Music comforts, heals, and brings us a sense of home, and that is why listening to Christmas carols on the radio may be one way to stay healthy and warm during this cold season.
Whether you are at home hosting family, enjoying the peaceful quiet to yourself, or travelling far away, Christmas carols can bring you a sense of closeness to your loved ones. Music has a way to bring those happy memories forward and creates a bond that is everlasting and unforgettable. The music you hear at memorable events sticks in your head and stays there, bonding those memories forever. You may notice that every time you hear a familiar tune you think of a particular memory that is attached to it. That is the magic of music. Some of these memories bring us tears of joy, and others sadness, but if you learn to harness the positive memories created from these joyful sounds, then you will find yourself a happier and ultimately healthier being this winter season.
Here are some tips to harness the healthful side of music this season...
- If you need to manage some stress in life, and keep your kids in line, remind them that "Santa Claus is coming to town".
- If you are feeling lonely, tune into the song your mother sang to you before bed on a cold winters night (maybe it's Silent Night?) and think about the wonderful times you've shared together.
- If you're in the mood for a party, check out Jingle Bell Rock and Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree.
- And, if you want a good laugh, it's all about the Chipmunk Song or Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer, or even Adam Sandler's Chanukah Song. (I bet you've already started playing these songs in your head).
- What about something to impress your friends? The Trans-Siberian Orchestra has you covered!
- Nat King Cole (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) and John Lennon (War is Over) have also added to the classics.
- Even if you aren't a fan of snow, Winter Wonderland will help you see it's beauty.
We really do "wish you a merry Christmas", so please "have yourself a merry little Christmas now". Feliz Navidad!
Ellen de Havilland is a Board Certified Music Therapist, and has studied extensively the use of music and memory and how it effects the brain.
