[Sensory Walk]

I don't have a great memory anymore, either.  However, visuals stay with me better than some other avenues, so I was able to retain until I got home, but writing what I saw was the first and most immediate thing I did when I walked into the door of my house from my walk.  It helped to mentally re-walk the very familiar route to and from in my mind over again seeing what I saw as I reached the particular area where I saw the visuals and writing it down before moving forward again on in my mental re-walk.  Walking with the notebook is a very good idea, but I chose not to because for that particular walk, I needed to take in and absorb the scenery, the moment and BE as much if not more than getting the visual ideas to write down.  Sometimes when life gets crazy, I just need to get grounded in my surroundings and NOTICE what is around, just be and take in.  It helps me to let go of the craziness, at least for a little while.  I need it!  Songwriting has been good for me for the same reason.  It helps me to take note of emotions, reality, people and moments, something that my very being NEEDS while my life often feels like a whirlwind.

I have, at other times in my life, written with extreme care, trying to reach a sort of standard that my studies of lyric writing have suggested, but for this time in my life, it seems that I am writing because it ministers to me.  For the time being, my songs are written to get my ideas on paper.  Perfecting them, I think will come at a time in my life when it slows down a bit (summer hopefully!) I think its good to have a creative sitting at a different time than when you have the tweaking sitting.  I think it must use different parts of the brain.  Kind of like not wanting to stop the creative flow by doing the tweaks in the same sitting.

[Creativity Killers and Creativity Stimulators]

I did the same search on “study concerning singing is good for you”. This particular header caught my attention:  “The Neuroscience  of Singing”.

I found it quite fascinating.  I had already heard about the synchronized heartbeats from a co-singer.  http://upliftconnect.com/neuroscience-of-singing/

[Creativity Killers and Creativity Stimulators]

7 hours ago, Patchez said:

-- Creativity ?, -- just play. 

Someone spent allot of money on a report recently released that determined that "Singing" was "good for you". Yes, indeed. All sort of good stuff chemicals are released and have many positive affects/effects on the body. 

I am so glad you brought this up!  This most certainly could be an extension to this article.

 

 I have been exposed to the idea of play to stimulate creativity.  As a matter of fact, I believe you were a contributor to my exposure to the idea of that awhile back.  Not necessarily the scientific side—but makes sense to me.

I definitely need more play.  

 

I’ve also “heard” of that report about singing, well...not sure if “that” report, but some reference to a study done, but I hadn’t pursued it further—it also just made sense to me.  

 

Glad to have your contribution on other ideas for creativity stimulators—play and just staying focused.

 

How could I forget negativity as a creativity killer?  Well...I think I’ve possibly become immune to it—over-exposure maybe, lol.

 

However I can attest to the fact that having some positive reinforcement to counteract negativity helps.  Something you’ve been instrumental part of through the last number of years.  Thanks, friend.

[Jigsaw Sequence - Featured Artist]

I couldn’t get to the Link to be able to read it. 😕

[Memories and music]

I watched that youtube clip, @ImKeN  I HAVE seen it before as part of a larger documentary.  It was touching--made me teary--happy/sad teary.  I wish I could remember what its called.  I think I re-posted it on my fb a looooong time ago. I may be able to find it.  I think it was during the experimental phase of them using the ipods to introduce favored music to the nursing home clients. Not only was I fascinated with it, but quite tickled with how it brought out each person's personality and emotion.  

 

I watched a few more that were featured after your posted youtube, too.  One showed the activity going on in the brain of a woman being hooked up to imaging and listening to some of her chosen music.  The brain lit up all over.  Quite amazing to see, but I particularly like the ones of those people struggling with dementia or mental illness who don''t respond to anything, and then you play familiar music to them and.....  Those are the ones where it captures something special.  They should do that ipod thing in EVERY nursing home, every  care facility.  It brings them to life!

 

Years before I had seen that clip, there was a woman I used to visit.  I didn't previously know her, but long story short, I'd visit her periodically to read Bible passages to her and sing her hymns.  She had a brain injury that left her unable to move from the neck down and rendered her highly emotional.  She was in long-term care.  Sometimes I'd bring my kids in.  She loved that.  She LOVED hymn-type music.  She'd sob every time, but it was because it touched her somewhere deep inside.  One nurse didn't like that she got emotional and even scolded her for it.  I had left a CD of music (one of my fav's) with her because she liked it, but she told me her son took it away.   

 

She was so reliant on everyone else to tend her every need.  I think the best thing that could have been done for her is to allow her to enjoy her music and let her escape to a brighter reality.  Music does that as well as evokes memories.  Music has so many amazing powers.

[The Beautiful Feeling of Worthlessness]

To have a sense of purpose to me is the best feeling, especially when tied to particular gifted-ness God has given me for the particular work He has for me to do.  I agree that it is tied to everything we do.  Its a strong motivator when you feel in line with your purpose and and big de-motivator when you feel out of line with it.  Its energizing particularly when you see things fall into place that tell you you are just meant to be there at that moment doing that thing and that it serves someone else's need and your own at the same time.  It helps prioritize what is important FOR your purpose and gives direction of a degree.

 

I have felt the worthlessness in the terms that you refer to.  Look at all the extremely gifted musicians, poets, lyricists, craftsmen, business operators, managers, vocalists, writers, mathematicians, technology wizzes, multi-linguists, interpreters, architects, and variety of personalities and appearances, the uniqueness of every person then (of course from my Christian Perspective), the stars, the sky, the moon, sun, forest, time, temperature, separation of oceans from land, the power of the waves, the depth yet undiscovered, the galaxies unchartered, untouched, the process of a child coming with all the genetic material prepackaged and the Mind behind it all--that All-Creative Architect of this massive universe.  Absolutely, I feel like a speck of dust.

 

I've not yet explored the album you cite above, nor feel as though I entirely grasp what's going on in your mind, but the stimulation of mind that your blog article theme induces certainly brings me to that wonderful place of awe and simple acceptance of my dust particle contribution and puts much in perspective.  Its an incredible sensation to take it all in.

[Don't wait too long]

That's awesome, Ray!  I can see why, you've got some great lines in there!  Lots of sentiment!  Not sure how familiar you are over there with Faith Hill, but she's a pretty big name in country music over here.  You most certainly have my hopes for your lyrics  to be selected!

[Lyrics about grief. Can they be used in music really?]

who'd'a' thought? Grief to a car commercial? Out of context it does work though, and they probably wouldn't use much more than those lines.  Good for you!