MALVERN U3A

Malvern U3A’s March 10th guest speaker was Kimberly Wade , a Clinical Director and a Registered Neurologic Music Therapist.

Her talk on music and singing in rehab was very interesting. She has the drive to inspire people to use music to communicate and express themselves to reach their potential.

Kimberly works with individuals and small groups providing consultation in long term rehabilitation services.

The emphasis is not on music teaching but on Music Therapy, music being the one activity that involves both the left and right brain hemispheres. This is important in the case of strokes, head injuries and similar aphasias.

She emphasises that although a sufferer might not be able to speak, this was not a lack of intelligence.

Music Therapy is an allied health profession, alongside Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy. Music Therapists have rigorous professional training to a master's level. Music Therapy is strengths-based, focusing on celebrating who people are and developing what they bring.

Kimberly was accompanied by Grant Cowan, a client who demonstrated the value of Music Therapy, and we wound up having the whole meeting singing along together!

Kimberly and Grant were inspiring and informative. Our next presenter will be Linda Seaton on Cemeteries.

Maintaining your Focus

It can be very challenging to set goals with all the ‘white noise’ going on around us. Media hype is a number one distraction and contradicts itself on a daily basis. There is no doubt events will occur that will impact on your strategies to achieve your goals, but it is important to remain focused on the results. Be flexible with your planning to take into account, the changes out of your control, such as interest rates. So, you are going to have to add two years to that plan to achieve the desired outcome. That’s ok. As long as the goal remains intact, the posts may have to move.

Life is a challenge to be embraced and celebrated. Enjoy the journey, and the results will speak for themselves!

Ginny Nelson.