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I love this. I've been reading about how singing calms the nervous system -- our larynx is connected to our vagus nerve, and singing activates it, calming us. And when you sing with others your heartbeats actually synchronize!

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Yes! I have often sung to calm myself. Hey, I hummed Silent Night, all the way through 1st grade, to calm myself. Nah, it wasn’t a longing for Christmas, just my need for calmness. I lover Oliver’s poem entitled ‘I Worried’. It ends with

‘Finally, I Aw that worrying had come to nothing.

And gave it up. And took my old body

And went out into the morning,

And sang’

I was encouraged to do this again, daily, in the past year of thinking we would move any minute, not k owing where or how we would land, and so much much more. I’ve started sitting and just singing a song , or hymn, or making something up, in the mornings. I feel myself unclench, and my soul spread, and embrace the day better, whatever it will hold.

Also, I am an old body, in my 60’s

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This reminds me of how I, as a 5 or 6 year old, sang Boyz II Men's "I'll Make Love to You" while walking around the house. I thought to "make love" to someone was to give them lots of hugs and do loving things for them - like he was going to get her chocolates and flowers! Hahaha.

And oh, singing. I recently spoke with my inner child and asked what she wanted me to do more of, and she said "Sing." Something I used to do so much as a kid but have since stopped.

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I remember recording songs from the radio too 😀

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Wishing so much love your way. This is beautiful. ❤️

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