vibes*

(according to my friends at Merriam-Webster: distinctive feeling or quality capable of being sensed)

feeling serious

As a facts matter type of person, I've been rightfully accused of ignoring feelings because I value logic more than my vibes. It's a quality I deliberately tend to in my writing. I always revise for emotional value in scenes and within characters, layering in reactions and fears and preferences is vital when developing characters and plots. Vibes DO have a purpose, and this wee I've been thinking about spaces where they could be used to control a situation. When is it okay to trust your gut? When does your mood matter?

happy!

Here's a short list of situations I came up with:

choosing a parking spot (well lit, for example, FEELS safer, right?)

deciding whether to walk or run down a dark alley

cooking (Never baking, though. Baking is SCIENCE. A rising agent is essential if you want a cake to turn out.)

music

parties

restaurants

clothing (Sort of. The climate you're dressing for should also matter. This one's a split category)

deciding what to watch or listen to

book covers, and arguably what book to read

art

while dancing

choosing a greeting card

selecting a candle to burn

buying gifts

decorating

vacations

feeling playful

There are also situations where vibes should NOT dictate decision making because the facts and science simply override people's moods or feelings (whether you like it or not):

economic decisions

choosing a hotel, mechanic, plumber, electrician, doctor, accountant

balancing budgets

healthcare

growing plants

arresting someone, trying someone, imprisoning someone

raising animals

getting married

baking

driving

buying a house

buying a car

starting a business

buying a business

investing money

hiring an employee

brokering a contract

curing a disease

voting

using chemicals

whether to jump or climb

balancing diet and exercise for optimum health

forecasting the weather

ANY government policy, but especially

bombing another country

invading another country

sending troops into another country

feeling contemplative

Spill it, reader. Where do the vibes matter more than the facts? When should the facts matter more than the vibes?