Nothing. Nada. Zilch.

Have you ever cried for no reason?  And it’s not even a sobbing-box-of-tissues-worthy cry, just a few tears. Perhaps there is a reason and you just haven’t discovered it yet. Or there really could be no source that wants to claim responsibility for this expression of emotion. But it is an expressed emotion nonetheless. A day or two later, you look back on how you felt and wonder what was wrong with yourself. There was no way you could have been so sad because today you are higher than a kite on a sunny afternoon in July! You can’t stop smiling. Little things make you laugh. No one can do you wrong. You radiate joy, happiness, essentially any positive emotion possible.

Now, imagine a world without emotion.

No anger. No sadness. No joy. No awe. No anticipation. No disappointment. No regret. No loneliness. No optimism.

That exciting apprehension you experience as you finally tell the woman of your dreams you love her and want to spend the rest of your days growing old with her and the joy and contentment she expresses-gone.

The relief, amazement, and love you and your spouse experience when holding your band new baby for the first time-not there.

The pain, heartache, and sorrow you felt when you heard your grandmother passed away- non-existent.   

What would the world be like without these emotions? How different would your life be if you made decisions without the influence of emotions? I often take the ability to feel these numerous emotions for granted or some days wish I could go numb and feel nothing at all. But as I continue to think about a world without emotions, I realize how logical, rigid, and sad it would be. I am grateful that I can experience joy, even if that means some days I have to experience sadness. For how can we recognize and find pleasure in true joy without experiencing the depths of despair?

Would you give up all emotions to escape the sadness, the hurt, and the pain? I'd love to hear your thoughts about this topic!

Doodle on!

“And when you take the square root of 2547 and multiply it by the fourth...”

There have been times when I am sitting in class and suddenly the square root of 2547 turns into a Thanksgiving turkey. At first it’s all numbers and square roots. Then I hear “roots” and I think of the outdoors. My hand veers to the left margin of my notes and begins drawing squiggles that resemble the roots of a tree. Trees. Forrest. Brother. Hunting. Turkey Hunting. Thanksgiving dinner. Yum! Those squiggles have now evolved into some broccoli, stick figures, and a turkey on a plate that’s been interrupted numerous times when my hand refocuses on numbers and equations. This is not a new phenomenon for me. If you could see my notes from high school, you would see that if the notes were not detailed that day, the left margin would be filled with random doodles. I used to feel bad because I had so many scribbles - didn’t that show I was uninterested and disengaged with what was being taught in class? I learned that these doodles were a result of my visual learning style. There are three major ways people learn: visually, auditory, and kinesthetically, but for now I will focus on the visual learning style.

Visual learners, like myself, learn best by seeing things. Doodling is a way for students to “see” and give their brain a little extra stimulation in the classroom. I often find myself remembering where something is in my notes by what was drawn beside it, even if it had nothing to do with the lesson. Why? Because when I close my eyes, I can see it in my mind. Visual learners tend to picture concepts in their minds and pictures, charts, diagrams, and outlines can help them better visualize those concepts. Color is a vital tool for visual learners. It helps them organize and recall information in their notes because they can “see” which word went with which color. Here are some learning techniques from about.com that can assist visual learners in the classroom:    

·         Draw a map of events in history or draw scientific process. 

·         Make outlines of everything! 

·         Copy what’s on the board. 

·         Ask the teacher to diagram. 

·         Diagram sentences! 

·         Take notes, make lists. 

·         Watch videos. 

·         Color code words, research notes.

·         Outline reading.

·         Use flashcards.

·         Use highlighters, circle words, underline.

  

Even if you are not a visual learner doodling can still be beneficial. It doesn't have to be a masterpiece-simple shapes and shading can help you retain information because not only are you hearing the information, but you are engaging your mind and body as you interact with what is being said. In fact, researchers have found doodlers retained 30% more of the information they heard than the non-doodlers. So doodle on doodlers!

Not a visual learner but interested in finding out what your learning style is and enhancing your classroom experience? Take this quiz and let me know what techniques help you learn best!

The Virus

It starts off sweet, soft.

Innocently.

Maybe there’s even a hint of excitement sprinkled somewhere in it.

It means no harm, really. It crosses your path maybe once or twice and is quickly forgotten. Your life goes on as it had before.

Normally.

It may be hours, days even before it hits it you unexpectedly. It may attack you in the grocery store line. Or perhaps as you stand at the kitchen sink rinsing the dishes. It can come at any time- morning or night. But once you realize it, it's usually too late. It creeps throughout your entire being until it consumes your every thought. You try to distract yourself with a million other variations of it, but nothing satisfies you. You go on with your day, thinking that school, work, or occupying yourself with some mindless task will divert your attention.

Wrong. This only serves to intensify your need for it.

Finally you give in- there is nothing else you can to.

The next chance you get you pull up iTunes, YouTube, turn up the radio- whatever it takes to rid yourself of its melodic grip.

What is this monster you may ask?

Some call it stuck song syndrome, others call it an earworm. You may recognize it as that song that’s constantly set on replay in your mind; nearly all of us have been struck by this “virus” at one time or another. And one of the worst parts is that it’s usually not the entire song that consumes your entire existence. It can be just one line or rhythm that tantalizes your mind for days on end. You could potentially be trapped on different parts of the same song for weeks!     

One of your symptoms may include repetition of the same song over and over on your phone, iPod or laptop- whatever plays music- until it drives you, your parents, your roommate, and your friends absolutely crazy. This is how it spreads. Another symptom may be waking up with that song already in your mind so much so that it compels you to belt it at the top of your lungs in the shower at 6:30am. While these symptoms may also serve as temporary fixes, there is unfortunately, no known “cure” for these fateful occurrences. 

But eventually, gratefully, and perhaps even magically, the “virus” runs its course and exits the body, leaving you and those around you with some peace and sanity still intact.

But then it starts off sweet, soft. Innocently. It means no harm…

I was recently exposed to the song “Island in the Sun” by Wheezer and currently have the first eighteen seconds lodged in my brain. Has this ever happened to you? What songs or snippets of songs have been stuck in your head? What methods have you used to rid yourself of the dreaded earworm? I’d love to hear your thoughts or remedies you’ve discovered!