The Unexpected Path That Led Me to Mindfulness

Amanda Wilson · 2026-10-16

I never thought I'd be writing about mindfulness. Honestly, if you'd told me ten years ago that I'd be a mindfulness advisor, I would have laughed. But here I am, and the journey has been anything but linear. ### How Music Became My Medicine It all started with music. I'm a musician, and for years, I thought of music as performance—something to perfect and share on stage. But then I met Thaddaeus Washington, a Toledo-based artist and founder of MIND Music. He sees music as medicine, and his original compositions are designed as meditative practices. That conversation shifted something in me. Thadd's approach is simple: sound can heal. He doesn't just play notes; he creates spaces where you can breathe, feel, and let go. It's not about being a great musician—it's about being present. ### The Science Behind Mindful Music You might be wondering, does this actually work? Research suggests that certain rhythms and frequencies can lower cortisol levels and promote relaxation. But you don't need a study to feel it. Think about the last time a song gave you chills or made you tear up. That's the power of sound—it bypasses your thinking mind and speaks directly to your nervous system. Thadd's compositions are intentionally slow, with lots of space between notes. That space is where mindfulness happens. It's like giving your brain a moment to catch up with your body. ### My Own Practice These days, I start my mornings with ten minutes of mindful listening. No phone, no distractions—just me and a piece of music. It's not about clearing my mind; it's about noticing what's there. Some days I'm anxious, some days I'm calm. The music meets me where I am. Here's what I've learned: - **Start small.** Even two minutes of mindful listening can shift your day. - **Choose music without lyrics.** Words engage your thinking brain; melodies engage your feeling brain. - **Don't judge yourself.** If your mind wanders, that's normal. Just gently bring it back to the sound. > "Music is the space between the notes." — Claude Debussy That quote resonates with me because mindfulness is also about the space—the pause between thoughts, the gap between stimulus and response. ### Bringing Mindfulness to Your Life You don't have to be a musician to use music mindfully. Next time you're stressed, try this: put on a calming track, close your eyes, and focus on one element—the bassline, the melody, the silence between sounds. That's it. You're practicing mindfulness. And if you're in Toledo, check out Thadd's work. He's offering something special—a way to use music not as background noise but as a tool for presence. ### The Journey Continues My journey to mindfulness didn't start on a meditation cushion. It started with a conversation about music. That's the thing about mindfulness—it finds you where you are. Maybe for you, it's music. Maybe it's walking, cooking, or even washing dishes. The entry point doesn't matter; the practice does. So, what's your entry point? Take a moment to notice. You might be surprised by what you find.