by Melanie Feliciano

I liked science when I was in high school. Chemistry, especially, because I liked the periodic table of elements and the formulas we had to solve. H + O2 = H2O. It was a superficial obsession, really. I just liked the look of letters inside a mathematical formula. I was glad that my algebra class was overlapping another class, somehow making it seem like these separate units had a relationship to one another. Public school makes a point to keep academic subjects separate, and it’s too bad because if math, science, history, art and literature were all taught together, life might actually be easier to navigate and you wouldn’t have so many kidz asking, “When am I EVER going to use this????” Teachers often don’t see the point of the lessons either, so they give lame answers like,”You need it to get into college.”

I had the privilege of attending Palm Beach Atlantic College my first two years of college, where the honors program made a point of combining subjects in order for us clueless students to see a full, 3-dimensional, sometimes 4-dimensional picture of history, in the hopes that we could better apply the lessons to our real lives. This is not something that clicks instantaneously for everyone. Some students get it right away. I am just now getting it, 15 years later. Hey, better late than never! I think it’s because I needed more real-life situations outside of the classroom to really gET it.

I think it also helped to go to India and learn about doshas, which explain our bodies’ chemical make-up in terms of those periodic elements we had to memorize “for no reason” in our Western public skules.

So, chemistry. I am mostly water. I’m walking around thinking I’m “Melanie” who is wearing a pair of jeans and grew up in Long Island. But when it comes down to it, I’m water, not “Melanie.” And if we think about what happens to water when we manipulate it with chemical reactions – heat, freeze, pollute – then it’s easier to understand that we take on the properties that surround us.

When I lived in San Francisco, I was surrounded by intelligent optimists, who spend a lot of time indoors because of the chilly weather. In Miami, I am surrounded by opportunists who spend a lot of time outdoors because of the hot weather.

Being indoors a lot is conducisve to developing the brain and analytical skillz; being outdoors is conducive to developing the body and social skillz.

Two extremes, which explains my need to bounce from coast to coast over the last 3 months. This is not to say that someone in San Francisco can’t be socially intelligent. There are always exceptions, and really, I am just talking about my own experience as a highly sensitive human being. Apparently when I was a baby my parents had to throw me in a bathtub of ice to cool down my frequent, high fevers. And I often used to scream for no apparent reason around certain people. After watching my 3-year-old niece exhibit these qualities, I understand this is just a particular trait passed on from my grandmothers.

We all have levels of this sensitivity, some stronger than others. Now that I am aware of it, I realize chemistry with my surroundings is important for my health and well being. But I can’t always control my surroundings, so now I am in the process of controlling my filters so that my water remains relatively pure. Impossible in such a polluted earth, right? Nah. This is why it is important to understand chemistry. If someone is yelling expletives in my vicinity, I can convert my water into a bouncy gel. Kids know this lesson – “Whatever you say bounces off me and back to you!”

Water is also reflective. If someone points out a trait they see in me, it’s because I am reflecting their own trait back to them. Mirror Mirror on the wall, we are all reflections of the world. This is what that part in the Bible is talking about – you know, that plank in your eye? Water reflects, and if there is a lot of light coming from behind the water, that light shines on another person and reflects back to you. Chemistry and physics right there!

Ok – so, if there is no light coming from behind the water, what happens? Positve attracts negative, so those who are light and don’t know these lessons, may attract dark without knowing it.

And those who are aware, can deflect the negative and possibly shine enough light on that person that they become light too. But then do two positives repel each other? Hmm. Well, they say misery loves company. Two negatives should repel each other but in this case they attract. Because you attract what you are. I’m totally confused now. Ugh!

And so, the question is: Can a writer convert his or her chemical properties with the flick of a light switch? This is when I think about Maggie Gyllenhall in “The Secretary.” She is able to stop cutting herself when her boss tells her to stop. I really hate the trailer below because it misleads the audience into thinking this is a mainstream film, but, you know, that’s how they get more rentals on Netflix.

And why would a writer WANT to convert his/her chemical properties with such precision? Well, if you want to truly get into the character of a villain, you must tap into your dark side. And vice versa for your hero.

Some practical ways of doing this – on the day you will be writing about your villains, watch the news! Fox News! CNN! ABC! Bravo’s various reality shows that feature whiny, unconscious Americans with BIG, FAT Egos! I also listen to dark music by Nine Inch Nails: Closer.

Or, if I want to write about a character who feels sorry for him/herself, I listen to The Smiths: How Soon Is Now.

And when I am writing about my heroes, I do the following…

1. Listen to positive music
2. Be conscious before speaking
3. Eat healthy – lots of salad
4. Do yoga
5. Go running

You get the drift, right?

Amen. Namaste. Ciao.

If you have more ways for converting your internal chemistry, please comment below!