Dr. Frankl; logotherapy; music in my life; sharing music was my life's purpose

Yesterday I wrote about Dr. Frankl’s ideas regarding meaning in one’s life. His concept of “Logotherapy” is quite helpful as we navigate day-to-day life after receiving a medical diagnosis like Parkinson’s Disease. Dr. Frankl asserts that there are three primary ways to imbue meaning into one’s life: what we give to the world; what we take from our life experiences in the world; and what kind of resolve we demonstrate in the face of a serious, often negative, situation in which we find ourselves. All three of these ideas warrant deep and serious thought. Today I will flesh out each one as I continue to wrap my heart and head around them in the face of my situation with Parkinson’s Disease.

When I was growing up, I had a framed saying that inspired me to work hard to develop my inherent, God-given abilities. It stated: “What you are is God’s gift to you. What you make of yourself is your gift to God.” I possessed a very apparent talent for music, especially playing classical piano. I knew that my talent was God-given, and that I needed to respond to the gift by working hard to develop it. I practiced many long hours each day to strengthen my abilities and prepare for countless performances and competitions. I excelled at my piano work and was inspired to share my abilities with the world in the form of performances. My study of piano became a life-long pursuit which led to four academic degrees and a career as a concert pianist/teacher. Sharing music with the world gave my life meaning.

272 words
25 minutes
Day 5: August 4, 2023
Continue tomorrow. Success!