my favorite buddhist saying, “All suffering is evolution.” When life is easy and all things come at the same time as the desire for them is expressed, there is a key element missing for us to truly appreciate them once they come. That essential element is “wanting.”<br><br>
Have you ever noticed what a kid is like when they really want something? Marc has this expression in french, “Piton collé” which means a stuck button. A kid focusses on it, dreams about it, makes drawings about it. They cultivate a value for those things they want. The longer they wait for them, the greater the increasing value. If a kids wants something and gets it right away they lose interest much faster. Waiting to get what we want is important. Wanting for things in life is healthy to a certain degree. Who of us did not move out of our parents home to realize how nice it was to have meals waiting for us now that we had to cook for ourselves. Not to mention a refrigerator that refilled itself as if by magic. We can not see the light of the world if we never experience darkness. That is the purpose of loss, of lack and want. It is there to help us appreciate our situation and accomplishments.<br><br>
In my life I have experienced a lot of loss. I have a masters degree thanks to those teachers of life’s lessons. Today I know the value of the people in my life, of the relationships I have and all that comes into my world. <br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/ee4c57b9477fa9957a699d08d8445aef25347c02/medium/Photo-on-2013-08-06-at-2.25-22PMEDT.jpg?1375825901" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="200" width="300" /><br><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/13324772013-08-05T05:11:36-04:002017-01-14T11:01:26-05:00Seeing the invisible<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.” </span></i><span style="font-size: medium; ">― <b>Kahlil Gibran</b><br><br>
I have come to think that parting is a gift. Now, I know Marc is reading this from Las Vegas and probably not feeling very flattered. Let me explain.<br><br>
In our relationship when Marc goes away for a few days or a month, I know I will be happy to see him come home. I am independent enough that I always have more than plenty of things to keep me busy. I paint. I write. I take care of business, of the house and family. So on one hand the time passes fairly well. On the other hand my life’s companion is not here. I realize how rich our relationship is and how much I love being together. Always Marc’s absence is felt. We spend endless hours together: at the gym, cycling, cooking, playing, laughing and discussing. I rarely sleep the night before he leaves. The things I miss are the sound of his voice, his footsteps coming down the stairs and the warmth of his body when I hold him close. I write to Marc everyday when he is away. I make it a priority. As I write each card I stay connected. When Marc received them and reads them he knows he is in my thoughts. He knows he matters. <br><br>
Separation is an illusion. We are just as connected as we want to be on the inside. We all have the power to make what is important to us matter. <br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/dde0f92d34b615c6daeafa62591b66875e5fc00b/medium/IMG_0535.jpg?1375722401" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="402" width="300" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/2954687eb5e7375ccd6d465c81ed8568fa3eca3c/medium/IMG_0536.jpg?1375722400" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="402" width="300" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/7f7f750548d1071e0f45bc6c1852eedd0569d004/medium/IMG_0539.jpg?1375722401" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="402" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/13269652013-08-03T11:27:00-04:002017-01-14T11:01:26-05:00How bad do you want it?<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“And how can I develop it?” I asked. “Only with practice and a proper mental attitude,” he answered enigmatically.</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "> - <b>Joe Hyams</b>, Zen in the Martial Arts<br><br>
The subject of talent has been on the discussion table as of late. It is easy to say that some people achieve success because they have talent. However, I believe that many music teachers around the world would agree, talent without effort is rarely enough to yield success. <br><br>
I have had so many young singers walk into my classroom with everything they need to succeed. So much promise. The one element few possess is the passion to practice. The proper mental attitude is a big part of the success equation. When I was a teenager I needed no prodding to practice. I loved it. To me vocal exercises were like games and I loved the challenge of training my voice. I am passionate and my passion has created my life. I look around me at all the people I know who excel in their field. Everyone has had the passion to work towards their goal, to overcome the obstacles along the way and stay focussed to do the work.<br><br>
A proper mental attitude is essential in life. It is something we can practice and train ourselves to master. Our mind is our greatest instrument. Keep your passion by practicing every day.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/ebc7d06482eda503f0f4540c25abf379fdec2d24/medium/IMG_0510.jpg?1375721089" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="400" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/13005832013-07-31T04:52:36-04:002017-01-14T11:01:26-05:00It's simple really.<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“A simple life is not seeing how little we can get by with—that’s poverty—but how efficiently we can put first things first. . . . When you’re clear about your purpose and your priorities, you can painlessly discard whatever does not support these, whether it’s clutter in your cabinets or commitments on your calendar. (148)” </span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br>
― <b>Victoria Moran</b>, Lit From Within: Tending Your Soul For Lifelong Beauty<br><br>
I remember a trend (or philosphy or “wave”) which appeared a few years back called Voluntary Simplicity. It’s premise was to rid yourself of stuff and live in a materially simple way. The problem I saw was that instead of people subscribing to this way of living, people labelled their way of living with it. Do you see the difference?<br><br>
Basically I saw a collection of people saying they had chosen Voluntary Simplicity. But in reality they had not. They were living this way because they had no choice. They labelled their life as Voluntary Simplicity to feel better about the fact that things had not turned out as successful as they had planned. The proof was that most of them once they landed a better paying job voluntarily complicated their lives with plenty of pretty things. Now don’t get me wrong. A Libra girl girl like me loves pretty things like paintings and furniture and garments that are sculpted with beautiful fabrics. It is all art for us. Art that makes life beautiful. What I wish to point out is simplicity in life does not have to be poverty. Those people I observed had not simplified their lives for their thoughts remained cluttered and frustrated. They were not at peace. Simplicity means that any thing, any one or any activity that no longer serves a purpose in your life, you let go of. That is my take on Voluntary Simplicity and what Victoria Moran is speaking of.<br><br>
So maybe we can take an inventory of what we can let go of. We may find that we enjoy what remains in our lives even more.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/efd5d48250c0cde216ce7116b8dcdba8946ac451/medium/IMG_0487.jpg?1375325378" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="400" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/12931592013-07-30T07:19:35-04:002017-01-14T11:01:26-05:00Perfectly happy.<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">"Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections."</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "> - Anonymous<br><br>
I’m not sure who anonymous is but they are definitely on to something. ;) All joking aside, we know perfection does not lead to happiness. <br><br>
On the weekend we went to Quebec City to see Celine’s show, a bit of the sights and have some fun together. We were a party of 7 people, arriving at different times, from different locations, with different agendas in mind. We had less than 24 hours together. Saturday morning when we were trying to sort out where and most importantly when we would meet, there was resistance and complications. What happened next was enlightening. Marc and I both decided to let go. We know that sometimes it is ok to surrender to life and let things unfold as they are meant to be. We had put our intention out there, now was the time to have faith that all would work out and it did. Being together and having fun was all that really mattered.<br><br>
Imperfections are part of those special moments. It's part of making memories. A perfect day means being able to take what comes and being happy.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/4c2032f916fadfdfb4ca0778e5c443c897254a15/medium/IMG_0454.jpg?1375323536" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="225" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/12734422013-07-26T13:38:40-04:002017-01-14T11:01:26-05:00Here it is. In black and white.<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“It is possible to be in love with you just because of who you are.”</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "> - <b>Maggie Stiefvater</b>, Shiver<br><br>
In my experience this happens when we are kind to ourselves. Remember kindness? <br><br>
Motherhood is about surrendering. It was my ultimate experience in surrender. Why am I talking about surrender to explain kindness? Well we learn to let go of ourselves to care for this little one who can not care for itself. After a time there is a process where the child becomes more independant. This is a good time to apply more care to ourselves. Even if you do not have any children in your life, applying care to yourself, kindness, is a process to return to. I go to the gym. I eat good food that I cook, or Marc cooks. I try to find a little moment for me. I make myself a priority more and more. <br><br>
I am who I am. I am kind. I am caring. I love. I am happy to be who I am. <br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br></span><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/38710ce3495a70c1201d530d9c7124053047ab54/medium/Photo-on-2013-07-26-at-2.06-58PMEDT.jpg?1374875086" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="200" width="300" /><br><br type="_moz">BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/12642742013-07-25T13:25:22-04:002017-01-14T11:01:26-05:00Romancing the tomato within. It's a metaphor... for something.<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.” </span></i><span style="font-size: medium; ">― <b>Oscar Wilde</b>, An Ideal Husband<br><br>
Although at first read, this quote may seem narcissistic, I think it speaks of the essential element required in order to love others. After all how can you offer to someone something which you do not posses for yourself? <br><br>
If we are to practice something every day, let it be an authentic and profound feeling of love for our self. Imagine it would be like enjoying a big piece of chocolate cake, or an elegant glass of wine, or the fabulous beet salad at the Green Door in Ottawa, but it is pure love. Unconditional, unlimited, inexaustible. Every meditation recording I have ever heard, speaks of allowing a light to fill us. Feel the joy. Feel the relaxation entering every cell of your being. I might have to record my own meditation, “Love yourself” so you can listen to it everyday. So I can listen to it every day. You see I am a wounded healer. If I am writing about taking time to love yourself, it is that I too need to make time to love myself. If you do not grow any tomatoes in your garden, you will not have any tomatoes to offer to those around you. <br><br>
Become a big huge crop of tomatoes (I love tomatoes!) Love yourself enough to let that love overflow into your world for the rest of your life. <br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/109742e69f56fff8d714ce3ca76bfcd2e3f19bf5/medium/IMG_0415.jpg?1374797653" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="225" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/12567662013-07-24T16:40:47-04:002017-01-14T11:01:25-05:00Heaven? It's around here somewhere...<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“What is hell? I maintain that it is the suffering of being unable to love.” - </span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><b>Fyodor Dostoyevsky</b>, The Brothers Karamazov<br><br>
We all can recognize that someone who makes others miserable is only expressing what they feel on the inside: miserable. Maybe they are unable to even love themselves. Anyone who is happy and balanced and feels good about themselves, does not go about creating excessive drama, and hype and criticism, and on and on. If you’re happy and you know it, you don’t even have to clap your hands. We can see it because it already shows.<br><br>
Recently a very good and wise friend said to me, “When the difficult situations simply pass through you, without stirring feelings within, then those situations will no longer be able to affect you in any way.” That is the heaven within.<br><br>
Here’s hoping you find yourself there, if only for a moment, each and every day.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! Photo by Marc Langis. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br></span><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/fa6288a902dc2b5c402b97e2b66ab290a033d542/large/Aylmer-Marina.jpg?1374789071" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="448" width="600" /><br><br type="_moz">BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/12224302013-07-18T18:04:24-04:002013-07-18T18:04:24-04:00It's perfect except for...<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“Ring the bells that still can ring. Forget your perfect offering. <br>
There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in.”</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "> - <b>Leonard Cohen</b><br><br>
This is one of Leonard’s images that I really love. <br><br><i>“Ring the bells that still can ring”</i> Dare to express that part of yourself that you wish to let ring out. It is never too late to let that happen. <br><br><i>“Forget the perfect offering”</i> At one point in our lives we need to realize and accept that perfection does not exist. It is an illusion in our mind and it is relative. There is no perfect anything for everyone. Even what you think is perfect today will change in time. <br><br><i>“There is a crack in everything”</i> Again, there is no such thing as perfection, anywhere, with anyone. We just are.<br><br><i>“That’s how the light gets in”</i> It trough our imperfections that we define who we are, what is important to us and where we fit in the world.<br><br>
Learn from everything and accept yourself as perfect in your imperfection.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/12049122013-07-16T18:32:27-04:002017-01-14T11:01:25-05:00Dare <span style="font-size: medium; "><i>“If your daily life seems poor, do not blame it; blame yourself that you are not poet enough to call forth its riches; for the Creator, there is no poverty.”</i> - <b>Rainer Maria Rilke </b><br><br>
I believe this to be true. I believe it because I believe that I alone am responsible for my success and my failures. <br><br>
I believe in God. Not in a religious way so much as in a spiritual way. So if there is a creator, a father (or parent) that overlooks us, it becomes easy to imagine that this parental entity only wants what is best for us. Any one of us who is a parent can easily understand this. So now lets apply this parental approach to ourselves. I remember hearing a public speaker say, “If you want to get back at your parents, ruin your life.” He was trying to point out that we can all choose to succeed or not. A flower does not question its worthiness to beome a beautiful flower. Nature shows us it is our destiny to thrive. The choice remains ours. What we do with our life remains ours. <br><br>
Fair play to those who dare be the most of who they are. The only poverty out there is the one we create for ourselves. Of this, I know what I speak. If I can see beyond it, anyone can.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br></span><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/0a756b068283d31b7bc921247f9f88421cd45148/medium/IMG_0809.jpg?1374030284" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/0a756b068283d31b7bc921247f9f88421cd45148/medium/IMG_0809.jpg?1374030284" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="200" width="300" /><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/11355122013-07-15T18:40:00-04:002017-01-14T11:01:25-05:00It's a one way road... with possible detours ahead.<span style="font-size: medium; "><i>“The Way is easy, stay on the path.”</i> - <b>LAO TZU</b><br><br>
I know it may seem that my life is one bright bowl of cherries after another accompanied by champagne of course. I do hate to rain on anyone’s parade, but I must tell you the truth.<br><br>
The truth is that I get moments of weakness too. Although my life is very happy almost all the time, there are still events or things that may trigger feelings that are not so happy. These moments have no bearing in logic. Now when I am in them, I am even aware that I am out of sorts for no logical reason. There is a part of me that is upset and another just as cognizant part of me that is trying to understand my reaction. I know I am closer to finding the key to unravelling this old wound. I know it because there is less buffering my emotions. No pain, no gain they say... <br><br>
I just wanted you to know that have my moments, just like you. I am working things through, just like you. I too need to remind myself to love myself and that who I am is enough.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/4bf6fc7bbebab0a4313171bba5db5a6dd0c445c5/medium/IMG_3184.jpg?1373951846" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="450" width="300" /><br><br><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/11272852013-07-14T16:01:18-04:002017-01-14T11:01:25-05:00I said nothing.“Those who know do not speak. Those who speak do not know.” - LAO TZU, THE TAO TE CHING <br><br>
I am sitting is my sunny dining room. Everyone is sleeping. There are few sounds this Sunday morning: refrigerator humming, someone in the room above rolling over in their bed, listening to birds chirping and a mourning dove cooing. In these quiet moments there seems no need for words.<br><br>
Odd thing for a writer to say, I know. But the truth is that we must find ourselves in the calmness of our thoughts. I remember being the type of person who always had to add something to every conversation. It was almost obsessive. With time I just got tired of talking. That old adage that we have two ears and one mouth, so we should listen twice as much as we speak, sunk in. Now when I observe someone going on and on, it has a strange effect on me. I can say that the more someone tries to justify their position by speaking at length, the more likely they are to weaken their argument. True power comes in knowing.<br><br>
Someone who knows does not have to prove themselves elaborately. It becomes an issue of confidence. Have the confidence to listen to those around you, with-hold the urge to interject and you just might find your own wisdom springing forth from inside you. After all when you stop talking, you will hear the one voice to listen to the most: the one that is inside you.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/1bde443e61c91bd0b2a61d594f5d41e3d5d08f79/medium/IMG_1614.jpg?1373846582" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="225" width="300" /><br><br type="_moz">BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/11178372013-07-12T09:38:37-04:002017-01-14T11:01:25-05:00Dream a little dream... and big dreams too!<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“I've come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that's as unique as a fingerprint - and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you. ”</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "> - <b>Oprah Winfrey</b><br><br>
Today I was driving home in my car and thinking. I do that a lot. While my thoughts were wandering freely through my pretty little head, I was in a sort of conversation with myself. A conversation about dreams and destiny and how life unfolds.<br><br>
I have come to believe that when we are passionate about something we must pursue it. When we can pursue it with an open mind and heart, we will be open to recieving the signs and messages the universe sends our way. Messages like, “Go here.” “Do this.” “Take this path.” The more you see them or hear them, the messages I mean, the more will come. We only need to take care of putting action, passion and joy into what we do. As we do, life will send things along. For anyone who has had the opportunity to hear Marc share his story (<a href="http://www.MarcLangis.com/conference" target="_new">www.MarcLangis.com/conference</a> ) about how he came to play with Celine, you will know life sent him gigs and scholarships and opened doors and put forth opportunities to lead him to where he is today. It can be true for all of us. <br><br>
The path may curve and bend but you will get to your destination. Destiny may have a mapped things out differently, but one thing is for sure: who ever you are, where ever you are, life has a plan for you. Hold to your dreams and don’t give up. Never give up!<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/1fcd9eef5b82d0c977aef0a20456e7c260ee1109/medium/IMG_4130.jpg?1373653151" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="450" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/11125692013-07-11T18:47:51-04:002017-01-14T11:01:25-05:00Life or death?<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">"Too many people are thinking of security instead of opportunity. They seem more afraid of life than death."</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "> - James F. Byrnes <br><br>
Anyone who has chosen the arts as a profession has had to deal with the reality of flying without a net at one point or another in their lives. Some of us have become experts at it. Living on the cusp provides other opportunities one my not consider at first.<br><br>
Mr. Byrnes is right about something. To shy away from any opportunity is to deny ourselves the ability to live our lives fully. There is no such thing as security anyhow. Ask anyone who lives in Oaklahoma City or Lac Megantic. Security is an illusion. <br><br>
Life happens every day. We only need to choose to live it. So live it!<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/f3ce6d16e592c75a216003fc24aedb7e9e5d98fe/medium/DSCN3906.jpg?1373597293" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="510" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/11038582013-07-10T16:37:48-04:002017-01-14T11:01:25-05:00Opportunity<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">"To improve the golden moment of opportunity and catch the good that is within our reach is the great art of life."</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "> - <b>Samuel Johnson</b><br><br>
There is no doubt in my mind that just living is an art form. To move gracefully through life’s scenarios takes an elegance few are born with but all of us can aspire to.<br><br>
Opportunity is part of this elegant dance. We dream it. We imagine it. We invite it. Seizing it is what Samuel Johnson is referring to. Remember to take hold of the chances that you have created. I believe that the more you do, the more will come your way.<br><br>
We are all the artists of our own lives. <br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/a9039a3f9cc1819779bcd463e0000187c7518a7c/medium/IMG_0350.jpg?1373507870" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="400" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/10948642013-07-09T12:31:41-04:002017-01-14T11:01:25-05:00All a matter of perspective.<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.” <br></span></i><span style="font-size: medium; ">- <b>Carl Jung</b><br><br>
I was having trouble choosing a quotation this morning. Carl Jung has been an inspiration to me since my early 20’s. I find his vision very enlightened and today’s words are no exception.<br><br>
When I come across a phrase that I like, I make a note of it. I find them in books I read, or interviews I hear, even in films I watch. After writing a series on a subject I have this blank page with so many possibilities just waiting for me to fill it. My blog is like my life: so many possibilities. I have read Carl Jung’s words numerous times. I as would do with a song, I pondered all the ways I could interpret what he has written. How does it apply to me? Where am I in this process? How do you go from being a dreamer to being awakened? I realized that I am migrating from looking out and dreaming to looking in and awakening. I have not stopped dreaming but I am not only dreaming. My introspection brings me so many answers: making the right decisions, finding what is at the root of my feelings, writing songs and more. Writing blogs too I might add. <br><br>
In those quiet moments within myself I find comfort. There is peace within. If your life seems all fogged up, take a moment to go inside and turn on your defrost (just like in your car). The more you do, the clearer your vision of things will be.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/fd46684fc31fdfb8dd37915cfae918492b361887/medium/Photo-on-2013-07-09-at-4.26-45PMEDT.jpg?1373493512" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="200" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/10848252013-07-08T06:18:39-04:002017-01-14T11:01:25-05:00Everyone has an opinion<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">"There is only one way to avoid criticism: Do nothing, say nothing and be nothing"</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "> - <b>Aristotle</b><br><br>
What a powerful quotation to start our week. Criticism is undoubtedly something we all have had experience with. I know no one who has not been on both ends of judgement. How do we change this dynamic? As ye sows, so shall ye reap. In other words: we receive what we put out there.<br><br>
Although I have experienced all kinds of discrimination in my life, today I want to talk about something in particular. Aristotle is telling us not to worry about those armchair critics who just sit there, do nothing and express opinions on others. Often that comes from someone who is unhappy in their own lives and they have their own processes to get through. Their comments belong to them, not to you. There is however a very valuable criticism out there. If we believe others can contribute to our evolution, those “teachers” come into our lives. I always tell my vocal students to hire the best musicians they can afford, especially when starting out. Then I add, <i>“Listen to everything they play and make a note of everything they say.”</i> Sometimes we don’t want to hear comments but if we can look at those comments unemotionally and factually, we may find there is in fact a great contribution therein. Recognize when words are offered with respect. Always remember to be respectful yourself when choosing your words too. <br><br>
Everyone is a critic and talk is cheap. You have the power to create your reality every day. Let yourself be inspired by those around you, but compare yourself to no one. The only way to become the best of who you are is to look within. So look inside and be proud to be who you are.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/1d9f7038aa388d65bf19118d5a2ec5fd02c0c9bb/medium/IMG_7018.jpg?1373293436" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="450" width="300" /><br>
Marc Langis' seal of approval! It's really in his smile ;)<br><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/10757012013-07-05T20:52:39-04:002017-01-14T11:01:25-05:0015 . Give up living your life to other people’s expectations.<u><span style="font-size: medium; ">15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy</span></u><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><br><b>15 . Give up living your life to other people’s expectations.</b> <br><br><i>“Persons appear to us according to the light we throw upon them from our own minds.”</i> - <b>Laura Ingalls Wilder</b>, author (1867-1957)” <br><br>
I know that nothing I do can make anyone around me happy if they choose to be unhappy. Years of gigging in a Hotel piano bar taught me that just because someone didn’t like what I was doing didn’t mean I wasn’t any good. Really. Some guy in the corner wants Waylon Jennings and we are just voice and piano, singing standards, I can’t deliver on that one to make him happy no matter how much I want to. A man I know says that everyone we find around us is our mirror. I have known him for almost 10 years and I can say he is right. So when I think of what is written in this last thing to give up it I can’t agree more.<br><br>
When someone is speaking they are talking about themselves. Someone who is unhappy will pick away at people, things and situations. A person who is criticizing someone often has those same traits. I can recall a woman going on and on about how person X was pathetic when in fact there was nothing pathetic at all about X. We see and notice what resonates with us. If we understand that this form of transference is quite common, then we can understand that other’s expectations may not always actually apply to us at all. Where does that leave us then? In comes <b>Donald Miller</b>: <i>“When you stop expecting people to be perfect, you can like them for who they are.”</i> I would add, <i>“Starting with who you are!”</i> <br><br>
Expectations are a trap. They are based on getting what you want. The french language has two verbs that conjugate everything else: to have and to be. Those two verbs sum it up beautifully. In life we can choose to have expectations or we can just as easily choose to be happy, for and by ourselves.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/ca31df514e387161ebe13de37c14210a8df21c83/medium/IMG_4154.jpg?1373086624" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" /><br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. Album out Fall of 2013. Become a member to get all the news. </span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/10708092013-07-04T20:00:15-04:002018-10-22T09:26:52-04:0014 . Give up attachment.<span style="font-size: medium; "><u>15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy</u><br><br><b>14 . Give up attachment.</b> <br><br><i>“Attachment is the great fabricator of illusions; reality can be obtained only by someone who is detached. ” </i>- <b>Simone Weil</b><br><br>
Finding this quote was like putting glasses on. It allowed me to see things more clearly. I guess that is the gift of a great philosopher. So let’s ponder that a moment shall we?<br><br>
In reading Simone Weil’s words I started to think about the things I am attached to. What emotions are linking me to the people and things contained therein? We have all seen (or lived) relationships where the image of better days, long passed, are what keeps the couple together. Slowly chipping away at their happiness, their attachment is in vain. It is in vain because it is an illusion. Reality requires an honest look at what it is we are attached to and why. Is our attachment out of date? Maybe it is “past due” and needs to be either returned, renewed or just tossed out. <b>Stephen Levine</b> (who wrote: <i>A Year To Live: How To Live This Year As If It Were Your Last</i>) explains that, "<i>Detachment means letting go and non-attachment means simply letting be." </i>That takes things even further. I keep feeling that non-attachment means not caring. But I know it means being able to remain unaffected. There is an observer quality to it all. Part of me that knows that we are talking about a freedom and a level of being in the Now that I haven’t quite mastered. Yet!<br><br>
I have started over so many times in my life that my attachment to things is nominal for the most part. And I have lost enough people in my life to know that when they leave us we keep only our memories and moments with them. The attachment is what make us suffer. The detachment however makes our connection clear and that is what frees us. So on this Independence Day, make your own declaration to find your inner happiness in your real world.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/4448dfea21110fef8e4d6e9a287e1a274c5723a2/medium/IMG_4123.jpg?1372998326" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="450" width="300" /><br><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/10496492013-07-01T12:52:57-04:002017-01-14T11:01:25-05:0013. Give up the past. <u><span style="font-size: medium; ">15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy*</span></u><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><br><b>13. Give up the past. </b><br><br>
This one is tougher than most people realize. We easily get stuck here because we miss something or someone. If we thought of dwelling on our past as choosing to live in the 10th grade we would surely make different choices. No one wants to repeat the 10th grade year after year so why do we choose to live that way when life beckons us to move on?<br><br>
“With every choice you create the life you’ll live; with every decision you design it.” - Mollie Marti, Walking with Justice: Uncommon Lessons from One of Life's Greatest Mentors<br><br>
The past has a purpose. It is there to remind us of the lessons learned. It is ok to review things in order to make more educated choices today and for the future. It is all tied together. The problem comes when we are emotionally attached and let those emotions run us. That is the ego afraid of the unknown. Just have a little chat with your ego and tell it that it is ok to try again. The past does not have to be your future. You have the power to change that. So do it.<br><br>
Today I go back into the studio to work on our project and I assure you I had to let go of a lot of stuff in order to get here. Sure glad I did. Go ahead. Give it a try. You’ll be glad you did too!<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br>
*I found this list on a Facebook post but it did not have the author credited. If someone is aware of its originator please let me know. <br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/714c8b7ab5306f14602d49ef83ce78d31ce6d4a5/medium/Photo-on-2013-07-01-at-4.48-10PMEDT.jpg?1372712081" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="200" width="300" /><br>
Join the Bianca Basso Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/265903810099809/</span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/10455052013-06-30T19:00:38-04:002017-01-14T11:01:25-05:00More happy sounds at UNLV studios...<span style="font-size: medium; ">Hello everybody. We went into the studio on Friday with Nathan Tanouye and a wonderful group of musicians. <br><br>
I hadn't heard anything that Nathan had written for our songs. It is a bit of an exercise in letting go for me as I feel so closely to all of them. (my songs I mean) Of course I knew it would be good. I was more concerned that it may not be what I had in mind or that the fit be awkward. <br><br>
Silly me! Everything was so beautiful. It was an honour to hear what these great musicians were offering so generously to our little project. <br><br>
More </span><a href="./unlvstudios.cfm" target="_new"><span style="font-size: medium; ">photos here</span></a><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/e8b021478e2ee920ab6070b00fe81f6ae44aae15/medium/IMG_0280.jpg?1372647743" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="225" width="300" /></span><br type="_moz">BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/10358792013-06-28T12:35:00-04:002017-01-14T11:01:25-05:00Two bass players, a drummer and a percussionist walk into a studioNot a joke, a dream coming true. A few photos for you of yesterday's recoding session with Paul Picard on percussion.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/7f755cde133030daaa8fb070aa894f82f171452a/medium/IMG_8619.jpg?1372451739" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="450" width="300" /><br type="_moz">BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/10209932013-06-26T14:12:10-04:002017-01-14T11:01:24-05:0012. Give up your excuses. <u><span style="font-size: medium; ">15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy*</span></u><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><br><b>12. Give up your excuses. </b><br><br>
Ah excuses! For me they fall into the same category as blaming. There is no payoff to slacking off. It is merely an illusion. It is the elusive mirage that dissapears leaving us facing the undone, unsaid and un dealt with.<br><br>
I discovered that guilt was an emotion that was often behind my own excuses. Knowing that I should have done something I had not and feeling bad about it. Excuses are a product of the ego to justify something. It can be the argument for doing or not doing something. It can be the defensive position for not achieving our goals. It can even be an extensive rationalization that the mind has conjured up to satisfy itself. The “there there” pat on the shoulder to let you off the hook. I find that the longer we speak about something the more likely it is the ego that is weaving a elaborate excuse. The ego loves to go on and on. It thinks that the longer it can expand upon a subject the more it is justified. We need to recognize it when it happens and stop to look at what is really there. If 99.9% of the time our excuses are not even real then what in our world is real? Take a factual and unemotional look at the situation to see the truth. <br><br>
Now I don’t beat myself up so much. I know, as we all do, when I have been a slacker and when I have just too many things on my plate. Sometimes I run out of time. Sometimes I run out of steam. Now when I fall short of my personal “to do” list, I rearrange my priorities to accomplish what is important to me. I make a commitment to myself. I love myself enough to put myself and my goals first. <br><br>
Remember what I said yesterday? Loving ourselves is the way. Forgiveness comes from love. Forgive yourself for being human and choose to be the best human being you can be everyday. That will put a smile on your face. I promise.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br>
*I found this list on a Facebook post but it did not have the author credited. If someone is aware of its originator please let me know. <br><br>
Join the Bianca Basso Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/265903810099809/<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/f0e42e41fab698bf21e7fe3173266d066a2dc808/medium/Photo-on-2013-06-25-at-10.08-55PMEDT.jpg?1372285301" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="200" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/10132852013-06-25T18:15:58-04:002017-01-14T11:01:24-05:0011. Give up on your fears. <u><span style="font-size: medium; ">15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy*</span></u><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><br><b>11. Give up on your fears. </b><br><br><i> “The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.”</i> - <b>Franklin D. Roosevelt</b><br><br>
I have heard this quote from Franklin Roosevelt many times but I never stopped to seriously ponder it. That thing that takes hold when we are apprehensive or anxious or afraid is just that: only fear. If we let it go, what will take it’s place?<br><br>
There are two emotions: love and fear. Every other emotion is a derivative of these. When we take a moment to boil down our feelings and reactions we find that this is true. I am not the first to speak of this. There are many many 20th century philosophers who have expressed themselves on this subject. What we need to learn on the path to freeing ourselves from fear is first to recognize it when it comes along. For myself I find that once I recognize fear, I then ask myself why it is there. This internal conversation is always very enlightening. It took me a while to be able to have an honest conversation with myself. My ego was always creeping in, very masterfully I might add. Getting to the root of it all revealed a lot about myself. My fear of never being good enough drove a lot of other things including my ambition.<br><br>
With all this, how do we let go of fear? I don’t know what will be the way for you. For me, I surrender to my faith. When our intentions are in the right place, life points us in the direction we need to go. I leave you with a mantra to help move you through your fear, “There is no way to love. Love is the way.”<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br>
*I found this list on a Facebook post but it did not have the author credited. If someone is aware of its originator please let me know. <br><br>
Join the Bianca Basso Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/265903810099809/<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/933e34da529accdacbaa4def458bd029f9a98022/medium/IMG_0227.jpg?1372213114" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="400" width="300" /><br><br><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/9995472013-06-23T14:00:00-04:002017-01-14T11:01:24-05:0010. Give up labels. <span style="font-size: medium; "></span><span style="font-size: medium; "></span><span style="font-size: medium; "></span><u><span style="font-size: large; "></span><span style="font-size: medium; "></span>15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy*</u><br><br><b>10. Give up labels. </b><br><br><i>“The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don’t know anything about.” </i>- <b>Wayne Dyer</b><br><br>
I once had a room-mate who was quite dismissive. When someone would speak about something that had not made its way on to her radar she would loudly and dramatically exclaim, “Well I’ve never heard of that!” (or it or him or her) It always seemed odd to me that she was being so arrogant about her ignorance.<br><br>
A label is like a box. In our society we feel this need to live in the comfort of a box. There, in that comfort zone, we look for things that identify us to each other; that say, “I am like you.” or “I am good because I have the right job and wear the right clothes and drive the right car” and “I have exquisite taste because I have this.” I have no problem with fashion or nice things or cars. I love when a piece of clothing allows me to express a part of who I am. It is art after all. It only becomes a problem when it replaces who we are. When we buy into an idea of what we need to be or should be in order to be acceptable. Then it gets perverse when we begin to think that if you are not like me then there is something wrong with you and you don’t belong in my world. If I don’t have this or that there is something missing or wrong with me. When we start to put labels on people around us, and ourselves, we are hiding from ourselves. We are hiding from the truth of who we are. We are masking authenticity as if who we are isn’t enough. How can we discover all that is wondrous in the world if we fear everything that is different and new? How can we discover all this is wondrous about ourselves if we jump into a box, close the lid and stick a big label it? No need to look into that box. We know what is in there.<br><br>
When I travel anywhere I want to get to know the people where I am: where they are from; what their life is like; how they grew up. Anything. I love to eat local food and get a sense of place. I love to learn and I love an authentic human experience.<br><br>
Having an authentic human experience is what I live for everyday. I have found that I can discover new things about people I have known for a day or a decade. I apply that to my process of self discovery too. No more labels and no more judgement. What is left? The possibilities are ripe; waiting for me to discover another wonder. I’ll keep you posted. I promise ;)<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br>
*I found this list on a Facebook post but it did not have the author credited. If someone is aware of its originator please let me know. <br><br>
Join the Bianca Basso Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/265903810099809/<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/0f505fbe759a8feac561e045ad0cc3c24a7e7458/medium/Photo-on-2013-06-23-at-5.56-39PMEDT.jpg?1372025297" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="200" width="300" /><br><br type="_moz">BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/9950092013-06-22T12:38:53-04:002017-01-14T11:01:24-05:009. Give up your resistance to change. <span style="font-size: medium; "><u>15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy*</u><br><br><b>9. Give up your resistance to change. </b><br><br><i>“Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls”</i> - Joseph Campbell<br><br>
First of all, let me apologize to all my readers for the gap in postings. I was producing an event which required considerably more time than usual because I was on a video editing learning curve. Immediately after the event, literally, I got myself to the airport to fly to Las Vegas. Since I have been here I have been in a WiFi no-zone. So today I write from the green room at the Caesar’s Palace Colosseum where it is very cosy but more importantly very quiet. <br><br>
On my first morning here in Las Vegas I went to the gym with Marc as is our usual routine. On our way out we ran into one of our friends. Since I am here because we are returning to the studio to record more tracks with horns and percussion, we were talking about that and the writing process. So today’s quote describes accurately what happened to me.<br><br>
There was a time in my life where I forgot about my dream. I did not forget I love music, and I did not forget I love to sing, and I did not forget I wanted to write my own songs one day, but I had lost my connection to my passion because I had lost my connection to myself. I had poured so much money into my last recording project that now I was focussing a lot on the money matters: getting gigs and selling product. I didn’t even notice that the shift was drawing me away from my joy of making music. The more I concentrated on getting results, the more stressed I became. My expectations were building walls so high I could not see beyond them. That stress was all consuming. First it consumed my creativity. Eventually it consumed a lot more. After barely surviving what I refer to as the worst year of my life, I somehow found the courage to choose myself. I chose to pursue my happiness.<br><br>
The process of that decision opened a door. Then it opened many doors. It even opened doors I had never imagined I would walk through and doors are appearing every day. <br><br>
A few years ago, I never would have imagined the bliss I am feeling right now. Remain connected with your heart’s desires and then open your eyes. There might just be a secret door you never noticed waiting around the corner.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br>
*I found this list on a Facebook post but it did not have the author credited. If someone is aware of its originator please let me know. <br><br>
Join the Bianca Basso Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/265903810099809/<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/24533651149068b6d658bb8fb8b5ec585f02216f/medium/Photo-on-2013-06-22-at-4.04-24PMEDT.jpg?1371933660" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="200" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/9514112013-06-16T13:11:44-04:002017-01-14T11:01:24-05:008. Give up your need to impress others.<u><span style="font-size: medium; ">15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy*</span></u><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><br><b>8. Give up your need to impress others.</b><br><br>
Well, it is interesting that this is the subject matter after I posted my gym results on my wall... I am proud of myself for my dedication. So where is the line on this one?<br><br>
The dictionary defines impress as: To make a strong, lasting, or favorable impression on. First of all I will go on record that when a dictionary uses a variation of a word to describe the word, they are missing the point of being a dictionary. So impression is: an effect produced in the mind by a person or thing. A strong, lasting or favorable effect produced in the mind.<br><br>
A lasting effect means it remains in our memory for a while. Strong means it is likely to be in our current thoughts. Finally favorable would indicate a certain happy feeling associated with the memory. All in all I see no problem with any of this. So the problem must lie in our need to impress. What would that need indicate? In my opinion (I only have the one as I am only one) when I feel the need for anything it is because I am experiencing the opposite. The need to be heard comes with the feeling that I am not heard. So the need to impress could be associated with a lack in recognition, or possibly feeling not impressive enough. Why is it so important to us? We live in a society that values being unique and special. In order to be successful in these terms, we have to be above average. Anyone with basic math skills can quickly figure out that it is impossible for each one of us to achieve this. Yet here we are trying very hard to impress.<br><br>
I have this suggestion for today. The need comes from a feeling that there is something missing. Try offering what you need to others. Every time you do, you will be connecting with it in some way. You may be impressed with the results.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
P.S. Today’s photo: Impressed into a part of Marc’s ’65 Fender Jazz. No wonder it sounds the way it does ;)<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/5a5a40d4e65431dcc8da5e16a66eb4e56fd8400d/medium/IMG_1557.JPG?1371488458" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="224" width="300" /><br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br>
*I found this list on a Facebook post but it did not have the author credited. If someone is aware of its originator please let me know. <br><br>
Join the Bianca Basso Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/265903810099809/<br></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/9264762013-06-12T10:29:00-04:002017-01-14T11:01:24-05:007. Give up the luxury of criticism. <u><span style="font-size: medium; ">15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy*</span></u><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><br><b>7. Give up the luxury of criticism. </b><br><br>
Behold the critic! Every artists favorite person. Yes I am being facetious. But what artist hasn’t been cast off like yesterday’s news at least once. It is tough but it can be a right of passage.<br><br>
I realized a long time ago that just because someone didn’t like what I was doing it didn’t mean that I wasn’t any good. I played in the lounge of a very nice hotel for many years. There were conventions and parties and all kinds of people would wander in from the banquets and the casino. There was me and a piano player. So it would happen that someone wanted to hear country or big band music and we were ill equipped to deliver. Plus there are always people who have an opinion. It is more difficult to criticize others efforts when you yourself have ventured out on a limb. Some people have never tried anything. Their opinions have no value really. <br><br>
In the beginning of my career a seasoned musician made a few comments about my performance. I wanted to understand what he was referring to so I could learn and improve. His contribution made a difference in my professional development because he was respectful and honest.<br><br>
Sometimes a critique has value. It is important to recognize which is which. It is also important to subscribe to constructive criticism when sharing our own thoughts. Like the saying goes, “If can’t say anything nice (or useful) don’t say anything at all.” Kindness and respect can be applied to every situation while remaining truthful.<br><br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br>
*I found this list on a Facebook post but it did not have the author credited. If someone is aware of its originator please let me know. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/bd4534cf4deafb196ed3372e2dc8c2d5b4cb8314/medium/Photo-on-2013-06-12-at-2.27-43PMEDT.jpg?1371062235" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="200" width="300" /><br>
Join the Bianca Basso Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/265903810099809/ <br><br type="_moz"></span>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/9175132013-06-11T10:00:00-04:002017-01-14T11:01:24-05:006. Give up complaining<u><span style="font-size: medium; ">15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy*</span></u><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><br><b>6. Give up complaining</b> <br><br><i>“The mind is a superb instrument if used rightly. Used wrongly, however, it becomes very destructive.”</i> - Eckhart Tolle<br><br>
This list is very interesting to work through. What I am realizing is that although I don’t do any of these a lot, they still creep in every once in a while. So how do we move beyond it?<br><br>
After all who has not complained about something in their lives. It seems to be a natural ability. Ask any parent of any child any age. Growing out of it takes awareness. When I was not yet twenty my boyfriend at the time remarked that I was always complaining about being sick or tired or something else. I had no idea that I was that person. I would have never described myself that way and I was shocked. I was shocked because he was right. I was constantly swimming in a pool of misery. A pool filled by my own efforts and commitment to misery, whether I realized it or not. I started noticing when I complained. Then I managed to get to a point where I didn’t vocalize my complaints. Then I tried to change my thoughts to more positive things. Always a silver lining there is! (Image Yoda telling you that and you are sure to smile!) Then as I mastered my craft as a singer (and later became a songwriter) I came to understand the value of every word we pronounce. <br><br>
Words have an energy all their own. They create the world we live in. What we say does matter. So choose wisely. Think before speaking. Feel the good you can create with every simple phrase and smile.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. Please feel to comment and join our mailing list.<br><br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br>
*I found this list on a Facebook post but it did not have the author credited. If someone is aware of its originator please let me know. <br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/976b7827d807715acaad6aa215f49e02dd96c448/large/Photo-on-2013-06-11-at-1.59-12PMEDT.jpg?1371052634" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="400" width="600" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/9053992013-06-09T13:34:56-04:002017-01-14T11:01:24-05:005. Give up your limiting beliefs<u><span style="font-size: medium; ">15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy*</span></u><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><br><b>5. Give up your limiting beliefs</b><br><br><i>“A belief is not an idea held by the mind, it is an idea that holds the mind” </i>- <b>Elly Roselle</b><br><br>
I remember hearing the phrase, “If you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” I was pretty young at the time, maybe 11 or 12, but I remember the moment. Planting an idea like that in a kid’s head is planting a seed in a world of thought awareness.<br><br>
I did say a seed. After all we plant a seed. We water it. We weed around it. We must take continued care of it in order for it to grow and bear fruit. remember the story of when I started teaching? I had two students; one of whom I thought would never come back. I had an opinion. He proved me wrong. Life has proved me wrong about people enough times that now I don’t let myself be limited in my relationships, or other areas of my life, because of what I believe. Awareness lets us evolve. Once we can acknowledge our thoughts, we can change our thoughts. It is true that there are many stories of people told they would never walk again who in turn decided they believed otherwise and did walk again. <br><br>
Maybe in order to allow our thoughts to expand, we can start by changing what we believe about someone. Even just allowing ourselves to be open to a new idea will make a difference. Clinging to what we believe is a little like clinging to being right. Between what we believe and what is possible there are no limitations. So get out of your box!<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br>
*I found this list on a Facebook post but it did not have the author credited. If someone is aware of its originator please let me know. <br><br></span><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/b19374cf81e40a990c48d8e237a28dea91ef5980/medium/IMG_0180.jpg?1370813871" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="402" width="300" /><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/8998882013-06-07T17:34:45-04:002017-01-14T11:01:24-05:004. Give up your self-defeating self-talk.<u><span style="font-size: medium; ">15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy*</span></u><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><br><b>4. Give up your self-defeating self-talk.</b><br><br>
One thing almost all my students come equipped with is a critical voice. I would even say that the louder the critical voice, the more talented they are. Would this indicate that self-criticism serves a purpose?<br><br>
Balance is the key to any internal dynamic. Whether we are talking ego, control or critical self-talk, we need to be able to determine when it serves us and when it defeats us. It may be a fine line, just as the line between air and water on a pool’s surface, but there is no mistaking one for the other once you learn to recognize them. If your critical voice motivates you to try harder, it is serving you. It encourages you to get the best from yourself and you feel good about it. If you are pushing yourself or beating yourself up because you feel bad about a certain result that is different. You will notice the words you use and the patterns you take on. May I suggest two things? First change your feeling. Just choose to change it right now because you can. Then, as if on the outside of you, observe where it is coming from. Find out why it is there. Maybe you heard so much of it growing up that it is woven into the fabric of that cozy blanket you wrap yourself up in. <br><br>
Luckily cozy blankets come in many shapes, sizes, colors and textures. Some have ribbons. Some have bows. No matter what it is, it started with a thought. Go ahead and re-design your critical voice to serve the person you are today. Then enjoy your new blankie and live your life to the fullest ;)<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br>
*I found this list on a Facebook post but it did not have the author credited. If someone is aware of its originator please let me know.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/748096050683830bbe23e2c764c093472b8b3b5c/medium/IMG_0159.JPG?1370655682" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="224" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/8919922013-06-06T17:24:53-04:002017-01-14T11:01:24-05:003. Give up on blame<u><span style="font-size: medium; ">15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy*</span></u><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><br><b>3. Give up on blame</b><br><br>
When I was 20 my friend’s dad was a psychologist. Dinner at their house always proved to have very interesting conversation subjects. One such time he said to us, “Some believe that the only way to be happy is to look at your life as if you are responsible for everything that happens to you.”Can you imagine the discourse that ensued? I have never forgotten that moment. It was a turning point; one of many that started changing the way I looked at my life.<br><br>
It is interesting to observe what happens. As time passed, I noticed that when we blame others, we give our power away. When we can put blame elsewhere, then we assume lies with someone else. The situation is out of our control. (Hmmm, control was #2...) If it is out of our control then there is nothing we can do to change it. There is another way.<br><br>
When we have a commitment to harmony, we can keep looking until we find a solution. Finding fault usually had no great residual value in interpersonal relationships. If every time we are dissatisfied with a situation or outcome, we say to ourselves, “What could I have done differently?” then we are on the path to learning. <br><br>
Life sends us the same lessons over and over until we get it. So as long as you blame anything or anyone on the outside of you, those lessons will just keep coming. Keep your power. Claim responsibility. Be proud of your mistakes. It means you are on the path to wisdom.<br><br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br>
*I found this list on a Facebook post but it did not have the author credited. If someone is aware of its originator please let me know. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/eeaf111b1d20467df7f1c6153cbe71b685ec5e53/large/IMG_3304.jpg?1370568588" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="400" width="600" /><br>
Eric Friesen, Marc Langis and Saskia Friesen at Red Rock Canyon, Nevada.<br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/8768492013-06-04T15:52:56-04:002017-01-14T11:01:24-05:002. Give up your need for control.<span style="font-size: medium; ">15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy*<br><br>
2. Give up your need for control.<br><br>
“By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try. The world is beyond winning.” Lao Tzu<br><br>
I could cite examples of people who tried in vain to control all the aspects of their lives. They did their best to ensure everything would work out just right. Try as they did to plan against every eventuality every one of them ran into a glitch sooner or later. <br><br>
Today as I waited to have new tires put on my car, I was speaking to a woman in a wheel chair. First I asked her about the tires on her chair. Then I asked her how long she had been in a wheel chair. She told me what it was like and then told me her story. Five years ago she was hit by a drunk driver. After the accident she started to lose feeling in her left leg. Within a fairly short period of time her leg became dysfunctional and her life has involved a wheelchair ever since. This woman could not control anything of what happened to her. What she did control was her attitude. She was very forthcoming with me. Since had been a nurse prior to her accident, she decided that her situation was not so bad. I detected no bitterness about her situation nor towards the person who was responsible for this major life change.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/7608bc452176d6fb19ecffa36593340d40bf9044/medium/IMG_0064.JPG?1370390110" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="224" width="300" /><br><br>
Control comes from fear. The opposite of control is faith. In my life as a musician, I have been fortunate enough to have ample opportunities to exercise my faith. Had I let my fear control everything it would have consumed me. Life can’t be controlled so surrender to your faith. You may be pleasantly surprised with the outcome.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br>
*I found this list on a Facebook post but it did not have the author credited. If someone is aware of its originator please let me know. </span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/8614162013-06-02T11:27:34-04:002017-01-14T11:01:24-05:001. Give up your need to always be right. <u><span style="font-size: medium; ">15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy*</span></u><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><br>
Here is our series for June. I was very touched by this list and wanted to write about it. Transformation is up to us. Consciousness begins with self-awareness. So let’s get started.<br><br><b>1. Give up your need to always be right.</b> <br><br>
Remember the boss I told you about last week. For him being right was so important that it overcame everything. He organized things to be sure he would be right. Sometimes I think about him and wonder at what cost?<br><br>
Being right means someone else has to be wrong. It also means we are stuck in our thoughts. We are convinced that our way is the only way. Such righteousness, described in the dictionary as morally justifiable, is so rigid. The mind is rigid. The heart is rigid too. <br><br>
Today’s suggestion is this. With every situation where your natural impulse is to be right, make a note. How many different rights are possible in that particular situation? Then write, or think, about what would wrong be like. Does it really matter that much? How does your life change because you allow yourself to see things differently? <br><br>
Sometimes choosing our battles is more important than winning all of them. In nature it is the reed that bends in the wind that survives, not the mighty rigid oak. Adaptability wins always.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br>
*I found this list on a Facebook post but it did not have the author credited. If someone is aware of its originator please let me know. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/831f414a3a743778948cbad83c8266babb49f64b/medium/IMG_0084.jpg?1370201428" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="402" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/8592772013-06-01T14:19:46-04:002017-01-14T11:01:24-05:00The gift of transformation<span style="font-size: medium; ">"Surely the Greatest gift you have to give, is that of your Own self-transformation." - Hua Hu Ching<br><br>
Notice the words that are capitalized in the quotation. Tomorrow I will start a new series related to creating our happiness.<br><br>
Have you ever noticed that when you talk about some kind of self-development there is always someone around that says, “You really need that.” It inevitably feels like a burn and turns us off. Even when they look at us with a big smile, it just rubs the wrong way. So why is that? Had to ask - you should know me by now :) My theory, because I would not have a blog to write if I didn’t have an opinion, is that although a part of us has become aware of facets that we can improve, there is still another part of us that is in denial. That second part of us is annoyed that anyone else could even suggest we need to change anything at all. Don’t listen to it. It lives in ego. As Paul Pearsall says in his book, The Heart’s Code, “A brain run world may not be the world our heart desires.”<br><br>
Heed Hua Hu Ching’s wisdom. Be generous with yourself. Listen to your heart that wants to learn, grow and feel. Tell your head to have faith. It will be fine.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/015d757e0afa89032717749db17d8ca6aa61fa7b/medium/IMG_0143.jpg?1370125151" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="400" width="300" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/a2e079c9a2bf3275b512a4f880cb3a3381d3b1fd/medium/IMG_0145.jpg?1370125500" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="400" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/8525952013-05-31T06:16:11-04:002017-01-14T11:01:24-05:00Knock, knock. Destiny calling!<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“Listen for the call of your destiny, and when it comes, release your plans and follow.” </span></i><span style="font-size: medium; ">- <b>Mollie Marti</b><br><br>
I have a dear friend who has one foot in his life and one foot in his past. Now if you can imagine what this looks like, it becomes quite clear he is not living in either and can not move on until he willingly lets go of his past.<br><br>
Many of us maintain fantasies about our past. Yes fantasies! Imagining life was better than it was; that our job, our house, our relationship, and on and on, was something out of a Meg Ryan movie ending. We may hear destiny calling. We may try to negotiate with it. It is only when we surrender to it that we can create a space for the wonders of our destiny to enter. So why don’t we? There are a multitude of reasons. Fear of realizing how great our lives can actually be might be more prevalent than people think.<br><br>
So my friend who has a new life, a new house, a wonderful new relationship and a new business, still suffers the loss of his past. He only needs to bump into anything related to his old life to focus, with great drama, on what he calls his only failure. The call of destiny has shown him that everything he has wished for is here or on its way. Only he has the power to release his previous plans and follow.<br><br>
Next week I will blog on a new series. I hope you will join me. Until then I leave you with one of my favorite teacher’s words.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/4eb0abafa5dcaae00a978be8cc00f778ce85157b/original/Lao-Tzu-Change.jpg?1370009910" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="473" width="426" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/8388502013-05-29T09:17:01-04:002017-01-14T11:01:24-05:00Being right and the V-neck dress"Who you are is always right" - Deng Ming-Dao, Taoist master<br><br>
Another fraud attempt this morning. Interesting. This time somebody wanted me to buy them a sexy V-neck dress for $149.49. I just couldn’t let it happen.<br><br>
Now, today’s quote of wisdom is very interesting and I realize it could easily be interpreted in a variety of ways. I once had a boss who would say, “It’s good to be right!” For him being right was more important than being fair or being a good boss even. We are not talking about right as a position with others but right as a feeling we feel. Notice that when you make a decision based on being true to yourself you always feel right about it. Even if it ultimately ends up being a not so good decision, at least you were true to yourself. You can say, “Next time I will choose differently!” and move on. We can look at it this way: if you choose to do something because it is what someone else whats you to do and then you have no fun at all, that’s just the biggest bummer. Not only did you not do what you wanted but you didn’t have fun doing what someone else wanted? Ouch!<br><br>
For me the above phrase is about that. When you live for yourself, in a self-full way*, who you are is always right. Be true to yourself. Stay connected with your own vibe. Buy your own sexy V-neck dress!<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
*Self-full as opposed to selfish, as explored in a previous blog, is to put ourselves first so we can subsequently offer the best of who we are to those around us. Selfish is described in the dictionary as: caring too much about oneself and not enough about others. Very different indeed!<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/7d5ec50431e811d436e63ea70f20d65534d9c0e2/medium/IMG_0221.jpg?1369848144" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="402" width="300" /><br><br type="_moz">BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/8275732013-05-27T18:54:12-04:002017-01-14T11:01:23-05:00Music is our comfort zone<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“Music isn't just a pleasure, a transient satisfaction. It's a need, a deep hunger; and when the music is right, it's joy. Love. A foretaste of heaven. A comfort in grief. ”</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "> - <b>Orson Scott Card</b><br><br>
Today I came across an survey done in the UK by a bathroom renovation company. They asked their clients what was their favorite shower song. It was an interesting list. It got me thinking about what I sing in the shower, so I thought today, I would share that with you, because YES I sing in the shower.<br><br>
Since I am foremost a jazz singer my list begins with But Not For Me and The Very Thought Of You. Two songs which never made their way into my book of over 200 tunes. Don’t know why that is as they are both great tunes. Probably just too many great tunes out there. I also vocalize a lot in the shower. My favorite Mi-i-ah-ah ah; you know it? Hahahaha! Then there are songs I have written, some that we do not do like, Whirlwind. (Maybe I will get Nathan Tanouye to write me chart for that one one day so you can hear it too.) What I find the most is that in that cosy acoustic environment I let the feelings of the moment inspire me. To date I have never written a song in the shower but I have evolved on a work in progress.<br><br>
I think everyone should sing. It is good for us and allows us to connect with what our heart wants to express. So be it in the shower or while cleaning or mowing the lawn or driving along, sing out loud. One more thing...what is your song? I want to know what gets you going. :D<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/c8872af74edc98da6e85b59510d7f5990c59bb99/medium/shower_2035920b.jpg?1369709765" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="188" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/8242332013-05-27T02:01:38-04:002017-01-14T11:01:23-05:00Today's teacher is...<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“When something poses as obstacle to you, surmount it and use it as a miracle to move on to greater height.”</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "> - <b>Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha</b>, Overcoming the Challenges of Life<br><br>
When an obstacle, be it physically inert or human, presents itself to us, it is up to deal with it. How we deal with them will depend on the situation, the tools at hand etc. but deal with it we must or we are destined to re-live those encounters again and again.<br><br>
The challenges that are recurring are the ones I want to write about today. They are the ones that have the strongest messages and the ones we are most likely to learn from. If you just want to walk away from a situation, relationship or professional dynamic, that it is the one you need to face most of all. I have face it often enough to see it quickly now. You see the teachers life sends us are not all standing in front of us with a textbook in hand. Those teachers would be soooooo easy to spot. It is the ones who are challenging the way we work and live and think, to drive us towards a new direction that are here to teach us life’s lessons.<br><br>
Since I believe that the reason we are here on earth in this life, is to learn, I believe we must face every obstacle with a smile. Life rarely gives us more than we can handle. Face whatever it is that is coming your way and find out what you are made of.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/5e3985a793bb53958b760a6d3a815dbe69d23f26/medium/photo-1.JPG?1369649047" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="224" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/8133762013-05-24T11:11:15-04:002017-01-14T11:01:23-05:00Standing in front of my shadow<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear."</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "> - <b>Ambrose Redmoon</b><br><br>
Yesterday when I saw that someone had created an identity with pictures of me (lots of pictures of me) I was not afraid but I did feel violated. (Like the time time some guy posted my blog word for word as his own...) In cases like these, it is important to just put our feeling aside and do what needs to be done.<br><br>
Over the past couple of months I have been exploring the emotional thread that leads us in our lives. It is important to be aware of it. If we can then look at those feelings objectively we can find keys to our personal evolution. It has been a great help to me. Just like looking at the impostor’s page on Facebook was disturbing it caused me to wonder about myself. Am I an impostor in my own life? Am I authentic? <br><br>
I did not answer those questions. I let life bring the answer to me. (Not always easy for a controlling type of person - confessions, confessions!) This morning that page is nowhere to be found, neither is that person. The only one left standing is me. <br><br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/a2a48c18d9f40567fca02cdcbc2a960dc82c8e82/medium/Photo-on-2013-05-24-at-8.53-26AMEDT.jpg?1369422993" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="200" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/8067652013-05-23T14:36:38-04:002017-01-14T11:01:23-05:00Creating can happen anywhere.<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“With every choice you create the life you’ll live; with every decision you design it.”</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "> ― <b>Mollie Marti</b>, Walking with Justice: Uncommon Lessons from One of Life's Greatest Mentors<br><br>
Today I had the privilege of being the MC for a great fundraising event. LeucanOutaouais.com invites members of the community to raise money by having their heads shaved. It is a sign of support for young cancer victims.<br><br>
The youngest participant was an 11 year old boy but it was a 14 year old girl with long blond locks who really impressed me. She couldn’t rememebr her last haircut and was donating her hair to make wigs for cancer survivors. It took a lot of courage. Her teacher was so inspired he decided to take the challenge too. <br><br>
We don’t realize how much of our identity is in our appearance. Some participants talked about the empowerment, others about the necessity of letting go and being in the moment. A man said it was much easier to have his head shaved than it had been to ask those around him to support him financially in his goal. One mother found it was an opportunity to discuss with her young children about the reality that faces those who are sick and also to show her children that it’s good to give without expecting anything in return. <br><br>
I was very touched by the stories I heard and the people I met today. They were real. For someone who lives for an authentic human connection, this was an all you can eat buffet. <br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/85c3a22f992b9cda0bec181784100c5bd5997c5e/original/IMG_0067.jpg?1369348751" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="640" width="480" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/7896862013-05-21T16:32:37-04:002017-01-14T11:01:23-05:00Decisions, decisions...<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "> ― <b>J.K. Rowling</b>, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets<br><br>
Ah the wisdom in the world of Harry Potter is undeniable. I can even hear Dumbledore’s voice speaking the words. <br><br>
Everyday we wake up and make choices: what to wear, what to do, where to go. What so many of us forget is that we can decide how to feel, how to see and what we want to happen in each day. The truth of our strength lies in our choices. I would even say our ability to overcome adversity is a choice. There are so many outcomes that depend on the decision and the intention put into it that it seem so obvious to me. Even when we choose wrongly, we learn, we grow, we try again. Yet so many of us cling to unhealthy thoughts and patterns and stagnate.<br><br>
Life is a choice. Your happiness is a choice. Choose yourself and you will always be happy you did.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/4a8010aaa6486dedb33be85bb7525a5bf84a4a45/medium/DSCN3810.JPG?1369182818" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="225" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/7639072013-05-17T04:00:43-04:002017-01-14T11:01:23-05:00What do you feel?<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“A great song should lift your heart, warm the soul and make you feel good.”</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "> ― <b>Colbie Caillat</b><br><br>
Or not. What do I mean by that. Well I have long said that as artists the reason we need to feel what we do is to get out of our head. In order to reach someone’s heart and make them feel the emotion in our song (or painting or movement or words, etc.) we have to allow ourselves to go there first.<br><br>
The “or not” comment above is in reference to this. Sometimes we feel good after we sing a sad song too. When the singer is all in and allows themselves live their song fully and completely, it gives the audience permission to allow themselves to feel the song completely and let some of the pain go.<br><br>
When Marc and I write songs, we have decided that we want to focus on the positive of things. Anything that allows us to connect with how we feel is a good thing. Right now I am in the process of writing a sad song. Everytime I sing it, it feels good to be alive.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/dce302db5f09c7836c2c32651be0e753faf4b513/medium/IMG_3282.jpg?1368792298" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="200" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/7493502013-05-15T12:16:27-04:002017-01-14T11:01:23-05:00What came first, the student or the teacher?<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“I've heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason bringing something we must learn. We are led to those who help us most to grow, if we let them, and we help them in return.” </span></i><span style="font-size: medium; ">― <b>Stephen Schwartz</b><br><br>
When I started teaching, as now, I did no formal advertising. If a student found their way to me, I took them in. I felt there was always a reason life had sent them my way and time certainly proved that to be true.<br><br>
The people who surround us are our mirror. In them we can see the aspects of ourselves we like and like less. It is always telling. When I have someone in my world that is challenging for me to deal with, I pay particular attention. There is definitely something begging to be addressed when the emotional response is greater. My dear friend Daniel just smiles his quiet smile and then makes me look at things differently. When we need a helper, a helper comes our way, even when we don’t like it! The important thing is to observe the situation you are in and the people who are in it with you. Often in learning we become teachers too.<br><br>
In the 15 years plus that I have been teaching, I can say I have learned from each of my students. Often their issues are my issues too. So today I will thank all of my past, present and future students and I welcome all those other teachers in disguise that life keeps sending me. Life is for learning!<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/efbf84832736ba1ff677f0410fe28ac50db1166d/large/photo.JPG?1374789053" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="448" width="600" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/7297172013-05-13T07:13:36-04:002020-10-20T03:30:22-04:00Real Power<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that's real power.”</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "> -<b> Clint Eastwood</b> <br><br>
Now if I was as cool as my friend Tish Diaz, I too would have a picture of me with Clint himself. Alas it is not so. I am thus destined to be contented to quote his wisdom. And what wisdom! <br><br>
I have often said that the profession of musician seems like a paradox. We play at work, yet the work environment requires a commitment far greater than most professions. Now I will right away say that I know many people who have an extraordinary commitment to their work and am not judging. To excel in any field requires all the elements Clint speaks of: respect + effort + discipline = power. <br><br>
I say there is a paradox because it is often interpreted that musicians do not really work. We do not have a real job. Even very recently someone very close to me spoke to me about having a real job. I had to remind them that I have a real job it just does not come with a salary. I deliver, I get paid. The marketing, sales, web planning, business development and creative process have to happen before we have something to deliver and a place to deliver it to. We have to keep our skills sharp, and our passion alive by our own efforts. In the arts, people who are successful are not lucky. They are determined, hard working and often very disciplined. No sick days or paid holidays for us but I would not change it for anything. With work conditions like that sometimes you find out what you are really made of and how strong you really are.<br><br>
The show must go on is an inspired way to live. It is not exclusive to us. If you are a lawyer, an accountant, a master chocolate maker, an esthetician you too can be passionate about what you do. I have seen it. Let Clint Eastwood’s words be a reminder about how our life can be our passion and how our passion can empower our lives. <br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/ac275bc3545720bb8157ae7558f5a00dac7cd986/medium/IMG_3278.jpg?1368458074" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="450" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/7182952013-05-10T12:30:22-04:002022-01-17T00:22:57-05:00Modesty and ego<span style="font-size: medium; "> <u>The Starving Artist </u>- part 5<br><br><i>“Having a low opinion of yourself is not “modesty”. It’s self-destruction. Holding your uniqueness in high regard is not “egotism”. It’s a necessary precondition to happiness and success.”</i> —Bobbe Sommer<br><br>
My take on Dr. Sommer’s words is balance. She explains very well the illusion of modesty we can adhere to and the importance of a strong sense of self. <br><br>
Earlier today Marc was reading from Dan Millman’s “The Way Of The Peaceful Warrior” and he shared a passage I found profoundly enlightening. Millman speaks of the trinity of the self consisting of the basic self (or sub-conscious) the conscious self (ego) and the spiritual self. He explains each phase with eloquence and adds that each part of our being needs to be acknowledged by the other parts. As I sat in the tub and pondered this, it occurred to me that every time I feel frustrated or depressed and I (or someone else) try to reason away my feelings, it makes me feel even more upset. The reason I am even more upset is that my feelings are left unacknowledged. The “logic” is not comforting and is often the source of the initial upset as sometimes we get results from our efforts that are completely illogical. (Confession time: me = part Vulcan) Millman gives the example of the Samurai Warrior who enters a fight to the death. He must have mastery over each part of himself, physical, mental and spiritual, or he faces certain peril. Luckily for us the stakes are more forgiving as a general rule.<br><br>
In order to find happiness, inside and out, we need to thrive to be our best. When we compete with ourselves (as opposed to comparing ourselves to others), we challenge our own limits. We evolve into the best of ourselves by connecting with all the facets of who we are. When we remain in compassion, and respect our ego stays in check with our feelings and our spiritual self. Then everything functions in balance. (Oh and yes, I am a Libra so balance is as important as logic ;) )<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/a62c00147bff26aa6f852d865cf3cf9159a5a33b/medium/4-up-on-2013-05-10-at-4.22-07PMEDTcompiled.jpg?1368218024" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="200" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/7026902013-05-08T15:33:55-04:002017-01-14T11:01:23-05:00Get out of your way<span style="font-size: medium; "><u>The Starving Artist - part 4</u><br><br><i>“How would your life be different if…You stopped making negative judgmental assumptions about people you encounter? Let today be the day…You look for the good in everyone you meet and respect their journey.” </i><br>
― <b>Steve Maraboli</b>, Life, the Truth, and Being Free<br><br>
Today someone asked, “Would you rather have money or have a soul?” What I find the most interesting about that comment is that it implies that you can’t have both. I firmly believe that one does not impede the other. We are talking about two different energies. There is nothing wrong with financial success. It is part of the abundance process. So why is this a common perspective?<br><br>
As a musician I have over the years met many an artist who bought into the starving artist identity. Somewhere, I think, that to not achieve our full potential means we are denying ourselves. It is a false modesty, “Because I am poor, I am better, more worthy.” Yet in my life I have met so many wonderful people who are walking success stories and feel like they are the luckiest people on earth to get to do what they love. Someone like that has a soul. They have a soul that is vibrant and open and generous. So the fact that they have money in their bank account has no bearing on the quality of their being. If you think about it, this way of thinking can only ensure a poor financial outcome since in order to have spiritual richness you must be financially poor. If we assume someone who has money has no soul then not only are we being very judgmental indeed, but we are saying no to money in our own lives. Comforting? That is a the best example of poverty of the mind. I don’t want to judge anyone but I do want us all to be aware of the trappings of these thoughts. <br><br>
We are meant to thrive. All of nature confirms this. Bacteria, germs, plants, etc. evolve in the face of adversity. They change to be stronger. The Monarch butterfly used to take three generations to travel across the North American continent from Mexico to Canada. Now it does the trip in one season. <br><br>
Let’s not judge others success. Some of the financially successful people I have met have been very generous with their time, resources and their money. It is the privilege of the wealthy to be able to help and pay it forward. Allow yourself to evolve into a super butterfly and you too will be able to soulfully help the world in whatever way you see fit.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavor, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/c0b2670b3997076fe2c7c0f0eb8968e7984bf26c/medium/IMG_0833.jpg?1368056200" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="218" width="300" /><br><br type="_moz"></span>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/6918192013-05-07T09:58:20-04:002017-01-14T11:01:23-05:00Out with the fear. In with the good!<span style="font-size: medium; "><u>The Starving Artist</u><br><br><i>“It is a common condition of being poor...you are always afraid that the good things in your life are temporary, that someone can take them away, because you have no power beyond your own brute strength to stop them.” </i><br>
― <b>Rick Bragg</b><br><br>
You may be wondering, “What the heck is up with Bianca? Why is she obsessing and moralizing on the issue of poverty?” The answer is simple: it is an issue I am intimately connected with. <br><br>
Yup. Most of it is perceived now. I have a home where happiness reigns freely. There are wonderful meals cooked up in our kitchen. Life is good as proclaimed by my 9 year old son just yesterday. Yet the feeling creeps in. I am on a mission to exorcise the poverty of mind that has set-up shop inside my psyche. In Rick Bragg’s quote he mentions two things that I find are key elements: fear of losing the good fortune that comes our way; and the truth of the power we exert in keeping good things from coming in the first place. <br><br>
I remember when we moved into our home, Marc left the next day to go work in Vegas for a month run. For the first two weeks I felt sick. In my life I had a man I loved (and still very much love!) deeply, who had chosen to make a home for us all because of he loved us too. I realized I was struggling with this good thing and truly having trouble accepting my good fortune. Another great example was a musician I worked with that just seemed to have all these good things fall into his lap. He would just smile and say, “Thanks!” (huge grin smile) Then I had the thought that he never got in his own way. It is an important part of our process to also allow or receive the good things that are just waiting to come to us. Yet we often are our own greatest impediment.<br><br>
So there you have it. I do not live in poverty by any means. I know this. So now when I feel this way, I let it pass (as quickly as possible) and replace it with where I am going now. I welcome all good things. As they come, I will travel to where you are and sing my songs for you. So get make room for good things to come to you too because they are coming!<br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music with a vintage flavour, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/e3ffbc7a73c2a32adcecf0d425567f35e3c09313/medium/IMG_0010.jpg?1367949707" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="225" width="300" /><br>
with Marc Langis<br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/6744932013-05-04T07:39:11-04:002017-01-14T11:01:23-05:00Poverty of the mind<u><span style="font-size: medium; ">The Starving Artist</span></u><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><br><i>“Last time I talked to her she didn't sound like herself. She's depressed. It's awful what happens when people run out of money. They start thinking they're no good.”</i> ― <b>Barbara Kingsolver</b>, Pigs In Heaven<br><br>
Today we will begin exploring the concept mentioned in yesterday’s blog: poverty of the mind. When I found this quotation it really spoke to me. An issue I have meditated on for a very long time is my feeling of having no value if I have no money. Untrue, of course, but present none-the-less.<br><br>
One of my favorite films is “Becoming Jane” with Anne Hathaway and James MacEvoy. It is the story of Jane Austen’s life before she became a published author; a love story. In 18th century England a woman has no value on her own. Women can not inherit and therefore must marry well to ensure their survival. Jane is an idealist (and a feminist it is clear although they did not exist yet) and wants to marry for love. However she is forced, even in the face of love, to choose otherwise for the greater good. All this to draw your attention to a phrase which spoke to me quite loudly at that time of my life. Her father says to her, “Nothing kills creativity like poverty.” Whether the poverty is real or imagined the effect is the same. Creativity comes when there is an opening, a freedom of spirit I would say. If we are stressed out because we have created poverty in our lives, either actual (by living beyond our means in order to have all the “necessary” luxuries we can’t live without) or imagined (because we feel impoverished to not have all that stuff we’ve been brainwashed to want) there is no room for us to be who we are. Therefore there is no room for creativity to come in. The mind becomes a battleground and the ego sinks deeper into the pit of drama.<br><br>
Everything we can read bring us back to the same solution. It is on the inside. As our wise friend Ralph said yesterday, “Success comes from within.” First we have to realize what we are feeling and then we can start inviting different feelings to take their place. Oh the baby steps. Start where you are: one, two, three!<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/4baad3a4ab139acf3817e46b2ca5d6fa93f52b6a/medium/IMG_0989.JPG?1367682065" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="224" width="300" /><br>
at Luskville Falls, Quebec.<br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/6682532013-05-03T09:54:53-04:002017-01-14T11:01:22-05:00Quest for abundance - part 1<u><span style="font-size: medium; ">The starving artist</span></u><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><i><br>
“The good news is that the moment you decide that what you know is more important than what you have been taught to believe, you will have shifted gears in your quest for abundance. Success comes from within, not from without.” </i><br>
―<b> Ralph Waldo Emerson</b><br><br>
I decided I wanted to write on the subject of wealth and poverty. It is a very popular subject of conversation both internal and external. It is a subject of thought and contemplation and it is also one of life’s biggest mysteries. “Why do some have so much and others so little?” we ask.<br><br>
I want to ask a different question. What makes us poor? I am not talking about places where basic needs are not met. If we have food, shelter, water and access to education, why do we feel poor? There are cultures in the world who have far less than we in North American culture. Yet some of those people out there in the world are happy in the simplicity of their lives. We are living in a world of want. We have an over abundance of messages telling us we should have this and want that. That we should look, dress, act, sound, pray, exercise, eat and socialize in a certain way. If we don’t there is something missing. If we don’t there is something wrong? The issue is troubling if we are to think these messages continue shaping generations to come. Poverty of the mind is the most dangerous of all. Cultivating confidence and excellence in this mindset is the challenge. There are only a few role models of perfection we are encouraged to adhere to. Good thing Adele didn’t know big girls don’t have a chance in show business. <br><br>
Apparently this 19th century philosopher was waaaaaay ahead of his time. Maybe it is sad that his wisdom is still a work in progress well into the 21st century. I find it encouraging that his words are still with us, urging us to shift gears and find the abundance within.<br><br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br type="_moz"></span><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/f2b5032effcb25cf5694144056b84c40f6fd342b/large/IMG_1576.jpg?1367603768" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="450" width="600" /><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/6473952013-05-01T04:16:08-04:002017-01-14T11:01:22-05:00Inspired Learning<i><span style="font-size: medium; "> “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "> ― <b>William Arthur Ward</b><br><br>
How many of us can recall a great teacher? I would like to think that most of us have had one in our lifetime. One of those teachers that pushes us just enough beyond our comfort zone; that allows us to discover our potential and keep going. <br><br>
Last night we had a truly rare and wonderful experience. We had dinner with Marc’s greatest mentor on electric bass, Claude Arsenault. When Marc delivers his conference he talks about the moment where he was finally, in his third year of college, going to have a teacher on the instrument he really wanted to study. He was sitting waiting for his lesson. From outside the door he could hear Claude playing and he was getting more and more intimidated with each note. For one year (only one year) he was privy to a teacher who explained, who showed him new techniques and who inspired Marc to keep his passion alive. In all his years of study it was the only one with an electric bass teacher, but what a teacher. There was a lifetime of learning in that short period of time.<br>
Sometimes we are lucky enough to be able to thank those teachers personally for sharing their wisdom with us. Last night was one of those nights. It was such a memorable evening. No wonder Marc is smiling in the photos. <br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
see blog dated April 23, 2012 www.biancabassomusic.com/blog for a picture of the painting<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/6ad28f11cf70454e233cd2de7f329cf7190b688e/medium/IMG_6963.jpg?1367411160" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="234" width="300" /><br>
Marc with Carole and Claude Arsenault<br><br><br type="_moz"></span>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/6111792013-04-25T17:24:27-04:002017-01-14T11:01:22-05:00Let's see here...<i><span style="font-size: medium; "> “Studies have shown that 90% of error in thinking is due to error in perception. If you can change your perception, you can change your emotion and this can lead to new ideas.”</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "> -<b> Edward de Bono</b><br><br>
Perception? I agree. Much of what we consider to be reality in our lives is simply a matter of perception. It is often responsible for some of the problems that creep up if communication isn’t strong enough to sort things out. Sometimes clinging to that perception can stifle our progress too. How can you tell?<br>
My son has been looking at my last painting* and keeps asking me what it represents. I, trying to be a modern open minded mother like the one I had, explain it to him this way: the artist paints what his inspiration allows to take form. The observer takes away what he sees and so each one may have a very different experience of the same work of art. Both are right as each perspective is right for the moment they are in. The moment and the perspective can change. Maybe it is a lot to ponder for a 9 year old but we should all ponder that truth once in a while. How many times have you made up your mind about someone or something, never bothering, year after year, to find out if your perspective is still valid. People change; situations change; we all change. 90% error in thinking due to an error in perspective is a pretty big number. <br><br>
Edward is suggesting we try a new perspective on for size. I suggest you just allow yourself to be in the moment and see the perspective of where you are now. How does it feel? Different? Change is good. How many different perspectives can you consider in any given situation? Try that on for size and keep me posted. <br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
see blog dated April 23, 2012 www.biancabassomusic.com/blog for a picture of the painting<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/854b8a296076e06ab47a04bb8aab9a1a617cf48c/medium/IMG_0992.jpg?1366939984" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="402" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/5858952013-04-22T19:40:00-04:002017-01-14T11:01:22-05:00Happy to be Home<span style="font-size: medium; ">“Self-respect cannot be hunted. It cannot be purchased. It is never for sale. It cannot be fabricated out of public relations. It comes to us when we are alone, in quiet moments, in quiet places, when we suddenly realize that, knowing the good, we have done it; knowing the beautiful, we have served it; knowing the truth, we have spoken it.” - Whitney Griswold<br><br>
Sometimes I am less of a writer and more of a visual artist. This came out of my quiet moment.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca</span><br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/97dab964d6a88eb1575d9b2dfb22ebfeeaa5986b/medium/Painting22Home22.JPG?1366688944" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="224" width="300" /><br>
For some reason I can not rotate the image. It is meant to be vertical.<br><br type="_moz">BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/5726942013-04-20T14:05:23-04:002017-01-14T11:01:22-05:0021. Take Responsibility<span style="font-size: medium; "><u>21 Habits of Happy People</u> <br><br><i>21. Take Responsibility - “Happy people know and understand that they are 100% responsible for their life. They take responsibility for their moods, attitude, thoughts, feelings, actions and words. They are the first to admit when they’ve made a mistake.”</i><br><br>
Once when I was 20, I was at someone’s house for dinner. The patriarch who was a psychologist introduced the notion that we are responsible for everything that happens to us. Well, you can imagine the conversation that was sparked around the table. How can we be responsible for what others do to us? Anyone who was nurturing their inner victim was totally against this idea. Certainly it got me thinking. What if this is true?<br><br>
You can imagine how my thoughts were busily trying things on for size as I say. I started noticing patterns in my life and I started seeing that I had created patterns and was still creating them. Then I realized that if I was responsible for everything that happened in my life, good or bad, I had the power to change anything. Wow! Power to create my life. So then came applying. Because what we must remember is that we are kind of like toddlers. We need to be told 478 times before we get it (if we’re lucky). So I took my baby steps and started chipping away at the ego that was clinging to the drama, the blame and stories I was telling myself to justify my life. Now I am so far away from who I was in my 20’s but so much closer to who I am.<br><br>
“Begin today by taking responsibility for your happiness. Work on developing these habits as your own. The more you incorporate the 21 habits into your daily lifestyle – the happier you will be. Most of all: BE TRUE TO YOURSELF.” I couldn’t agree more.<br><br>
I hope you enjoyed this series inspired by the writing of Elbert Hubbar, 21 Habits Of Happy People. I really enjoyed my exploration.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br></span><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/6da17f0c359539d7388f62c4bb417d94408d799b/medium/IMG_1613.jpg?1366495843" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="225" width="300" /><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/5665292013-04-19T08:37:04-04:002017-01-14T11:01:22-05:0020. Self Confidence<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">21 Habits of Happy People </span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><br><i>20. Self Confidence - “Don’t try to be someone that you’re not. After all no one likes a phony. Determine who you are in the inside – your own personal likes and dislikes. Be confident in who you are. Do the best you can and don’t second guess yourself.”</i><br><br>
Well that’s easy. Right? Right? I mean, I am who I am and you are who you are, so what’s this habit about? Glad you asked because, of course, I have a thought on the matter. :) Sometimes we get so caught up in our character and our drama that we forget who we really are. Maybe we only forget parts of who we are, but not being entirely authentic to ourselves is the trap.<br><br>
I remember being in an entrepreneur session (yes musicians are entrepreneurs, don’t you know) and we were asked to describe how we saw ourselves and how we thought people perceived us. Then the other participants opened the discussion to reveal their impressions of each participant. One person had a completely different impression of herself than what the group unanimously experienced of her. This was so telling. Imagine that you are walking around in life unaware of the messages you are putting out there and wondering why the world is responding to you the way they are. She was in an illusion of herself to herself. I believe that confidence means being aware of ourselves in every way. Not being perfect, but being ok with the aspects of who we are. Successful people don’t try to be experts at everything. They associate themselves with the experts they need and don’t feel less confident for it.<br><br>
Self confidence is also self-acceptance. I tell all my students that it is far more important to be authentic than it is to be perfect. In life who do you love: the meat robot; the plastic superficial one? No. We really love the people who are real. Be yourself because who you are is enough. <br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/4d0c619b96d656d86d7a3728310f6f6693fca8ab/medium/IMG_3949.jpg?1366389593" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="294" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/5531862013-04-17T16:55:14-04:002017-01-14T11:01:22-05:0019. Self Care<span style="font-size: medium; "><u>21 Habits of Happy People </u><br><br><i>19. Self Care - “Take care of your mind, body and health. Get regular medical check ups. Eat healthy and work out. Get plenty of rest. Drink lots of water. Exercise your mind by continually energizing it with interesting and exciting challenges.”</i><br><br>
I think one of my Facebook friends, Jacques Chery, put this best into words when he posted, “Embrace and love your body it is the most amazing thing you will ever own.” Today while I was at the gym I was thinking about the choices we make everyday. What we eat. What we do. How we feel and think inside this amazing machine. Why is it that although we know better we don’t always make the right choices?<br><br>
Since I returned to the gym in January, I have been feeling better and better. My injuries are going away and my vitality is returning. Sometimes we forget. We get an injury or “fall off the wagon” as some people say and don’t return. It can happen. After my daughter was born I had a lot of pain in my body and it made exercising very difficult, near impossible. I gained weight. I felt old and frumpy. How I perceived myself changed, and not in a good way. In all cases when we take care of ourselves and our health, we are always winners. Balance is so important. Active healthy bodies make active healthy minds that take on challenges with much more enthusiasm too. No wonder it is a habit of happy people!<br><br>
Self Care is about being kind to ourselves. Caring enough about ourselves to tend to the issues that will mean a quality of life today and every day forward. So with spring upon us (here in the northern hemisphere - I realize it is different for all you folks down under), go out for a walk. Enjoy the sunshine but most of all take care of your personal spring cleaning. You will be happier for it. Promise! :)<br><br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/c4b45113d436334e41fce505e5b1063cd303c728/medium/IMG_0881.jpg?1366246635" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="400" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/5363452013-04-15T20:24:25-04:002017-01-14T11:01:22-05:0018. Be Proactive<span style="font-size: medium; ">21 Habits of Happy People <br><br><i>18. Be Proactive - “Accept what can not be changed. Happy people don’t waste energy on circumstances beyond their control. Accept your limitations as a human being. Determine how you can take control by creating the outcome you desire – rather than waiting to respond.”</i><br><br>
The dictionary describes proactive as tending to initiate change rather than reacting to events. When you are a gardener, as I am, you plan, you imagine and you take your shovel out and initiate change. <br><br>
I have always found there was great wisdom in gardening and believe that we should teach our children to garden too. Not only do we learn to be proactive but we learn that, in the garden growth happens even if we do not see it. We must care for our seedling and water it and provide a proper environment to create the outcome we desire. So in life, we must do the same. Plan, imagine, dream, then take action to create the desired outcome. Weed things out when required. Fertilize if needed. Basically in the garden, if things get off to a good start they will evolve in the desired direction.<br><br>
So be proactive in the garden of your life. Plan, imagine, dream and take action towards your creation. Start with creating the day you want every morning and see where you zeal takes you. Love and light!<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/6336101c52149a4b859a52fbb492f86981759e64/medium/IMG_0892.JPG?1375903950" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="163" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/4899572013-04-08T18:17:39-04:002017-01-14T11:01:22-05:0017. Persistence<u><span style="font-size: medium; ">21 Habits of Happy People </span></u><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><br><i>17. Persistence - “Never give up. Face each new challenge with the attitude that it will bring you one step closer to your goal. You will never fail, as long as you never give up. Focus on what you want, learn the required skills, make a plan to succeed and take action. We are always happiest while pursuing something of value to us.”</i><br><br>
In 2008, the year preceding what will go down on record as the worst year of my life, I was climbing the stairs while the Oscars were on. I wasn’t watching. I had a basket full of laundry and plenty to get done before Monday morning. But as luck or coincidence would have it, I crossed the living room with my basket right at the moment when Jon Stewart was escorting a woman back on to the stage. <br><br>
Marketa Irglova came back to the podium to give her acceptance speech for the Oscar for Music (Original Song). I never forgot what she said because I transcribed her words with a Sharpie onto the monitor my computer. As if speaking only to me, she said, <b><i>“Fair play to those who dare to dream and never give up.”</i></b> Those were words to live by and I did live by them. Even when my dreams seemed ridiculous and most people had many logical reasons for me to look in anew direction, I could not give up. My persistence kept me alive. My belief allowed me to overcome incredible adversity. Marketa’s words were a strong daily reminder to keep the faith.<br><br>
It is true, you will never fail as long as you never give up. It is even more true that you will never fail as long as you never give up on yourself. In the end we must listen to our heart as it always knows the way.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br></span><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/18c569d09e09c2371605d0826b82d4931830da3d/medium/218493_10150223268975140_295261880139_8865689_4772558_o.jpg?1375903950" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="200" width="300" /><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/4823542013-04-07T19:48:00-04:002017-01-14T11:01:22-05:0016. Love Unconditionally<u><span style="font-size: medium; ">21 Habits of Happy People </span></u><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><br><i>16. Love Unconditionally - “Accept others for who they are. You don’t put limitations on your love. Even though you may not always like the actions of your loved ones – you continue to love them.”</i><br><br>
Now that we are three quarters of the way through our happy habits list we need to remember that we are meant to go deeply into our process. Loving unconditionally is certainly an item that invites us to dig below the surface to discover all that is really there.<br><br>
Once before when I wrote about unconditional love I had someone ask how do you make the other person understand this. It is a valid question but its pertinence reveals the very unconditionality of the inquirer. “What the heck is she saying?” you ask? Well unconditional means you give love. Period. No conditions or strings attached. Not you give so that you get... fill in the blank. First of all that isn’t giving is it? It is bartering, maybe negotiating, but not giving and certainly not loving. Anyone who is in a loving relationship today understands this. You don’t need a back door when you are offering your heart unconditionally. I also feel unconditional love is packaged with respect. And like I have said sooooooooo many times before, we must love ourselves this way before we can love any one else unconditionally.<br><br>
By the way that last sentence is not a condition, it is a fact. You can not offer to anyone else what you are not willing to extend to yourself. Accept yourself for who you are and offer yourself limitless love. Then reach out and change your world.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/88860002611ce8ad3f1c02f5bf719ca5ab18b648/medium/Photo-on-2013-04-07-at-11.39-20PMEDT.jpg?1375903950" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="200" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/4788712013-04-06T17:20:02-04:002017-01-14T11:01:22-05:0015. Optimism<u><span style="font-size: medium; ">21 Habits of Happy People </span></u><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><br><i>15. Optimism - “See the glass as half full. Find the positive side of any given situation. It’s there – even though it may be hard to find. Know that everything happens for a reason, even though you may never know what the reason is. Steer clear of negative thoughts. If a negative thought creeps in – replace it with a positive thought.”</i><br><br>
Well you might as well have a picture of me next to the word Optimism in the dictionary. Almost. I am an optimist as I have indicated before. I think I have always been so. But sometimes, when the glass is never more than half-full it can feel half-empty. So then what do you do?<br><br>
I think our route can be to go back and re-read habit #1 - appreciate what you have right now, #5 - use creative problem solving to change the course of things, #7 - enjoy life, #8 - laugh and seriously apply #10 - express gratitude. Man, these 21 guidelines to happiness are really on to something. Optimism is about realizing that there is always a positive way to see things. I do mean always. When I was in my 20’s I met a very successful business man who always seemed to have fortune sitting on his shoulder (and in his bank account). What I learned in time was that any event that another person might perceive as a misfortune he would just say, “It must be a blessing in disguise!” Of course it was. He chose to believe something better would come along and it always did. With a bit of practice we can learn to see the good in every situation. <br><br>
I believe the good is always there no matter how harsh it may seem for me to say so. Furthermore I think the most important aspect to retain is that allowing ourselves to see the positive in every situation gives a sense of purpose to each situation. Optimism is not denial. It is the way to finding meaning in our lives. <br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/ec11f6a2897e3af6cadd75ac63c309155da4d2e3/large/IMG_4059.jpg?1375903950" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="400" width="600" /><br><br></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/4729382013-04-04T15:07:18-04:002020-07-16T17:57:41-04:0014. Mind Their Own Business <u><span style="font-size: medium; ">21 Habits of Happy People </span></u><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><br><i>14. Mind Their Own Business - “Concentrate on creating your life the way you want it. Take care of you and your family. Don’t get overly concerned with what other people are doing or saying. Don’t get caught up with gossip or name calling. Don’t judge. Everyone has a right to live their own life the way they want to – including you.”</i><br><br>
There was a time where I felt I was judged based on my appearance. I had decided to quit smoking for my art and had gained 25 pounds in the process. I was very self conscious. I also started resenting every skinny chick singer. Who was judging who?<br><br>
When I realized that I was also judging people based on their appearance it was like a shock to me. Since I was the victim of my choices (I am being very facetious here) I was the one (in my mind) who was suffering the judgement of others. It could not be that I was acting improperly. After all I couldn’t possibly be name calling. I mean those other people are always soooooo unkind. Apparently I was also DEEP in the judgement trap and judging myself in the process. <br><br>
It was very liberating to take responsibility for my behavior once I was able to recognize it. It is true, concentrating of creating the life I wanted was the turning point. Now I know, we never know what is going on in people’s lives and we can never judge.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/40d49336b2da90033aea559c62c846a0bda00b89/medium/DSCN4679.JPG?1375903950" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="364" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/4648572013-04-03T16:07:17-04:002017-01-14T11:01:22-05:0013. Meditate<u><span style="font-size: medium; ">21 Habits of Happy People</span></u><span style="font-size: medium; "> <br><br><i>13. Meditate - “Meditation gives your very active brain a rest. When it’s rested you will have more energy and function at a higher level. Types of meditation include yoga, hypnosis, relaxation tapes, affirmations, visualization or just sitting in complete silence. Find something you enjoy and make the time to practice daily.”</i><br><br>
Hamstering is an excellent form of meditation for me, as is doing most manual tasks and riding my bike and long drives. I find in each of these situations that my mind is free and I can allow an emptiness to enter. The feeling is almost euphoric. I have had similar experiences riding a bus or just sitting quietly with a few moments to spare.<br><br>
I have yet to master the discipline of a controlled and structured meditation. The “sitting on the cushion each morning to face the rising sun in the lotus position” meditation. I don’t know why but movement quiets my mind. Paradoxically movement keeps my mind active. Maybe it is not a paradox. It could quite possibly be balance. I would think the most important reason to meditate today is to find enough calm to balance the crazy in our lives. <br><br>
So as I go and hamster my way around the gym tomorrow I will enter my meditative state and be happy. Find your happy place and make a date with yourself to go there as often as possible. <br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/5fe7e1874604cad1fbc53c2892decea44e614a27/large/IMG_4170.JPG?1375903950" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="308" width="600" /><br>
Eric Friesen at Fort Whyte Centre, Manitoba<br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/4577192013-04-02T14:15:49-04:002017-01-14T11:01:21-05:0012. Keep Their Word<u><span style="font-size: medium; ">21 Habits of Happy People </span></u><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><br>
12. Keep Their Word - “Honesty is the best policy. Every action and decision you make should be based on honesty. Be honest with yourself and with your loved ones.”<br><br>
I have a commitment to honesty. I have long said that when you have a commitment to honesty, the hardest person to be honest with is yourself. But that is where it begins. That is where everything begins. <br><br>
On my road to happiness I had to face up and fess up that my behavior in life had not always been exemplary. I was not always completely truthful and I could even create a certain level of drama to justify my position. These short term fixes were not going to get me anywhere in the long run. But my desire for truth came first from a different direction. I had a desire to live my life so that if I died tomorrow I would not have a list of regrets and things left undone and moreover, unsaid. For me this was the beginning. Since that moment I have found that there are many healing circles who advocate owning up to our actions, apologising, forgiving and taking responsibility. This gentle process was very freeing for me. Every time I took it upon myself to acknowledge my part in the things that went wrong in my life, I was given the freedom and the power to make it better the next time around. Again looking at situations factually and unemotionally takes us out of our ego and into the truth. One baby step at a time let to my new mantra, "Say what you mean and mean what you say."<br><br>
Honesty is a great gift that comes with great responsibilty and even greater rewards. Love yourself enough to be in your truth and you will become very powerful in the process of creating your own happiness. That is the truth!<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
P.S. I wish to thank Russ Stalters who has been a very valuable professional mentor and in the process, has become an even more valuable friend.<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/938798ade8b4403fd90949a01cf7641e7314d03c/medium/IMG_1021.jpg?1375903950" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="402" width="300" /><br></span>with my daughter Nina at Gatineau Park, QuebecBIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/4489032013-04-01T12:00:28-04:002017-01-14T11:01:21-05:0011. Invest in Relationships<u><span style="font-size: medium; ">21 Habits of Happy People </span></u><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><br><i>11. Invest in Relationships - “Always make sure your loved ones know you love them even in times of conflict. Nurture and grow your relationships with your family and friends by making the time to spend with them. Don’t break your promises to them. Be supportive.”</i><br><br>
At my house it has been decreed that no electronic devices are allowed at the table. This so pronounced by my children. AND I have been openly accused of spending too much time with Facebook (sooooo not true but children and significant others can be a bit dramatic at times... woe is me! ) In careful reflection I am lucky I that I will be able to enforce this rule that they have pronounced with fervor as they get older. Muahahaha! (That is my attempt at a devious laugh btw.)<br><br>
Devious laughs aside, my kids know. For quite a few years now I have made a point of looking at things differently. My motto is, “Each time you have the opportunity to make and authentic human connection, you have to go for it.” Yup. It is that simple. This we can apply in so many ways. Lately it is wonderful how many connections I have made, through writing or speaking with people or having coffee. (Don’t just take my word for it - if you write to me I will answer) Every one of them is a gift. But I want to tell you about another gift I received. <br><br>
Marc and I were talking about our projects and our life and our future. Marc shared with me some elements he was uncomfortable with even though speaking about them in the first place was very uncomfortable for him. In the course of the conversation many feelings emerged. I even had the thought that Marc’s faith was weak. I was overcome with emotions I could not master, so I removed myself from myself sort of speak. I allowed myself to look at myself as from the outside, examining everything factually and unemotionally, to see everything more clearly. A revelation came.<br><br>
This moment was a great gift to me. Marc’s courage created an opportunity for me to evaluate my reaction, learn from it, see things differently and grow. It does take courage and commitment to be our best in our relationships. Be true to yourself too. Authenticity is the investment that provides great returns in all of our relationships.<br><br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/c993eeef504dbe92179520b4b70148043e2f57c3/medium/IMG_3157.jpg?1375903950" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="328" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/4321972013-03-28T13:10:10-04:002017-01-14T11:01:21-05:0010. Gratitude<b><span style="font-size: medium; ">21 Habits of Happy People </span></b><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><br><i>10. Gratitude - “Develop an attitude of gratitude. Count your blessings; All of them – even the things that seem trivial. Be grateful for your home, your work and most importantly your family and friends. Take the time to tell them that you are happy they are in your life.”</i><br><br>
I remember reading a book that recommended keeping a gratitude journal. In the book they spoke of writing down three things you were thankful for at the end of each day. To prove their point they even gave as an example that at the end of a very bad day you can be thankful that the day is over. <br><br>
So it is a matter of beginning. I remember living through a particular difficult year. The worst year of my life. Because I believe there is a a reason for everything, I was looking for the lessons every single day. I was treading water and thinking there is a reason for this. Expressing gratitude when in difficult times is what gives us the perspective to go on. I say perspective rather than the usual “strength” because the word perspective means how we look at things. Gratitude is not about changing our reality. It is about seeing everything in our reality and all that is great right now. There is always something to be thankful for if you are willing to see it.<br><br>
Enjoying little pleasures provides big returns. Create the present you want to look back upon with a smile. Baby steps will get you there every time. It is worth noting that babies always smile when they are taking those first steps. :)<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/dad374d00034230cd05b6fb33d3597a1337ea4cc/medium/IMG_1499.jpg?1375903950" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="400" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/4158892013-03-26T17:10:26-04:002017-01-14T11:01:21-05:009. Forgive<span style="font-size: medium; "><b>21 Habits of Happy People </b><br><br><i>9. Forgive - “Holding a grudge will hurt no one but you. Forgive others for your own peace of mind. When you make a mistake – own up to it – learn from it – and FORGIVE yourself.”</i><br><br>
It is true that in forgiveness, like love, we must begin with ourselves. We can not offer to others what we can not give to ourselves. Those feelings of hurt and betrayal are hard to overcome. Sometimes they are tricky too. We think we’re over all that but we’re not. How do we know?<br><br>
Like most people, I had to learn to forgive. It was easy to blame others for my unhappiness and carry the grudge that justified my position, be it victim or anything else. The truth (yup there is that one thing that keeps me on the straight and narrow) is that there is never a situation where we have not enabled or created whatever it is we are in. Then we try to convince ourselves we are the innocent victims. Let’s understand each other, there are exceptions, but a lot of the drama that is in our lives can be avoided and we could let go of it a lot sooner than we do. If you have a old scar that you can not think of without feeling bad, you are not over it. Why is forgiveness important anyway? For me forgiveness is not only a way to find inner peace but it is a way to freeing ourselves from baggage. Baggage that weighs us down year after year. I carried a bunch of hurt from a former relationship. Even though I was in a new happy relationship, I just couldn’t seem to shake it. One day I was reading a wonderful children’s book by Neal Donald Walsh called “The Little Soul And The Sun.” I understood that this person had come into my life to teach me many things and I let go. <br><br>
All suffering is evolution. If we don’t evolve from life’s challenges we just suffer from them. In order to forgive yourself, see the truth of your past, understand that we are all here to learn, look upon all who have come into your life with love and let the forgiveness begin.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. </span><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/15ed4143ce024998fa047ce4e7968dc3a569b03b/large/IMG_4172.jpg?1375903950" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="900" width="600" /><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/4093792013-03-25T18:08:52-04:002017-01-14T11:01:21-05:008. Laugh<span style="font-size: medium; "><b>21 Habits of Happy People </b><br><br><i>8. Laugh - “Don’t take yourself – or life to seriously. You can find humor in just about any situation. Laugh at yourself – no one’s perfect. When appropriate laugh and make light of the circumstances. (Naturally there are times that you should be serious as it would be improper to laugh.)”</i><br><br>
“Life is for living and for laughing!” If you can’t laugh at yourself you are taking yourself way to seriously. Not to mention the stress of living like that. Let me tell you the story of my first steady gig. <br><br>
I had secured a gig in a pub on Sunday afternoons. They wanted a quartet to play standards, with a vocalist. Great! It was early in my career and so it was wonderful to have a place to try out new arrangements and build my book. We get out to this place the first time out and we have a decent crowd of jazz fans which is nice. We play our first set, then our second set and as we come close to finishing up the third set, I say that we want to thank people for coming out and we are going to play our last tune of the day. Someone in the back corner of the room yells out, “GOOD!” No word of a lie. Well, I remember that I just started laughing and said everyone was entitled to their opinion. Then I sang my song. What else can you do? <br><br>
Life hurdles are a whole lot smaller when you can laugh and make light of any challenges. Go ahead and trip up once in a while. It means you tried something and laughing at our blunders usually means we will find the courage to give it another go. <br><br>
For the record I had that gig for two and half years and I learned a lot. <br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/8116604fb1f84eb6ab818bd94167e6d4c871e4e4/large/IMG_4461.jpg?1375903950" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="400" width="600" /><br>
Photo by Jack Pittoors-McMahon</span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/4025402013-03-24T15:17:36-04:002017-01-14T11:01:21-05:007. Enjoy Life<u><span style="font-size: medium; ">21 Habits of Happy People </span></u><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><br><i>7. Enjoy Life - “Take the time to see the beauty around you. There’s more to life than work. Take time to smell the roses, watch a sunset or sunrise with a loved one, take a walk along the seashore, hike in the woods etc. Learn to live in the present moment and cherish it. Don’t live in the past or the future.”</i><br><br>
“Life is for living!” That’s what I always say. Funny how when you adopt a phrase like that, it puts everything into perspective. All those things that don’t fall into the “Living” category must go: wallowing, worrying, etc. etc. etc. So what’s left?<br><br>
Ah the good life! That is what’s left. :) Taking the time to appreciate the moment we are in. I remember when I started gigging. It took a little while because I was very shy and insecure. I would do gigs and look at my set list and do a countdown. Only 3 tunes left in the first set. Only two sets left. Only 5 tunes left. Then it would be: it’s already over? I was so caught up with making it through that I forgot to have fun. Yet it was the joy of being up there in the first place that drove me there. I had to change my mindset. I started doing it when I was gigging and eventually it transfered to everything. One friend likes the phrase, “If you want to know where you should be right now, look at your feet.” Where you are right now, is exactly where you should be. Dive into it and enjoy every moment.<br><br>
My point is when you let go of the cerebral baggage there is a lot of good just for the taking; just for enjoying. Be in it. Now I see the the trees and the forest and all the plants and flowers in between and every gig is all about fun! Now wasn’t that easy? :)<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br></span><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/81b430ee73167282d8bfc2620922edf87afd4308/large/IMG_3812.jpg?1375903950" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="400" width="600" /><br>
With Marguerite Langis at the Botanical Gardens in Montreal, Quebec. Photo by Marc Langis<br><br type="_moz">BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3996702013-03-23T16:15:18-04:002017-01-14T11:01:21-05:006. Do What They Love<span style="font-size: medium; ">21 Habits of Happy People <br><br><i>6. Do What They Love - “Some statistics show that 80% of people dislike their jobs! No wonder there’s so many unhappy people running around. We spend a great deal of our life working. Choose a career that you enjoy – the extra money of a job you detest isn’t worth it. Make time to enjoy your hobbies and pursue special interests.”</i><br><br>
I often jest that since I have been a jazz musician for most of my life I have had many a day job :) Music is my one true love. But where my professional life is concerned I have had a few mistresses ;) I can also say that I always enjoyed those jobs too.<br><br>
I worked in sales for 10 years, then in marketing for 5 years. I have sold tires, been an underpaid receptionist, I even spent almost 5 years working with my good friend who is a master chocolate maker. OK so that was yummy! When those jobs stopped being fun or stopped working with my life, something else invariably came along. Funny how life can take care of us when we are taking care of ourselves. Being a musician means being self-employed for the most part. It means being an entrepreneur. It means flying without a net. It means looking for a job almost every day. It means having faith; a deep unwavering faith. So how could we give that up for something that does not make us happy?<br><br>
My only advice is choose something you love. I have seen proof often enough that life works things out. I have always managed to have a roof over my head, food on the table and the warmth of those I love in my heart. Those are the true riches of life. <br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br></span><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/73b6220bc91ec92e9f8e7dbc06f19da328e999d5/large/IMG_2709.jpg?1375903950" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="400" width="600" /><br>
Photo by Luc Langis<br><br type="_moz">BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3965612013-03-22T16:05:10-04:002017-01-14T11:01:21-05:005. Creative Problem Solving<b><span style="font-size: medium; ">21 Habits of Happy People <br></span></b><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><i>5. Creative Problem Solving - “Don’t wallow in self-pity. As soon as you face a challenge get busy finding a solution. Don’t let the set backs affect your mood, instead see each new obstacle you face as an opportunity to make a positive change. Learn to trust your gut instincts – it’s almost always right.”</i><br><br>
I have had the great joy in my life to be part of various committees. Invariably every committee is made up of a few typical members (I can tell you know what I mean) and one of those is the person always capable of seeing the problem with every proposition. I ask myself, “How do they make it through a day?” <br><br>
When I was a kid my favorite homework by far was math problems. I know! But it’s true. As an adult one of the things I love the most is a challenge. So problem solving is fun for me. I get all excited. I start looking at all the options. What is in the realm of possible, practical, efficient, etc. I did mention before that I am an optimist. So you can’t be surprised. What I came to understand is that the person that always sees the problem presents the challenges I love to overcome. Now I just see those people as the ones who point things out. <br><br>
My job as a human being, is to continue to believe that every problem has a solution; more than one solution even. Then it’s up to me to choose the one that makes me happy. Now go out and find the solution that makes you happy too!<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! <br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/42ea2222b737308daa8f8df2b76cda0477d10c9f/large/123.jpg?1375903950" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="755" width="600" /><br>
Photo by Claude Brazeau<br></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3926402013-03-21T17:11:38-04:002017-01-14T11:01:21-05:004. Learn Continuously<span style="font-size: medium; "><b>21 Habits of Happy People </b><br><br><i>4. Learn Continuously - “Keep up to date with the latest news regarding your career and hobbies. Try new and daring things that has sparked your interest – such as dancing, skiing, surfing or sky-diving.”</i><br><br>
Learning be it from books, or classes or life experiences, keeps us sharp. It keeps our mind active. It piques our curiosity, which in turn sets another range of thoughts in motion. <br><br>
This has to be one of the easiest habit on the list for me. I love learning about all kinds of things. I even worked in a garage for a year and learned a bunch of things about cars and tires. (Highly recommended for anyone who owns a car.) Having interests is not a problem for me. I always have a book to read, a song to write, a blog to write that I rarely have time to lose. I make soap. I love to cook. I have a garden in the summer months. With children around there is no end of stuff to learn.<br><br>
Trying new things is great. I love to learn and that will never change.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/5e01a26805cb90a7e405e57b1840ac516819dacd/large/IMG_0890.jpg?1375903950" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="803" width="600" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3903122013-03-21T04:55:28-04:002017-01-14T11:01:21-05:003. Be Considerate<u><span style="font-size: medium; ">21 Habits of Happy People </span></u><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><br><i>3. Be Considerate - “Accept others for who they are as well as where they are in life. Respect them for who they are. Touch them with a kind and generous spirit. Help when you are able, without trying to change the other person. Try to brighten the day of everyone you come into contact with.”</i><br><br>
I remember when I started teaching, I had two students who started the same week. One was (and is) a scientist who was (and is) a great singer songwriter and the other was a young man I knew from karate who was a black belt. After the lessons, I ventured that one would not return and the other would be a great student. I was right about my prediction but I was wrong about which student would accomplish what. That is when I first learned through humility not to judge.<br><br>
That experience taught me to open my mind to people who came into my life. You never know what people are capable of, where they come from, what is their story. How can we judge based on just a few snippets of information. It takes a lifetime of living to begin to understand respect, consideration, kindness. I still teach today and every student who comes in to my teaching room, I look at with the thought that there is a reason they are there. I must suspend judgement to make way for acceptation and consideration. Every once in while I have to do that with myself too. Consideration to me is taking the time to connect with each person’s humanity. Seeing such kindness in others is sure to make us happy. We would constantly be surrounded by people we can love.<br><br>
Blake was a great student. He left and practiced everything I taught him, came back wanting more and was a valuable teacher for me. To top it off he wore a bright smile and brought in an abundance of laughter to brighten my day every time he came to call. That always made me happy.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise. <br><br>
www.BiancaBassoMusic.com/blog<br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. <br></span><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/190464b8b4ba007fce6cc025f2da9ff12fcd1d4c/large/IMG_2622.jpg?1375903950" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="400" width="600" /><br><br type="_moz">BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3860442013-03-19T17:34:38-04:002017-01-14T11:01:21-05:002. Choose Friends Wisely<b><span style="font-size: medium; ">21 Habits of Happy People </span></b><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><br><i>2. Choose Friends Wisely - “Surround yourself with happy, positive people who share your values and goals. Friends that have the same ethics as you will encourage you to achieve your dreams. They help you to feel good about yourself. They are there to lend a helping hand when needed.”</i><br><br>
When I had to give a speech in front of a group of business people about being an entrepreneur in music, one of the things I mentioned is that you don’t have to do everything, all the time, all by yourself. Any successful business person knows surrounding yourself with the right people is imperative. So why is it we hesitate to move on to more productive relationships in our personal lives?<br><br>
My best friend is my sister. I can tell her anything. She won’t let me get away with anything and we call each other on our drama. It is a long term relationship based on love and respect. That required honesty too. Throughout my life friends have come and gone for all kinds of reasons. I think choosing to keep healthy people around you is important. I think the rule of birds of a feather comes first in terms of vision, spirituality, frame of mind. Then the opposites can attract in terms of personalities, culture and perspective on the world. When they don’t, it’s ok to move on and seek out a world that feeds you.<br><br>
We are fortunate to have great friends around us. In the world, all around the world, we have people we love. A friend is someone that understands that lighting your candle does not stop their own from shining brightly. Three cheers for our friends. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/6a7210a80cc88d8e016d9372dfbe63b7b61df7ef/large/IMG_0319.jpg?1375903950" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="450" width="600" /><br></span> BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3824442013-03-18T17:53:03-04:002017-01-14T11:01:21-05:001. Appreciate Life<b><span style="font-size: medium; ">21 Habits of Happy People </span></b><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><br><i>1. Appreciate Life - “Be thankful that you wake up alive each morning. Develop a childlike sense of wonder towards life. Focus on the beauty of every living thing. Make the most of each day. Don’t take anything for granted. Don’t sweat the small stuff.”</i><br><br>
There was a time in my twenties where I saw the beauty in everything. I couldn’t eat a grape without marveling at how the skin looked as if it had been painted by the most agile of hands. Sunsets, music, movies with heart warming stories were abundant with reasons to wonder at the beauty around me. Then I forgot.<br><br>
I didn’t completely forget to be in wonder but I started moving my focus away from that. As I sit here I am forced to examine what happened. How did I forget to appreciate everything in the world around me when I did it so effortlessly before? One part ambition driven by a need to fill an inner void. Another part envy of people who appeared to have more than I had. Jealousy, insecurity, ego all crept in and changed my perspective. My rose colored glasses got all fogged up!<br><br>
Luckily life game me an opportunity to reclaim myself. My kids came along. My life threw such incredible challenges at me that I that to change something. So I made some choices; those baby step choices I was talking about yesterday. I wake up happy. I love, I wonder and I give thanks every day.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise.<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/9d19aef3d4495e705011700e04d706c23b946456/large/IMG_3537.JPG?1375903950" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="400" width="600" /><br></span>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3791802013-03-17T18:25:00-04:002017-01-14T11:01:21-05:00Baby steps first. <i><span style="font-size: medium; "> “Happiness is a habit – cultivate it.” </span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><b>- Elbert Hubbar -</b><br><br>
Not so long ago, one of my friends was over for dinner. We were having a very nice time together. She looked at me and she looked around the room, then she told me I was lucky. I reminded her that just a few short years ago, nobody was looking at me and my life and thinking I was lucky.<br><br>
I came across a bit of wisdom that I would like to share over the next 21 blogs. You see I write my blog for me as I find the process very therapeutic. I share my blog in the event that my reflections may help someone out there in the world. It seems to clear my mind and help me focus my thoughts. As a writer, writing is just good to do every day. Now when I write songs I find my ideas flow into each other and come together more easily.<br><br>
Here I am quoting from 21 Habits of Happy People: “Happiness is one aspiration all people share. No one wants to be sad and depressed. We’ve all seen people who are always happy – even amidst agonizing life trials. I’m not saying happy people don’t feel grief, sorrow or sadness; they just don’t let it overtake their life.”<br><br>
The following 21 blogs will be dedicated to the 21 things happy people make a habit of doing. I didn’t become happy overnight. I learned to change how I see the world. I took one baby step at a time. The first step for me was choosing myself and my happiness. What will yours be?<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/7aa939dc455290c27c00301d13dc3bcc5143e350/medium/IMG_1466.jpg?1375903950" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="305" width="300" /><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style.</span>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3753102013-03-15T18:06:57-04:002017-01-14T11:01:20-05:00Beauty inside out <i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.”</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><b>- Ralph Waldo Emerson - </b><br><br>
Still it doesn’t keep us girls from putting our best look forward for a good cause. My daughter and I will be modeling in a fashion show tomorrow night and raising money and awareness for juvenile arthritis.<br><br>
Now let’s get one thing straight. I am not a beauty pagent kind of girl, but a pretty dress is a pretty dress. When you put a girl in a pretty dress it feels different. Gentlemen, when you see a woman lookin’ fine, is it not a sight worthy of extending your gaze a moment? Girls, help me out here. When you know you look good, you feel good right? And when we feel good we look good. My goodness! That is a lot of good! <br><br>
When my young daughter first got a glimpse of herself in that pretty dress it changed how she perceived herself. So although Ralph is definitely right, sometimes wrapping ourselves up in something pretty makes us see the beauty of the gift inside. So guys and girls: look good; feel good. It’s all good!<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photo's by Bianca Pittoors unless noted otherwise.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/796252d3ef30a21be06d8caafeca70dd452434b7/large/IMG_1175.JPG?1375903950" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="450" width="600" /><br>
with Nina<br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3720332013-03-14T17:50:11-04:002017-01-14T11:01:20-05:00God À La Carte<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“God has no religion.” </span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><b><br>
- Mahatma Gandhi -<br></b><br>
Well there has been a lot of talk about religion in the news lately. With the new pope announced it continues. So on Facebook a radio personality asked if religion was an important part of people’s lives. Most people said no. I wonder what people would have responded had the question been, “Is spirituality an important part of your life.”<br><br>
Certainly I am a spiritualist. I have beliefs founded in years of study and years of living. Since I am a bit of a science geek, I find it difficult to ignore the spiritual side of science. What I mean is there are so many discoveries that science can’t explain. We are told that astronomers now believe that what we see in the universe accounts for only 5% of what is actually there. Woah! So I guess believing only in what you see doesn’t make scientific sense anymore. And of course we have access to so many philosophies. We can feed our soul with the messages that speak to us. Losang Samten sees religion this way: as when you go to a restaurant, each person must order what will nourish them. <br><br>
Buddha did not set out to create a religion named Buddhism. Jesus did not set out to create a religion named Christianity. Religion is man made. Created, I think, to honor inspiring teachers and help us make a connection with God and ourselves. Find what nourishes you and be happy. In the end that is all that counts.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! Today’s photo by Marc Langis.<br></span><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/da62c8bee5f1bc2be9287a0247fd0850e07b40b2/large/DSCN4100.JPG?1375903950" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="311" width="600" /><br>
Palm Beach, Florida</span><br><br type="_moz">BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3680162013-03-13T14:56:51-04:002017-01-14T11:01:20-05:00Sometimes they're happy, sometimes they're sad.<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“Tears are words the heart can’t say.” </span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><b>- Unknown - </b><br><br>
There are many times when I feel words are just inadequate. Some moments and situations and experiences move me beyond words. Today’s quote explains this in a very concise way.<br><br>
Anyone who knows me, knows that I am an open book. I talk a lot. I have a story for just about everything and when something or someone touches my heart I can get a bit teary eyed. I would not change that part of me. It makes it difficult to be indifferent to the suffering of others but what I feel there in my heart at that moment becomes the fuel for my art. Lately it is mostly writing. (I moved my painting studio to the basement in the fall and didn’t lift a brush all winter. Note to self: don’t do that again.) Words happen somewhere between the heart and the head.<br><br>
Even if words coming out of our brain seem inadequate to describe our feelings. I have to try. I have to try because what I feel in my heart is reason enough to live. Life is for living. So live it all the way.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless otherwise noted.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/e62d2c2a88014831cf115477f07bc776b78613bd/original/IMG_0727.JPG?1375903950" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="335" width="480" /><br>
Marc Langis and his mom, Marguerite.<br></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3624642013-03-12T07:49:55-04:002017-01-14T11:01:20-05:00Don't blink! You might miss it...<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“Fear & faith have something in common. They both ask us to believe in something we can not see.”</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><b>- Joel Osteen - </b><br><br>
My life in music has been full of adventures. Well not just in music but my life. Some adventures have been extraordinary opportunities (as I was telling someone last night ;) ) but other times were opportunities to practice my faith. <br><br>
Anyone out there who is a freelance artist, is self-employed or other form of entrepreneur knows. You have to believe in something to pull you through when you are in the funnel*. I have long said that one of the strongest points of what I do for a living is that it forced me to build a very strong faith. My phone rarely rang and most of the opportunities that came my way I created for myself. That was the nature of the niche I was in. However there have been pockets of experiences, once in a lifetime moments where the voice inside my head said once again, “Don’t say no!” <br><br>
So sometimes believing also means being ready to see what opportunities are right in front of you. When you dream your dream and you keep the faith, open your eyes once in a while and hop on that band wagon. Who knows where it will take you? <br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
The funnel analogy was explored in an earlier blog. It refers to the transition from one phase to another; the squeeze in life as we migrate to a new stage. Some might refer to it as a re-birth. I find the funnel, or the tiny section between two parts of an hour glass represent that very well.<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless otherwise noted.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/1187a586fce6008593fd24dceeb5be38d6e168d1/large/IMG_4689.JPG?1375903950" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="400" width="600" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3580072013-03-10T20:00:00-04:002017-01-14T11:01:20-05:00Start by enjoying the ride.<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“With the possible exception of the equator, everything has a beginning.”</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><b>- C.S. Lewis - </b><br><br>
I have occasionally noticed on the road a student driver gripping the steering wheel of the vehicle in terror. At times like these I feel like rolling down my window and saying, “Everyone on the road got behind the wheel for the first time. Just not today.”<br><br>
Life is constantly bringing us new beginnings. We are in constantly changing cycles in nature. Many people live their lives like they don’t want anything to change but nothing, and I do mean nothing, ever stays the same. Life is about changes. They are going to happen whether you want them to or not. So why not orchestrate a few beginnings of your own. I began going to the gym. Now I have begun to see a figure again. Ah! I have many irons in the fire. Like always. So opportunities for fresh starts are abundant. What I am choosing is to see where each new path is meant to take me. <br><br>
So today when I get behind the wheel of my car I will breathe, smile and even though I may not know where I will end up, I will enjoy the ride! <br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless otherwise noted.<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/6c24ea69f254ea239a96d3dffb75a7bc36f58f30/medium/IMG_2191-web.jpg?1375903950" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="450" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3562732013-03-09T17:25:00-05:002017-01-14T11:01:20-05:00So here's the story...<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“Every lie is two lies — the lie we tell others and the lie we tell ourselves to justify it.”</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><b>- Robert Brault - </b><br><br>
There is the slippery slope. What is more dangerous: the lie we tell others or the lie we tell ourselves? I have caught many people in their untruths, even myself. I’m telling all my secrets now! Oh boy. Here goes nothing!<br><br>
There’s a weird thing about me (Ok maybe more than one but only one for today.) You can’t lie to me. Oh I am trusting (or gullible) enough to believe almost anyone. I like to think the best about people so I never assume anyone is lying. However the truth finds me. It has happened so many times that it is not even funny. Example: a boyfriend, while in my twenties, tells me he’s going out with the boys (actually it was Monday night football; Tuesday, squash; Wednesday, hockey; Thursday, boys night; Friday well he's just too tired to do anythng.) No problem. Weeks later someone randomly tells me about their friend’s new boyfriend. Just happens to be mine. Ouch! All kinds of truths find me. Be they big or little it always hurts. It isn’t the truth that hurts. It is the betrayal. We have to first lie to ourselves, before we can lie to others. So why do we betray ourselves?<br><br>
As I mentioned yesterday the first and hardest person we need to be honest with is ourselves. First we turn on the drama alert. Then we activate the “Could I be wrong?” After that we can proceed to asking ourselves why we feel the need to create an alternate reality. “History is shaped by the one doing the telling.”* Beauty is in the truth that lives within us.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
*Wish I could claim this great line but it is from the program Being Erica.<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless otherwise noted.<br></span><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/0fe4a7e0c5ec880bd23e90463da3a0d71239c016/large/IMG-RR-web.jpg?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" /><br type="_moz">BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3547782013-03-08T20:35:00-05:002017-01-14T11:01:20-05:00The truth, the soul truth and nothing but the truth<span style="font-size: medium; "> <i>“Honesty is the first chapter of the book of wisdom.” </i><br><b>- Thomas Jefferson - <br></b><br>
At one point in my life I decided to cultivate a relationship with the truth. It is a commitment actually. Marc would tell you that one thing I have always said is that when you have a commitment to honesty the hardest person to be honest with is yourself. <br><br>
Let’s face it, the world around us is more than happy to fill our heads with ideals and illusions about who we are and what we should be, do, say, eat, think, and on and on and on. It’s no wonder we get caught up in it. What would we watch on TV if we were determined to eliminate drama from our lives? OK so there is always <i>Nova</i> and <i>The Nature of Things</i> but you get my point. I occasionally kid that because I am a jazz singer I have held a day job for most of my musical career. Each time, there was something to learn of great value. In one such day job I had a company president who was such a great mentor to me. One day as I was expressing my frustration regarding one of my co-workers, he said to me, “You can speak to me about any issue as long as you keep it factual an unemotional.” Just think about that for a moment. No more drama. No possibility of exageration to make ourselves look good. Having to face the truth about our part in all situations that concern us. It was a huge lesson in responsibility but more importantly a great rule to live my life by.<br><br>
It didn’t happen all in one day. Each day I make an effort be be conscious of what I say and what I do. I listen to myself when I speak and I catch myself when I fall off my honesty wagon. I would say the first step comes when we are willing to be wrong. That is when you know you are on the right path. :)<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
P.S. That company president is still my friend today. All that wisdom and a heart to match. How great is that?<br>
P.S.S. I meant to spell "soul" not "sole" in the title.<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless otherwise noted.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/cd086d7743631611a0e797233aa401ec45a8194d/large/DSCN3722.JPG?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="450" width="600" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3513832013-03-07T16:50:25-05:002017-01-14T11:01:20-05:00Let's try a little less drama before dying, shall we?<span style="font-size: medium; "><i>“If we lose love and self respect for each other, this is how we finally die.”</i><br><b>- Maya Angelou -</b><br><br>
It is interesting to come across this quote today. I was thinking about a lot of things. My mind is constantly hamstering* too I’ll have you know. My thoughts are like a whirlwind of feelings and factual observations and wonderings and why do I question if my generosity is all for naught?<br><br>
I am an optimist as I mentioned before. As an optimist one of my particularly strong skills is seeing a multitude of possibilities before you can say, “But...” Sometimes I have gone to great lengths to make things happen: changed schedules, driven for hours, planned, connived, called in favors. If I can go the extra mile, I will. I love to make things happen! All this because when I love people, I get turned on by doing everything I can to make them happy. So why is it that that enthusiasm and exuberance sometimes end up fizzling out and dying? Before Marc, I was this too and yet obviously none of those romantic relationships worked. I can say that I give my trust and my love freely and completely right from the start. Today, what I was realizing was that when love goes unanswered and you start to feel like a relationship is a one way street, something dies. If something dies a little bit every day, love gets lost and respect falls to the wayside. Eventually there is no relationship. This applies to all our relationships too: love, family, friendship, professional; fill in your own blank here. So how do we find balance between self-respect and unconditional love? <br><br>
I think we have to respect ourselves always, but we can accomplish this by examining every situation in a factual and unemotional way (thanks Russ for this rich life lesson!) If we can determine whether we are behaving from the trappings of drama, this would explain why we feel out of balance. After all, there can be no disappointment where there is no expectation. That is true unconditional love. I’m going to start by giving some to myself in the form of kindness. How about you?<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you! All photos by Bianca Pittoors unless otherwise noted.<br><br>
* See previous blog for Biancanary description.<br></span><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/132f31357bb0cc0b656ea7e664800874e4d47be8/medium/IMG_2060.jpg?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="450" width="300" /><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3484342013-03-06T18:08:37-05:002017-01-14T11:01:20-05:00Some miracles you might want to learn to live without.<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“The human mind is a miracle, and you will never see it spring more beautifully into action than when it is fighting against evidence that it needs to change.” </span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><b>- David Wong -</b><br><br>
Yesterday I quoted David too. I read an article he wrote somewhere on-line. Because I feel he touched on so many pertinent points, I want to share some more with you today. <br><br>
If you are a regular reader you know I joined a gym 6 weeks ago. I had my first assessment this morning with Ken a.k.a. Superfit. All good. I get to move beyond 1 hour of cardio every day to weight training twice a week and 1 hour of cardio 3 times per week. Woohoo! In my hamstering* process I have noticed a very active internal conversation going on. That conversation is transferring to other areas of my life. The whole thing about commitment to ourselves and getting rid of baggage so we can get on with the business of thriving. Let me share some interesting points from David Wong’s article (and let me say I am sorry I was unable to track it down to include a link)<br><br><i>“Your psyche is equipped with layer after layer of defense mechanisms designed to shoot down anything that might keep things from staying exactly where they are; ask any addict. So even now, some of you reading this are feeling your brain bombard you with knee-jerk reasons to reject it. From experience, I can say that these seem to come in the form of :<br><br>
*Intentionally interpreting any criticism as an insult<br>
*Focusing on the messenger to avoid hearing the message<br>
*Focusing on the tone to avoid hearing the content<br>
*Revising your own history<br>
*Pretending that any self-improvement would somehow be selling out your True Self”<br><br></i>Many of us have witnessed people around us who are their own worst enemy. I have decided I will not be that. Everyday that I choose to better myself at the gym it transfers into the choices I make throughout the day: food, sleep, thoughts I entertain. Being the process in your life begins with noticing when our old patterns try to sabotage our efforts. So today my wish for you is to be in your awareness about the “reasons” the brain wants to resist change. <br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
*Hamstering: walking or running on a treadmill or other gym apparatus like a hamster on his wheel in a cage. (Should be in the dictionary but for now is only in the Biancanary)<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!<br></span><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/47f3fd96569186415b142e30378e118eb0fe4b04/large/DSCN4197.JPG?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="253" width="600" /><br><br type="_moz">BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3461702013-03-06T03:35:00-05:002017-01-14T11:01:20-05:00Preparing for spring<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“People quit because it takes too long to see results, because they can't figure out that the process is the result.”</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><b> - David Wong -</b><br><br>
Ain’t it the truth! Tonight I was talking to one of my students. After a lot of exchanging on the process of becoming a musician I finally said, “You need to have faith.” I mean “we” all of us, need to have faith. No musician can achieve their greatness if they are focussed on expectation and instant gratification...<br><br>
It may seem impossible to think that under the snow the beginnings of new flowers are sleeping. But they are. Plants are getting ready for the time when spring comes to tap them on the shoulder. So it must be with us. Nature is constantly providing references for how we must behave. We plant a seed in the ground. We water it we wait. From the outside it appears that nothing is happening. But inside the dark ground the seed is making a choice too. “Do I venture out? Do I risk becoming something I am not?” I do not know if the seed is having an internal debate (we will have to learn to speak “seed” and ask one) but if we think of ourselves as seeds, knowing what we know, would we doubt our ability to become a majestic tree or flower or beautiful tomato? <br><br>
We all have something to discover in the process of becoming. Enjoy it. Embrace it. Allow yourself to discover the journey that takes you beyond the shell of the seed inside you.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!<br><br></span> <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/07aabba8a83f2a80072773a94ff8f469416731c4/large/DSCN3063.JPG?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="450" width="600" /><br><br type="_moz">BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3424302013-03-04T19:59:20-05:002017-01-14T11:01:20-05:00Interesting thing commitment...<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“If you are interested you”ll do what’s convenient. If you’re committed, you’ll do whatever it takes.”</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><b>- John Assaraf - </b><br><br>
I have noticed that I am migrating from “interested” to “committed” in my life. I say this because after coming across this quote I started to ponder a bunch of things. After all there are plenty of things that I do that are not merely convenient. Really! I mean, really?<br><br>
There’s the crux of it then. We think we are committed. We do plenty of practicing and work and are vigilant at certain things. Our ego still manages to keep us under its thumb by limiting our level of commitment or the areas of commitment. Example: I know a musician who practices for hours every day but his house is a mess and several areas of his life are a shambles. That is not commitment. That is the convenience of doing something you like more than the things you find tedious. It becomes an excuse for not getting it together. My point is that during my morning hamstering at the gym, I tend to think about stuff. Today I was thinking about the fact that I am in deeper than just convenience, but in all honesty, I have not yet arrived at doing whatever it takes. It’s a process. Being committed to the tedious details is what allows you to get to the next level. Implementing that process across the board is the very deep end of committed.<br><br>
I have dreams and goals. Every day is part of the process. I find that ,where my goals are concerned, I have less expectations. Interesting, since having those goals in the first place is what keeps me on track. Maybe I’m more committed than I thought.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!<br></span><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/934c7597802f5ee507bad06e129e85513242155e/large/IMG_4501.JPG?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="400" width="600" /><br><br type="_moz">BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3392392013-03-03T16:18:38-05:002017-01-14T11:01:20-05:00Wake-up call, this way...<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“My reference point was always to be awake and to live fully.”</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><b>- pema chödrön - </b><br><br>
I am coming to understand the importance of consciousness. With my students I am always bringing them to their awareness of their bodies. After all we are building an internal instrument. Body consciousness is an integral part of it’s development. Only lately I am experiencing moments of deeper consciousness.<br><br>
It’s like drifting in and out. What is my purpose? That’s clear. How do I get there? Got a plan. What’s holding me back? Me. What? Well not all the time but since I have a commitment to the truth, and I know that starts with be truthful with myself (hardest one!) I know there are times when I slip. The difference now is that the awakening awareness is right there saying, “Excuse me! I believe you are contemplating falling off the wagon...” What wagon? Well the wagon of commitment to what I have to do to follow my path. Distractions are always creeping up. Some of them are parts of our lives we need to take care of: jobs, kids, mundaneness of everyday life. We know when we are having an internal conversation to justify our slacking off.<br><br>
Pema hits the nail on the head. In order to live fully, to get to that place where we can thrive and be all we are meant to be, we must be awake, aware and see all the signs along the way. Life is calling. Wakey, wakey everyone!<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!<br></span> <br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/b501ef782f95e732945e3e76bead04c2110e4f3b/large/IMG_3442.JPG?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="400" width="600" /><br type="_moz">BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3381982013-03-02T20:04:02-05:002017-01-14T11:01:20-05:00All roads lead to Rome you say?<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“Better than a meaningless story of a thousand words is a single word of deep meaning which, when heard, produces peace.”</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><b>- Sayings of the Buddha</b><br><br>
Tonight I had a date with my daughter. We watched a chick flick, “The Holiday.” I observed her fascination with Jude Law (of course, he has such blue eyes and seems soooo nice - I am in such trouble.) In the film is a secondary troublesome character. An old boyfriend of mine. Not literally of course but one of those doesn’t want to keep you, cheats on you and then just can’t let you go snakey types. Pulease!<br><br>
In my situation, this old flame actually won a trip to Rome and took another woman. Yup. Actually happened. If that wasn’t enough he called me from the airport in Rome when he was flying back to tell me he had made a mistake, had had a terrible time and should have taken me instead. My God! My life was a movie script and I didn’t even know it! Seriously, that did happen. If you know the song Tennessee Waltz, that happened too. And when kissing one toad would be more than enough for most people, I guess I was just a hopeless romantic thinking one of them is bound to be a prince sooner or later. Or maybe if I could weed through all the meaningless stories, I would hear just one word that was real; one phrase that came from the heart. <br><br>
When it comes to challenges in life, it is fair to say I’m over quota. I am thankful for all of them. Also thankful I need not relive them again now that I have learned. I did find my prince. The beauty is we need not even speak a single word. And even he holds court at Caesar's Palace on a regular basis, he’s never been to Rome either. Let’s hope we get there together! <br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!<br></span><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/acfd547c88caa21f93e32cf91ad5922be222086a/large/IMG_3403.JPG?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="440" width="600" /><br type="_moz">BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3370982013-03-01T19:32:53-05:002017-01-14T11:01:20-05:00I see it!<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." </span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><b>- Sir Winston Churchill </b><br><br>
I remember that I was very young the first time I heard, “When there’s a will, there’s a way.” I thought about it a lot. It is one of those phrases I built my life on. What makes a person choose to see solutions rather than problems?<br><br>
Having a relationship that is regularly very long distance and across different time zones is a definite challenge. Actually the time zone issue is the toughest thing. After all, if Marc was just over in the next county he would still not be home. Being on different sleep schedules is tough. I go to bed later than I would normally because we chat. I love it though. It is quiet when it gets late here. So it is like there is just the two of us in the world. Lovely actually. That is how I am. I see the beauty in things; in life. So from my view here in solutionland, I find ways to work through and around pretty well everything that comes my way. Few obstacles have stopped me. Occasionally, some have delayed me.<br><br>
When the one you love is far away there are so many opportunities. I write Marc a card almost everyday. This began when he went away for rehearsals for Celine’s Las Vegas show. When he left for two months, I included a puzzle piece in his card. Here’s another little secret, at least once a week we just have a date night, with Skype. Opportunities are everywhere, you just have to open your eyes and see them.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca The Optimist!<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!<br></span><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/6f1749080eb4754204d3184eafc89c11fb4f13ac/large/IMG_1421.jpg?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="450" width="600" /><br><br type="_moz">BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3349442013-02-28T20:07:02-05:002017-01-14T11:01:20-05:00Perception, perception... I know reality is around here somewhere!<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” </span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><b>― Rumi</b><br><br>
I love Rumi’s writings. He has a wisdom and modernism far beyond his time. Re-read that phrase. Then ponder all that it contains. I have an opinion myself. (of course!)<br><br>
How we perceive ourselves can be an obstacle in life. I say this this because our perception of our self is very often fed by comments or situations that are not always founded in logic or even reality. I have spent most of my life studying human nature, psychology, spirituality in many forms and the artistic process. Yet it is only now that my heart has come to understand, and then explain to my head, who I am. For most of my life my identity had been puzzle pieces put together from a variety of images. My mind had made the pieces fit together but the end result was not quite right. My heart did not see things the same way. In letting go of my false impression of myself (some may call this the ego’s view,) I found a wonderful being I plan to spend the rest of my life with: me.<br><br>
You may think I am full of myself right now. That’s ok. I am. I am full. I am so full that there is now enough to overflow into lots of great songs, paintings, food, love and just having fun. Oh yeah, I am a girl. So it goes without saying, I want the love, the shoes and I wanna have fun too!<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/af76dc273140a3020820363d0645cd24add41b60/large/IMG_4772.jpg?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="900" width="600" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3327132013-02-27T18:21:18-05:002017-01-14T11:01:19-05:00The necessities of life<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.”</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br>
- <b>C.S. Lewis</b><br><br>
Exactly! Where would we be in this life without such comforts? Yes comforts. I find it very comforting indeed to be surrounded by books, paintings, music but mostly friends.<br><br>
It is true that I often have wished I could instantly produce a clone of myself to do all I wish to do and help all those I wish to help. One of the reasons for this is that there are always so many interesting things to do! Another reason is that I so appreciate those friends very dear to me. When they show up with an “S” hidden under their shirt, we are grateful. Being a person with a particularly strong survival instinct I can agree, with Mr. Lewis. I need no one. However what value is there to such a life? It is not really living, merely existing.<br><br>
“Life is for living” I always say. So bring on the niceties. Moreover keep those we carry in our hearts close by so we may all survive in comfort!<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
P.S. Today photos of the stormy day because Marc LOVES the snow!<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!<br></span><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/5d36b970a495f8b98add1879327ca8b8efd66e30/large/IMG_1397.jpg?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="803" width="600" /><br><br type="_moz">BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3305752013-02-26T17:19:32-05:002017-01-14T11:01:19-05:00When the student is the master<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“We teach what we need to learn. And we teach it until we get it.” </span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br>
―<b> Irene Tomkinson</b><br><br>
Recently a student expressed her desire to practice a different song than the one I assigned her. Actually pretty well anything other than the one I assigned her. I replied, “Sometimes the challenge is to surpass one’s self. Look further into your aversion. It holds an important key.” So as I was reading her response to my email I realized how pertinent my own words are for me. <br><br>
When I first started teaching, I worked from home and never advertised. I simply felt that the students who found me were students I meant to have. Time confirmed that each student brings a lesson for the teacher as well. This is the part of teaching I love. There are some students who frustrate me, challenge me, confuse me, drive me crazy! Those are the ones it is most important not to dismiss. A wise man I know has told me that all those who present themselves to us are our mirror. Look onto them to discover what we must master in our own lives.<br><br>
I have carried a resistance to certain things in my life. I carried them for so long I no longer realized I was doing it. When my student got all rebellious, it made me see, I was too. So I changed something. Today I invite you to change something in your life. Be it big or little, change is the way to freedom.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!<br></span><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/86c2f4636667c8addd0e92daf8dce1819e245a00/large/IMG_2115.JPG?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="400" width="600" /><br><br type="_moz">BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3286102013-02-25T18:13:11-05:002017-01-14T11:01:19-05:00Leap frog?<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><b>- Confucius<br></b><br>
Of course you do have to jump before there is even a possibility of falling. What does that say about us?<br><br>
Last night we listened to our tracks from our recording for the first time since we left the studio. We wanted to give ourselves some time. We felt it important to distance ourselves from the session before listening. It is that not seeing the forest for the trees thing. We agreed we would not comment out loud as to not influence each other either way. When it was over Marc just said, “I would have taken more.” That is a good thing, a very good thing.<br><br>
Over the next few months we will be listening a lot. We will make notes. We will make some very crucial decisions about our identity, our direction and where we want to end up when all is said and done. <br><br>
We have spent a lifetime leaping, tripping, occasionally falling but always rising. We are ready for the next journey. Are you?<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!<br><br>
Follow us on blogger, on the Bianca Basso Group on Facebook, or visit our site for more information. www.BiancaBassoMusic.com<br></span><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/39eada11e53c095ca126b96abbc460bf1f17d862/medium/DSCN3994.JPG?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="400" width="300" /><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3258932013-02-24T05:50:43-05:002017-01-14T11:01:19-05:00In the dark...<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“No amount of darkness can put out the light of a single candle. ”</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><b>- Lisa Kuester</b><br><br>
I will tell you a little known fact. I was an adult who was afraid of the dark. Yup. Imagine all grown up and happy if there was nice bright street lamp shining outside my bedroom window. Why would a grown woman feel like a child when the lights go out?<br><br>
To add to the dark thing, I also had nightmares ... of monsters. I’m just putting it all out there now. Really, in my 20’s, I would wake up troubled and embarrassed. (Kinda like I'm embarrassed to even be telling you this now...) I thought only little boys in movies had nightmares of monsters. To be alone in the dark was an unsettling state of being until a friend put the candle analogy in my mind. It was instantly comforting. The fear of the dark, I came to understand, was just a fear of the unknown, a fear of the mysterious. So many of us have a relationship only to what we see. Yet there is more and more scientific evidence that proves that what we see is only 5% of the universe. How can you make it through the dark night if you can’t imagine the dawn you can not see? How can you be sure the light will come? Experience tells us it will. We have faith because of what we have come to know.<br><br>
I was never afraid of the dark from that day forward. I understood right away that my candle is on the inside. If ever I am afraid I need only look in to be comforted. Now I even love the very dark night. It’s like being under the covers with a flashlight on. What an exciting adventure! <br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!<br></span><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/95b89b486fcd9dfc218c02ff1bfb4383c5a5f42e/medium/DSCN4277.JPG?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="225" width="300" /><br><br type="_moz">BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3227222013-02-21T15:49:40-05:002017-01-14T11:01:19-05:00Fun<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“That does it," said Jace. "I'm going to get you a dictionary for Christmas this year."<br>
"Why?" Isabelle said.<br>
"So you can look up 'fun.' I'm not sure you know what it means.” </span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br>
―<b> Cassandra Clare</b>, City of Ashes<br><br>
Obviously Isabelle hasn’t been hanging out with Marc and I. Today we were told we were having too much fun. Imagine. Too much fun! I had to inform our dear friend that there is no such thing. That’s right. I repeat: no such thing as having too much fun!<br><br>
We are practicing living in the moment. Well I am and Marc well...We might have to ask him. So living in the moment requires us to look at life differently. I am a chronic planner. It is crazy how I think ahead at the possibility for this or the need for that. It may come in handy to think about this first. Blah blah blah. I am so busy always trying to stay ahead that I forget where I am. Then Marco comes along with that infectious grin and says, “Let’s go skiing!” (akin to the “Let’s go to the gym” that Friday night a few weeks ago...) I can not refuse him. He is right after all. All this fresh snow. The skis are just calling out our names. Then once we are out gliding on the snow I forget about everything. What bliss.<br><br>
Jace needs only introduce his friend Isabelle to Marc. She will learn. She will learn and laugh and have lots of fun. I assure you! ;) Now go out and have some fun of your own.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!<br></span><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/7b024c4d5e23d6c42a272133bce5ff98880d0acb/medium/IMG_1363.jpg?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="225" width="300" /><br><br type="_moz">BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3206782013-02-20T15:22:58-05:002013-02-20T15:22:58-05:00Observing, analyzing and justifying. Again.<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“We humans are conflicted beings. Our beliefs don't always harmonize with our instincts, and our behavior doesn't always reflect our beliefs. ... We wage war between the person we are and the person we hope to become.” </span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><b>― Brandon Mull</b><br><br>
I am that today. Conflicted. I am feeling a reaction I don’t like and I don’t understand. A part of me is observing, analyzing, looking at justifying what I am feeling. How did that old me creep in again?<br><br>
Lately, like is habitual for me, I am studying. I read. I ponder. I discuss. I try to learn and evolve. In those times it is always interesting to observe that it is inevitable that part of my old self, or maybe just old patterns and reactions try to reassert themselves. Like a redundant employee trying to make themselves useful, but not. <br><br>
I am feeling the inner struggle. Let’s hope the person I hope to become wins out.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!<br><br>
Follow us on blogger, on the Bianca Basso Group on Facebook, or visit our site for more information. www.BiancaBassoMusic.com<br></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3184872013-02-19T13:05:00-05:002017-02-01T20:45:18-05:00Go, go, GO!<span style="font-size: medium; "><i>“Goals are dreams with work boots on.” </i><br><b>-Dave Ramsey</b><br><br>
This quote was posted on Brian Eckert’s Facebook page. I went to see his page after he liked something I shared. It is a video from the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. What touched me about the video was how ,because of his injury, we were privy to the true character of the Olympian, Derek Redmond. When we pursue our dreams, how do we know when to push on and when to move on?<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/7e8f6f120a6dee16a0d5fea8265dafc800cbd3c4/medium/header.jpg?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="149" width="300" /><br><br>
We’ve all heard lots of success stories. Jack Andraka is a 15 year old scientist who discovered a way to detect pancreatic, lung and ovarian cancer. He received 199 rejections before Dr Maitra at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine took him seriously. Jack Canfield was turned down by over 100 publishers before someone agreed to publish his book “Chicken Soup for the Soul.” There are now over 100 million copies in print in 54 languages. Celine’s success is a combination of her vocal phenomenon and René’s unstoppable faith in his artist! Why did so many people cry when they watched that video today? I think it is because when we see this severely injured runner, get up and hobble to finish his race, it inspires us to find our strength. There is so much evidence of failure, yet he rises! Then when we see his father come along to help him accomplish his goal, it tells us if we keep the faith and keep going, help will come. When we choose to stay the course life sends us what we need. We can welcome those helpers that cross our path.<br><br>
I would have to say, in answer my question, when we move on, we give up. Today I invite you to choose a dream, lace up your work boots and open your heart. Everything you need will be found along the way. <br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!<br><br>
Follow us on blogger, on the Bianca Basso Group on Facebook, or visit our site for more information. www.BiancaBassoMusic.com<br><br>
The video of Derek Redmond at the 1992 Olympics : <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5dgJwEvhrA" target="_new">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5dgJwEvhrA</a> <br><br>
More on Derek Redmond : <a href="http://www.derekredmond.com%20" target="_new">http://www.derekredmond.com </a><br><br>
More on Jack Andraka : <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/johnnosta/2013/02/01/cancer-innovation-and-a-boy-named-jack/%20" target="_new">http://www.forbes.com/sites/johnnosta/2013/02/01/cancer-innovation-and-a-boy-named-jack/ </a><br><br>
More on Jack Canfield : <a href="http://jackcanfield.com" target="_new">http://jackcanfield.com</a> <br></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3167392013-02-18T15:30:00-05:002017-01-14T11:01:19-05:00The path to being a good musician<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“If you strive to be a good human being with the qualities of generosity, humility and having a reverence for life, just maybe you’ll become a great musician.”</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br>
- <b>Charlie Haden</b>, Lifetime Achievement Recipient 2013 Grammy Awards<br><br>
Obviously Charlie understands the essentials in life. The beauty in art comes in our ability to sublimate some of life’s experiences. That means we have a conscious connection to our experiences. So where does that take us?<br><br>
My life as an artist has provided ongoing opportunities to test my faith. It has also been filled with occasions for humility. There is a difference between life as an artist and life as a “star.” That is the ego part of the equation. I think it is possible to be a star and still be an artist; one does not negate the other necessarily. However the process for each is different. The artist’s process is about connecting with their humanity. The result should be that we are overflowing into the works that we produce. There are so many times when what I have written or even what I have painted have come from such a deep place that I cry. I would be unable to explain it in any other way. We are just the messengers after all.<br><br>
Having a reverence for life is very good advice indeed. I would definitely call a philosophy like that a lifetime achievement. <br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/c596a4e8e89a2d1b52165c4d0ce683224c5d2303/medium/151.jpg?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" /><br></span> <br type="_moz">BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3146532013-02-16T17:10:42-05:002017-01-14T11:01:19-05:00On course? Let's see about that...<span style="font-size: medium; "><i>“And think not you can direct the course of love. For love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.”</i> <br>
- <b>Khalil Gibran</b><br><br>
Love is the very force of life. Sometimes that life force takes us and pushes us in a new direction. Even when it doesn’t seem that way at the time. Do you know what I mean? I will share a another story with you if you don’t mind.<br><br>
When Marc was thirteen, he was the #2 high scoring player in his hockey league when the #1 guy got injured. There he was looking down at the opportunity that life had just presented him. True to his nature, he was going for it all the way! But life had other plans. Before the season was over, a big hockey player ran him into the boards and broke his leg in three places. Time for a new plan. He is stranded in his sister’s room, on the main floor of the house as his full leg cast is an impediment to stairs (not to mention life in the snow and ice of winter in Quebec.) He spends his days listening to Beatles records and playing his brothers guitar which only has 4 strings. Life had a plan for him. Lucky for us.<br><br>
It is another story I love. It has everything great: drive, ambition, humbling, making lemonade from lemons, and ultimately a life of passion and love for music. So the next time life throws you a curve ball remember Marc and think it may just be a blessing in disguise. :)<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!<br><br>
Follow us on blogger, on the Bianca Basso Group on Facebook, or visit our site for more information.<br><br>
www.BiancaBassoMusic.com<br></span><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/0b54ab8b838bc559093bc4c03829756272876a1f/medium/IMG_0296.JPG?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="200" width="300" /><br><br type="_moz">BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3137792013-02-15T17:40:51-05:002017-01-14T11:01:19-05:00Hide & seek? Wait a minute.<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“You don't find love, it finds you. It's got a little bit to do with destiny, fate, and what's written in the stars.”</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br>
― <b>Anaïs Nin</b> <br><br>
When Marc speaks in public about his professional journey he recounts many wonderful stories. One of them is about a conversation he had with Manu Katché over lunch one day. Marc, earlier on in his career, asked Manu, “How did you end up with Peter Gabriel?” Manu recounted how it happened then told him, “When you are ready, things happen!”<br><br>
I love this story and the lesson it teaches us. In life, in love, in anything, we must stay steadfast. When we focus on the life we want, we set in motion a series of events. We make certain choices. We practice. We imagine life as we wish it. I certainly can say the relationship I am in now is the relationship I have wished for for a very long time. I even tried to make it happen before but it wasn’t time then.<br><br>
Marc and I have always said we didn’t look but we found. It is a fairy tale of sorts how life just made everything fall into place for us. Even if our lives were not perfect, we were ready in a way. So for any of you wishing and dreaming, whatever your dream may be, be steady and have faith. It’s not for us to decide when is the right time. All good things come in their own time. Just get ready to receive when it does come along. xo<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!<br><br>
Follow us on blogger, on the Bianca Basso Group on Facebook, or visit our site for more information.<br><br></span><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/d758c581609333cec8b7085ee7f5c01a474a586f/medium/Photo-on-2013-02-15-at-8.04-37PMEST.jpg?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="200" width="300" /><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3121702013-02-14T16:51:52-05:002017-01-14T11:01:19-05:00You just know...<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“A man would know the woman he was meant to be with because she made him weak. Till he claimed her and she made him strong.” </span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br>
― <b>Kresley Cole</b>, If You Deceive<br><br>
This quote speaks about the power of love to soften and to strengthen all at once. Maybe not all at once. I believe that in order for that power to transform us we have to let it in. We have to create an opening that allows love to soothe our wounds first.<br><br>
In order for anything to make us stronger, we have to welcome it in. It takes courage to let someone help us. It takes strength to let someone love us. Those moments when we feel the most vulnerable belie a source of power. I wrote a song about that. It is called, “I am not weak.” Having a moment of weakness does not mean we are weak. Acknowledging that moment of weakness is the step to regaining our strength. To give in to love is to conquer all fear.<br><br>
My love made Marc surrender. Then his strength and his love made me stronger. May love, with all it’s strength, find you today and everyday!<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!<br><br>
Follow us on blogger, on the Bianca Basso Group on Facebook, or visit our site for more information.<br></span><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/6b5e4104bc9f2bcf3b73a7a1a3234f83fd2bd531/medium/77-RO-2MB.jpg?1375903948" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="200" width="300" /><br><br type="_moz">BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3103452013-02-13T14:17:50-05:002020-10-09T01:15:33-04:00Love! Gotta get me some.<span style="font-size: medium; "><i> “Let me die the moment my love dies. <br>
Let me not outlive my own capacity to love. <br>
Let me die still loving, and so, never die.” </i><br>
― <b>Mary Zimmerman,</b> Metamorphoses<br><br>
Ah... Love! It is the greatest undeniable force. There is so much done in the name of Love! But is it?<br><br>
I love my children. This means that in order to be a good mom I have to be willing and courageous enough to make good decisions, even if the resulting comments are “I don’t love you!” or “You don’t love me.” Maybe what we need to examine is what love is. A boyfriend (or girlfriend) who buys you flowers or jewelry every time he knows he has done something bad, is not expressing his love. He is expressing guilt or regret. So what is love and more importantly how do we know if what we are getting is the real thing? I have a theory that I have applied to my own life with good results so far. <br><br>
In the quote above the writer refers to the love she feels within. I make a conscious choice every day to express my kindness, to practice patience, to acknowledge the human beings in front of me. I love. I put it out there and I practice what I preach. Practice makes perfect so I keep at it. Everyday one of you out there in the world, writes me a note or a letter or a comment and makes me feel the love. That’s how I know it’s the real thing. Happy Valentine’s Day!<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!<br><br>
Follow us on blogger, on the Bianca Basso Group on Facebook, or visit our site for more information.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/4ddc1b31cb77595eda22cf810f886b42b0542378/medium/Photo-on-2013-02-13-at-7.10-33PMEST.jpg?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="200" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3083302013-02-12T10:45:16-05:002017-01-14T11:01:19-05:00On the road to happiness!<span style="font-size: medium; "> <i>“Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of traveling.”</i><br><b>-Margaret Lee Runbeck </b><br><br>
There is a woman at my gym. Her name is Wendy. She inspires me. Everyday I watch her come in with her radiant smile. Wendy personifies the statement above. How did she get there?<br><br>
If I were to reflect upon what it is that makes Wendy smile as she does every day, I would say that her happiness comes from within. This morning she was talking about someone who was sick. Someone who carries a lot of worry. Although now retired, the sick person still carries all the stress from her former job. How many of us have kept jobs we strongly disliked because the pay or the benefits were good. Then out we go trying to fill the internal chasm with stuff. The void we feed from the outside just gets fatter. It is never satisfied and it never goes away. We can not fill the internal void from the outside. Won’t happen, ever!<br><br>
No life is perfect every day, but how we see our days and all those moments throughout is the road we are traveling on. Put on those glasses with the silver lining and start seeing the happiness that paves the road of your life.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!<br><br>
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www.BiancaBassoMusic.com</span>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3066482013-02-11T10:25:27-05:002017-01-14T11:01:18-05:00Steps to healing<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“Pain is just weakness leaving the body.”</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br>
- <b>Ken Clement</b>, Aylmer Florida Fitness - Award Winning Trainer<br><br>
Last week I was in the locker room after my workout and I heard Ken say this in the hallway. I was struck by how profound this statement is. It lingered and rolled around in my head. I pondered the instances where this would apply in my life. Pain comes in many forms: physical, emotional and psychological. Ken’s statement implies that pain is part of the healing process.<br><br>
There are times when pain is the result of injury. I am not talking about that type of pain or judging the pain any of us can experience. We’ve all heard the good pain vs. bad pain debate where our bodies are concerned. When physical pain is the result of working out or working through an old injury (as is my personal case) we can acknowledge that part of that pain is the body’s resistance to change. The more you ask it to change, the stronger you become, the less pain there is. One of my therapists believes that pain results in the body when movement stops. This is true for our emotions too. We can train ourselves to overcome our emotional weaknesses. I think the hardest ones to overcome may be the psychological ones as they can be sneaky and harder to acknowledge. In any case the weakness is on the inside. If we fear the pain, we will feed it. But if we invite change or movement, even a little bit, every day, we will build our strength. <br><br>
Friday night when we listened to our bed tracks, I cried. Pain is a messenger. Sometimes the tears allow us to carry it out. When pain comes into your life, I invite you to examine what it is there to teach you. Be strong one baby step at a time! <br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/954d8380af974772f199e8871ce10942cf93b283/medium/IMG_3046.JPG?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="200" width="300" /><br>
Follow us on blogger, on the Bianca Basso Group on Facebook, or visit our site for more information.</span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3044602013-02-09T03:55:00-05:002017-01-14T11:01:18-05:00I heard it playing...<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.” </span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br>
― <b>Lao Tzu</b><br><br>
And when we are lucky we hear it too. We are tucked into a wonderful B&B here in Almonte. Due to the snow we decided to check in. It allowed us to listen to everything we had done over the last three days. There are so many beautiful moments.<br><br>
Marc remarked that we met exactly two and half years ago today. In what would be considered a relatively short period of time, our lives have been filled with adventures. Marc went back to work with Celine and we were both rebuilding our lives. Our relationship blossomed in spite of everything. The journey has been so rich with discovery and growth. Through all that we heard the music, so we started writing.<br><br>
We have ended our third and last day of this session. As I went into the vocal booth to take down all my lyric sheets that were taped up on the wall, I put my hands on them and thought, “These are my songs.” I am pleased and proud: of what we wrote, of what we recorded and who we are. A special thanks to <a href="http://www.kenfriesen.com/credits.html" target="_new">Ken Friesen</a>. I can’t wait for you to hear it!<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!<br></span><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/937a60adecce87ecfba04b75bbbcafe004ae6b35/medium/IMG_1322.jpg?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="225" width="300" /><br><br type="_moz">BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3028102013-02-07T17:14:01-05:002017-01-14T11:01:18-05:00Where did I put my keys?<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“Music acts like a magic key, to which the most tightly closed heart opens.” </span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br>
― <b>Maria von Trapp</b><br><br>
Singing is a balance between the heart and the mind. Balance means understanding that both need to have their place. We need both. So how do we get there?<br><br>
Music is a magic key because it is our modern day therapy. Every couple has a song (or at least the girl thinks so...) and we all have tunes that are part of our living soundtrack. When are heart is weighing heavy we can sing through our emotions and when life is too crazy there is a song for that too. If the ego gets in the way of our heart, then along comes a tune to get us back in balance. <br><br>
Find that tune. Play your life’s soundtrack and open your heart. Just remember where you put that key at the end of each day and everything will be just fine!<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!<br><br>
Follow us on blogger, on the Bianca Basso Group on Facebook, or visit our site for more information.<br></span><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/51e396ac72eff76e4ad03e06238a428ba34302c7/medium/IMG_1301.jpg?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="225" width="300" /><br><br type="_moz">BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/3013862013-02-06T18:55:00-05:002017-01-14T11:01:18-05:00Day one, check!<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“I am no longer afraid of becoming lost, because the journey back always reveals something new, and that is ultimately good for the artist.” </span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br>
― <b>Billy Joel</b><br><br>
First day of studio done. At one point <a href="http://www.kenfriesen.com/credits.html" target="_new">Ken Friesen</a> commented on the titles of our songs: Happy, So Good, I Love. The obvious positive vibe is fun, there is no doubt. It brought me back to when and how those songs were created.<br><br>
Sometimes adversity allows us to go within and discover ourselves more deeply. In those moments, music has allowed me to create a new reality, sometimes even becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. When I wrote “I Love” I wanted to focus on the things in life that I loved; those everyday things that make our lives so rich. Every song has a story. I tell them when we play live. Every song is also a journey. <br><br>
Tonight, as I get ready for bed to dream of another wonderful day in the studio, I look forward to taking you on that journey with us. Thanks for being with us today. The adventure continues...<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/d522e04a0bd1d320d34613dff149d405c1445f8b/medium/KenBianca.jpg?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="225" width="300" /><br><br>
Follow us on blogger, on the Bianca Basso Group on Facebook, or visit our site for more information.</span> BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/2995572013-02-05T16:04:52-05:002017-01-14T11:01:18-05:00Unlocking the music<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“Most people die with their music still locked up inside them.” </span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br>
― <b>Benjamin Disraeli</b><br><br>
When I was young my greatest wish and subsequent prayer every Sunday was asking God to let me become a singer when I grew up. I was extremely shy and my fear was always present. My fear of not being good enough kept me from even trying. One day I projected myself in the future and realized I didn’t want to look back one day and say to myself, “I wonder what would have happened if I gave it a shot?”<br><br>
Suddenly this image of me in a rocker looking back at my life was not where I wanted to be. The last thing I wanted was to wonder or worse, regret not having even tried. There is nothing sadder than a life with regrets. So I found a teacher. The teacher put me in a student show. Me = terrified. The loudest critical voice expressing herself all day. With nonsense like “You are too old. Normal people don’t decide to be musicians in life, etc.” You get the idea. Then I stepped out onto the stage. The lights, the warmth, the pianist began playing and there was no looking back. My life was changed forever.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/0852c139ea5773010e81fe5627918cddd1a3217d/medium/Photo-on-2013-02-05-at-8.54-28PMEST.jpg?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="200" width="300" /><br><br>
Tomorrow Marc and I go into the studio to record our first Bianca Basso album. (yes pictures will be posted I promise!) It has been nearly two and a half years to get here. What we do together is something we always wanted to find in this life. I am the Lennon to his McCartney. We found the key, unlocked the door and the music just keeps coming. Your turn. Unlock your music and live from this day forward! <br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!<br><br>
Follow us on blogger, on the Bianca Basso Group on Facebook, or visit our site for more information.<br><br>
www.BiancaBassoMusic.com</span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/2985622013-02-04T17:41:10-05:002017-01-14T11:01:18-05:00Learning to fly.<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“If you cannot teach me to fly, teach me to sing.” </span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br>
― <b>J.M. Barrie</b>, Peter Pan<br><br>
Singing is the one thing that I find the most fun. There is no equal to this particular sensation. When I am on a stage time stands still. I am not hot. I am not tired. While I am performing, I feel no pain. I fly though those moments with wings outstretched. <br><br>
I learned to sing before I was born. My mother sang and played the piano beautifully. I, all snug in her tummy, felt the vibration and the sound of the music from within the womb. It was a wonderful education which continued after I crossed over. There was never a time where music was not present; a wide variety of music too! With such a rich musical culture, no wonder I am just a lover of all kinds of music. When I am on stage it does feel like flying. There is such an incredible energy that overcomes me. Then of course there is the joy too. So many beautiful songs to sing and only one lifetime. Now I write and sing my own songs. Imagine that.<br><br>
Music had become a great teacher for me. We play music, not work music. Music made for the love and joy of it is the only music worth making. Life lived for the love and joy of it is also the only life worth living. Live your joy. Sing your song everyday of your life.<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
P.S. We go into the studio on Wednesday to start recording our new album. Yes we are very excited. So stay tuned. I will post photos and snippets along the way!<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!<br><br>
Follow us on blogger, on the Bianca Basso Group on Facebook, or visit our site regularly for more information.<br><br><a href="http://www.BiancaBassoMusic.com" target="_new">www.BiancaBassoMusic.com<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/bbd48c376659db619debbbb6993a4e5ff2dd3fe6/medium/131.jpg?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="200" width="300" /><br type="_moz"></a></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/2974982013-02-03T16:58:36-05:002017-01-14T11:01:18-05:00Playing, dreaming and winning your desire!<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“Life is a game, you live so you play. Follow your dreams and win what your happy heart desires.” </span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br>
― <b>Roel van Sleeuwen</b><br><br>
Marc has been trying to educate me on the whole Superbowl thing. The Ravens, Ray Lewis, even I know the 49ers reputation. Now I find out the two coaches are brothers! I can’t even imagine what their mom must be thinking and feeling.<br><br>
I sit here and I think about these two brothers. They share this incredible passion to the point that it has taken both of them to the top of their game. Literally! What a beautiful example of the quote written above. It truly is an inspiration even for a girl like me who is not enamored with sports per say. I wonder how much fun are they having? Is it all pressure? Or are they having the time of their life?<br><br>
I have long said,”Life is for living.” Tonight we can all see that life is for dreaming and making your dreams come true. As I write the game is not over. The game is not over as long as we are living. Now, go win at what your heart desires! :)<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/202deb7d736a8bfa6f9666df37eeaca076c230ed/medium/Photo-on-2013-02-03-at-9.54-00PMEST.jpg?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="200" width="300" /><br>
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www.BiancaBassoMusic.com<br><br>
Bianca Pittoors & Marc Langis are Bianca Basso. Creators of original music, they are distinctive in their contemporary style. Join the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/265903810099809/" target="_new">Bianca Basso Group </a></span><br>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/2963112013-02-01T17:05:00-05:002017-01-14T11:01:18-05:00Just do it! Apparently the recipe for success.<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“Successful people do what others know they should do but will not. To become a success, or just be *more* successful, you will do what average, less-motivated people will not.” </span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br>
― <b>Chalene Johnson</b>, author of PUSH<br><br>
We all know what we need to do every day: sleep, drink lots of water, eat right, exercise, perform at our jobs, stay on top of our game, etc. Then why is it sometimes we don’t? Even the most disciplined people I know are disciplined in certain areas but every one of them has parts of their lives where that does not apply. Why? Is it discipline if we really like practicing 3-4 hours a day? Is it dedication if going to the gym is more appealing than chasing dust bunnies? Is the law of the lesser evil coming into play?<br><br>
I have long believed that we can change of physical states by changing our mindset. What else is true is that changing our physical states also changes our mindset. I go to the gym every day. At the Florida Fitness in Aylmer, where I workout, there are a group of body building women who train every day. They walk in with a smile. They are beautiful, feminine, happy and as I hamster my way through my cardio I am inspired by them. I see them work harder. I look at them and I see myself soon. Not that my goal is to be a body builder but my goal is to be fit and healthy. At the gym I see the result of the healthy body, healthy mind. In the beginning I would just get up put my workout clothes on and go to the gym. It still requires a commitment on my part but less than it did at the start. Now I go every day and it is changing me.<br><br>
I changed my routine and my routine is changing me. Little by little, I am finding enjoyment and satisfaction in choosing to be there. Today when I was done I walked passed Meagan at the counter and I said, “I win!” My response to her quizzical look was, “Every time I work hard at something I know I am a winner. Remember we must be winners on the inside first.<br><br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!<br><br>
Join the Bianca Basso Group on Facebook or become a member on our site to receive blog postings directly in your inbox.<br></span><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/5e0e4e569ea127e67fa036f1b1b6c70b023231c0/medium/IMG_0718.jpg?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="225" width="300" /><br><br type="_moz">BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/2950962013-01-31T14:33:08-05:002017-01-14T11:01:18-05:00Taking steps to becoming a winner<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“When people ask me why I run, I tell them, there's not really a reason, it's just the adrenalin when you start, and the feeling when you cross that finish line, and know that you are a winner no matter what place you got.” </span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br>
― <b>Courtney Parsons</b><br><br>
Choosing to live life as a musician is like running then. First let me say that there are many different types of musicians and many different attitudes regarding what that life should look like. As a musician sometimes, or in my case many times and over many years, you must learn to fly without a net, or run without a finish line. In any field of work there are challenges. How do we go from living in survival mode to enjoying life?<br><br>
First I can say that we need faith. What is going on in our mind definitely has something to do with what is going on in our life. We have to be able to take a look at ourselves and be honest about what we see. We are not a hero if we are keeping ourselves from being successful and happy to make someone else feel better. Two negatives don’t make a positive in life. You just have more negative. Next, the false nobility attributed to the starving artist has gone on long enough. So many artists poopoo the idea of financial success; the same financial success they envy whether they want to realize it or not. After all what is the shame of earning a decent living, providing for your children and enjoying life doing what you love? Why is it so hard to allow yourself to see yourself as great just as you are? Why wouldn’t we all want to be our best, at whatever we do, everyday of our lives? That is a recipe for success. I am officially inviting all types of success in my life right now!<br><br>
Of course we all have challenges. Everyday those challenges show up so we can prove what we are made of. Today, choose something that you want to be your best at. Do it! I promise when you do, you will feel like a winner. That’s how it starts. Just keep going!<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!<br><br>
Join the Bianca Basso Group on Facebook or become a member on our site to receive blog postings directly in your inbox.</span><br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/a6f997474bd63222f43e07350b90d6aea982c1aa/medium/IMG_0884.jpg?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="400" width="300" /><br><br type="_moz">BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/2940292013-01-30T15:45:00-05:002017-01-14T11:01:18-05:00Music inspired by life.<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; color: rgb(50, 51, 51); "><i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“You must understand the whole of life, not just one little part of it. <br>
That is why you must read, that is why you must look at the skies. <br>
That is why you must sing and dance, and write poems, and suffer, and understand, for all that is life.”</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><b>- Jiddu Krishnamurti </b><br><br>
When I was in Banff studying at the Centre for the arts, Joey Baron said to us, “Music isn’t your life. Music is a reflection of your life.” He went on to tell the class, consisting mainly of cocky collegiate males, that if they thought music was their life they might want to think about getting a life! Many were left stupefied. How do we do that?<br><br>
If I base myself on Krishnamurti’s description, I can definitely say I have lived. At the time, I was expecting my first child. A new adventure was just beginning. The music and songs I write are an expression of that richness of experience. Also they are examples of what I want to focus on in life. I have long believed that words carry an energy all their own. As a singer I was aware that it was my responsibility to choose the songs I sang with great care. Taking the time to ask myself, “Is that what I want to say?” or “Is this the energy I want to put out into the world?” Needless to say that this consciousness started to leak into my everyday life too. <br><br>
Just as music is the expression of our lives, our lives can be influenced by our art. We are our words, so no matter who you are or what you do in life, choose them wisely. Now, on to living!<br><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
This personal blog was written by Bianca Pittoors. You may “share” it in its entirety. I respectfully request that you respect it as the intellectual property that it is. Thank you!<br></span><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/2a503e3dd47bc0f5165d2284860b644336a88bfe/medium/IMG_2710.jpg?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="450" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; " width="300" /></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; ">Join the Bianca Basso Group on Facebook or become a member on this site</span></p>BIANCA BASSOtag:biancabassomusic.com,2005:Post/2928852013-01-29T16:25:00-05:002017-01-14T11:01:18-05:00Turning a weakness into strength<i><span style="font-size: medium; ">“The greatest gifts life as a musician has given me, are continuous opportunities to surpass myself and the depth of my faith.”</span></i><span style="font-size: medium; "><br></span><b><span style="font-size: medium; ">Bianca Pittoors</span><span style="font-size: medium; "> </span></b><span style="font-size: medium; "><br><br>
I live with the Energizer bunny. You know the one who keeps going and going and going... So Friday evening at 6:00 P.M. he says energetically, “Let’s go o the gym!” Now my brain is moving faster than the speed of light scrolling through a long list of reasons why I don’t want to go to the gym right that second, on Friday night. But there he is flashing that sparkling smile with a, “You’re gonna be so glad you did!” and I know there is no point in even trying. So my weakness wins and I go to the gym. Yup my weakness worked in my favor. How did that happen?<br><br>
Interestingly enough, as as marched along this morning, as all good hamsters do on the treadmill, I realized that we can benefit from our weaknesses as much as we can from our strengths. Sometimes being too tired to argue is a good thing. It certainly is another way of looking at things. I have two (twin) astrologer sisters as friends and I remember one of them saying that a behavior merely is what it is. Our perspective is the difference between seeing it as a strength or a fault. Best example of that is a Taurus: if you agree with them, you think they are driven. If you disagree, then they are stubborn. Same energy, the difference is our perspective. So with ourselves, we can go through the same process. I thought it best to apply my laziness to arguing rather than my workout. So I surpassed myself in the moment. <br><br>
In the end, like always, I was glad I did. Keep your faith!<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/61282/eadaa247aeb9c55da66a8100d1ef6b0e155ef566/medium/202129_10150223268815140_295261880139_8865685_6709318_o.jpg?1375903949" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="200" width="300" /><br>
Namaste!<br><br>
Bianca<br><br>
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