Kate
The clock reads 10:09 pm. I’m drowning in assessments for the upcoming week. In a haze, I find myself wandering to the living room where my piano awaits me. With each chord I play, my stress is released. My soul is renewed as I sing each song.
Music is therapy. Whether you play the music yourself or you listen to your favorite album, music has a unique ability to completely turn your mood around. In these stressful times, I have found myself at my piano constantly. It is important to escape the fear of the present and engage in something that is just for me. Many nights, I sit at the piano and play for my family so they too can feel refreshed and rejuvenated by music.
Every week when I speak to Irving, we discuss music. He listens to classical music every night as he falls asleep. One wednesday, I played a song for Irving on the piano; he was overjoyed. Music has helped me feel closer to Irving even though we are many miles apart. It comforts me to know that he too can use music as a means of coping during this period of isolation. While I wish I could see Irving in person, enjoying music together over the phone mimics the holiness of face to face interaction.
I encourage all of you to find your “play.” It may be music, but it also could be a sport, book, board game, or anything in between. In order to get through this period of uncertainty, we must self soothe by engaging in activities for our own pleasure. I am so grateful that I have music to help me cope with the chaos of the present. Each day, I implore all of you to dedicate part of your day to just play.