What's Good For Your Soul?

Rachel Hawley-Thomas

rachel.bitesizeblogs@gmail.com

For as long as I can remember I’ve always been dancing and singing. From the age of 3 I started majorettes (for those who don’t know, that’s the sport you twirl a stick, also known as a baton) and for 25 years of my life I competed in multiple competitions and although I may not have enjoyed it all the time, it was an outlet to help me process emotions throughout my school years and early adulthood.

Singing and dancing are amazing outlets for people to process emotions; so many songs are written about broken hearts, high times in summer and lots of other emotions. Songs can remind us of people too - the song '10 things I hate about you' by Leah Kate, reminds me of an ex-boyfriend, and 'Survive' by Lewis Capaldi reminds me how strong I am for ending that relationship, and yes I sing my heart out to them.

2 years ago, I joined a local amateur theatre group to support my youngest, the show was a singing and dancing show being directed by our lovely Gabs, I went into the auditions full of cold and not expecting anything, but Gabs must have seen some potential in me as I got into the show and was given some solo lines in songs and joined in with some of the dancing too. OMG the nerves I felt were huge but the joy I got from singing and dancing outweighed all that.

Back to the present, whenever I feel sad, happy and all the other emotions, I sing and I sing loud. In the house, in the car and even at karaoke at the pub, and I feel so much better afterwards even if I butchered the song lol.

Singing has so many benefits to it, it boosts brainpower, enhancing lung function, stimulating vagus nerve, hormone regulation and it’s even a natural pain reliever. So why not sing your heart out too?

There are lots of other things that are good for the soul too; for me I meditate and I also like to delve into my witchy side, but I will always go back to singing and dancing, I also still have my batons, and I will take them into my garden and twirl sometimes.

What do you do that’s good for your soul?? X