At the funeral service, the priest gave a wonderful sermon on the powerful impact of music. This was by far one of the most moving homilies I had ever heard simply because music is hardly discussed in Church today. In fact, in most of the Catholic Churches I’ve attended, hardly anyone sings anymore. Coming from a background in pastoral music, this is a travesty because, as it has been stated, when one sings, one prays twice!

More than that, however, music is celebratory. The priest spoke of the expressiveness of music–that in many cultures, music is played to express our happiness and to soothe our pain. Sharing music with others in a community, where everyone participates in song or instrumental playing, impacts our emotions on a very deep and effecting way. There was indeed a satisfaction felt when we joined together in song and an air of celebration, hope, and joy amid the mire of sadness.

Listening to his words, I was reminded of a Dixieland funeral where jazz would be played in the street during the procession. The bluesy tone helps with the sadness, and the upbeat fun of the beat reminds us of the celebration of this person’s life and the hope that we will again see this person at the end of our time. Truly, the blues itself  expresses sorrow with the intent of sharing with others from the very spirit, healing in its catharsis. This music is not intended to be simply listened to–it begs us to participate, to respond to its call–like a responsorial psalm.

This is, therefore, a call to mankind: lift up your voices, sing together, drum, and let music–the creation and co-creation of music–be an integral part of your life. You will be a healthier and happier person for it. And smile: God loves you for He has given us this great gift!

We realize that this can be a difficult time of year. We wanted to share with you this article we read from one of our local business associates.

Seasonal affective disorder (also called SAD) is a type of depression that occurs at the same time every year. If you’re like most people with seasonal affective disorder, your symptoms start in the fall and may continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody. Less often, seasonal affective disorder causes depression in the spring or early summer.
Don’t brush off that yearly feeling as simply a case of the “winter blues” or a seasonal funk that you have to tough out on your own — you may have seasonal affective disorder. Treatment for seasonal affective disorder includes light therapy (phototherapy), psychotherapy and medications.
Addressing the problem can help you keep
your mood and motivation steady through-out the year.
Winter-onset seasonal affective disorder symptoms include:
* Depression
* Hopelessness
* Anxiety
* Loss of energy
* Social withdrawal
* Oversleeping
* Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
* Appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates
* Weight gain
* Difficulty concentrating and processing information

If your seasonal depression symptoms are severe, you may need medications, light therapy or other treatments to manage sea-sonal affective disorder. However, there are some measures you can do on your own that may help, such as:
Make your environment sunnier and brighter. Open blinds, add skylights and trim tree branches that block sunlight. Sit closer to bright windows while at home or in the office.
Get outside. Take a long walk, eat lunch at a nearby park, or simply sit on a bench and soak up the sun.
Exercise regularly. Physical exercise helps relieve stress and anxiety, both of which can increase seasonal affective disorder symptoms.
You can take action to cope with seasonal affective disorder. Here are tips to help you manage the condition:

Stick to your treatment plan. Take medications as directed and attend therapy appointments as scheduled.
Take care of yourself. Get enough rest. Eat regular, healthy meals. Take time to relax. Don’t turn to alcohol or unprescribed drugs for relief.
Practice stress management. Learn how to manage your stress better. Unmanaged stress can lead to depression, overeating, or other unhealthy thoughts and behaviors.
Socialize. When you’re feeling down, it can be hard to be social. Make an effort to connect with people you enjoy being around. They can offer support, a shoulder to cry on or a joke to give you a little boost.

Information reprinted from the MayoClinic.com

One of my favorite quotes is from Pablo Picasso–”Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” Continue to create and express yourself, your mind and your soul will love you for it!

Keep Moving Forward! Keep On Drumming!

• Please Remove All Rings
• Listen to Each Other
• Watch
• Respect Others
• Shake Off Your Worries—You’re Great!
• Listen, Watch, Feel, and Be–That’s Right Just “Be” In the Moment
• Don’t Give Up!
• Please Do Not Remove Instruments From the Circle
• HAVE FUN!!!

You can bring your own instrument, or you can share one of ours–we have plenty for all.

We want you to feel welcome, and please, as always, feel free to contact us and let us know what you think.

Sincerely,

Rich Cruz and the Keep the Beat Incorporated Team