Music to Soothe the Savage Beast

Living with a chronic illness is often difficult, and finding coping mechanisms is an important part of learning how to live with something like lupus. Recently I was reminded that music is one of my most important coping mechanisms. Whether you listen to classical music, rap, heavy metal, alternative, or whatever, music can reach into your soul and affect your emotions. Since I have widely varied music tastes, I can almost always find something to suit my mood, or to lift my spirit.

I learned to sing at a very early age. My Mom noted in my baby book that my first song was not something like "Mary Had a Little Lamb," but was rather "Love Will Keep us Together," by Captain & Tennille. (Not sure what that says about my taste, but I was a little kid.) Music has always been part of my life, from roller skating in the basement to Meco or the Xanadu soundtrack (again, see the previous sentence), to singing in school choirs. On longer drives in the car, my dad would blast ELO on the stereo, and we would all sing along, everybody taking different parts. ELO can still make me happy. I just put on a favorite song, like "Shine a Little Love" (see it on YouTube here), and sing and clap along. I might even dance a little if I'm feeling up to it. Hey, that YouTube link just started playing on my computer! I feel a little better already. (*clap, clap, whooooo!*)

On days when I have that fabulous lupus headache, I turn on Chopin, Mozart, Beethoven, or one of my other favorite composers. The music soothes me and takes me away from my pain. (-Okay, wait a second. YouTube just suggested I watch the Xanadu video. How does it know?!) You probably have music that does the same things for you. Even if you're stuck in bed, you can still listen to music, and maybe sing along.

So, turn on that radio, grab your favorite CDs, find your old mix tapes, or dig out those LPs, and, as Brian Wilson sings, "Add some music to your day." And don't be afraid to sing or dance, even if it's just in the shower. Out running errands? Swing by the Hallmark section and start opening those musical cards. You'll laugh, I promise.

Now you'll have to excuse me. Since I don't have a headache today, I am off to put Sirius 1st Wave on the stereo. I know I'll be singing along. Maybe I'll even dance.


PS: After I posted this, I went back to the YouTube browser window, and discovered it was recommending this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gt3grMaHZI&NR=1. OMG!!!! YouTube has obviously been in my CD collection. Scary.