Sing for yourself

I love music. Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. The greatest connection I had with my father was his nurturing of me as a singer and guitar player.

I remember as a young man I burned with musical ambition. I craved applause and the opportunity to perform. I was certain I wanted to be famous, to make music my life, to be ... a star! Of course that didn't happen. Just as well, really. I'm not cut out for public life, or travel, or criticism, or pressure, or dealing with shifty business types.

Nope, I've had a luxurious musical life, doing what I wanted. It's only recently I've realized it was luxurious. I've always in the back of mind thought of music as a 'means to end', to make money. Now while I've had a little success, in those terms my musical life could only be considered a failure. Too often I've thought of it this way. But that's wrong. 

I was standing paying a bill at a medical practitioner's desk humming to myself and she looked up and said 'Singing is good for the heart.' That thought struck me. She was right, in all kinds of ways. The best reason to sing is for yourself.

Singing is good for the heart.