I’m sitting in yoga position in a darkened room lit mostly by candles surrounding a Buddha altar in the corner. On the mat to my right Julie says, “My boyfriend would never attend something like this. He says it’s too woo-woo.” She sighs and tucks a lock of hair behind her ear. “This” is the didgeridoo concert we’ve come to…
By now, we’ve probably all heard our fair share of Christmas music—it’s on the radio, coming through the loudspeaker at the grocery store, and on the soundtrack of every commercial. By the time Christmas actually rolls around, hearing “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas” one more time can be enough to frustrate even the most festive among us. If you’re…
Tunes that will put some spring in your step
Traditional Christmas songs with a modern twist
You can boost your mood by listening to upbeat music
I think it’s safe to say Spring has finally arrived. It feels like I’ve been waiting so long for it that even if we do get another snowstorm I’ll welcome it. I know that that snow will melt shortly after, and sun will shine on! Spring makes me look forward to flowers blooming, trees budding, and all the other beautiful…
Today is the International Day of Happiness. In 2012, the General Assembly of the United Nations declared March 20th as International Happiness Day. In the U.S. the “pursuit of happiness” is one of our fundamental principles. The U.N. wanted to share this concept with the world as a way to raise awareness of the many benefits of being happy. Since…
Neuroscience shows how music can have a powerful impact on well-being—and even on our mental health
In the summer of 1969, with a getaway weekend at an acquaintance’s cottage on the Connecticut shore stymied by steady rain, I moped around alone in the rented space, bored stiff. Riffling through some record albums in the cluttered den, I came upon an LP that was beguiling in its starkness: bordered in black, the cover consisted of a single,…
