Livingonthebside

I am so very happy to say that I wrote a piece for the amazing Elegant Rebel - Peta-Ann Wood about my experience this year where music felt different and how I wiggled my way through it.

We all are Elegant Rebels in our own ways...my hope is that my post brings some comfort like warm hug to anyone that needs it. 💜🎧

💜✨Elegant Rebel® Ponderings: Our First Ever Guest Blog Is Live!✨💜

If you know me even a wee bit, you’ll have twigged two of my favourite things are writing and music. Well. I do get a wee bit extra excited when these two passions converge.

Today marks a wee milestone – the very first guest post on Elegant Rebel® Ponderings, written by the gorgeous Birgit Livesey, Music Mindfulness Guide and founder of Living on the B Side.

Her blog, ‘When We Learn to Listen Differently: What a Season of Change Taught Me,’ is a gentle, honest reflection on what happens when something we’ve always relied on – in her case, music – suddenly feels different. It’s about seasons of change, self-acceptance and learning to meet the version of ourselves who exists right now.

A few gems you’ll find inside:
✨How our relationship with what we love can shift without meaning we’ve lost it.
✨Why quiet seasons aren’t failures – they’re invitations.
✨How music eventually returned to Birgit in a new, more spacious way.

So if you’re moving through your own season of change, this one will land softly.

Read the full blog here: https://www.elegantrebelponders.com/post/when-we-learn-to-listen-differently-what-a-season-of-change-taught-me

And I highly recommend booking a Music Momentum Session with Birgit. And before you begin pondering if your worthy of spending an hour with B chatting about reconnecting with yourself — YOU ARE! https://livingonthebside.com/music-momentum-sessions/

Here’s to listening differently – and honouring the quiet in between.💜🙃🪻

I could not commit myself to a 12 week program of any kind right now.

And I have a feeling I'm not the only one.
I can sense the same feelings in many people around me.
Why? Because life is already so full that adding another thing to the list or pile could tip us over the edge.

Family. Relatives. Friends. Work. Business. Health.

The list of things asking 1% more from us seems almost endless.
And those of us who have had caregiver roles know that sometimes even that 1% can almost break you.
I know self-care is important. Truly, I do.
I'm still learning so much about it myself and how to actually apply it to my own life.

But one thing that stands out for me is that longer term commitments aren't really what I can deal with or am looking for right now.

The thought of having another 12 weeks of something to commit to can actually overwhelm me before I've even started.
And I wonder how many others feel the same.
I understand that some programs and coaching work better when you have consistency and more time in the process.

But have we ever really explored what just one hour can do?

One hour to stop.
One hour to sit down and listen inwards.
One hour to explore where we are actually at.
One hour where, for once, we make ourselves a priority.
It isn't going to fix everything.

But maybe it doesn't have to.
Maybe sometimes we just need one hour where someone listens, where we can think out loud, where we feel seen and heard and get a little bit of space for ourselves.

And that's what I want my Music Momentum Session to be.
One hour.
No 12 week commitment.
No having to add another big thing to an already very full plate.
Just one hour to take some time for yourself.

Because when your plate is already so full that adding anything heavy could make it break, maybe one hour is actually enough

What if the five minutes between things are more important than we think?

I've been trying to pay more attention to those little gaps lately.
You finish work and suddenly you're supposed to relax.
You go from one task straight into another.
You come home after a lot of "peopling" and need to somehow get yourself back to your normal self.
We tend to just carry on.

But what if we actually paused for a minute?
How do I feel right now?
And then:
🎵 Do I want some music?
🤍 Do I actually want quiet?
Or do I need something else entirely?

Because I don't think music is always the answer.

Sometimes I put music on because I genuinely want it.
Sometimes I realise I've had enough noise and what I really want is silence.
And sometimes I put something on without even thinking about why.

That's the bit I'm interested in.
Not whether we're choosing the "right" music.

Just noticing what we reach for — or don't reach for — and what that might tell us.
Those tiny transitions might actually be more interesting than we give them credit for. Give it a go today.

Next time you move from one thing to another, stop for a moment and ask yourself: What do I actually need right now?

I'm curious what you'll find out. 😊

Sometimes the hardest part isn't doing the work.

It's figuring out where to start.
You have the ideas.
The notes.
The half-finished things sitting in different places.
A list of things you know you should probably do.

And somehow it all becomes one big pile in your head.

I've been in that position myself, and it's also something I've helped other people with.
Sometimes what is needed isn't another productivity system or someone telling you to "just prioritise".

Sometimes you need another person to sit with you in the mess for a bit.
Talk through what's going on.
Work out what actually matters.
Sort the ideas.
Break something down into smaller steps.
And perhaps come away with a plan that actually feels doable.

This is one of the parts of my work I really enjoy — the practical, hands-on side of helping someone get from "I've got so much going on" to "Okay, I know what I'm doing next."

It might be business admin.
It might be organising content.
It might be setting up a system.
It might simply be helping you untangle something you've been going round in circles with.

And sometimes, music can be part of that support too.
I don't think everything needs a complicated solution.

Sometimes you just need someone who can help you see the wood for the trees.
And yes, I do that kind of work too. 😊

If you have something you've been meaning to sort out but keep putting off because you don't know where to start, feel free to message me.

I've been talking a lot lately about how music can help us reflect, reconnect and notice what matters.

But what does that actually look like in a Music Momentum Session?

For me, it starts with being curious.

Not with finding the "perfect" song.

Not with needing to know what music means to you already.

It starts with what is happening in your life right now.

Maybe you feel overwhelmed.

Maybe you are going through a change.

Maybe you have lots of thoughts swirling around and need some space to make sense of them.

Before we meet, I ask a few questions to understand what you are experiencing, what you would like to explore, and your relationship with music.

Then we see where the conversation takes us.

Sometimes a song keeps coming back and we explore why.

Sometimes a lyric, an artist or a memory opens up a new perspective.

Sometimes we discover practical ways to bring music into everyday life — maybe to create a calmer workspace, support better rest, or use songs as journaling prompts for self-reflection.

Because music is not just something we listen to in the background.

It can be a companion.

A way to pause.

A way to reconnect with ourselves.

And sometimes it helps us notice something we already knew, but hadn't found the words for yet.

That is what I love about these sessions.

Creating space to slow down, reflect and hear what matters most.

🎧 I have a few spots available over the coming weeks for anyone who would like to explore their own relationship with music and what it might reveal.

You can read more about the session and book one here:

Music Momentum Session - Living on the B-side A supportive 1:1 space to explore how music shapes your energy, focus, and emotions—so you can use it more intentionally in daily life. You’ll leave with personalised tools, a custom playlist, and follow-up email support to help you integrate it all—at your own pace.

Have you ever wondered why silence can become your sanctuary, especially during a tough season in life?

As someone who loves music and regularly uses it to better understand myself, I never really saw the benefits of silence. Theoretically, I understood it, but in reality, I didn't.

Then, earlier this year, silence was all I craved.

Looking back, I realise I wasn't turning away from music. I was turning towards what I needed most at that time.

Silence is underrated. Truly.

In my latest blog post, I share why I believe we shouldn't fear silence, but instead become curious about why we might need it, especially during life's heavier seasons.

Has there ever been a time when silence gave you something that music, conversation, or constant noise couldn't?

🔗 Link in the comments.

Not something I expected to happen but wow, it is such a great surprise to receive such an amazingly wonderful review of my podcast...and Livingonthebside overall.

I subsconsiously created something special out of my love of Music, and how it has helped me growing up. And how Music impacts and inspires me to this day...

So glad I can now turn this into a path that allows me to share the power of music and how anyone can turn it from background 'noise' to a steady friend that helps uncover yourself and your world a little more.

Living on the B Side: Podcast Review What if the songs that have stayed with you for years are carrying messages about your life that you have never fully noticed? Living on the B Side, created by Birgit Livesey, explores the remarkable relationship between music, personal growth, and emotional wellbeing, showing how the right song at....

How do you start to notice when music is no longer a comfort, but something... else?

One of the first signs can be surprisingly subtle. Your favourite songs suddenly feel off. You still love music, but the connection just isn't there in the same way.

It's confusing, and if you've ever wondered what happened, you're not alone.

In my latest blog post, I explore some of the quiet signs that your relationship with music might be shifting—and why that doesn't mean you've lost your love for it.

Link is in the comments.

Have you ever put on your favourite song… and felt nothing?

Or maybe it suddenly felt too loud, too emotional, or simply wasn't what you needed.

It can be unsettling, especially if music has always been part of your life.

I've come to believe that when music feels different, it's often because we're moving through something different.

That's exactly why I created my free guide, When the Music Stops. It's a quiet space to reflect on what's happening beneath the surface and to remember that there's nothing "wrong" with you.

The link to download it is in the comments and here if it feels like something you need right now.

If you ever had a moment or season where music stopped for you, I would love to hear about it.