This morning I had a hard time getting rolling. For one, my coffee pot was descaling and I stumbled around uncaffeinated for longer than usual. I love my morning cup of coffee!
Secondly, I tend to be led by feelings, and I was feeling unexplainably blue. I had the “I don’t wannas.” (That’s a thing.)
I am usually excited and motivated to learn new things, meet new people, and make new connections. Today I felt motivated to stare at the walls!
“What’s wrong with me,” I thought, “where is the joy?” Because y’all, I’ve usually got some joy going on. Sometimes if I skip my daily Bible reading I’ll be missing it, but that was not it this morning.
After getting going a little bit and returning some emails, mostly about the business of music therapy, I remembered what has been missing from my life for the past week: music making. Music listening is an excellent pastime, but there is nothing like active music participation to excite and motivate. Now I remember telling my husband last night, “I’ve got to make some music tomorrow.”
As therapists, we ask our clients to work, and sometimes they, too, have the “I don’t wannas.” Enter, music.
Music is both effective and motivating as an agent for change and growth. This makes therapy engaging and fun, even when it is hard work. We are not just goofing around over here. We ask a lot of our clients, and it’s not all easy. But there’s always music! That rocks (and rolls).
Later this afternoon I received some disappointing news. A contract I had been working on fell through. I drove around aimlessly for awhile, and then I remembered that I had my ukulele the car! I pulled over, got it out, and sang a little tune, “Put on a happy face.” And do you know what? I felt better. I’m still disappointed, but I also have the greatest job ever. There will be other contracts, and I will be there with music on!
Where is the music in your loved ones’ life? What songs motivate you personally? If you regularly engage in active music making, please share what that looks like for you.
Let’s make music!
Recent Comments