Tap into your Grooveline with Music

We are so busy most of the time these days. Between commuting, traveling, work, school, children, family, friends, and life in general it can feel overwhelming. I was on my way, somewhere the other day and a song came on that took me back to my high school homecoming dance. Okay, I am about to date myself.  “Grooveline” by Heatwave came on and I was in the car singing, moving my head, shaking my shoulders and having a good run down memory lane. Why is that?

Did you know that music changes your brain chemistry? Have you ever heard a song from your past and you were flooded with memories? Music is a form of meditation and can be very healing.  The combination of words, music and images transports us to where we were at that time. The body is absolutely amazing. Did you know that your body will remember and recall your feelings and emotions from a specific experience?  Those feelings and emotions are stored your physical cells.  Awesome, right? It is so important to remember that your body has a memory and we want to manage our experiences to be positive, loving and nourishing so the recall of our memories are good.

We all experience stress on some level, stress is a natural part of being alive and human. Using music to manage stress is one way to help us through our daily experiences and hopefully lighten the stress load.  I am sitting here now listening to my Beautiful Calm audio by Ananga Siyver, a wonderful artist I met online a few years ago when I was doing online research. The first sound of the morning meditation took me to a place of peace.  The sound and the tone of that chord transported me to when I first sat down to listen to the audio program.

I am excited to announce that I will be facilitating my stress management program, Why Struggle? Managing Stress with Meditation, see the details below:

Stress Management Program
Saturday, September 17, 2011
12 – 1:00 pm
Covington Highway Branch
3500 Covington Highway
Decatur, GA 30032-1850
(404) 508-7180

You will practice meditating and learn helpful tools, tips and techniques that are portable and may be used any time. There is no charge for the program so please share the information with others.

Let me know what music moved you lately and what’s on your current play list. Leave your comments below.

It’s that time of the year. We see Give…Give…Give… EVERYWHERE. Yesterday I donated blood at the American Red Cross  and had an interesting conversation with the people assisting me. Usually when I give blood I can get in and out very quickly, I have good veins and I don’t usually have issues with blood flow. Denise did the initial questioning and set up prior to the actual blood donation and started the process. I was prepared and started reading my book, Brida, which a friend just recently passed on for me to read.

As I sat reading my book, Georgia was called over to assist Denise and after a few moments I asked what was happening. Georgia made some adjustments and my blood began to flow generously. Joshua came over to check on me and to end the donation process. The holiday season is always an opportunity for conversations around a lot of topics, giving being near the top of the list.

He was quite passionate about giving and concerned about the emphasis on giving gifts during Christmas. Joshua talked about how so many Christians focused so much money and energy on buying gifts. We chatted and I reminded him of the power of ONE…Every ONE. I suggested that he could be an example to others of how to share that loving, giving spirit that comes with the holiday year round. I laughed and reminded him that his name was Joshua, from the Bible, and he smiled in recognition of the story of his name. Every day we have opportunities to be examples of how we “say” we want the world to be. We are the ultimate examples of living by our example.

I have been donating blood for several years. I’ve gone from donating about once a year to at least 3-4 times a year. Taking time out of my day (about 1 hour or less) a few times a year is one of the ways I give throughout the year.

Share your thoughts about how you give year round, I’d love to hear from you! See an original poem of mine below:

Opportunities
by Barbara J. Faison

Every day we have opportunities around us.
Every day we have fear walk up to us.
Every day we have love run away.
Every day we have choices we must make.
As this day unfolds make your life as you choose.
As this day springs to life, choose what you will bring forth and do so with love, honesty and compassion.
As this day goes on, continue to share your abundance with others.

Opportunities are all around us.
We have an opportunity to:

     Offer assistance to someone in need.
     Share a kind word.
     Speak to a stranger.
     Give from our heart.
     Believe in good things.
     Inspire others to soar!
     Love someone patiently.
     Hope for the best.
     Expect kindness.
     Be kind.

As this day ends, be grateful for the beauty you have experienced.