Flower Power, In a Non-Hippy Way

Spring is finally here. The snow has melted, the grass is beginning to turn green again and even the buildings inside are starting to sprout plants.

As I was sitting in the Student Union, a woman was walking around with pots of flowers shoved under her arms. She was going to each empty table and placing a pot down, trying to bring the spirit of the season indoors. They are just three little tulips piled into dirt and tin foil, but they immediately changed the mood of the room as soon as they entered.

The colors made the room seem cheerier, and the gloom of the rain clouds outside almost disappeared from thought after the bright pink and purple buds made their appearance in my sight. But I believe flowers just have that ability; they can make any situation feel better, which is probably why people receive flowers in the hospital, during a funeral, at weddings or when a husband needs to score a few brownie points with his wife.

And I’m not the only one who recognizes the, excuse the ‘60s terminology, “flower power”. A study at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, showed that nature can improve emotional health. The studies there showed three findings:

1. Flowers have an immediate impact on happiness in all age groups tested.
2. Flowers have a long-term positive effect on moods as participants felt less depressed, anxious and agitated after receiving flowers.
3. Flowers make intimate connections, leading to increased contact with family and friends.

So, if you’re feeling down, go out and buy some flowers. They are nature’s way of saying, “Get well soon”.

The Blame Bill

Over the past week, there have been many discussions about the biggest change in American government of the new millennium: health care reform. While the recently signed bill will bring about the adaptation of a different health system, it has also been the cause of debate between residents.

The words have been tossed back and forth between democrats, republicans, independents and other opinionated Americans. Each group blames another for the problems of government, without actually looking at the issue at hand. It is simply easier for them to point fingers and be angry at the wrong people in order to make themselves feel justified against a government that does not adhere to their own wants and values.

While these accusations can be made and the health care reform bill may upset the public, there are those who feel the wrong issue is being discussed in the media.

“This is not a republican or democrat issue. That division amongst people is the reason legislation like this got through against the will of the majority of Americans,” said Jay Grayson, an outspoken political analyst. “We are too busy fighting each other over the wrong things.”

With the current presidential situation, a non-white president who is also a democrat and a non-Christian, the battles have new weapons being tossed into the mix. But using personal characteristics against a person is just another reason why all of the spotlight against the bill has taken an unnecessary turn.

“Trying to make this a ‘race’ issue is exactly what is wrong with those who want to discredit anyone who disagrees with their viewpoint and doesn’t have the ability to rightly defend their beliefs,” said Perry Perrett, a Baptist minister.

Placing blame on others is something people learn to do as children. Little Johnny finds that if he tells his mother that his sister was the one who broke her favorite vase, he cannot get punished for it. As adults, people also find it beneficial to blame others when something goes wrong. Someone who does not understand how the quadratic formula works may place blame on his or her math teacher, instead of accepting the fact that he or she slept through that class and did not bother to learn it. Blame is just a way of making sure the liability lies on others and responsibility does not have to be taken.

Psychological theory and research of why humans place blame on one another is complicated and still incomplete. There are many different situations where people decide it is much easier to accuse another than accept consequence, although all end with the same result; people simply do not want to accept change.

When it comes to the reform, the media has spent more time discussing how one group is up in arms against another, instead of focusing on the terms of the bill. It is just another reason why people are programmed to blame and cannot help but point fingers.

“There’s been a lot of focus on the political drama and not quite as much on the bill itself,” said Dr. Dion Farganis, an assistant political science professor at Bowling Green State University. “[The media] knows that political battles are more likely to sell papers or get people to watch or click than detailed policy analyses.”

Though the hype is at its peak during the beginning stages of the reform, Farganis makes it clear to remind the people that even though there are many against it now, there is no telling what the future holds.

“I do think once the bill becomes law, some of the opposition may decrease in size and intensity as people see that the law is not as bad as it has been portrayed,” he added. “It’s also possible that the reform won’t work and that it will, in fact, increase taxes and bureaucracy, in which case support for the bill will erode. There’s just no way to predict any of that yet.”

In the mean time, while the health care reform hasn’t had the time to really show signs of failure of success, people will continue to complain and criticize. The argument can be made that blame is only because of human nature, but most likely, it’s just someone else’s fault.

Public Display of A-friction

A girl was walking down the sidewalk doing what girls do best: talking on the phone. She was yelling and screaming at the person on the other end of the line, who I can only assume to have been her boyfriend. At first, I thought it was rude to be talking about such a private situation while there were so many people around enjoying their day, but I then I stopped to consider that maybe her way and timing of expressing her anger was part of the reason why she was arguing with her significant other in the first place.

Expressing anger in public can be harmful to relationships. It's not only disrespectful to the people in the surrounding area, but also to the partners involved in the quarreling. An article from ehow.com gives a few steps on how to improve your relationship by avoiding the display of your problems in public.

1. Before you speak, stop and think if what he or she is doing will matter in 30 minutes. If the no, bite your tongue. Wait for some privacy before letting it all out.

2. Remember your partner is human. Let the issue go. If it bother you when you get home, then address it there.

3. Avoid controversial issues while talking in public. Without dangerous conversation, arguing can be forgotten.

4. Count to ten before continuing an argument. It takes two people to argue; be the one to prevent it.

5. If all else fails and your partner wants to keep making a scene, walk away. Wait for your partner to calm down, then discuss the issue in a more private setting.

Over the Hill

An elderly woman was walking through campus. She paced through the sidewalk paths, then took a seat on a bench in the shade. She watched as each young college student walked by, barely even noticing her presence. The woman appeared to be confused about where she was, as many people seem to become as they grow old.

Although there are many characteristics associated with the elderly, there are also many misconceptions that society assumes about the older generations. An article on the Global Healing Center website by naturopathic medicine professional Dr. Lauri Aesoph describes five myths about getting old as well as inspires a little hope for those glancing over the other side of the hill.

Myth 1: Getting old means becoming senile. Many people think the elderly can't think for themselves. In reality, only 5 percent of Americans are senile.

Myth 2: Becoming old means losing teeth. Elderly today are much more likely to keep their teeth than previous generations because of the increased amount of education about dental care today.

Myth 3: The older people get, the sicker they'll be. Although it's true that physiology changes with age, keeping a healthy immune system can be key in fighting illness as a person matures.

Myth 4: Lifestyle changes won't help once a person gets old. Living as healthy as possible is always the ultimate goal. It's never too late to release those old, unhealthy habits. Also, starting an exercise routine can help prevent frailty.

Myth 5: As long as a person maintains the same eating habits as a young person, he or she will stay healthy. Just as children and teens have dietary requirements, so do the elderly. Aging alters a person's metabolism, so maintaining a healthy diet with the essential vitamins and minerals is crucial.

It's Just a Statue, Right?

A reminder that sometimes words don't even need to be spoken for emotion to be palpable to the human condition. Remember to click on the photos in order to read the captions.

Hello! I'm Right Here!

Walking through the Union, I happened to pass someone I knew. We have had a few classes together, but he isn't what I would call a "good friend". Still, I didn't want to be impolite, so as I passed I gave him a smile and started to say "Hi," but he just completely ignored me.

It's something that happens quite frequently. We pass people we know, but they turn their heads the other way and pretend like we aren't there. The act itself of being ignored can be hurtful. But why do people pretend not to know certain people? An article by Mark Dykeman on Broadcasting Brain.com explains some reasoning behind the rude act.

He says that when people are traveling, they often are intent on a single goal and can't focus on who they are passing. A person who is late to an appointment may ignore his or her surroundings because he or she is so focused on getting to the destination. Also, some people may be focused on other, more, er, "biological needs", such as going to the bathroom or feeling sick.

Dykeman adds that the reason a person may ignore another is because, simply, he or she has bad eye-sight or has a hard time remembering faces. No one is perfect, and people have their flaws. It could be possible that a man walks by another without acknowledging because he just doesn't know who he is actually passing. It's an easy mistake, and it's the reason we most often make up in our minds once we are ignored.

Of course, Dykeman doesn't forget to take the good with the bad and mentions some not-so-flattering explanations for being ignored. He says maybe, to another, you are a source of anger, sadness or pain. Even worse, you could be a source of embarrassment to the person. But the saddest reason of all is that person who ignores another could just be a complete jerk. And if you happen to encounter someone like this, you're better off to just keep on walking and pretend like that person never happened.

When Anxiety Takes Over

My friend was completely submerged underneath a pile of papers and books when she decided to take out her daily planner to see what other work was going to overload her upcoming week. As she scanned over the days, I could see in her eyes that her list of things to do grew and grew, along with the stress weight that began to push down on her. She began to worry so much that she became short of breath, her chest felt constricted and she thought she was going to pass out. She had just experienced an anxiety attack.

One out of every 75 people in the world experience anxiety attacks. They can be frightening, but with a few tips from Reader's Digest.com, dealing with anxiety is nothing to worry about.

1. When it feels like an attack is coming on, get on your bike, pull out your walking shoes or grab a gym bag. There's no better way to feel like you can breathe again than exercise.
2. Cut out caffeinated food, drinks and medications. Caffeine adds to the jittery, tense feeling of anxiousness.
3. Avoid conversations which could increase anxiety when feeling tired, overwhelmed or stressed. Try to maintain a "trouble free" time, especially before bed. Also try to stay focused on relaxation as much as possible.
4. Buy a white-noise machine to use when sleeping. The soothing sound guarantees a good night's sleep and lowers stress levels.
5. Choose one thing that may cause anxiousness and rank it on a scale of 1 to 10; 10 being most likely to happen. Most people will find that a majority of items don't rank above 5. Understanding the chance of anxiety will greatly reduce the feeling.
6. Rent a comedy and watch it. Laughing out loud releases endorphins that help lower stress hormones.
7. Follow the Relax, Detach, Focus steps. Detach from your thoughts, center yourself in the moment and focus on who you want to be and how you want to feel.