My headphones
They saved my life
Your tape
It lulled me to sleep (to sleep, to sleep)

- Björk, in “Headphones”

OK, it wasn’t exactly a tape (I can’t remember the last time I listened to a tape!) but my headphones did lull me to sleep last night.

The stress - it is magnificent! So huge right now, coming from every direction. So I find myself escaping a few times a day with my headphones. There’s really nothing quite like plugging in and wrapping myself in a warm blanket of music. Last night I was obsessed with Andrew Bird’s “Anonanimal”. (The link is to a performance from the Live at Austin City Limits Music Festival, but I think the album version is simply delicious.)

As I lay in the dark, with the notes swirling around my head, I felt my whole body relax. It sure beats the pharma alternative! I listened, and sang along in my mind, imagining I was in a beautiful place, holding hands with someone I love…and in a few minutes I was in a completely different state of mind and ready for sleep.

We know from reams of research that stress is unhealthy, that the effects of hard times take a massive toll on our minds and bodies. So finding a moment to soak in a good song - and relishing the relaxation that results - truly is good medicine. Maybe my headphones really DID save my life last night.