Music has been a life-long love affair. Being raised in the church, we always had magnificent choral directors and from the time I could talk I sang in choirs. Music is a through-line for most of my life. When I had pocket money I was buying records and tapes and I studied opera in college.

When I got sick and my lungs started to fail I quit music all together. Music was off the table for a few reasons: 1) when I don't have enough oxygen to talk, I don't have enough to sing, 2) meningitis brought migraines that crowded out what sound I could tolerate, and 3) for me, music is taps directly in to my heart and soul. Music short circuits all the nonsense and moves me in such potent ways. So when I'm at my most fragile, I have to carefully decide how much I can take. I don't have the oxygen to cry or dance.

When I am toiling with chronic pain and illness, I have to be thoughtful about when I can have a release. I can't just have it on the background or when I'm riding in the car. It is so unimaginable to me that I've broken up with music. I'm trying to find ways that I can let some music in.

Does music support you? Has music been troublesome for you? What peace have you made? What peace does it give you?

I'm Annette Leonard, speaker, coach, and sick person who believes that my illnesses do not define me. If health is the absence of disease and wellness is the presence of wholeness, then no matter what your disease status, we can work toward your wellness, your wholeness.

Whether or not you are ever "healthy" on paper, you can be well. Join me and others on the path back to wholeness at AnnetteLeonard.com. Whether you are a person experiencing chronic illness or are someone who loves or serves people with chronic illness I have great resources here on this channel or on my website for you.