Wings to the Mind

“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination” Plato
Yesterday I went to my first yoga session at the local Stroke Association. It was great and I'll go back next week. I have also started to get to my local gym, encouraged to join after the sessions organised by my local hospital and the British Heart Foundation. After four years of illness and operations involving head, heart and stroke I am happy to still be around and grateful, not only to my NHS medical life-savers, but to the support charities such as BHF and Stroke Association. But it's not just these therapies that are helping. I am lucky to be able to play guitar and was initially depressed because my stroke left my left hand damaged and unable to fret the chords. So I am re-learning the songs from my collection, one by one. And enjoying doing so. If you are recovering from illness play music, however badly, and / or listen to music and give “wings to your mind”. Oh and fight to maintain the NHS and JC4PM. Here is the first song I relearned and the photo is a doctor at St Barts hospital playing my guitar.

Our 'Sick Rose'

The NHS - our 'sick rose'

 

My article for Public Reading Rooms

In The Living Years

After three weeks in hospital and with the likelihood of at least the same again I have plenty of time in the company of my own thoughts. Plenty of time to observe the goings on in my ward and the lives of other patients. There are some here who are having a much worse time of it than me, medically and personally. I feel for those who do not have family or friends to visit them. The patient whose wife is disabled and housebound for example. Those without friends or whose family and friends live far away. I am lucky. My wife is, for the third time in almost as many years, my life-saving presence and working hard to challenge my weight-loss with her supply of burittos. She is there on ward rounds to ask the questions I never thought to ask. Waits with me while I have the endless checks and scans. Then my visitors. My family and friends who cheer me up and supply me with foods, drinks and other treats. Books of course. I start reading one when my attention is distracted by the next arrival. Of course pride of place, an ex-neighbour's collection of her poems which nearly rolled me onto the floor in laughter. Then those who give me distance healing and their prayers. My son who put together a music programme for me. My Bosnian 'son' who suggests music to get better with. Finally the staff here whose care and humour I have already written about. And not allowed to escape without mention. The Barts nurse, now working here in research, who became a friend when I was here for the operation in February and who regularly visits me and answers the questions I still need answers to! I am not going to claim all is perfect in my life. There are those once close to me who remain distant. This song says it all and is dedicated to all those in this and other hospitals who have or are experiencing sadness and loss

Halleluja

May the many sentient beings who are sick,
Quickly be freed from sickness.
And may all the sicknesses of beings
Never arise again. (Medicine Mantra)

During my stay in hospital this year I have been visited by family and friends as well as by some I never thought I'd see again, been sent cards and messages of support from across the world. Both lapsed and active Catholics have lit candles in churches, atheist 'Muslims' have attended mosques and offered 'dua' for me, distance healers have healed me from south west UK to south west USA, Jews have played Leonard Cohen's 'Halleluja', Buddhists have meditated on my behalf and musician friends have brought me guitars and played for me – the most holy act of all. Meanwhile, and with all this extra help, the NHS are healing me. Deepest thanks. Here is Leonard .....