9 Reasons Why Listening To Live Music Should Be Part of Your Health Plan

Creating a great relationship with others starts with a great you.  So take good care of yourself!  

And how might you do that so it feels easy and natural, like play?  

Have you noticed that when you’re in the presence of a great performer you remember everything good about you and about life? 

Take, for instance, a singer you love. When she sings, you feel invigorated, revived and joyful. Why? Inspiration pumped into the room through her affects you, which sends you into your happy place, ready to do more of what you love, too. She helps you remember the feeling of your own inspiration. And you remember how strong, funny, smart, loving, and intelligent you are, too.   

Listening to singers and performers is part of my personal health care plan and one of the ways I keep my relationship with Eric in good shape. Being bathed in Inspiration keeps me healthy and humming along. 

Here are singers I’ve seen live and in person this year, and why it mattered.    

ONE

ARTISTS REMIND US THAT WE ARE WAY, WAY, WAY MORE THAN WE THINK. 

Yes, we know this. but having someone sing this idea into our heart and mind for a couple hours is quite another matter. We remember that we have more room to move than we imagine. We are smarter than anyone told us.

We have unlimited access to the Divine.  

Listen to Amy Steinberg, “Grace.”

TWO

WE ARE ON TRACK, NO MATTER WHAT LIFE LOOKS LIKE.  

Life is a work in progress.  There are mysteries, unanswered questions, and struggles.  But take a difficulty and mine it for gold — you’ll find it.  And then Voila!  The difficulty becomes a gift. 

Kat Williams talking about her life.  

Keb Mo “Better Man”

THREE

WHERE YOU’RE DECLARED OUT OF CONTROL, UN-TEACHABLE,  UN-MANAGEABLE, UN-ABLE — THAT MAY BE WHERE YOUR BEST TALENT IS WAITING.  

Having failures doesn’t mean you are one.

Henry Ford went broke five times before he founded Ford Motor Company. Oprah Winfrey endured an abusive childhood, followed by career setbacks including being fired from her job as a television reporter because she was “unfit for TV.” Thomas Edison was told he was “too stupid to learn anything.” Albert Einstein didn’t speak until he was four. and didn’t read until he was seven, which caused his teachers and parents to conclude that he was mentally handicapped and slow. Author J.K. Rowling was a welfare mom. In a span of five years she became one of the richest women in the world. Before starring in “I Love Lucy” Lucille Ball was widely regarded as a failed actress and a B movie star. Even her drama instructors didn’t feel she could make it, telling her to try another profession. Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor because he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas.” He also started a number of businesses that ended in bankruptcy and failure before he finally found the formula that worked for him.

Singer Kelley Hunt’s first five piano teachers said they just couldn’t do a thing with her. Then, at age 10,  she met Mary, and Mary changed everything. By the way, Kelley is coming back to Asheville soon. You’ll forget all about time, you’ll leave inspired. She takes such good care of you!

Kelley Hunt sings “Queen of the 88’s” on youTube (sound only, no video). 

Here’s another version, fun to watch — the sound isn’t great.

FOUR

NOBODY LOVES WHAT YOU LOVE, QUITE LIKE YOU LOVE IT. 

You have a unique recipe of what you appreciate, when you appreciate it, and how you appreciate it.  

What do you love?  

“Truth” by Ruthie Foster.

FIVE

WHEN YOU DO WHAT YOU DO WITH ALL YOUR HEART, YOU’RE UNSTOPPABLE, MUST-WATCHABLE, AND SO HAPPY!

Good performers wail, rock out, swoon, and scoop the audience up into their arms through the music. When they tell their musical story, we never once think about our to-do list. We are in the hands of a songstress and you know what? She helps us remember to be good to ourselves when we need it most. 

Kat Williams singing “Smile.”

SIX

IT AIN’T OVER WHEN IT’S OVER. 

Nothing is ever over, it’s evolving. If you’re keeping score on how you’ve done and you don’t like the result, then you’ve measured too soon. Keep going. Give yourself a little more time and things will change.

Keb Mo singing “Life Is Beautiful”

SEVEN

IT’S OK TO WAIL. 

Get it out. Have at it. Go for it. Wailing leads to plenty of good things. Wailing is a stream of sound, and when we let it out, I wonder if it circles the globe and comes back to us even more full of Universal Spirit. Maybe the wailing gathers as it flies, so that who we know ourselves to be gets bigger on the return flight. 

Do whatever it takes to step out of your own way. “Let your light shine, let your love show, it’s a short ride down a long road, when rains come, when the wind blows, let your light shine, wherever you go.” (Keb Mo)

Keb Mo “Let Your Light Shine”

EIGHT

GO AHEAD, BE THE WAY YOU ARE. 

You’re the only one like you, with your personal brand of being. Appreciate your traits! Revel in what you love! Today, I stepped from my home at first light to see the Fall colors of the forest. It’s something I love to do. Honor what you love — the whole package called “you.”

Ruthie Foster “Phenomenal Woman.”

Keb Mo “Shave Yo Legs”

NINE

AND FINALLY, LET IT RAIN. 

Let who you are rain, rain, rain. Let who you truly are reign! 

Kelley Hunt “Let It Rain.