In the act of maintenance, a short time ago, I read upon a screen a fine direction. “Eat the Rainbow.” This directive emanated from a help guru of the Dr. Oz variety via a low brain wave show resembling Rachael Ray. The specific expert and precise show were so indiscernible from the repeated mass messages beamed into our skulls from our LED altars that I cannot recall its origin.
Yet this was a valuable message. This “Eat the Rainbow” proclamation was just that kind of message. Its insistence was that evaluating your diet based on color was actually beneficial to your body. I happened to agree with the edict and endeavored to consume a more broad spectrum of colors regarding foods. This would entail eating oranges, bananas, red peppers, eggplant, berries of various varieties, grayish mushrooms, green asparagus, pomegranates, and any other variants as they occur. The point of the endeavor involved feeding your body with these variations of foods and thus fueling it with the innumerable antioxidants and vitamins and minerals that we couldn’t achieve with a rather stringent consumptive profile.
The validity I find in this approach to consumption I turn inwardly. Weariness is an ok feeling upon rising. For example, it is natural to sit contemplatively in this state whilst enjoying a sterile pre-dawn light. It’s natural to be sluggish and to want for a 10 minute readjustment to acclimatize to the world
Having that cup of coffee as the sun crests the horizon affords an optimistic perspective and warms both the static synapses and fuels the sedentary juices languidly seeping through our veins. The stimulation is encouraging and the granola bar crunch and stomach filling grains provide endurance for the day.
The inevitable emotional plateau leads to a focus and direction towards serving, likely, a job at hand. The muted emotional volatility and somewhat cold task-centric approach permeates our being. This is the dangerous part. Particularly if the job engaged in is unsatisfying. The sense of perpetual need to flee and the sense of entrapment may sear our senses at this juncture.
Respite, though, materializes in mastication and fraternization at a meal juncture. Stress is momentarily alleviated and a nature requisite refueling is achieved. The mind conflicts between the knowledge that more inanity is eminent and the bodies lethargy. But, the drive and conditioned insistence to work prevails.
Imperceptible vacillation occurs amidst the afternoon. There is notable work to carry out, yet aggression and disillusionment resurface. A palpable disillusionment and recalcitrant sensation grope leech-like into the depth of all cogitations.
Abruptly a genuine smile and eye contact results from your reactively proffered customer service. The bubble of disillusionment bursts. The brightness outside is suddenly noticed. And a hopeful feeling surfaces like predawn glimmerings of pale light off the multitudinous mounds of pearlescent snow in the parking lot.
Crushing aggression seeps into you. You watch, dignified in your lane position, as the 36th car leaps from the merge lane and narrowly misses the relocated traveller just recovering from the last cut off attempt. There however is little solace but for
“Asshole! How many times will people do this?!” The utterance is clearly ineffective as vehicular insulation prevents such communications. The burning urge to brake-check the next troglodyte riding your bumper skips briskly through your mind though the capacity to entertain said proclivity is sadly unrealistic given your callow nature.
Simple functionality is relegated to limbs and ocular function and the desire to just “get home and relax” realized. When this narrowing of the emotional spectrum is achieved the aim is also accomplished. The stop and go no longer pushes maliciously on the triggers in your mind. Complacency and neutrality navigate a path to serenity.
The dosage mixed in the solo propel towards a hyper-stimulated individual. There is a palpable pulsing in your muscles and a tingling in your skin as you grip the steering wheel and allow the selective beats to synchronize to the growing, chemically induced rage that pulses through your body.
As the body simulates a fusion of the Flash and the Hulk moving through exercise both rapidly and with a rage/pump craze. A euphoric halo alights. A derisive focus occurs and causes knuckle clenching drive and focus as well as pulsing apotheosis like thoughts. Power begets more power. Intense sweat ensures the workout is complete and the ingested chemicals have waned in their effectiveness.
A ravenous hunger prevails. The mind sends desirous signals to the body and demands replenishment of fuel. Once sated a sense of satisfaction and peace occurs and a halcyon emotional state occurs. Its time to relax.
From the aroused state at the gym to the peaceful state enjoying a favorite show on the television the mind is given a rest. As the melancholy sets in with the gentle plucking of chords, the day is recapped in my mind. I can’t imagine living in a manner that would arrest these emotions both sad and aggressive. And so I share it with all.
Humbly yours,
J
From the album In Rainbows