Gene Krackehl was someone I knew in passing at a Westchester, NY, gym that I patronized in the late 1990s. A few years ago, I received a friend request from him on Facebook. “Oh, the gym guy,” I thought. My attitude toward friend requests is this: if I would hand my business card to this person, I’ll friend him or her. That covers most people. Anyone can subscribe to my feed anyway. What difference does it make? So I don’t say anything on FB that I wouldn’t say publicly. Pretty much.
Then I began receiving his “Monday Morning Message from Gene.” It turns out Gene is a healer; positive, wise and warm. My initial response was not. I already get enough emails to choke a horse and its rider. Do I have time for this airy fairy stuff?
But I didn’t put Gene’s Monday musings into the spam zone. Once in awhile I’d click on his message, read it and think yeah, yeah, yeah. Slowly I began to look forward to his Monday message. It was uncanny how many times he said something that directly applied to my life, even though he says he writes them well in advance.
One weekend I couldn’t get a Coldplay song out of my head. Over and over I sang “If I could ruuuule the world da da da da da dee da da.” I couldn’t remember the rest of the words but the song made me feel powerful, like I could slay dragons, make the bestseller list, fall madly in love and have it returned. I was very productive. On Monday, with it still in my head, I received this from Gene:
Dear Jo,
Understanding Subtle Messages
Ever hear a tune playing in your head as you take your morning shower? Listen closely to the lyrics (or look them up online if you don’t remember them). They will have a significance concerning your day’s activities.
Wishing you an insightful week!
With much love and smiles,
Gene
Okay, too weird. I had to google the lyrics.
I discovered it’s not “If I Could Rule the World” and bursting with optimism. It’s “When I Ruled the World” and not uplifting at all!
I used to rule the world. Seas would rise when I gave the word. Now in the morning I sleep alone. Sweep the streets I used to own
So why was I singing it? Did I subconsciously know the lyrics and chose to see the world through rose-colored glasses? Turn s#*t into fertilizer? Yes, that’s it. I’m positive, warm and wise now, just like Gene! Thank you, Gene, for your Monday messages. Now let me go back to singing my new earworm: “That’s Annoying” sung to the tune of “That’s Amore.”
Now here’s how to get rid of an earworm as tested by myself with an 88.7% success rate: sing the song to someone else. It goes from your head into theirs.
Gene’s info:
You Are The Healer Facebook Page
Gene@AmazingHealer.com · 914-232-4409
Website: AmazingHealer.com
Morning Message copy: © Gene Krackehl, LLC. All rights reserved.
Ruth H. says
July 16, 2013 at 1:40 pmA co-worker of mine used to drop earworms like this with only a suggestion of a lyric. In a similar way, this used to happen to me watching old films, having grown up with a musical father whose well-worn fake books of Gershwin, Porter and Ellington resided on my piano. Now whenever the swells of “Cheek to Cheek” rise in the background in a movie, I can’t get the image out of my head of Astaire and Rogers skimming over a dreamy dance floor. I think it all proves that music is a great companion, even if the lyrics aren’t always what you’d like to hear.
Jo Maeder says
July 16, 2013 at 9:37 pmThanks, Ruth. I agree.