Life in the Northwest

Exploring new places, meeting new people, and discovering a few brew pubs along the way.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Mood rings and maps

Where did I put that Mood ring I found the other day?
I need to know...
Good Mood,
Bad Mood.
Blue Mood.
Happy Mood?

The past few days I have been moody.
I have been all over the mood map.
Actually, I wish there was such a thing as a mood map.  Then I could plot my own mood course.
Maybe I should google mood map and see if it exists...
Hang on....

I was surprised that several articles and images actually popped up when I Googled 'Mood Maps'
According to Huffington post,  "Researchers from the Northeastern University College of Computer and Information Sciences and Harvard Medical School have developed an innovative way of tracking the nation's mood using tweets."

But that isn't exactly what I was looking for.
I want to know where to go when I get moody.
What causes me to be in a blue mood this time of year?
How do I get out of this and how do I get in a different space?

Heck, I wish I knew what mood I am currently in and when it might change again.
I am sure the other people in the house would like to know as well.
Having 3 teenage moody girls under one roof is enough.
The men in the house don't need a moody mother as well.

If I am to be fair to myself I will acknowledge that over the years I have gotten better at recognizing when I get moody and I work hard at not imposing my mood on others.
I focus on getting back to my own normal by trying to do normal things.

But when I get in a mood and it develops into a funk, I tend to isolate myself.
I withdraw a bit more,
don't listen as well,
become more self absorbed,
and I disappear into my own thoughts.
The family notices.

I think I just need a nice, warm, sunny day where I can put the top down and go for a drive.
A drive along the gorge to Multnohma falls might do the trick.
Or perhaps a drive south along the coast to Newport or even further south, maybe Florence.
I haven't taken Highway 101 south in quite some time.
Maybe I'll just keep going on to Coos Bay and find my favorite beach and gather seashells.

But I won't.
The temptation to keep on going south would be too strong.
That and
Gas is $3.30 a gallon right now and I am too practical to waste money on my funk.

I do have other options.
I don't need to go anywhere.

Maybe I need to paint something.

Paint the kitchen?

Paint the bathroom?

Maybe a different color will help me have a different mood.

Perhaps I just need to get busy and work on the quilt I started this week.

The laundry needs to be done.
I haven't dusted in a while either.
Normal activities might bring on a more normal mood.

And if I have all the work done, then when that warm, sunny, day comes,
I will be ready to take that drive and go exploring.

But for now...
I think I will design my own map.
Now where is that mood ring?



Steppin' out with DWNTWN
DWNTWNimages.me

1 comment:

  1. Moods are tricky min can suck me down a dark howl preety quick if I don't recognize it when it starts. Just a walk out side and some "happy music" seems to make a difference but I got to tell you painting always does it for me. Making a small change with a new color give a room a fresh look and makes me feel like I have accomplished something that myself and others can enjoy.

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