“For all that has been – Thanks!
For all that shall be – Yes!”
(Dag Hammarskjold)
Winter is Nature’s time where plants, animals and humans go inside earth and stay in warm places to renourish and renew. It is the quieter, slower and darker space where we are naturally invited to Remember – past, present and that to come.
This time I want to remember how the presence of song and singing gives so much to the vibrancy of Denmark. Recently and on a cold night, I reluctantly got out of my comfortable warm couch and was serenaded and absolutely delighted by five wonderful community choirs, two of whom were visiting from Perth. The venue was full, the audience was mostly ‘grey’ and by the end of the evening wild grandmothers were dancing and men were tapping and clapping. These choirs made up of people from all walks of life (including our great doctors), ages from 30’s to 80’s, practised and practised so they could entertain us well. The joy on their faces was infectious. Wellbeing and lightness of being exuded with each song, each choir and throughout the participating audience.
What a treat. But this was not just another night of entertainment like watching TV. These choirs give so freely of their energy, time and effort often at no or little cost to us and the return to us is substantial and memorable. Health wise each of us benefits from this joyful, warm-heartedness. Wellness-wise we may be inspired not only to join in but also to find active and passive ways of creating expression, movement and aliveness. Being with others or doing something different extends us beyond the couch, reserve or ingrained habit.
There is so much anecdotal and scientific evidence that says: “when we say ‘Yes to Life’, we live well or feel more able to endure or tackle the challenges in our lives.” Even more so, when we grow warm-heartedness, giving in gratitude or giving freely, then all benefit. May Winter become a time for Receiving and Giving gratefully.
“A hundred times every day I remind myself
that my inner and outer life
depend on the labours of other men,
living and dead, and that I must exert myself
in order to give in the same measure
as I have received and am still receiving.”
(Albert Einstein)