There’s a certain beauty in music that resonates with us on a deep, instinctual level, far beneath our daily awareness. We connect with it; it brings us joy, it brings us sorrow, it instills courage, and it encourages reflection.
Simply put, there’s hardly anything a great piece of music can’t achieve when it comes to enhancing a situation. A thoughtfully chosen tune can serve as the perfect remedy for stress or anxiety, while a gentle melody can be just what’s needed to soothe a troubled mind.
Just ask Lindon Beckford, a patient transporter at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. He has been singing since childhood, and for him, the setting doesn’t matter; what’s important is that he can offer a bit of solace to the world and to himself through his singing.
Beckford has been serenading for as long as he can remember, but even he was surprised by the response he received when he sang for the patients he was transporting.
“I was always singing at work. I was always singing as a child growing up, so it was just a natural thing. It was more for a comforting thing…” Beckford shared.
“… So I did that just to comfort myself, but all of a sudden I realized people were listening to me.”
Recognizing that his singing was making a difference, Beckford started to weave it into his daily routine. Having worked at the same hospital for over 30 years, he has had ample opportunity to refine various techniques to alleviate the worries of anxious patients.
He shared: “Based on the conversation I overhear… is the patient experiencing pain? What song can I sing to help ease their discomfort.
“When I finally get them to their procedure or back to their room, they often say, ‘you know, your singing makes this journey from here to there so much more pleasant.’
For Beckford, it’s merely a way to express something he deeply understands and cherishes. For his patients, though, it can truly transform their experience.
“I recall the first time a patient accompanied me; I was escorting her to the cath lab, and she began harmonizing with my singing. I was like ‘oh’, it was so incredible, I thought ‘wow’, and since then, that has happened a few times,” Beckford remarked.
It’s clear to everyone that Beckford has a profound care for the individuals he transports. In moments when they might feel confused or anxious, uncertain and sometimes frightened, his voice serves as a comforting presence that reassures them that everything will be alright. There are few things as invaluable as that.
Check out the video below to listen to Beckford sing:
Lindon Beckford, we honor you, sir!
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