““Whenever I feel afraid
I hold my head erect
And whistle a happy tune
So no one will suspect
I’m afraid”
Rodgers & Hammerstein, The King and I
Can you name that tune?
I haven’t seen the movie in years, but can still sing all the lyrics to that song at the drop of a hat. And living around the Windy City, hats flying by on their way to dropping are a pretty common sight.
Perhaps it’s that connection between the whistle, the breath, and the mind that entrances me. Oh heck, “Whistle a happy tune” is just a great song.
So I try and whistle along my way as often as I can without being too obnoxious.
‘Pardon me, just want to interject a little whistle here if you don’t mind too much.’
And if you do, I’ll just tweet it inside me so you won’t even hear it.
Phweee, Whooee-uueet, Phweee…
(don’t really know how to spell a whistle, but you get the idea)
On particularly sunny days or when I feel a strong whistle coming on, I’ll take my small harp with me too. Sometimes I’ll take my large one, but small’s a heck of a lot easier to carry. I find it fun learning to play this beautiful instrument so consequently I’ve been learning for a very long time. It lifts me up just like a whistle. It also deeply calms my sense of being.
Is there a musical instrument that makes you happy? Or could there be one that perhaps calms you in ways hard to describe? Instruments are funny that way. I know someone who’s soothed by bagpipes. Have you heard some bagpipes lately? Those pipes are mighty loud! And they’re pretty old too. Another one from ancient Egypt, but this one’s a little younger to us than the harp of 3000 BC. The bagpipes were born around 400 BC. My friend says that blowing those big pipes pushes all other sounds away for some peace of mind. Whew – that takes some strong pushing!
Yet apart from all the many choices of musical instruments, there’s also the music of the mind. We’ve each got one of those to play. What stations are you tuned into today? Are they happy? Are they fun? Are they tragic? Are they sad?
Music in all its many forms can be captivating as well as reflective of the changing seasons in our lives. It can help us get through the fun times or the tough times. And it can all start with just a little whistle…
“The result of this deception
Is very strange to tell
For when I fool the people
I fear I fool myself as well
I whistle a happy tune
And ev’ry single time
The happiness in the tune
Convinces me that I’m not afraid”
And I’ll be playing sweet harp meditations in September at The Enlightened Living Center in Burlington Wisconsin. For more info simply click here: https://yoyoga.com/events/
