Surprisingly, most of us are unaware of our own heartbeat. We might take note of it…after a steep stair climb or when watching a horror movie. We definitely notice it when working out; or feel it swelling with pride when thinking of our children; or when we are all alone with our thoughts deep into the night.

An adult heart beats about 60-80 times per minute. Your heart beats about 100,000 times a day – about 3 billion beats in a lifetime.

Research shows that when you can control the tempo of your music, it matches your normal heartbeat. Also, when listening to a slow beat, music lowers your pulse rate and blood pressure, and with a faster beat it can raise your heart rate and make you more excited and joyful.  (Take notice of your heartbeat listening to our program today.)

Just like the early humans gathered around a campfire beating out a tempo to match their own heartbeat – music can transform us, a non-verbal, physical way to make the world hear what is inside each and every one of us.

Each heartbeat is precious reminder that we are all connected. Your heartbeat is one of the things that binds us together as humans, all 7 billon of us – the whole of humanity.

As Rotarians, all 1.4 million of us, we can hear those heartbeats, and are reminded that we have the responsibility and resources to take action to improve our communities, bridge cultures and connect continents, and help and serve others in need.

Because of you, Rotary can transform communities - it has funded more than 460 district grants, 1,030 global grants, and 180 disaster response grants so far this Rotary year. 

We fund sustainable projects, provide food and shelter, fight disease, save mothers and children, provide clean water, grow local economies, support the environment, and promote peace. 

Are there still challenges? Yes. But…Let us be thankful that our heartbeat gives us a reminder AND the opportunity to serve others.