Music is Healing

dianarasmussen

9 years ago

Music – love it, hate it, just can’t live without it. We were made to praise, to worship, and to love. Happy songs, sad songs, love songs, break up songs. We tell our stories in songs. Our lives are the lyrics – all the good parts, and all the ugly parts.

Who is your favorite Artist?

What is your favorite song?

For me that depends on the day. I confess, I am a music junkie. I listen to praise and worship. I listen to country, jazz, pop, folk, and even old time rock and roll. It really depends on the day for me. And I love listening to Indie music. Yeah, the songs the rest of us make. We may not make millions, but we tell our stories. And there is a truth in that.

I came across an interesting article today on Music and Healing from Psychology Today.

“Does Music Have Healing Powers”

Yes music can heal. There is a movement that is using music to heal people with mental illness.They call it Music Therapy. On a physical level listening to music lowers blood pressure and reduces heart rates. Music is being used to treat people suffering from depression, suffering, and chronic pain. Now I know this is true from my own personal experience. And I didn’t “get it” until today, lol!

When I was in 3rd grade my mom made all of us kids take piano lessons. I love her for that. I didn’t appreciate it at the time, but I am grateful today. I played piano all through school and college. But then I got married – and the music stopped. Yeah, really. After college I didn’t buy a keyboard. I didn’t have a piano. And the clouds came. I lived in the land of shadows. It was like a piece of me was gone. Divorce, date a jerk, marry, divorce , date a jerk, marry, divorce- this went on for years. Still, no music.

I remember the darkest times in my life – after the divorces, after losing custody of my two older kids, after running away from state to state. When I look back now I realize that those were the times I did not have a keyboard/piano. I had no outlet. And the pain went from bad to worse with no escape. I ended up in the Psyc ward after a self-harming incident. And I was dating another Psycho at the time. Yep, even got to wear the “I love me” jacket after I tried to punch a cop!

After I got out of the Hospital my Therapist suggested I get a keyboard and play music again. I thought she was nuts (yeah, that’s funny!) but I did it anyway. I still remember playing it for that first time. I didn’t have any music books at this time, so I played the songs in the manual that came with the piano. It was like part of me woke up that day. And that’s the day things started turning around for me. Guess I had to play and sing my way out of the valley of trouble. I had to learn to sing in the dark.

Things are different today, thank you Jesus. My husband Bob and I play together all the time. Our treats to each other are new instruments. Seriously, every year we add at least 2 new instruments to our collection. We sing, we dance, and we play together. Now that’s restoration! Thank you Jesus!