Reflection: The Odd Things That Change Our Mood... (Ulog no. 16)

It's funny how we can be sitting somewhere, doing nothing in particular... and suddenly there's a "trigger" that will totally change our mood.

As I was heading off to bed, I briefly passed the TV area where Mrs. Denmarkguy and our son James (29) were watching something on Netflix. In passing, I caught a few seconds of Tangerine Dream's timeless "Love on a Real Train" (If you're as old as me, you might remember it featuring heavily in the movie "Risky Business" from 1982), and suddenly my mood changed; lifted.

Leaf silhouettes at sunset

Arguably, one of the greatest pieces of electronica ever recorded... this piece of music quite possibly lifted the popularity of an entire music genre.

And here it was, being used on an episode of "Black Mirror," 36 years later.

I have tried to understand why it changed my mood; why it suddenly made me happy.

When I listen... it feels like it gave birth to the entire concept of a branch of electronic music as uplifting, rather than just mechanical and industrial sounding. Compared to its contemporaries like Kraftwerk, it's an amazingly melodic and atmospheric piece of music.

Its "bones" sound a lot like the melodic Progressive House style currently being created by scores of young producers around the world. When I listen to it, I get both a recall of old memories, as well as a sense that it could be any time in the past 30 years... right now.

Funny, that.

I long have said — mostly in jest — that "music is my mind-altering substance of choice" and this was a powerful reminder of how soundscapes really can affect us.

Center of the flower

And Then: "Social Sharing"

One of the terms I have seen tossed about recently is "social sharing."

I think I first heard the term on Whaleshares, as part of defining the site, and setting it apart from a "blogging" site.

But what on earth is "social sharing," as a concept? Isn't ALL social media basically a form of social sharing? Whether you are here, or on Whaleshares, or using Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, WordPress or something else... it's ultimately social sharing.

So isn't calling something "social sharing" basically saying "we have no specific niche?"

Not that it really matters a great deal to me. Except for my personal interpretation that blogging is a form of social sharing.

I guess when a venue uses the term "social sharing," it simply means they don't want to get tied into blogging being a requirement for participation. Or something.

Sun on leaves

How Rambling Thoughts Become a Blog Post

One of the reasons I always enjoyed journaling — and ultimately became a blogger — was that it had a great deal of freedom of thought.

What I mean by that is that blogging — as opposed to "article writing" — can be little more than a "thought dump" into the written word. As an introvert, it is one of my favorite forms of creative expression.

Journaling and "freewriting" are often recommended as cathartic and used as part of therapeutic practices precisely for the reason that they help the psyche; for me, this type of writing helps be get "unblocked;" and it's also a great way to work through problems and issues I have been noodling around in my mind.

Last, but certainly not least, "freewriting" is a great way to empty my head before heading off to sleep. Which is precisely what I am going to do now!

Thanks for reading!

How about YOU? Do you find that music can alter your mood? In particular, certain music will send you on a journey of memories? On a different topic, what do YOU think "social sharing" means? Leave a comment-- share your experiences-- be part of the conversation!

(As usual, all text and images by the author, unless otherwise credited. This is original content, created expressly for Steemit)
Created at 181230 00:15 PDT