It’s the Holiday Season. Actually, the Holiday Season began in September if you shop at Costco. Christmas trees and decorations began appearing before the Halloween candy came out. While this may just bug the heck out of a normal person, I am in heaven. I love this time of year and am one of those annoying people that sings Christmas Carols in July…in the hallways…at my work…which makes most of my coworkers want to choke me by August.
Now that it’s December 1st, what was previously thought of as irritating and insane, has now moved into socially acceptable and even endearing, from what I hear. I am a solid alto so cannot sing some of my Mother’s favorites such as “Oh Holy Night” but can crank out a decent rendition of Winter Wonderland and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Decent meaning…no one has recently asked me, “Who sings that?” and then quickly responded to my answer with, “Why don’t we let them!” (and yes…that did happen once. However, since singing is cheaper than therapy or large amounts of wine, I was undeterred and just sang louder.)
I have actually heard that my coworkers get concerned when I’m not singing. It is apparently a barometer for my emotional state. Singing = Happy. Not Singing = The company is going under and we may all be dead by dawn. A slight exaggeration but singing in the hallways does seem to bring a smile to my coworkers…as long as it’s not Carols in July.
I once read that people who sing live longer. I’ve witnessed no correlation between singing and actually using all my work out equipment so I’m not seeing visible physical benefits. I do agree, however, that singing seems to make me happy. I used to believe my coworkers were correct in that when I’m happy, I sing. I think I’ve decided it’s the opposite, and that if I’m not happy, and I sing, then I get happy…and I do believe, that happier people at least have a better quality of life if they live longer.
So, it’s the Holiday Season. It’s time for me to sing and be happy and finally…socially acceptable! If you need a lift this holiday season, as I know I have needed in some years past, here is a link to my all time favorite Holiday arrangement by two men that were never asked to “let someone else sing that!”
Mothering, Marriage and Menopause 
I’ve sung in several choral groups over the past few years, and we started practicing our winter concert in August and you guessed it! We practiced Christmas songs. I’m still in the church choir that practices a cantata starting in early October, so no stranger to getting a jump on Christmas songs. I have to admit one of these groups soured my opinion of the song, “Little Drummer Boy.” We got off track in concert and the conductor stopped us and made us start over. So humiliating! But I agree with you that singing makes me happy and it is as good as meditation in focusing my mind. There are a million things to concentrate on when you sing – posture, breathing, pitches, dynamics, words, etc. Impossible to ruminate or obsess about problems. Sing on, my sweet friend!
LikeLike