January Greetings!

Hello, all!

It seems fitting to be writing another post on the last day of January. I returned to Israel at the beginning of the month and time has flown by ever since! The Year of the Horse seems to want to finish with a bang; it is bringing its fair share of challenges. I found a new apartment a few days after returning, but that still left me with the task of finding a replacement roommate for my old apartment. It is still a work in progress, but I am hopeful.

In other news, I resumed my voice lessons and have embarked on a new journey with Poulenc. I found a set that he wrote to Garcia-Lorca's poems. I've always been drawn to his work, so it seemed like a natural progression. However, with Tamar's guidance, I'm discovering that most pieces I encounter are more comfortable taken down a 1/2-step, so I am becoming a master of Sibelius as well. For non-music nerds, Sibelius is the computer program for composing that makes transcription/transposition by hand a distant memory.

I am also nearly completed with a January's "Willpower Workout," courtesy of our friends at EkhartYoga.com. As I've learned with Esther Ekhart, willpower is a muscle - if you don't use it, you lose it! I have mostly succeeded in following the workout plan and have had quite a few breakthroughs in the process! For instance, yesterday I learned that your core actually extends down through your thighs/upper legs! All this time, I though it was only the core abdominal muscles - it surely makes a difference in every day life.

Today I did a lovely Yin Yoga sequence meant to reconnect to my vital energy. Esther was explaining that in order to connect with one's vital energy, one must make space for all of the sensations/emotions that exist within us: "let it be." As she was saying it, I heard piano music coming from one of my neighbors. I realized that I knew the song - it was "Lu Yehi," the Hebrew version of "Let It Be." I had to smile as I recognized the message the universe was sending to me.

So my quest for health continues! I am currently looking for work - a part-time job to help get me out of my shell and into the world. I realized that I've been using my vocal training and my financial situation as an excuse to turn into a hermit! I guess this is a common tendency for musicians and artists in general; we become so embroiled in our work that we forget that there is an outside world! I am about to go explore mine with a lovely walk through the park. After our 2 months of winter (AKA 3 weeks of rain), we are having consistently warmer and sunnier weather.

I hope that you are well.

Much love,

Daniella

Happy 2015!

Hello, all!

Wishing you a wondrous and fulfilling 2015!

I have been home in the [very] frozen Northwoods since Hanukkah, thereby reaping all the benefits of 3 holidays in one visit! 

The temperatures have been below 0 degrees (last night, it went down to -16 F/-26 C), but that didn't stop us from taking a walk on (yes, ON) the lake yesterday and making snow angels.

The view on the [frozen] lake

 

My first snow angel in years!

 Our cat, Hugo, has been ecstatic with all the extra attention since both my sister and I have been home for three weeks.

 He is enjoying his new plant-filled jungle room here in Wisconsin.

 We have had a steady stream of snow since I arrived, so I am getting my fill of wintry weather.

I have enjoyed having some peace and quiet here in the Northwoods, but am looking forward to getting back to business when I return to the Motherland next week.

I hope that your year is off to a beautiful start!

Much love and peace,

Daniella