A moment in time…a true gift!
Everything You Have Was Given
Everything you have…was given, from your life down to your shoes. Yes you went to the store. YOU bought them with YOUR paycheck…but you were GIVEN a paycheck and the clerk that helped give you the shoes also gave you a bag to carry them in.
Every job you’ve had, you were given. Every meal you’ve eaten was given, whether you made the meal itself or someone cooked it for you. You were given the groceries that you shopped for, you were given gas to drive home. You were given a smile from your partner as you whipped up the most amazing spread to give to those you love.
You’ve been given a break, you’ve been given time, you’ve been given life. And…if you are part of the human landscape, you’ve given too. You’ve given love, you’ve given laughs, and you’ve given friendship. This is not a closed circle. You’ve given and you’ve gotten. This is a circular motion; it is not something that see-saws like in a child’s play ground. Some folks you give to and some folks you get from and it makes the world go round. The trouble occurs when we think we have not gotten. But as long as you are breathing, look around…you’ve gotten everything. From the car you’ve been driving to the home you lay your head, to the crowd you hang around with. Someone made this vehicle, made this place to dwell and rest, some acquaintance GAVE you time to get to know one another.
Life is like that. It twists our perception and makes us feel that perhaps we’ve over given, perhaps we don’t HAVE enough, and perhaps we are lost in a delusion that there is NO ONE that gives to US.
But the mailman still comes…to give you mail. The trash man still comes to give you space by recycling your containers of the left cartons you’ve gone through. The bar still gives you drinks and the musicians still play your favorite songs. The pastor still gives you a sermon. The dog still gives you a wag and nature still gives us a rainbow after all the water the Earth can drink.
It is easy to get on the opposite side of this. It is human to sometimes feel sorry for itself. But your lungs are still collecting the air you breathe and your heart is still providing blood through your veins. Remember these small miracles as you go through time. It is often something we take for granted. Everything you have and own has been given by something be it a collective grand thought, effort, time, attention or a singular creation. We are all a part of this circulation and it’s a beautiful knowingness when you can see the back story of every item woven into the fabric of your life.
May it bring you peace. May it bring you joy.
May it bring you to your knees with tears of humble gratitude.
May it be an awareness that you now walk with divine knowing.
For as long as you live on Earth, take heart in being gifted and understand, what is yours to pass on. That’s all life’s about.
-Niccole Blaze
Hi Friends,
This is has been quite a ride huh? We were high on a cloud after our show March 12th and then like a snap…the whole world changed. It was coming, we just didn’t realize how much it would level us. It took about a week for Mo and I to come out of a dazed state of partial denial, ignorance and down right rebuking of the truth. People are dying and the only way we can insure safety is to stay away from each other. How horrible!
I know you look to these blogs and tunes for something uplifting, and I hope that the message above was something you could really let sink in, because it’s true. But this virus has been and WILL BE life changing, for a lot of us. I know Mo worked diligently to secure gigs all through the summer. We were “locked in” from here to Washington, to Oregon and North Idaho and now we are cancelled. And it sounds as though I may be describing the last sunset…BUT…hang in here with me…the Moon is rising!
And with that Moon I see the blue hue of hope! I’ve seen more people be kind to each other, on social media and when we dare take that trip to the grocery store. I’ve also seen an amazing turn towards live streaming! Since we’ve been on “stay home” assignments, we have all been more worldly. Tuning in to other countries besides ourselves. Listening and educating ourselves from people all over the world. On a macro level, this is amazing and unprecedented! Capitalistic agendas have paused…I mean, let’s face it…the Kentucky Derby was post-poned!!! *Hands on hips, mouth agape!*
Never before have we seen major sports events, music events, conferences and churches SHUT DOWN!!!! Look at that! Look at what a society can do when we all work together! And it’s going to take us all working together to spare the lives that are going to suffer from all of this.
Honestly folks…I’ve cried many many tears. I’ve drank way too much more than I should. I have prayed. I have thought of all of you. I have thought of all my friends and family. I have thought about my life. I have thought about my habits, beliefs, standards, and purpose. This is causing us to go deep. And…frankly, we need to. Collectively, on a whole…I know it’s my opinion, but I feel strongly that we need to go deep right now.
On a macro level, we need to take care of the environment. We need to be stewards of the land. On a micro level, we need to look out for one another and on the deep deep micro level…we need to learn self love. Nothing will point it’s finger at self love so perfectly as when you have NO distractions! When you have too much time on your hands and the typical go go go will not hold you up anymore.
We are staring at ourselves in the mirror and it’s going to take courage boys and girls…in the next few weeks as we begin to really slow and tap into what our subconscious has been whispering to us for so long.
We GET to slow down. We GET to have extra time. We GET to love each other more because of this. We GET to get organized. We GET to look at our habits, our beliefs, our junk in the closet we need to clean out! We GET to do so many things with this time. We GET to CHOOSE WHO TO BE!!!
We had a great “hug” at the Sapphire show 3/12! It was a perfect show to finish before this unplanned “sabbatical”. My father showed up! The girls played so well! The crowd was amazing! And we all knew on some level, the shit was about to hit the fan, and we slipped this show right under the radar!!! That was my hallelujah!
Double hugs! Nic, Evelyn (Keyboardist), Mo & Heather (Violinist)
Meghan Sandwich (our beloved percussionist)
Amongst all my “madness” of producing last years Sapphire thumb drives and organizing the last bit of details…like planning 3 weddings…my “little voice” whispered to me…”You need time Nic. You need to give yourself a break!” Well here we have it! At least 3 months of break!
Our house is a small house and we are on the go A LOT! There are things that have been piling up that we have not been able to get to. Now…we can! We GET to paint our bedroom (last room in the house to go!) We GET to have a garden this year! I GET to write a song! I GET to produce this years show!
And a Silver lining…our “Love” stream! I am so amazed by the reactions and responds we have received from our B&K Facebook live streaming!!! It is absolutely incredible! Just this week, we had 49 new “likes” to our B&K page!!! Our live streams have curated over 5000 engagements!!! This is unheard of! I have been so “lazy” putting ourselves out there on mass media! I immediately got over my fears of getting our “show” out to “unknown crowd” because I knew that our people need us (our music) and in that…people from Ohio, PA, CA, WA, OR and even Japan have tuned in!!! Unbelievable!!!
My mind grew! Why have I been holding back? Why haven’t we produced live streams before? What have I been afraid of…better yet…How can I make them great!? Better!? What can we do!? And folks…there has been some new people that have stepped onto the VIP membership! And there have been many donations that could make me cry because I’m so moved by peoples generosities! And folks…you have a new song waiting for you called, “Silver Linings”! It’s not finished…but the recording is pretty good as my skills of recording are getting better and better!!!
All these things are moving in a syncopated way. I do trust the Universe has a unique masterful design. All is unfolding as it should on a Macro level and Micro level. Even though it seems really really hard right now. There is a grand plan to all of this. People are reaching deeper, into what it means to be HERE…NOW!
“Isn’t this beautiful….here in this process…a grand development, we don’t understand…” Life is indeed STILL beautiful. This virus hit NOW 2020…not 15 years ago before all this technology. We have enough to do the right things. We have the brain power, the technical power, the inner wisdom power. The power to go within and take this break. To look…deeply at ourselves and find what there is to love in all of that!
This is a horrible time…and an incredible time! Make it sing! Make it ring! See where you go! Where the energy flows! See what you do, see what comes true! Pray a lot! Sing a lot! Wash your hands a lot! Think of everything you’ve got!!!
We are here! With you…in this process…of the unknown! Remember all that has been given to you…and all you GET to do and be! Enjoy your unfinished tune and know how grateful we are for you, your patronage, your love, your requests, your undying support!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Hang in there!!!!
Niccole & Mo
Mo, standing in the “middle” of herself…how beautiful!
Meghan, letting it rip!
Evelyn’s nimble fingers on the board!
Heather haunting our souls with her violin!
My adorable Papa!
Mo love! With Jeremy Davis and Melissa.
“Good night friends, God Bless you, stay safe and remember we love you!”
