"And, I'm grateful for my work - for being able to bring music, something beautiful, into the worlds of those who are truly suffering and provide some reprieve that helps in a small way. That brings some comfort, and maybe even some joy during a joyless time. I'm grateful that I get to connect with them through the healing power of music."
"I find this time of year interesting. And, like many I'm sure, I go through the drill of "resolutions" - eat better, work out more, drink less, write more, blah... blah.... blah... And every year when we get here, like many, I think, "Well, I'm glad that year is over. The world, the political climate, the economy, the environment, blah... blah... blah...""
"So, for this new year, I'm not going to make any resolutions. And I'm not going to dwell on the hardships of my life in 2025 and feel sorry for myself. Like the Buddhists and the Stoics, I'm letting go of the past. It's a new dawn. It's a new day. It's a new year and a new beginning. And, it's a time for a renewed sense of hope."
Many people repeat unattainable New Year resolutions and often feel skeptical about their value. Personal challenges in 2025 prompted reflection on acceptance and navigation of recurring hardship. Buddhist and Stoic ideas of letting go and focusing on the present inform a decision to abandon resolutions and release past suffering. A hospital-based music therapist observes patients with greater suffering and uses music to bring brief reprieve, comfort, and occasional joy. Gratitude for meaningful work and interpersonal connection through music supports a renewed sense of hope heading into the new year. A patient story begins to illustrate these themes.
Read at Psychology Today
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]