Normally I practise guitar 3 to 4 hours a day, every single day. Might do an hour at lunchtime, another hour after work, and then a couple of hours late at night.

When the events of last Tuesday happened, I couldn't pick up a guitar for 5 days. For someone like me, that's a very long time to go without playing. But the reason is that I had no song in my heart nor any music within me that I felt capable of playing...and was in a temporary head space of "what's the use of anything?".

Finally over the weekend, I forced myself to pick up a guitar and rather than start to play any songs I know, I just let my mind and fingers wander, and as a result stumbled on some new techniques and chords I'd never played before, so they've now been added to the "tools arsenal." I also rediscovered how incredibly theraputic, calming and relaxing it is to just play - doesn't matter what you play. I feel waves of anxiety deep within get swept away, and sense of calm and well being seems to magically happen. Music is a great friend and companion. Sometimes you have to get away from it for a while, to truly appreciate it's healing qualities.