Rainbow over the Missouri by Shelby L. Bell is licensed under ATTRIBUTION 2.0 GENERIC (CC BY 2.0)
The Dark Side of Tranquility by Pitx is licensed under ATTRIBUTION – NONCOMMERCIAL 3.0 UNPORTED (CC BY-NC 3.0)
Worry, anxiety, and distress are normal emotions to have in life. Worry, anxiety, and distress, however, are not the end of the story. For me personally, you can bridle these thoughts and emotions by seeking professional support, confiding in a trusted group of friends, or by confiding in someone you trust and love. I chose the image Rainbow over the Missouri because, as someone that has and manages anxiety, I believe that in the midst of times of darkness, there is peace, hope, and beauty always present. Some folks need a little light to make it evident and others hold onto faith when there is no light. Others may need a reminder of hope from a familiar and trusting voice. Although the beautiful green landscape and waters are shadowed by darkness in the image, I love that the rainbow is present with just the right amount of sunlight to make it appear. To supplement the emotions this image evokes to me, I chose Pitx’s Dark Side of Tranquility. The use of acoustic guitar is calming for me while the 120 beats per minute express the uptick anxiety can have on someone like me. Anxiety no longer keeps me down as long as I seek support or just have that someone I love and trust to lend a listening ear.
Terms of use “Light Among The Storm” by Jason Rosario is licensed under Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Jason, you nailed it! Rainbows and rivers, full of their symbolism of course. But this song definitely fills me with a sense of stubborn optimism; an anticipation of what will come next. As someone who also struggles with anxiety, I think you’ve created the perfect calming scene.
Hi Jason,
The image is breathtaking, and the audio is very calming. Also, the image represents the phrase, “The calm before the storm.” Then, the audio is calming and relaxing but upbeat. Combined, the image and the audio complement each other because that is the kind of sound you would use with an image like that. The audio really enhanced the image. I think that the other audio choices could be one of the Lifescape relaxation and meditation songs from Target in the 2000s or something similar, which would also pair well with this image.
On another note, Jason, thank you for sharing your story about your anxiety. It is important to speak up about mental health because it will help to normalize the conversation surrounding mental health.
Hi, Jason! I really appreciate your post. I, too, have anxiety. I like to think the support system I have now is the rainbow in this picture. As long as I have a rainbow, the waves of anxiety (or, in this case, a storm) will pass. The music reminds me of the video game Red Dead Redemption, set in America’s decline of the frontier, so I feel like I am on a quest, and the plucky music plays as the storm approaches before an oncoming boss fight. The music really fits the picture and adds an element of nostalgia for me.