Singology, Croydon choir, my life raft ❤️ 🌊 🛶

I’m writing this because I want to say thanks, but it’s hard to articulate why I’m thankful in a few words, so I thought I’d attempt it with a little story…

Once upon a time in St Augustine’s Avenue, South Croydon, there was a 38-year-old man, me…I was having a tough time; financial pressure, career confusion, relationship breakdowns, family problems, it felt like everything came crashing down at once.

I found myself searching for ways to soothe and heal, and in that search, I discovered on my road, every Tuesday evening, there was a choir, who have been singing together there for a number of years.

I joined, and I soon noticed how warm and welcome I felt in the room, at a time when I really needed to feel like that. When I found harmony with others, all of my troubles fell away, and better still, in the gaps between, I would watch and observe the connection between the other choir members and the teacher, and it really opened my heart. I found it so containing, and soothing.

The whole experience each week aided me like medicine. Singing was our channel for connection, so we would drop the small talk and have a different kind of connection. I could really feel the love and affection between these people, beyond words. And most weeks I didn’t want to leave, I just wanted to keep soaking in the environment.

I was one of only two men in the choir, but I enjoyed filling that gap, I felt wanted and needed. As the weeks went by and life became turbulent at times, I found solace on my Tuesday evenings with these lovely people, connecting our voices, our personalities and laughter. Ultimately, even if it was just for that evening I felt healed, whole and held.

I would walk home after choir, still singing the songs and feeling part of something. In other areas of my life, it felt like I was swimming against the tide each week, but Tuesday evenings were my life raft.

With time, I managed to stabilise my finances and move away from the area (which I needed), so I won’t attend the choir as frequently now, but I know it served its purpose at the time, and I am so grateful.

So, I wanted to tell my short story here, to let the other choir members know just how much it meant to me 🙏

Thank you to Rachel and everyone at Singology in South Croydon. ❤️