I have always been someone to believe in the magic and wonder of music. Throughout very early childhood I remember listening to stories on a record player and corresponding book. Peter and the Wold was one of the stories that I remember vividly from childhood. Each animal was represented by a different riff on the specific instrument. I remember feeling happy, sad, anxious and literally terrified because of the story line, and the music representing characters in the story. Memories, imagination, wonder, childhood, learning, and remembering. Ive used music in many ways in my life, sleep aid, motivation, study aid, set the mood, express rage, sadness, joy, to explore new things, to dance, to sing, to drown out the world, to open my mind, to create, to share, and to evoke emotion. After my accident, I lost my musical memory of ever playing the drums or piano. I instead picked up guitar and singing. Along with it came expressing feelings in written words, poems, lyrics, songs, and letters. I became very depressed after being released from the hospital and learning that I wouldnt be able to graduate with my class mates of 13 years. I turned to music for guidance, for direction and to learn that life doesnt always have to proceed in the manner of A-B-C. There is no written rule for life. Weve been conditioned to believe we are on a path, that ideally we should conform to this specific set of markers that bring us together, we work, we pay taxes, and most of us either die during the working stage, while paying taxes, or we retire, get old and die. I played music and sang for my sister for my entire life, I sang and played for all people Ive worked with at one time or anothe, the girls of Gordon Whitney would often gather together for a couple hours of music, the Braemore, the Ceilidh we organized as part of out final project for university, perhaps I didnt always realize the ability to change we have within us. My great friend Steve Malloy made me aware of a documentary, Alive Inside. The possible role of music in the lives of patients with Alzheimers disease. Ive never been so enriched by watching just over an hour of a documentary in my life. To me, In so many ways, this represents the different parts of my life. Post accident, on the road to recovery. Depression and solitude, then joy and celebration, a free spirit. Appreciation for life and the brains ability to tie memories to music. I began to learn to play guitar, axons were firing all over my brain, new pathways and functions were learned connecting music, memory, with muscle action and manual dexterity. Weve recreated the person that I am today. I would never change a single thing. 38 days in a coma, and I dont remember hearing a single note, but my parents made sure that my music was always on, and that it was there when I woke up. I listened to Bryan Adams, The Phantom of the Opera, and a few others when I woke up In Sydney City Hospital. Among the most frightening days of my life, the music made it ok. I could step back, gather my thoughts, and think of something other then the pain and confusion of not knowing who I was, or who the people were that were surrounding me. It will do your heart good to take some time and watch this this. I, like Steve may have a new life direction to follow. I hope that everybody that reads this will help me to try to make a difference in the lives of so many other people. I feel like maybe my purpose is coming into a clearer focus. Peace and Love, youtu.be/zS8uBq25bfw
Posted on: Mon, 08 Dec 2014 01:42:45 +0000
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