It’s A Gas, Gas, Gas!

There are some days that life just seems like a bitter pill. It takes a lot to make you smile because you just don’t feel the love from people around you and especially not from the world at large. This A.M. it made me think of Jumpin’ Jack Flash. That song, sung by the Rolling Stones in 1968 is gritty. Of course most of the time life is gritty too, so the song resonates with many of us who find hope in surprising places, and can laugh at unexpected moments.

The movie Jumpin’ Jack Flash, released in 1986, is a pop culture classic in my opinion. You have a gal just doing normal everyday things, working at a bank job with a boss that is a jerk, and all of a sudden she is contacted by someone via her computer who is in need of help. Its not a straight forward cry though, its very mysterious. Who is this dude? He seems to be a spy caught somewhere and needing a way out and he needs Terry’s help! Let the games begin because its a gas, gas, gas!

For this spy, Terry is his hope. Through her he can get the help he needs to escape his trouble. Its pretty bad, and talking with her, walking her through what to do to help him, encourages him not to give up, or to lose hope. We all need that sometimes don’t we? I know I do.

Life seems to be full of woe today. There are a lot of really bad and sad things happening. Every time I read the news via my computer, or watch anything on t.v. I get an ache inside because its heartbreaking. Why can’t we be kind to one another, loving, respectful? Why do we have to hurt people, make other fearful? Why can’t we get along? For whatever reason, it make me think of the son, Jumpin’ Jack Flash. The subject of the song has been down and out, had troubles, and even been left for dead. How does he respond to the bad he has been handed? He says its alright, its a gas, gas, gas. What he is really saying is that its alright now, its wonderful, life is actually good. He has let go of the bad to grab a hold of the good and he isn’t letting that bad drag him down!

There are some important life lessons in there. Terrible things are going to continue to happen. I wish they didn’t, but hey, its not up to me. So, how can I deal with it? I can decide its not going to hold me back from still giving others good. I can give a smile to those around me that I don’t know. I can treat others kindly and be a source of hope instead of the pill they have to swallow because of my bad attitude. I can run around today with the non-verbal message in my face, and body language and attitude that its alright, its a gas, gas, gas! Let’s all be kind to one another today and pass on hope to others so that, today, their bad feels a little lighter!

Posted from Original Reveries Published by Elise Welburn Martin a Medium.com Publication

The Power of Flowers and Sunshine!

Do you ever battle with too little sunshine? I sure do! If I go too many days without soaking up the sun, I get grouchy! I could never live in Alaska, though it is such a beautiful state, because they literally spend six months of their year in the dark! I am like a flower, and I need that sunshine to be healthy!

Right now my home is filled with flowers. Its summer, so the flowers are blooming in my yard, and it was also recently both my anniversary and my birthday, so flowery presents have come my way! I love it! They are pretty to look at, and fill my house with some of my favorite scents. Due to the summer weather the sun is shining a lot where I live, which fills me with feelings of happiness. Why do the flowers and sunshine have such power over me?

Research continues to show that flowers indoors, along with plants, give a sense of mental well-being. It brightens up your space with color and something alive and fresh, and that improves our moods. In addition to the looks of the flowers, the scents actually can be a source of relief from anxiety and stress. That is one of the reasons botanicals are used in essential oils that go into lotion, bubble bath and diffusers so that, when fresh flowers are not around, we can smell them and feel more relaxed.

Flowers are interesting and beneficial in a variety of ways, and another is that they are a language all their own. Granted it is us who has assigned meaning to them, but flower messages are part of our culture in a very real way. Different flowers have different meanings to people, and we read emotions by them. If you give a gal a dozen roses, it symbolizes emotion and worth. Roses are expensive, so it tells us gals we are worth the cost of those roses. When you add in the color of the rose, well it says a lot about your feelings for us. Guys, never give a red rose to a gal unless you want her to believe you love her! The emotions of flowers are a big deal to us gals!

So, what about the benefits of sunshine? Well the first benefit is that it is light. Do you feel the blahs when it is cloudy? A lot of people do. There is a reason for that. Sunlight is known to provide real health benefits. It increases levels of serotonin. This hormone is often called the happy hormone. We all have it, and we all need it. I helps balance us out and improves mood. In addition to happy feelings, sunlight also uses serotonin to to keep our circadian rhythms straight so that we can sleep at night. Sunlight helps our bodies produce Vitamin D naturally, so that our bones are stronger over time. Finally if you are battling with a skin condition, sunlight can actually help you along the way to clearing it up!

So, a mood booster, with real physical benefits, both flowers and sunshine really are a power in their own right! Beautiful to look at, and to enjoy, and healthful for us too! Nothing like the power of flowers and sunshine!

Reprinted from My Stories at https://medium.com/@elisewelburnmartin