Bring Me Sunshine

Yesterday, at our Music for Wellbeing group, we sung ‘Bring Me Sunshine’ – a song I always associate with ‘Morecambe and Wise’. Geoff and Mary, a couple in their eighties, were there for the first time. I’ve known them for many years but haven’t seen them for a while. Geoff looks fit, but his dementia is more apparent; Mary’s still sharp mentally, but her sight and hearing have deteriorated.

Bring me sunshine in your smile bring me laughter all a while
In this world where we live there should be more happiness
So much joy you can give to each brand new bright tomorrow…

I wondered about Geoff and Mary’s sunshine.

I came home and read this week’s Lowestoft Journal. ’92-year-old targeted by scammers…’ ‘Car windows were smashed as a vandal fled the scene…’ ‘A thirty-year-old man attacked a man in his own home…’ ‘Jewellery stolen…’ ‘Violent and frenzied attack by a man on his partner could have killed her…’

Lowestoft needs sunshine, laughter, joy, happiness, love.

…Make me happy through the years never bring me any tears
Let your arms be as warm as the sun from up above
Bring me fun bring me sunshine and bring me love.

I’d suggest five sunshine responses…

Sunshine Avoiders: Sunshine will never happen to me. Life’s too bad, too sad, too dark. I hide from sunshine. If I wish for sunshine I’ll only be disappointed.

Sunshine Hopers: Life’s dark now; I hope there’s light at the end of the tunnel, that my luck will change, I’ll win the lottery. Things can only get better.

Sunshine Seekers: I’ll be proactive, go to places, meet people who bring laughter and joy. I won’t complain and be miserable; I’ll find sunshine,

Sunshine Bringers: I don’t look for my own sunshine; I try to bring sunshine to others. I don’t receive; I give, focusing on others’ sunshine and happiness.

Sunshine Livers: (Sorry – it sounds like something from the butchers!) I seek sunshine, receive sunshine, live in sunshine, and can thus give it out.