Marilyn Maye may be 97, but still mesmerizes crowds nationwide (and me, holding her hand) with her delightful songs, stories, and stage presence. (Photo date: 12-5-25)

BreakAway traditionally preaches about the benefits of long-term travel and other escapes from the routine shuffle., AKA career breaks. But of equal importance: Finding the routine hobbies and habits that make the daily grind more meaningful and enjoyable.

For me, nothing beats music for that salve. Listening to the background tunes also helps fight back against my stubborn and annoying tinnitus—highly recommended!

And of course, nothing beats live music—like Ms. Maye’s performance in the photo. We go WAAAY back, having worked together in nightclubs in the 1980s. And I still see her here, in Okoboji, and beyond at least 3 times each year. She’s still got IT, has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning twice, and was on the Johnny Carson show a record 76 times…

This begs the question: What will YOU be doing when you’re 97!?!

Let there be songs to fill the air

— Grateful Dead

The media recently broke a story about a study that suggests that listening to music consistently decreases your risk of Alzheimer’s by 39%, while also improving cognitive memory skills.

Playing an instrument regularly also helps, with a 33% decrease in dementia risk and 22% in cognitive impairment.

What’s more, the study found that playing music for people already dealing with dementia (and throughout life, for that matter) does lots to help with processing emotions, boosting imagination and mood, and easing stress. Nursing home residents who often listen to music they like from their past have less incidents of agitation and aggression.

So…Listen up! You’ll feel better now, and again in the golden years when you may have memory problems. And while you’re at it, why not uncase that old guitar and pick away?