Shifting times. That’s certainly true. In all areas of life, it may seem challenging to find ways to take time to reflect, to take a step back, even to take a moment or two for quiet conversation.

It is said that really listening to a piece of music, concentrating on it for the several minutes, can help with that.

As times continue to shift, community, connection, and friendship can be constants. Should be constants, in fact, though of course these are aspects of life which have their own ways of changing, too.

In the midst of shifting times, it is often a challenge to think about the future. It can also be challenging to consider what resources from the past can be helpful in the present and in seeing ways forward.

Creativity shared in music can offer ideas.

Through these shifting times, it remains good to consider and seek out qualities that support and nurture connection.

What might those qualities be? You will find your own, of course, and create your own order of importance among them.

Generosity is one that comes to mind; so does courage.

In some ways, they are part of the same story: it takes courage to offer help. Standing up for something, or reaching out to help, involves the gift of courage.

Music can help with thinking about these ideas.

Uncertain times, shifting times, and at this writing, winter storms of all sorts, as well.

And yet...there is Valentine’s Day.

Also, at this time of year in the United States, and at other times in other parts of the world, there are (official edicts aside), celebrations of Black history and story.

Celebrations and reminders of love of all sorts, and resilience of all sorts -- both well needed as time and circumstance continue to shift.

Shifts and changes continue, in politics, in social life, in world events and in personal lives.

Music continues to offer ways to connect and to create through these changes. The natural word does too, whether that is the angle of light down a city street, the turn of a leaf falling in a forest, or a skein of stars across a night sky.

At times, musicians turn to images and ideas from nature to think and talk about ideas of connection and reflection in changing times.

It is December at this writing, a season of darkness and light, of looking forward and looking back.

There are many journeys each of us makes in the course of a day, not to mention across a week, a month, and a year from January to December.

These may be physical journeys to a new land to explore, down the street to help a friend, across a room to greet a stranger.

They could be journeys of thought, imagination, storytelling, learning, and reflecting on changes brought by these.

Shifting times indeed.

Autumn is always a season of change.  It is also a season of hope, of sharing, of community, of sharing stories and taking time for reflection.

All still true as times continue to shift.

Music is a fine companion for all that, through all the changes. That is still true, as well.