Help Others

I volunteer for the non-profit organization Musicians On Call, which brings the healing power of music to hospital patients’ bedsides.

I guide musicians from room to room, ask patients if they’d like the musician to come in, and witness miracles in the process. People are so happy to have somebody singing for them that, in that moment, we all become more alive. I’m not a doctor, but that’s what I call healing.

The first time I volunteered was in a New York hospital for kids with cancer. The first child we played for was a little girl who was crying. Her mother had her in her arms and allowed us to come in the room. When the musician started playing guitar and singing, the little girl’s eyes stopped tearing and began to shine. There I was, a witness to a moving and heartbreaking scene.

“How can I not cry?” I thought. I realized I wouldn’t be much of a volunteer if I couldn’t contain my tears. All of a sudden I heard a voice in my head: “It’s not about you.”

In that moment, my focus shifted away from my thoughts of “poor me, it hurts to see this.” I got out of myself and focused on the people around me. It became so clear that when I’m in pain it’s because my focus is on the little scary world inside my head.

After that, every visit became a wonderful, non-judgmental experience. I was there for one reason: to bring music and joy to the patients, not to bring more sadness. I tapped into an amazing strength I never knew I had. Every week I looked forward to going to the hospital and getting my doses of energy that would last until I went again.

So, my advice is: when in pain, get out of yourself by helping others. Even a couple of hours here and there will do it. That will give you strength to take care of yourself, to keep centered and balanced. Focus on what really matters for you in your life and find the feelings that feel really good (or that feel real and good), so good that nothing else matters.

– Daniela Torres-Mattus