Sometimes, It Happens In Harmony

Last week I stepped away from my day job and immersed myself in something that has nourished me for years. 

I spent a wonderful week in Hobart with my choir, Stay Tuned, at the Festival of Voices. 

There were rehearsals, performances, shared meals, laughter, coffee, and the unmistakable joy that comes from choir singing with others. We met new people, explored a beautiful city, and for a little while, life slowed down to the rhythm of breathing together and singing as one. 

As the week unfolded, I found myself reflecting on why singing in a choir is so good for the soul. 

We often talk about the wellbeing benefits of music, but choir singing offers so much more than enjoyment. It cultivates empathy and a sense of belonging. 

To sing well together, we must listen deeply, notice the people around us, adjust our own voice, breathe collectively, and contribute to something greater than ourselves. No one voice carries the performance; it is the collective that creates something beautiful. 

It struck me that these very qualities are essential in dementia care. 

Every day, we ask health professionals, care workers, and family members to practice kindness in healthcare: to listen beyond words, notice subtle changes, adapt, respond with curiosity, and meet people where they are. We ask them to connect before they correct. 

Those qualities don't simply appear because we work in caring professions; they need to be nurtured, and for me, singing is one of the places where that happens. 

It's where I experience connection, belonging, purpose, and what psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi described as flow—that state of being so completely immersed in something meaningful that the rest of the world falls away. 

The week reminded me that looking after ourselves isn't separate from looking after others. The activities that replenish our empathy, strengthen our connections, and bring us joy aren't indulgences—they're investments in how we show up for the people we support. 

I came home with a full heart, wonderful memories, and immense gratitude to my Stay Tuned family. Thank you for an unforgettable Festival of Voices. 

Sometimes the best professional development doesn't happen in a conference room. 

Sometimes, it happens in harmony.