Part 13 of the “What Does It All Mean?” series, a real-life reflection on living with Type 1 Diabetes, written by Dennis Goldensohn, who has lived with T1D for nearly 60 years.
By Dennis Goldensohn: T1D for nearly 60 years, advocate, and mentor
Something To Hold Onto: Music
For many of us, dealing with everyday responsibilities can be quite overwhelming. Now, add diabetes onto these, and it just seems to be impossible to deal with. Nevertheless, we try our best to deal with everything each and every day.
With this said, we need to find time and a place that we can go to alleviate these pressures. In this installment of What Does It All Mean?, I will be discussing how music can be a way of finding this place where we can find some peace of mind.
The Days of Street Corner Harmony
Back many, many years ago, in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Street Corner Harmony was very popular. It was called Doo-Wop. Each group was made up of either three or four members, better known as Three-Part or Four-Part Harmony. Each member had a specific role: Bass, Baritone, Tenor, or Second Tenor. Timing was everything, and when the timing was spot on, it sounded great.
In each borough of New York City—Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island—there were local street corner groups who sang every day. You would find them singing on street corners under streetlights, under a subway “L” (elevated subway station), and in the boys’ room.
The walls in the boys’ room were made of concrete and plaster, and that helped resonate the group’s sound, so it sounded larger than if they were singing outside. Of course, teachers would chase them out and tell them to find another place to do this. But it was a lot of fun, to say the least!
On the weekends, there would be competitions where one group from one area would compete against a group from another area, and everyone who was listening would vote on who was the best.
These groups would emulate songs that were being played on the radio or would write their own material. Those who wrote their own material could be picked up by a local recording company. Some of the hits back then were from groups who wrote their own material.
And there were no instruments, amplifiers, or other equipment. It was just their voices singing in harmony.
Finding Comfort in Music
As a kid growing up in Brooklyn, I too dabbled in music. Today, I still remember all of the fun we had, and I also try to sing today.
I have, over the years, collected many collections of music, and music was the place that I went to find comfort, relaxation, and peace of mind. Dealing with diabetes also has its demands that put great pressure on each of us, and we need a place to find some comfort.
I can remember when I worked in a fast-food restaurant; I used the train to get there and back. When I finished my shift at 11 PM, I would take the train back to the station where I lived, and then I had a two-mile walk back to where I lived.
I had a transistor radio (no iPods or cell phones back then) and listened to music. The walk seemed to be shorter, and by the time I got home, I felt much better, with a clearer mind ready to take on the next day’s responsibilities.
What Does Music Have to Do With Diabetes?
So, what does this have to do with diabetes, you may be asking?
As we navigate our lives each day dealing with diabetes, it can be quite overwhelming at times! Some may just want to give up, and we know that is not a choice. We need a way to cope with these challenges.
For me, music was a way to deal with these issues.
We can write pages of text, and yet a song in very few words can say the same thing. The melody and the words of a song can help us be in another place or help us remember where we were when we first heard the songs we were listening to.
This then takes our mind off where we are currently, and we can relax and feel some relief from the daily pressures we face.
Music will not eliminate these pressures, but it can help us have a more positive attitude and outlook to deal with them going forward.
Finding What Works for You
There may be other interests that can do the same thing. They can include hobbies like painting, pottery, reading, sewing, knitting, cooking, and others.
Each one allows us to think about what we can make and to be proud of the outcomes. This then gives us the ability to better deal with the pressures of diabetes and other daily issues.
And you can share these with others, where you get POSITIVE feedback and praise. What could be better?
These are NOT reliant on drugs, alcohol, smoking, and other vices that are absolutely no good for you and make you even more tense and have less of an ability to deal with your daily life’s issues.
My Musical Safe Place
Music is a form of entertainment that can allow you to find a safe place to go, unwind, and relax. The words, lyrics, and melodies help us as if we were reading a book in a shorter context.
It helps us remember where we were when we heard the songs, and that helps bring down the anxiety we may be facing.
I still today listen to many genres of music, which include Doo-Wop, The British Invasion, The Crooners, Country, and others. I do have an extensive collection of music CDs, record albums, and yes, 45 RPM records.
It is a treasure trove of music, and depending on the mood I am in, I can find that safe place to go to relax, take my mind off the daily pressures, and find strength to deal with them going forward.
It requires no drugs, no smoking, and no alcohol!!
Someday, when I get to travel to Dubai, you might see me singing Doo-Wop Street Corner Harmony on a street corner near you. You will be amazed at how good it sounds and how good it makes you feel!
What a Wonderful World
Here is a song that was recorded back in the 1960s by Louis Armstrong and was covered by Sir Rod Stewart. It was performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
The title is What a Wonderful World.
Listen to the lyrics and the melody. It says it all!
https://youtu.be/lBhnkJ6sVrM?is=jpLn4qkGKyhpkq6d
…………………and that is how Music describes What Does It All Mean?!!!
What Is This Series?
At Diapoint, we believe that the most powerful education comes from real people and real lives lived with diabetes.
That’s why we’re proud to introduce a new blog series by Dennis Goldensohn.
Dennis has been living with Type 1 Diabetes for nearly six decades, diagnosed at just 16 years old, and now approaching 59 years of life with T1D, without complications. His journey is not only a testament to resilience but also to what is possible with the right mindset and support.
Beyond his personal experience, Dennis brings a lifetime of dedication to service and advocacy. He spent 45 years working in aerospace manufacturing, while also volunteering with organizations such as JDF, JDRF, Breakthrough T1D, DPAC, and the Diabetes Research Institute. Today, he continues to mentor young people navigating their futures, while sharing his lived experience with diabetes to support others.
His series, “What Does It All Mean?”, is exactly what it sounds like: a reflection on life with diabetes, beyond the numbers, beyond the devices, and beyond the daily routines.
Through this series, Dennis explores:
- The realities of living with diabetes every single day,
- The misconceptions and stigma people face,
- The history and progress of diabetes care,
- The power of community, advocacy, and teamwork,
- And ultimately, what it truly means to live a full, successful life with diabetes.
This is not just education. This is perspective and lived experience.
And above all, this is reassurance that yes, you can.
