I was born with music in my heart. Growing up, whenever I heard music—either in nature or on the stereo—I always stopped to listen. “The greatest scientists are artists as well,” said Albert Einstein. As one of the greatest physicists of all time and a fine amateur pianist and violinist, he ought to have known! So what did Einstein mean and what does it tell us about the nature of creative thinking and how we should stimulate it? Einstein’s musical hobbies served as an example of personal creativity providing the kind of recreation that enables professional innovation.
Whether it is the simple melody of a lullaby to the crashing drums of rock and roll, music evokes an emotion in all of its listeners. Music has been around for centuries creating an environment of healing. It is taken in through the ear, the sound is processed in the mind, and the body responds physically or emotionally. It is such a big part of our lives, and we react to it in many ways without even realizing. Music can evoke positive emotions. We can feel it in our entire body and even in our gut. It produces 95 percent of the body’s serotonin—the neurotransmitter that contributes to emotions and well-being and happiness; thus making this part of the body teeming with emotions. That is why when we listen to music or play music we experience it throughout our entire being as it raises our spirits and makes our hearts sing.
Growing scientific evidence attests to music’s healing powers. Many ancient cultures used sound and music for healing. Pythagoras called it “music medicine.” In the middle ages, the study of music became a mandatory part of a physician’s education. It was discovered that, no matter a person’s age, if they engage in listening or participating in music, it enhances the brain’s ability to heal from physical, mental or emotional wounds. Today, music therapy has gained widespread attention and acceptance as a way to help people who are sad, depressed or under stress to listen to music and to feel its’ healing powers.
Pearl Jam
“I Am Mine”
Faithing and hoping to buy themselves time
Me, I figure as each breath goes by
I only own my mind
The North is to South what the clock is to time
There’s east and there’s west and there’s everywhere life
I know I was born and I know that I’ll die
The in between is mine
I am mine
And the feeling, it gets left behind
All the innocence lost at one time
Significant, behind the eyes
There’s no need to hide
We’re safe tonight
The ocean is full ’cause everyone’s crying
The full moon is looking for friends at hightide
The sorrow grows bigger when the sorrow’s denied
I only know my mind
I am mine
And the meaning, it gets left behind
All the innocents lost at one time
Significant, behind the eyes
There’s no need to hide
We’re safe tonight
And the feelings that get left behind
All the innocents broken with lies
Significance, between the lines
(We may need to hide)
And the meanings that get left behind
All the innocents lost at one time
We’re all different behind the eyes
There’s no need to hide
