Today is Nelson Mandela International Day.
In honor of Nelson Mandela’s 67 years of public service, people around the world are encouraged to spend 67 minutes serving someone else.
That made me think about what music can give to another person.
Music is often considered entertainment, but it can be so much more than that. It can create a moment of peace, help someone feel less alone, or express something that is difficult to put into words.
When I play slower, meditative pieces, people often tell me, “That was exactly what I needed.”
I have heard this when I played something before church and it touched them, or during worship, and while playing harp for hospice patients. Sometimes I know a little about what the person is experiencing. Other times, I have no idea what they may be carrying on their shoulders.
Music can bring comfort during physical pain. It can soothe emotional pain, offer a welcome distraction, or calm someone who is frightened or anxious.
Sometimes the music does not take the difficulty away, but it can make the moment feel a little gentler.
We may never fully know how much a few minutes of music has helped someone. A piece that feels simple or ordinary to us may be exactly what another person needs to hear.
Of course, music does not always need to be quiet or meditative.
Music can also bring energy, laughter, courage, and joy. Sometimes what a person needs is something faster, louder, or more playful—music that makes them smile, sing, move, or remember a happier time.
What helps today may be very different for the next person and may even be different from one moment to the next.
So today, I have been thinking about this question:
How might you use 67 minutes to serve someone?
Perhaps you could play your instrument for someone who needs encouragement or comfort.
You might listen to peaceful music with someone, sing with a child, call a friend who may be lonely, help a neighbor, write an encouraging note, or offer care in an entirely different way.
Your act of service does not need to be dramatic. Small things can make a meaningful difference.
What can you give to someone else today?
I would love to hear what you decide to do. Please write back and share it with me.
Musically,
Karen Monroe
Music Theory Mentor
Music Theory: Cracking the Code