If recent news reports are accurate, it seems as if many across all spectrums of life hum. In happiness as well as in stressful times, with awareness and at times subconsciously, many, high ranking politicians included, hum.
I recently caught myself humming and I have no idea why. Ironically, the awareness brought an unexpected but welcomed wave of peace. The unexpectedness of the experience and the surprise that followed brought a renewed appreciation for the way music influences our lives. I do not think my reflections are unique or profound. I do find that the awareness and pause that followed helpful in refocusing my heart and mind. While everyone hums and sings for multiple reasons, for me humming created a refreshed awareness of the following.
Humming allows me to express emotions that I otherwise struggle to express. In the recent awareness, it was clear that the intended audience is my heart and mind. I do not think anyone was within hearing distance and that was just fine! Humming was and s a feedback loop that informs my heart and mind of my deepest heart expressions as well as my greatest hopes.
Humming lets me use the words of others to say what I struggle to say. The collage of words come together in a way that forms a unique story that only I understand. Most of the time, it stays that way.
Humming creates space in my thinking and awareness so that Life can interrupt. It is far too easy to be caught up in a world of imagination created by and form myself. As I hear myself hum, the cycle is broken. I think of the tune, the author, and at times the many ways it has been sun or played.
I am not sure if the one-time humming event will repeat. I hope so. Even as I consider the possibilities and the link between humming and singing, an old Psalm rings true; “Oh, let me sing to God all my life long, sing hymns to my God as long as I live!” (Psalm 104.33)
