Sing and Heal

Every morning I get up at 6:00 am. After I get dressed I help Linda, then shuffle out to the cold living room and start a fire in the wood stove.

When the fire is roaring, I move on to the kitchen to do any necessary cleaning, make coffee, then whip up a little something for us to eat.

And almost every morning at some point, I hear a voice soaring out overtop all other sounds. 

I smile, because Linda is singing again. Just about every morning Linda sings. Lovely, joyous singing.

Yes, this is the same Linda that is dealing with the advanced stages of multiple sclerosis. This terrible disease has robbed her of almost everything. 

But she can still sing, and sing she does. 

Leonard Cohen told us to "ring the bells that still ring", and hearing Linda in the morning reminds me of that. 

She has left behind the things she can no longer do, and concentrates on what still works for her. What else can one do?

So she sings, sings, sings until I return to help her. I get her dressed, and manually transfer her to a wheelchair so we can get on with another day already ringing with potential.

I sing with her, if not first thing in the morning, definitely throughout the day. We both love to sing. We sing to each other, we sing to the world, we sing for the world.

Singing is enjoyable, but it is so much more than that. It is also therapeutic with many, many tested and proven benefits both psychological and physical, and it is free.

"A song a day keeps the doctors away". 

That's not really a thing since apples have already cornered that market, but it should be. My guess is singing is more healing than apples, and I love apples.

Remember, the saying is, "I'd like to teach the world to sing", not "I'd like to teach the world to eat apples."

The world needs healing in a bad way right now, and Linda could use a bit herself. So could I. Who couldn't? 

Singing is an important part of our simple health regime, and it can work for the planet, too. 

Linda could lead us all in group sing songs, on a regular basis. Just until things are better. For everyone everywhere.

She could do it from her bed, no problem.

What songs could we cover?

I nominate "You've Got A Friend" by Carole King. 

It was Carole's birthday yesterday, so perhaps we can also add "Happy Birthday" to our set list for her 79th.

“When you’re down and troubled

And you need some love and care

And nothing, nothing is going right

Close your eyes and think of me

And soon I will be there

To brighten up even your darkest night”