Krylyn Peters

There is nothing warm and cozy about her room. It’s just three feet by five feet of hard, thin strands of interlocking steel. Overhead, the long, yellow fluorescent lights buzz incessantly like annoying mosquitoes. There is nothing to buffer the non-stop barks and echoes that follow. The disinfectants and bleach vapors burn her strong olfactory systems.

"Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty." -Albert Schweitzer Happy belated birthday to Albert Schweitzer (14 January 1875 – 4 September 1965), humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize winner (1952). Schweitzer was ahead of his time, his words and beliefs still, more than a century later, continue to remind us that a “cherished life” extends beyond human beings. The beauty of Schweitzer’s value system was that he believed that all life, regardless of how seemingly insignificant, is still life. This revelation came early to Schweitzer when, as a youth, and despite his apprehension, he accompanied a friend to shoot birds with rocks and a slingshot. There they saw small sparrows sharing their melodies. As young Albert reluctantly readied his slingshot, the local church bells suddenly rang out. He took this as a sign; the sparrows were not perched on the tree limb for his entertainment, but were rather magnificent manifestations of life.

Sound is very powerful. It can bring up memories, thoughts, and feelings. Have you ever heard a song and immediately had an image of what you were doing when you first heard it? Or heard a song from your childhood that brought up some strong feelings (good or bad)? If you have ever been in a car accident, what happens when you hear the screeching of tires? I know I automatically close my eyes and tense up in anticipation.

In counseling, dissonance has to do with contradicting thoughts or beliefs. It is often tied into our clients’ presenting problems with the ultimate goal of bringing relief or resolution. Through whatever interventions we use, we help our clients see contradictions and help them resolve the tension, anxiety, etc. that they feel as a result.

I’ve been singing so long about so many things, I don’t even realize it anymore. I can sing about the everyday mundane tasks like brushing my teeth, going grocery shopping, being stuck in traffic, or feeding my cats, to the bigger stuff like relationships, challenges, and mental illness. Inspiration strikes anywhere and everywhere. But I have found one common element that is usually present when the words start flowing. Rhythm.