Sing for Your Sanity
The best way to spread Christmas cheer!
“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” -Buddy the Elf
Last night, my family watched Elf, one of my favorite movies and an annual holiday tradition. In the movie, Christmas is saved by singing. There have been many times in my life when my sanity has been restored by belting one out.
Growing up in a big family, we all had plenty of chores. The boys took out the garbage and did yard work; the girls cleaned the house. After dinner each night, my sisters and I tackled the kitchen. I was the youngest girl and had to carry everything in from the table while my two sisters split filling the dishwasher, putting food away and washing the pans. Sometimes we would sing. I can’t remember what, exactly, probably campfire songs, show tunes, popular music and certainly Christmas carols—but we always sang loudly and freely. It got us through that boring nightly ordeal.
I once worked in an organization where we took turns creating ice-breaker activities to open our staff meetings. One co-worker showed us a series of illustrations, and we had to guess which one represented each of us. The picture of a hummingbird had me stumped until he revealed “it’s Susan, of course, she’s always humming. Constantly.” I was mortified. I hadn’t realized I was doing that (how annoying!), but it was my subconscious way of releasing stress and self-soothing. And in some cultures, the hummingbird represents joy.
Singing is a well-proven way to reduce anxiety and elevate contentment. It’s fun, free and universal.
I love a singalong. Music classes in elementary and middle school were the best hour of the day. Years later, I remember late nights in my 20s after the bars closed, a group of us restaurant workers would gather at someone’s place and have a singalong. But the decades after had few opportunities for group singing.
Finally, about 15 years ago, Portland Parks and Rec offered a no-audition community chorus at my neighborhood arts center, just a few blocks away from my house. Most Wednesday evenings, I join about 70 other singing lovers to learn new music, strengthen our voices and simply feel the joy of community.
I sleep so well after choir rehearsal! There’s something so emotionally cleansing about singing out Dvorak and Handel for two hours.
When I attended a local Singalong Sound of Music with some fellow altos, my brother said it was the whitest and dorkiest thing I had ever done. He wasn’t wrong. The event included a costume contest, so we dressed as the song Do-Re-Me. I was Do, a deer. We came in second place to the Girls in White Dresses with Blue Satin Sashes.
Portland is also very lucky to have the Low Bar Chorale, a very casual, alcohol-fueled drop-in singing venue with a live band and extremely upbeat vibe. Last weekend, I attended a special holiday Snow Bar Chorale event where 300 of us sang and danced to a variety of contemporary seasonal songs that certainly spread some cheer. Recently, when a friend questioned the cost of a season pass to the Low Bar, a frequent chorale flyer replied, “It’s a lot cheaper than therapy.”
I am so grateful for quality opportunities to sing with others. I urge everyone to sing out, whether it’s in the shower, car, kitchen, Karaoke bar or chorale. Sing from your heart. Get it all out! It truly is the best way to spread holiday cheer at a time when we really need it.
Happy Holidays to all!
Low Bar Chorale is a gem. One of the loveliest experiences I've had was singing "God Only Knows" in the round with them.