Music

Any engagement with culture is likely to do more for you than not doing it. But music is different in that its appeal to the emotions is more direct.

Auntie, for example, is an avid reader. I spend far more time reading than listening to music, but I would struggle to recite accurately the opening lines of more than a dozen books, and would be unlikely to recognise individual paragraphs of many writers. In music however, I am sure most people, like me, can hum the opening bars of literally hundreds of tunes on request and recognise hundreds more instantly, whether they be popular, classical, jazz or whatever.

Music makes its own channel directly to the heart. Who doesn't feel a real emotional reaction when they hear powerful singing live? I feel some of the most uplifting music is that written deliberately for a sad effect, Like Billie Holliday, or Gorecki's 3rd Symphony. Just to know that someone can write something so moving makes me feel better, even though the effect is intended to be sad.

The lesson would seem to be, listen to more music.

And maybe actually listen.

Go to a concert.

Sing in the shower.