Wednesday: Anniversary and Allergies

Today is the 32nd anniversary of starting my life as a music therapy professional. On this date back in 1993 (in the late part of the 20th century), I finished my internship at the Center for Neurodevelopmental Studies in Phoenix, Arizona and officially became a music therapist!

It has been an interesting life, being a music therapist for over three decades. I am glad that I am still able to do something that I love. I hope to continue to do this work for another couple of decades.

I have had four full-time jobs and many, MANY part-time jobs in the last 32 years. I have worked as an administrator (didn't like it back then), a recreation programmer, a rehabilitation (music) therapist, a recreation specialist, and a music therapist. I have been a church music director, a part-time temp doing filing work for an ambulance company, a music therapy contractor, part of a not-for-profit board of directors, a content creator, an author, a professional supervisor, and lots of other small jobs in various places.

The things that have kept me in this profession are mostly intrinsic. I did not get into music therapy to become rich. That has NEVER been something that I wanted or needed. I have struggled with having to work several jobs to help me pay for my tuition and student loans. I have also been able to manage my life without needing much financial assistance from my family members. Through the lean years, I did everything I could to keep doing my profession, including finding ways to interact with the music therapy community in different roles.

I have survived in a role that no one really knew about when I was an undergraduate. In 32 years, there is a bit more recognition of our profession as something that's out there and that has positive results for many people, but I still have to explain what I do. I anticipate that I will have to use my elevator speech until I leave this mortal coil. That's okay, though, because every time I talk to someone about music therapy, I am sharing something that I love deeply and hope that it becomes a thought when they are looking for therapeutic intervention for themselves or loved ones.

You never know when a seed will take root.

So, as I look towards year 33 of being a music therapist and year 29 of working at my current facility, I am still as happy about my life choices as I have ever been. I am hoping that my enthusiasm will take me into my next iteration as a therapist - wherever and however that might happen and look like.

Today, though, I am not feeling well. I think it is due to spring and a particular type of tree that is prevalent here and currently blooming like mad, but who knows. I've had enough symptoms that I am going to take a COVID test to make sure that is not what I have. I'm pretty sure that it is allergies, but it is better to be safe than sorry, and that's what the tests are for!

Either way, it looks like I will be at home today - either dealing with the virus or the allergies. If it ends up being allergies, then I need to start my medication which wipes me out and makes me so dizzy (on the first day of taking it) that I cannot move around safely. After the first 24 hours, my body gets used to the medication, and I can get around safely. For now, though, I am exhausted after a rough night and am not breathing easily.

The test is negative, so I know how to treat this now. Time to get my medication going. I am going to start the meds and then sleep the day away. Happy anniversary to me, and Happy Wednesday to you!!