By Kara Juszczak, Concentus Member and Stage Manager
When people have asked me about being a therapist and a musician, I’ve always said that they are just two of my passions, two parts of me that I love, two skills I am good at….
Recently, when discussing positive self-care with a group of graduate level social work students, I found myself saying “be intentional with your self-care, label those activities as self-care to give them more meaning and more purpose.” We had a great discussion about how even driving or eating, with intention, can serve as a “break,” a “refresher” – this idea of being mindful, being in the moment, acknowledging you can’t change what has happened or predict what will happen – it gives the brain a needed break from the inevitable stressors of our busy lives.
Music as Self-Care
As a mentor to these students, I transparently examined my own self-care and realized that music had always been a source of relaxation and enjoyment for me. This is why I joined Concentus, after all, to regularly have an opportunity to create and share music, but not until recently did I acknowledge it as self-care, as intentional in meeting a need for me to be in the moment, in many beautiful moments that music gives us…
Being in unique moments with a committed, passionate group of women and their voices. Then I realized that as I provide therapy, guidance, and hope to those students and people I meet with, I get to treat myself to that same fulfilling experience of hope, purpose, and commitment through music….To share this intention with a talented and passionate group of women makes it even more powerful.
Concentus Women's Chorus 