On Being Awake

It was late one evening.  I sat up on the sofa, thought for a moment, then remarked to my husband how tired I was. It had been a very early day for me and more physical than usual. Considering my advanced stage of decomposition, (ha, ha) I was doing just fine, however. The dancing, the dishes,  the reading, the research, romping with my easily distractible retriever , attending to the firewood that heated our home and home schooling our kitty cat were simply ‘in the line of duty’ chores.  And that was just the easy part.

Laughing erupted as I critiqued myself, wondering   if I’d be  awake in my 70’s and if a ‘mirror test’ would be necessary in my 80’s, just to be sure!  We laughed spiritedly for a few minutes, then continued on our merry way: he to bed and I, to watch The Tenors, a Canadian foursome of singing virtuosos, on a PBS special. ...  It was a refreshing way to end the day and to banish stress, a culprit at the root of the many ills that plague us all. ...  Laughing and music are truly an unbeatable combination for physical and mental health! ...    (Complete silence, also, has its merits.)

The Tenors’ singing artistry was hypnotizing. As the cameras panned the audience, each and every person was smiling, too, just as I was. How could we not?  There is nothing more calming, energizing or exhilarating than listening to incredible musical talent regardless of what it is or where it originates. It can ignite what lies deep inside each one of us... Humour, also, has the same effect on the human body as it enhances it, physiologically, physically and emotionally. This dynamic duo, born of incredible genius, can help bridge the gap between generations, heal saddened hearts and lift spirits.

Humour can uproot us from a dark place and, as research has shown many times,  the resultant laughter can produce many health benefits such as lowering  blood pressure, lessening the stress in our lives and in some instances, giving us a much needed physical workout that expends calories, the ‘companions’ of our daily diet.

As a person of ‘experience’, I am  reminded  daily that the simple things in life are truly the best and most gratifying.....  It is wonderful to know that humour and music are so closely connected to health and readily available to each of us with a flick of a switch or button from the electronic world in which we live. ..  The synchronized  health dance of music and humour are unbeatable.. I am continually energized and comforted by the comedy of John Pinnette, the late Bob Hope and Johnny Carson, to name a few. In music, I am enthralled and gratified by the musical genius of Glen Miller, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Kelly Clarkson, Pink, Jon Bon Jovi, and Michael Buble to name a few and to whom I owe some of my mental health. ...   I am inspired and made whole again.

When we act young, our brain acts accordingly, too. This ‘youth quotient’ lies hidden, deep within each one of us, a reminder that we have a choice.  It serves to tell the brain what the rest of the body needs to know..  ... Though our chronological age or ’birth date’ will always serve to remind us when we were born, when we came to be, this ‘aging thermometer’ does not define us.  That is our call. The ‘it hurts’ mentality can grip us, understandably, as we ‘age’ but other  noteworthy influences, as described above, can help to distract us, help us forget that the number of years we  have been around is now greater. ....  I am humbled that I am able to stay up past midnight. It would seem prudent, however, not to do it too often, as we sit on the sofa laughing at ourselves because life can be so funny at times.