88 keys to happiness.

My childhood was a bit odd. Every day, I heard things few people hear. Complex patterns of rhythm filled our house, powered by sharps and flats, forming songs composed by maestros who lived hundreds of years ago. Those sonatas and concertos came from a humble upright piano, played by my mother.

I thought everyone’s mom did what mine did. In quiet moments when I colored, Mom would sit down at the piano and play Chopin’s Fantasie Impromptu Op. 66. When I’d settle down to read a book, she’d play Beethoven’s Sonata No. 15. These were the soundtrack of my childhood, made all the more profound because those melodies came from someone I loved so very much.

When I started to play the piano, I began to understand why my mother craved those moments at the keyboard: creating something with your hands, whether it’s music or sewing or baking a cake, triggers a deep sense of satisfaction and well-being. Yep, using your hands is the key to happiness.

We can all use a little more happiness, right? Everywhere we look, there seems to be angst and anger. Hop on the Internet, and everyone is screaming about politics. Open the mail, and there’s nothing but bills. Run errands, and every clerk you encounter is in a bad mood. Hello, tension headache. Nice to see you again, anxiety.

Well, I’m fighting back with both hands. I’m taking all ten fingers and putting them on the keyboard. Frankly, I think we were designed to use our hands. When we don’t, our well-being suffers. (Check out these articles about how working with your hands might be the secret to happiness. And look at the health benefits of knitting.)

**** What hands-on activity lowers your stress levels? ****