Thursday Tidbits

Posted on April 18, 2019 under Thursday Tidbits with 2 comments

A walk on the wildside

“Whenever I chance to meet, some old friends on the street,

They wonder how does a man get to be this way.”

Kiss an Angel Good Morning – Charley Pride

There are so many obvious benefits of walking. First and foremost, it’s good for your heart. There is an abundance of evidence to show that even moderate exercise can vastly improve long term health outcomes. And we’re not just talking about keeping our ticker purring like a cat. Many would argue, including myself, that walking is also good for the head. It’s an opportunity to clear the cobwebs. Very often, nagging problems can be solved by taking a solitary walk.

Invariably, I find myself humming a tune as I wend my way through the streets of town or on country roads. I can say without any hesitation, that music, in some way, shape or form, has been a part of every day of my life.

One of the other benefits of walking is that you meet other walkers. If you are a creature of habit, you generally see the same people on your daily walk. Sometimes you stop and chat while other times, it’s a simple wave of the hand if they’re on the opposite side of the road.

The other morning, I bumped into two individuals in two different locations along my route. After chatting with them for a few minutes, I walked away and thought to myself, “Those are two of the most decent human beings I’ve ever met.” Most of us are flawed human beings. But occasionally you meet people who just seem to be so damn nice. You always feel better having spent time with them even if it only for a few fleeting moments.

What are the common characteristics of folks like this? First of all, they always seem to be in good cheer. They smile easily. They rarely speak negatively about any person or anything. They seem to be blessed with inner peace and contentment. I’m quite certain that a longer conversation would reveal that their lives are far from perfect but in public, they just seem to have the gift of making people around them feel better. Oh yes, these two individuals are also very fine musicians.

In my years in business, I was repeatedly told by my mentors to surround myself with people who were smarter than me. That was a pretty easy one! They also told me to avoid negative people like the plague and to seek out people who exuded optimism. Positive people beget positive people.

Speaking of music, I perform a lot of music for people who have dementia. Someone sent me this quote (author unknown) the other day which succinctly describes the power of music for those who have lost so much to the ravages of time.

“Music takes a person to a happier place in time, and is a potent stimulus for reaffirming personal identity and social connectedness. Familiar tunes and lyrics can be recognized across all stages of dementia. So, whenever possible, sing, hum and move along to your loved one’s favourite song!”

On this Easter weekend, why not get out for a walk. You’ll feel great and you just might bump into some people who will give you hope in a troubled world.

Optimism and good cheer are contagious. See if you can contract some of it!

Happy Easter.

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