Listening to Les miserables as an occupation

A poster of the Les miserables concert

Are you interested in an occupation in which you experience deep emotions?

Previously I wrote Asami’s story of listening to Les miserables. While she focuses on the music, she repeats excitement and calming down then she gets relaxed. She also has different emotions, get refreshed and recovers. When the concert finishes, she is exhausted but she also is really satisfied and happy. Today, I want to share with you more about a view of listening to Les miserables as an occupation from these angles,

the form of listening to Les miserables as an occupation,

the function of the occupation,

and the meaning of the occupation.

Situation: Asami is in her late thirties and is a full-time health fessional. She has played different types of instruments since she was very young. She spent lots of time and energy to learn knowledge and performing techniques in high school but she didn’t enjoy playing instruments. Now she doesn’t play any instruments but attending to a live musical concert is an important occupation for her. 

The form of the occupation: Asami usually goes to the concert alone except occasionally when her mother who loves music attends to the concert. She doesn’t subscribe to a series in one concert hall but rather she chooses individual concerts which she knows that meets her needs. In the concert hall, Asami focuses on the music. She doesn’t think anything else during the concert. Listening to the music, she feels the concert hall is full of music and her body is floating in it. Then she repeats feeling excited and calming down, that is really comfortable for her. When the concert finishes, her body is tense and her shoulder and back is aching.   She feels herself powerless to walk well as usual. But she feels refreshed, more satisfied and happier engaged in listening rather than in any other occupations. Asami chooses a concert in which she can enjoy her favorite type of music, instrumental tunes and singer’s voice.

The function of the occupation: Asami’s listening to the music is not a light passive occupation but is a deeply involved occupation which influences her physically and mentally. Being involved in listening to the music, Asami has an unusual feeling that she is floating in the air in the concert hall being relaxed. Meanwhile, listening to the music, her body gets tense so that the whole body, especially her shoulders and back, are aching when the concert finishes. During the concert, listening to the music, Asami repeats being excited and calming down. She also experiences different emotions. She too realizes that listening to the music, some emotions she suppressed in her daily life gets released. Finally, at the end of the concert, she feels refreshed and deeply satisfied. Asami feels she recovers herself.  She feels she can fight tomorrow. Asami experiences that, listening the music, her emotions suppressed in her daily life are released and she recovers herself. Listening to Les miserables, Asami recovers herself and promotes wellbeing.       

The meaning of the occupation: Asami loves music and has played instruments for many years but she didn’t enjoy performing very well. Meanwhile she has learned excellent musical knowledges and performing techniques and developed the sense of music. She can identify her types of music, instrumental tunes and singer’s voices. She can choose the type of music, instrumental tunes and singer’s voice which brings her comfort and relaxation, then releases her from her suppressed emotions. Asami’s musical occupation for many years means promoting her wellbeing.