Thomas Hampson Archives - The Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally

Well, folks, today — the day I fly back to the USA after the best vacation of my long life — is my 5000th day of daily blogging.

For 5000 days, I’ve woken up wondering how I’m going to yet again shape my previous day into some form that helps me and — perhaps! — others.

Blogging daily for 5000 days has strengthened my confidence that my random thoughts, feelings, and intuitively-snapped images are worth sharing.

These five thousand days have included my travels at home and elsewhere, good days and bad days, quirky moments/images I like to call “bloggy,” and my appreciation of humans, cats, and other creatures.

Yesterday, at the Lugano train station, I luckily ran into the incredible Thomas Hampson, who was the star of my 4999th day of blogging. Besides figuring out we were both on our way to Zurich, telling Thomas “You changed my life!”, letting him know that I had taken so many notes at his Master Class for opera singers because his wisdom applied to singing AND life, and identifying myself as a singer/songwriter, I also told him I had been blogging daily since 2013. Why oh why did I even mention that in the few precious moments I had to interact with one of the best singers and teachers in the world, who has one of kindest faces I have ever seen?

That reminds me that when I attended the profound one-man show about magic and identity In & Of Itself in NYC years ago, I chose to identify myself as “blogger.”

So I guess, despite all my multiple identities, blogging is important to me. As a group therapist, I appreciate the healing power of groups, and this group — you, my readers — has been very healing for me.

No matter where I go, I hold the belief that you are somehow with me and interested enough to stay for the precious moments we have together, every day.

And I hold the belief that I’ll be able to create something worthwhile and still make it to my next destination on time.

So, for the 5000th day, here we go again!

Throughout these 5000 days, it has helped me to be near water, rain or shine.

I finally got fondue on my last night in Switzerland. Here’s a pun for my 5000th day: As for fondue, I’m fon-done.

Because my 5000th day of blogging is World Suicide Prevention Day, here’s my original song “Don’t Kill Yourself.”

On Day 1 of this daily blog, I was working on getting up the nerve to sing other people’s songs in public. Now, on Day 5000, I’m a singer-songwriter/blogger/group therapist/mother/wife/friend/heart-condition survivor who can share what’s important to me, here and now.

Thanks to everyone who helps me along this daily journey, including YOU!

Yesterday, in Lugano, Switzerland, I had the good fortune to witness one of the best teachers and performers of opera, Thomas Hampson, give Master Classes to aspiring stars.

Here are some of the notes I jotted down while listening to one of the best teachers.

I met Mo and Frank from Germany at the afternoon Master Class with Thomas Hampson …

… and the three of us decided to come back for the evening Master Class, too.

I took a lot of video of the best teacher teaching, including this,

… this,

… and this.

As the best teacher Thomas Hampson says there, you have to be prepared for anything. Are you prepared for these responses I got on Twitter last night when I asked a question about best teachers?