One of the purposes of our Peer Support Group is to share ideas for coping when we are not feeling our best.  These are many and can vary significantly between individuals.  Some are wholesome, and to be recommended, like taking exercise, getting out and about and practicing self-care.  Others are not so helpful, and perhaps to be avoided in the longer term.  These have included comfort eating, shopping sprees and other ways of avoiding our feelings. 

One thing that the whole group had in common, however, was the role of music as a soundtrack of our  lives.  Different people find music to be helpful in different circumstances.  Some people find background music at work helps them to concentrate on tasks.   Others listen to music while taking exercise at the gym as a way of staying motivated or keeping pace. 

Nobody, however, said that they listened to music in order to cheer themselves up when they were low. During periods of sadness, whether through loss, relationship breakdown or simply getting out of the wrong side of the bed in the morning, it is sad tunes to which we turn. 

On the other hand, we all have our go-to tunes that complement our happy days.  When things are going well we look to be lifted further.  It's as if music is there not to counteract the way we are feeling, but to accentuate it.  It seems to connect us more directly with the way we feel, rather than softening the blow. 

As a fun exercise each member of the group jotted down their happy tunes and sad songs on paper.  We then made a playlist and played them back on shuffle, and tried to guess one another's favourites.  Here they are:

Peer Support Happy Tunes  (Click to view in Apple Music)

Papa's Got a Brand New Pig Bag - Pigbag

Still Into You - Paramore

Heer Comes The Sun - The Beatles

Umbrella (Feat.JAY Z) - Rihanna

Single Ladies (Put a Ring on it) - Beyonce

TEXAS HOLD 'EM - Beyonce

Harvest Moon - Neil Young

She Loves You - The Beatles

Isn't She Lovely - Stevie Wonder

Ghost - Ella Henderson

Get Happy (from Summer Stock) - Judy Garland

Ain't Nobody - Chaka Khan

Life Is A Highway - Rascal Flatts

Peer Support Blue Tunes (Click to view in Apple Music)

Danny Boy - Alfie Boe

Wake Me When September Ends - Green Day

Dance With My Father (Luther Vandross

I'm Still Standing - Elton John

Hit The Road Jack - Ray Charles

The Tears of a Clown - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles

Where Did Our Love Go - The Supremes

24 Hours From Tulsa - Gene Pitney

Blue Bayou - Roy Orbison

Blue Bayou - Linda Ronstadt

I Want to Know What Love Is - Foreigner

Swim Good - Dermot Kennedy

No Hard Feelings - The Avett Brothers

Lilac Wine - Elkie Brooks

As you can see we have varied taste.  Whatever your mood today, enjoy!