We’ve been receiving dozens of stories from people coast to coast about the transformative power of music. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we are publishing a story every day in May.
Submitted by: Kit Standish Finkelstein
Music has always been an important part of my being. I remember when I was 9 years old I was lucky enough to be in the Port Colborne Operatic Theatre production of The King and I. I loved the thrill of being part of the musical team, the rehearsals and then performing to a large crowd for 6 nights in a row and feeling very important that I got to miss some school.
But I never forgot the songs, especially "Whistle a Happy Tune". The premise of the lyrics in that song was in today's terms..."fake it till you make it." Various songs throughout my life helped shape my attitude towards life and in so doing helped me to get through challenging times. In my adult life as a mental health nurse I encouraged young teens to share music that was meaningful to them. We played music and danced often and brought in music students to teach the patients how to play the guitar or ukulele.
It is so difficult to write about the effect music has had on my life because it has always been a daily part of my life whether it was singing lessons as a child, passing down lullabies to my children and now their children, playing tricks in church while you were in junior choir, being in band in high school, playing guitar to lead "hootenannies" in the 60's or just daydreaming with a tune in my head. Music has helped make me who I am and I am so grateful for the opportunities I had to learn and share music in my early years. Music will always be with me in one form or another.
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