There is something about singing, particularly in community, that touches a nerve. When I get emotional at these times it is usually when I am also at a vulnerable place in my life, and I think that’s no coincidence.
Louise: I was at Westmont recently for an Encinitas Chamber event and I met your father. He was so proud to say that you were his daughter. We had a nice, but short, chat about life and then he was off. The people there say that he is adjusting well to his new life. I hope that is true for him. And "yes" to singing!A great resource for we humans.
I love this, Louise! I used to be part of a church and I always loved communal singing. Now I stimulate my vagus nerve by singing and playing the ukulele.
I've been singing since junior high and it's such an important part of my life. I've sung in school groups. In the All-State Choir. In my church choir. At one point, I was even an on-call funeral singer. But the most emotional experience I had with communal singing was after the 2016 election, when women gathered at my local indie bookstore to be led in protest songs. Many of us that night eventually formed a social justice choir, which went strong until COVID hit. But that night in particular, I remember gathering shoulder to shoulder with this group of strangers in my favorite bookstore's kid lit room and being overcome with emotion as we all joined our voices together.
Great post Louise. while I don’t sing, back in high school, I played saxophone. I haven’t played in a long time but I’ve gotten back to playing it and it has helped me so much in terms of focusing on something else when things are not well. If there is a song I like to sing, it has to be Walking in Memphis, one of my favourite lines in the song is “Boy you got a prayer in Memphis”. It felt like the singer was saying that there is hope if you pray. Made me feel like Memphis is some spiritual place. Hopefully I get to go there one day.
Nice post, Louise. Sometimes when I played guitar and sang I felt those tears. Now I don't feel it singing but when I hear a really good piece of music. It doesn't have to be sad, just affecting. That brings tears to my eyes.
Louise: I was at Westmont recently for an Encinitas Chamber event and I met your father. He was so proud to say that you were his daughter. We had a nice, but short, chat about life and then he was off. The people there say that he is adjusting well to his new life. I hope that is true for him. And "yes" to singing!A great resource for we humans.
Peace, Pastor Bill
wow Louise this is a wonderful post! I can hear your voice, sing on sister!
I love this, Louise! I used to be part of a church and I always loved communal singing. Now I stimulate my vagus nerve by singing and playing the ukulele.
I've been singing since junior high and it's such an important part of my life. I've sung in school groups. In the All-State Choir. In my church choir. At one point, I was even an on-call funeral singer. But the most emotional experience I had with communal singing was after the 2016 election, when women gathered at my local indie bookstore to be led in protest songs. Many of us that night eventually formed a social justice choir, which went strong until COVID hit. But that night in particular, I remember gathering shoulder to shoulder with this group of strangers in my favorite bookstore's kid lit room and being overcome with emotion as we all joined our voices together.
Great post Louise. while I don’t sing, back in high school, I played saxophone. I haven’t played in a long time but I’ve gotten back to playing it and it has helped me so much in terms of focusing on something else when things are not well. If there is a song I like to sing, it has to be Walking in Memphis, one of my favourite lines in the song is “Boy you got a prayer in Memphis”. It felt like the singer was saying that there is hope if you pray. Made me feel like Memphis is some spiritual place. Hopefully I get to go there one day.
Nice post, Louise. Sometimes when I played guitar and sang I felt those tears. Now I don't feel it singing but when I hear a really good piece of music. It doesn't have to be sad, just affecting. That brings tears to my eyes.