Ebook143 pages2 hours
Musical Hugs: Succeeding through Serving, One Song at a Time
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
5/5
()
About this ebook
It is a compelling part of the human condition to want to give back in some way, but many individuals wonder what form their service can and should take. In Musical Hugs: Succeeding through Serving, One Song at a Time, author Larry Dykstra chronicles his journey from successful businessman “plutoed” out of his career to a giver of “musical hugs” who discovers solace, joy, and above all meaning, by bringing the gift of song to severely ill children in the hospital.Accompanied by his beloved guitar, Larry’s efforts to discern his path in life in the face of early retirement will appeal to all Baby Boomers who wish to serve and who hope to find their true selves in the process.An open invitation to find your own way to serve others, Musical Hugs examines the practice of serving by chronicling the significant life lessons Larry learned as he brought his presence and music to the bedsides of sick children and their caregivers one song at a time.
Related to Musical Hugs
Related ebooks
The Dreaming Source of Creativity: 30 Creative and Magical Ways to Work on Yourself Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Songwriter's Grimoire: Practical Notes for a Mystical Practice Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsUnintentional Music: Releasing Your Deepest Creativity Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Stories Behind The Songs Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHidden Biscuits: Tales of Deep South Revivals Told by Heart Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBeyond the Notes: Thoughts on Meaningful Music Making Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsShaped Notes: How Ordinary People with Extraordinary Gifts Influenced My Life and Career Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Singer's Ego: Finding Balance Between Music and Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Music Between Us: Memoir of a Bedside Musician Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWonder and Whiskey: Insights on Faith from the Music of Dave Matthews Band Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOne Nation Under Song: My Karaoke Journey Through Grief, Joy, and America Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNative American Healing: A Lakota Ceremony Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsI'm Still Writing These Lines: Lyrics by John Fairfull Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsChicken Soup for the Soul: The Story behind the Song: The Exclusive Personal Stories behind 101 of Your Favorite Songs Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWellness, Wellplayed Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsConnections: The Threads of Intuitive Wisdom Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Ragged Edge of Silence: Finding Peace in a Noisy World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Legacy of Song: Joy . Purpose . Healing Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHey, Nietzsche! Leave Them Kids Alone! Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Outspoken: Why Women's Voices Get Silenced and How to Set Them Free Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Finding Your Voice: What Every Woman Needs to Live Her God-Given Passions Out Loud Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBecoming Gutsy and Formidable: One Life, Out Loud Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMagic Happens!: My Journey with the Northern Iowa Wind Symphony Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Beat Game: The Truth About Hip-Hop Production Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Pulses in the Centre of Silence: Composition Scores and Artistry Concepts Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFrom Punk to Monk: A Memoir Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMusic, Artistry and Education: A Journey Towards Musical Growth and Enlightenment Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Baring Unbearable Sensualities: Hip Hop Dance, Bodies, Race, and Power Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsChoosing Honor Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Personal Growth For You
How to Talk to Anyone: 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 5AM Club: Own Your Morning. Elevate Your Life. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Unfuck Your Brain: Using Science to Get Over Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Freak-outs, and Triggers Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Unfu*k Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and into Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Self-Care for People with ADHD: 100+ Ways to Recharge, De-Stress, and Prioritize You! Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Big Book of 30-Day Challenges: 60 Habit-Forming Programs to Live an Infinitely Better Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Mastery of Self: A Toltec Guide to Personal Freedom Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Mind Hacking: How to Change Your Mind for Good in 21 Days Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Personal Workbook Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Source: The Secrets of the Universe, the Science of the Brain Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 5 Second Rule: Transform Your Life, Work, and Confidence with Everyday Courage Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Personality Types: Using the Enneagram for Self-Discovery Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Codependence and the Power of Detachment: How to Set Boundaries and Make Your Life Your Own Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Crucial Conversations Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, Second Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Changes That Heal: Four Practical Steps to a Happier, Healthier You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related categories
Reviews for Musical Hugs
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
5/5
2 ratings1 review
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5When I heard that my neighbor’s brother had written a book, I told her I was interested in reading it. After she gave me a bit of background I was quite certain that I was going connect with it on a number of levels. Since I used to be a social worker and spent some time working in Hospice, I found myself relating to his different types of therapy used to soothe or bring comfort and joy to children in the hospital.Dykstra is a former business manager turned volunteer. After his corporate job was eliminated, he needed to find a new focus for his life. His love of music and his faith led him on a journey he never expected. His book offers a collection of short stories during his time as a volunteer for Hugworks and as a volunteer hospital chaplain. In these stories he shares connections he made with patients and their families, lessons on healing and ultimately, he learned that it is more rewarding to be defined by serving others than what did in his career.Hugworks is a non-profit organization that offers “musical hugs”, expressions of love and caring in the form of a song. Members travel through pediatric wards in hospitals stopping by rooms and offering a lullaby or a joyful song to bring a smile to the child’s face, relieving a bit of stress for the parent. Since Dykstra was a self-trained musician and loved picking up his guitar, he believed this may just be his calling.After auditing a college course on Music Therapy and interning at the hospital he was ready for his first solo patient. His stories share the varied reactions to his music from a young man who seemingly wasn’t paying attention until Dykstra noticed a slight tapping of his fingers along to the music. Or a young girl with an incurable disease that found a way to laugh with her mom again through the lyrics of a song. Not all of his moments singing in a hospital room were remarkable, but the power of music can leave lasting notes.When Dykstra decides to follow his faith and learn to be a chaplain at the hospital, his stories become tragic and heartbreaking. During these eight months, his faith was tested and music took a back seat. Even though he didn’t continue in this area, the time spent with families in their darkest moments still help him offer comfort and support while singing a tune.These stories will make you stop and reflect on what’s important in your life. What talents do you have to offer those hurting or suffering? It may not be through a song, but could be in a way you least expect. Dykstra warns that exploring boundaries, continually trying new ideas and making adjustments will be frustrating and possibly make you want to give up. But, when you ultimately find that “sweet spot” where caring and compassion become natural, then it’s what you are meant to do.
Book preview
Musical Hugs - Larry V Dykstra
2^ book_preview_excerpt.html ZrrWv0xeb0 tIA@bxY]3]BwWJ\opß/9=3+`fqdf=i>}r1ʶq̓'r*j߯MnbtOO3xl:ߚ6ƭeao~.[1=Tvrl=q]vz°~d?m~=w7afOl1;81SyT&|C'-C]+,#ƻMv\?,M*tscrI7YnM5먵ѣ6|Ӈ>vi+~uO-']ZEieOz}ϽKGpVdz_Fgp
X6IkގtohoOcݷN>/>z/N{!xV]aӺzݹ>ƶ>
9882kϵݞ_ǔaį.Lcԝ761SaG&7,~w>fS^fmc"ĩHvp