Summer Listening

Natalie Generally, LPMT, MMEd, MT-BC Owner/Director Small Steps Music LLC

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Think about how much we would miss in living, laughing, and loving if we didn’t listen.

I love “eye shopping” (my 12-year-old's term for meandering around stores for endless hours at a time without ever buying one single item) around stores like Hobby Lobby, Ikea, Michaels, Target, and other home style oriented shops.  Each time, my eye is drawn to the same words on posters and pictures: “Live Laugh Love.”  I think about all the areas of life that covers, but one important “L” is missing… Listen.  Listening is just as, if not more important than those other “L” words.  Think about how much we would miss in living, laughing, and loving if we didn’t listen to our inner thoughts, spouses, co-workers, children, and our surroundings. I challenge you to change your listening habits in a fun, simple, and powerful way!

Incorporating music into your daily life can make summer living, laughing, and loving even more fun! It's an easy way help you connect with the important people in your life while adding the listening component. If you aren’t already grooving to music for day to day tasks, try it by yourself or with your family.  Here are some music missions to keep you movin,’ groovin,’ and listening all summer:

Mission 1- Everyday tasks and music:  
Put some music on and get to work!

1. Working out
2. Chores
3. Repetitive Tasks (computer, seated work)
4. Cooking
5. Shower Time
6. Travel- road trip playlists, including songs related to where you are going
7. Ringtones – you can add different ones for people you talk to frequently

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Mission 2- Music “Moods” 
Create a playlist for different moods. You might even be able to pick up on someone else's mood by the music they are listening to.  Here are a few examples:

1. “Let’s Do this/Warrior/Workout Mode
2. “Pity Party”
3. “Forget You!”
4. “Kappa Cray Cray”
5. “I’m the Bomb”
6.  “It’s a Good Day”
7. “Time to Relax/Quiet Time”

 
Mission 3- For Your Ears Only - Music Time Just for You
**Schedule Your Personal Time as Appointments**

1. Mental Moment – listen to  music while you jot down everything on your mind
2. Playlists for what you are going through (i.e. lost love, found love, illness, etc.)
3. Pick your theme song!  This is the one that picks you up anytime you hear it.  It will change from time to time and that’s okay; but, have it handy all the time!

 
The most important thing to remember about music is to pick what you and your family like… it won’t motivate you, empower you, connect you, or keep you listening if it’s not your favorite stuff! Here are some of my family’s favorite artists and soundtracks this summer:

• Imagine Dragons
• Twenty-One Pilots
• Moana Soundtrack
• Angry Birds Soundtrack
• Selena Gomez
• Justin Bieber
• Ray Charles
• Pentatonix

  Don’t forget to Live Laugh Love and Listen…..
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If you are interested in connecting with your loved ones through music or finding more ways to incorporate music in your day to day activities, contact us:
 info@smallstepsmusicllc.com or 404-446-6945