What is your “Buddy Holly?”
By Kevin Tutty, MA, LPC
A couple of months ago, my wife decided to expand our son’s horizons to include classic Rock and Roll. It started when my 7year-old didn't know who Elvis Presley was, so she decided to introduce both of them to “The King.” Then, she wanted to continue, so next was Buddy Holly. I didn’t think Buddy Holly music was my kind of music necessarily, but it grew on me and I learned how he influenced practically every rock musician in some way after him (the Beatles chose their name partly because of Buddy Holly’s Crickets!). Anyway, I digress. At some point, my wife decided she had created a monster, as I asked for a Buddy Holly compact disc set (yes, compact disc).
As I continued to listen though, a strange thing happened. I found I began to feel more calm and my cares didn’t seem to matter as much. Maybe it was the light-hearted, innocent music of the late 50’s. I joked that listening to Buddy Holly made me happy. I guess it doesn’t take much, huh? I used to get the same feeling from running, but my marathon days are over due to an ankle sprain last year, so I guess I needed some form of substitute.
This time of year proves to be stressful for everyone. Parents, children and teens alike have many more demands placed on their time as fall approaches. Parents can have a huge impact in lowering their children’s anxiety and stress levels if they can remain calm during these times. Children, especially those 10 and younger, will look to their parents for a calming influence. What the parents feel, the children will feel as well. This is because at this age, children do not have a full sense of their identity yet and often see their parent’s emotions as their own. My hope is for each of you to find something positive that can provide a calming influence in your lives. Whether it is reading, exercise, listening to music, or a hobby, it will not only be beneficial to you but also to your whole family.
Author: Kevin Tutty, LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a clinical member at Transforming Life Counseling Center.
