#ygkChallenge: Listen to music!

Welcome to Kingstonist’s weekly challenge, dare, resolution or whatever you prefer to call it. Each week we establish a new and ambitious community goal, encouraging our readers, followers, friends and families to step out of their comfort zones and do something great, and hopefully a little out of the ordinary. Consider this your official and personal invitation to join us in completing a small but meaningful achievement. By taking part in this community-wide initiative, we hope to make Kingston a slightly better place to live, work and play. And of course, we also hope that you will feel proud of your contribution and achievement.

This week’s challenge encourages you to:

Listen to music! Music has defined the achievements of human culture and communication for
thousands of years. As it stimulates different parts of the brain, music can evoke various emotions, be a reminder of particular life events, expand one’s creativity and self-confidence, and help you to relax during times of stress. Music has the power to heal the mind, body and soul. Music also truly bonds our souls together. This week, I encourage you to listen to and share music (legally). April is Cancer awareness month and recent studies have shown the benefits of music therapy in those with cancer. A 2011 review of 30 research studies published in the Cochrane Library showed that music therapy not only lowered anxiety in cancer patients it also lowered levels of pain, blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing rate. Music has also been shown to reduce nausea and vomiting in those having chemotherapy. The challenge is on Kingston: let music heal your soul and bring us together.

Sign up and commit to completing this week’s challenge by commenting below with an “I’m in“, “challenge accepted“, “en garde” or something along those lines. Further, help us spread the word via Twitter and Facebook by sharing the link and encouraging the participation of your friends and family. By joining together in our weekly challenge, we hope to accomplish big and positive things for our community.

Thanks to avidaebella for today’s photo.