In recent years, music has entered my life as background sound: a catchy tune on the radio in among all the other daily noise. I sing along, or not, and life goes on. Recently on a long trip home, I realized that I may have been overlooking the power that it has to be medicine… Continue reading Intentional Music Medicine
Category: Mental Health
When Your Plans Get Cancelled
Having plans for the day is a joy. The anticipation can carry you through the mundane or difficult stuff that you have to do in life. Having them cancelled by something out of your control, such as forest fire smoke, is crushing.* It’s not just a simple case of rescheduling or adjusting. It’s a full… Continue reading When Your Plans Get Cancelled
Going BIG
How much space do you take up in the world? I am staying small. It’s a choice. After three years of the pandemic telling me to keep my world small to stay safe (remain home, avoid others), I’ve found that it’s become my normal state. But unless there’s a pandemic, a war, or a lion… Continue reading Going BIG
A Day Of Wander
A few years ago, I found myself alone downtown on a Saturday morning. I had to drop something off before nine. Done. Suddenly, there I was with my notebook, a novel and a water bottle in my bag on a sunny, warm morning, and no plans for the rest of the day. No one needed… Continue reading A Day Of Wander
Can’t Avoid Triggers
I recognize when my body goes into a stress response: tight jaw, overheating, nerves all a-buzz. I’ve spent time watching my body to recognize these physical responses. I’ve also dedicated a lot of time to journalling over that past six months. It’s helped me to identify four specific situations that provoke a stress response in… Continue reading Can’t Avoid Triggers
Out Of My Control
It’s very difficult to let go of control. As a teacher, I felt the pressure to “control my class” which really meant keeping them quiet and engaged. I never quite managed the peaceful part of that. I preferred to keep my students noisy and engaged. However, there are times that I have had to acknowledge… Continue reading Out Of My Control
The Power of Glimmers Over Gratitude
Most people are familiar with the term, triggers. They are events or words or places that can cause a person to relive the stress of a traumatic experience. As I grieve, I find there are many triggers in my day. But have you heard of glimmers? Glimmers Are Personal. A glimmer is something that recalls… Continue reading The Power of Glimmers Over Gratitude
My Body Yells At Me
Why do I wait until my body is yelling at me before I take care of it? We all carry stress in different parts of our bodies as migraines, pinched neck muscles and upset stomachs. When I’m under continued stress, it usually settles into my body as debilitating lower back pain. But I’ve noticed that… Continue reading My Body Yells At Me
Ignore The Grind
There’s no denying that daily grind of getting up and doing work. It’s ingrained in us from the time we start school. The idea of taking time off or staying home when you’re sick is frowned upon by parents, schools and your boss. Consistent attendance is rewarded by schools and then cherished by businesses. It’s… Continue reading Ignore The Grind
Big Top Emotions
As I have the privilege of growing older, I gather more loss. Grief is difficult to talk about and something many people shy away from, but it truly is a fact of life. Learning how to cope with death is something we have to do. We have no choice. Like taxes, death will not be… Continue reading Big Top Emotions
Retired, And Now What? 