| Music was one of the few pathways to self-esteem | | | | After my mother died, it made me happy to hear |
| I had as a child. There was not much positive | | | | the songs she used to play when she was happy. |
| reinforcement in my home and luckily I inherited | | | | When I am wound too tight, I pull out my classical |
| some musical talent. I did my parents proud when I | | | | music and I immediately feel centered, integrated, |
| performed and won state-wide contests. | | | | and organized. If I'm feeling tired or sluggish, I know |
| But the value of music is better understood by me | | | | to pull out peppy music of any genre: rock, country, |
| now than it was then. Music is brain exercise! | | | | ragtime, rhythm & blues, or Christian praise. All |
| Everyone has heard of the "Mozart Effect" when it | | | | of them immediately energize me! I'm easily captured |
| comes to music and accelerated learning. And all one | | | | by music, just like most other human beings. I can go |
| has to do is Google "Music Therapy" to see the | | | | from sane adult in the car to teenage rebel behind |
| efficacy of music on all matter of psychological | | | | the wheel, depending on the music! |
| disorders. But I want to address the value of music | | | | With my background of childhood abuse and chaos, I |
| as a vehicle. | | | | must be very careful about which music I allow to |
| I recently did a photo composite of a piano | | | | capture me. That's what music does: it captures! |
| keyboard. Every key is a picture -- a statement | | | | Think about it... you turn the tv to a station where a |
| about what brings me great satisfaction on a | | | | movie is coming on. Before you even know the |
| personal level. And music takes me to all those | | | | name of the movie, you already know the type of |
| precious memories, as well as inspire me to create | | | | movie it is. Just listen to the music! ("Jaws" is a prime |
| even more beautiful experiences. Because music also | | | | example.) |
| bypasses the brain and transports the listener to a | | | | As I've walked along my road to health, I've learned |
| psychological destination, it has the power to be | | | | to believe what the Bible teaches: I'm to guard my |
| either constructive or destructive. Perhaps it's why | | | | heart -- that's my mind+will+emotions. Otherwise, I |
| we're told to praise the LORD with harp and lyre in | | | | lose precious ground in my race for wholeness. What |
| Psalms. | | | | person wants to lose ground when running a race? |
| After my divorce from a very long marriage, I found | | | | And just so you know, as I write this I listen to |
| I could no longer listen to specific groups I had | | | | nothing except the clicking of the keyboard keys. |
| always loved. It plunged me into despair immediately. | | | | That's because music captures! |