Aging Well: Music is Everywhere
Cathy Graham • July 27, 2021
Music is everywhere.
All of us can engage in listening to music almost anywhere at any time. Fundamentally, music is a combination of sounds, and sound is vibration. Music is made of vibrations of different frequencies as heard in the sounds of the ocean waves careening to shore and birds chirping. Even the rain hitting the roof top can be thought of a gentle melody that helps one relax and fall to sleep.
Music is rhythmic not only to our ears but to our hearts and souls.
Hearing a song from 40 or 50 years ago can bring an instant emotional response of nostalgia, catapulting past experiences into the present.
Music is powerful.
It can make us want to move and sing in a way we would not in its absence. Moving and being creative can help people to extend themselves. It helps us to be spontaneous, more conversational and jovial.
Music is also healing.
In times of loss and great sadness we often turn to songs and sounds that mirror our feelings, and we listen to them repeatedly until the bleeding has stopped. Music is medicine. It helps patients recover after surgery and can underscore a positive attitude during treatments and therapies. Music is successfully used to reduce certain symptoms of depression.
Music covers our lifespan and journals our years better than anything else.
It is a constant companion even when we are isolated. It is confetti, a strong hug and a deep cry. It is what we are when we need it most.
Cathy Graham is the director of Graceful Aging Wellness Center, part of Bethlen Communities in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, and a District 3000–HRFA member. cgraham@bethlen.com
As we move into the second quarter of another exciting year, I want to take a moment to reflect on our accomplishments and share some of the new initiatives we are implementing in the realms of sales, marketing and community engagement. Over the past year, GBU Life has reached significant milestones thanks to the dedication and hard work of our team and the trust and support of our members. Our sales department has exceeded targets, and we have expanded our reach to more communities than ever before. We have launched several successful marketing campaigns that have not only increased our visibility but have also strengthened our brand's presence in the industry. For this year, our focus will be educating potential new members on the importance of securing their financial futures through life insurance and annuity products while serving their communities as part of our great Society. Looking ahead, we are committed to enhancing our sales strategies to better serve you. We are introducing some tools for our agents to enhance our products. One new tool is our Defined Benefit Annuity program which combines the Future Flex Fixed Index Annuity (FIA) with a software tool that can help determine retirement savings needs and break them down into contributions over time to help you meet your retirement goals. Be sure to keep in touch with your GBU agent to review your plans and products to see how adding an FIA to your retirement planning can help boost your savings efforts
GBU members between the ages of three and nine years old can enter their colored page in this year's contest, which is themed Pawprints on My Heart. Three age categories will be judged as follows: Category I: Ages three and four Category II: Ages five and six Category III: Ages seven, eight and nine Entrants may use crayons, colored pencils, markers or watercolor paints. Entries will be accepted through Monday, August 18, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EST. The picture on the next page can be reproduced, or copies can be obtained by calling the Community Engagement Team at the GBU Home Office (800-765-4428) or by printing the image above. Cash Prizes for Each Category First prize: $75 Second prize: $50 Third prize: $30 How to Enter Send the three- to nine-year-old GBU member's coloring contest entry with their name and address on the colored page to: GBU Life ATTN: Member Benefits 4254 Saw Mill Run Boulevard Pittsburgh, PA 15227-3394. Or email contest@gbu.org with "Coloring Contest Entry” as the subject line. General Information Judges reserve the right to accept or reject any or all entries. Their decisions will be final. Artwork will be handled at the GBU Home Office with the utmost care. GBU reserves the right to reproduce entries for whatever use it wishes, provided proper credit is given. Permission does not include the sale of such work.
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