I first realized the power of music when my daughter had a kidney transplant at the tender age of two and a half. Her transplant team sent a music therapist to her hospital room two days after the surgery, once the more intimidating tubes and lines had been removed from her little body. The young man played a guitar as he strolled into the room and sat beside her on the hospital bed. He made her forget about her pain and coaxed the first smile we’d seen in days. Then he piled a number of musical instruments onto her bed. They made music together; and for that one glorious hour, the rest of us gained a much needed reprieve from the fears and anxieties that had been eating away at us. We no longer saw the life threatening medical condition… only our precious little girl grinning ear to ear as she beat on that drum.
Music can magically transport us, much like books do. That’s why I weave music into my books. Whether it’s Kadyn singing “Dream a Little Dream of Me” while slow dancing with Kri, the mysterious young man singing “Make You Feel My Love” when he finds Kri crying on a park bench, Kri singing along with Pink in the shower, or the friends dancing to Shaggy’s “Angel” when they’re vacationing in the Bahamas… music moves us.
We lean on music, like an old friend, at parties, weddings, and funerals. Music makes our commutes a little easier, our exercise regimes more bearable, and our dinners more enjoyable. So next time you’re in pain, feeling discouraged, or overwhelmed… seek out that long lost friend. Whichever genre you prefer, find the music that will lift your spirits or soothe you. Apply a little music therapy of your own. Give it a good hour to work while you go about your day. I promise, you’ll feel better!