I came across the following site when researching for this blog. It is mostly about setting yourself up to have fun by cleaning out the cobwebs of the mind.
Find tips like I did to help you.....Enjoy!
Highlight the script below and enter..... the link will appear.
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.boxofcrayons.biz%2Ffree%2Fmovies%2Feightprinciples%2F&h=ZAQFYv-KK
Saturday, March 31, 2012
People Watching
People watching is a great sport when done creatively. I especially enjoy doing this whenever I'm waiting. Just the other day, I was standing in a very long line and instead of getting frustrated, I began making up stories of the people around me. This is so much fun and the stories can lead you to many conclusions....but remember.....this is not about judging anyone or criticising anyone. Instead it is really about letting your imagination soar.
Anyway, to get back to the person I was watching. He was a young man, perhaps in his mid-twenties. He was standing in front of me in line. He seemed quite concerned. Apparently his baby boy (probably less than six months old) was crying and seemed to have a hard time breathing. The infant was being held by a woman that was sitting down off to the side, I concluded that it must be his wife. I kept wanting to say blow into his face so he will stop crying and breathe. The young man asked if I would hold his place in line. I smiled and said of course. He went over to get some tissue to wipe his baby's nose and carrying his baby, came back to the line. The baby stopped crying and was breathing better, much to my relief.
I thought....WOW.....what a great father and husband. He didn't get upset....no he just calmly and lovingly carried his baby, bobbing and weaving to soothe his child. A few minutes later, another woman came up to talk with him and then took the baby from him. She looked to be the same age as the first woman. That's when my mind went creative. I was creating an exercise of fiction writing with a story line of a man with multiple wives. A man who loved his family and worked hard to support them by not only hunting and gathering means, but also with love and kindness.
Needless to say....the time went by very quickly and before I realized it...I was at the front of the line responding to the counter-person shouting "Next in line!" I bolted to the window and you know what? I wasn't in the least bit agitated for having to wait in the long line....such was not the case for the people that followed me. They were complaining and bad mouthing the system. I came away with a smile on my face....they went away frustrated vowing never to come here again.
My blood pressure was thankful for the experience and I had fun! Isn't that what life is all about?
Anyway, to get back to the person I was watching. He was a young man, perhaps in his mid-twenties. He was standing in front of me in line. He seemed quite concerned. Apparently his baby boy (probably less than six months old) was crying and seemed to have a hard time breathing. The infant was being held by a woman that was sitting down off to the side, I concluded that it must be his wife. I kept wanting to say blow into his face so he will stop crying and breathe. The young man asked if I would hold his place in line. I smiled and said of course. He went over to get some tissue to wipe his baby's nose and carrying his baby, came back to the line. The baby stopped crying and was breathing better, much to my relief.
I thought....WOW.....what a great father and husband. He didn't get upset....no he just calmly and lovingly carried his baby, bobbing and weaving to soothe his child. A few minutes later, another woman came up to talk with him and then took the baby from him. She looked to be the same age as the first woman. That's when my mind went creative. I was creating an exercise of fiction writing with a story line of a man with multiple wives. A man who loved his family and worked hard to support them by not only hunting and gathering means, but also with love and kindness.
Needless to say....the time went by very quickly and before I realized it...I was at the front of the line responding to the counter-person shouting "Next in line!" I bolted to the window and you know what? I wasn't in the least bit agitated for having to wait in the long line....such was not the case for the people that followed me. They were complaining and bad mouthing the system. I came away with a smile on my face....they went away frustrated vowing never to come here again.
My blood pressure was thankful for the experience and I had fun! Isn't that what life is all about?
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Six Degrees of Separation?
Long ago I saw a movie called Six Degrees of Separation. The plot eludes me now, but the concept stuck in my mind. The theory is that we are all 6 steps away from any other person on earth....kind of like a friend of a friend concept whereby you can connect any 2 people in 6 steps or fewer. Wikipedia lists this concept as originating from Frigyes Karinthy, a Hungarian author, playwright, poet, journalist and translator. In 1929 he wrote a short story about this called Chains.
Yesterday while having brunch with my best friend Shirley, whom I've known for close to 50 years, I had this huge "aha" moment. Have you ever had someone in your life that has this weird connection to you that they keep appearing in your life? Now, granted, I don't mean someone that you reconnect with from time to time....what I mean is that you have a few chance meetings or coincidences that are unexplainable....and you connect like that person was meant to connect with you throughout life. Yesterday, I realized that I have 2 such phenomenas in my life and I am now convinced that they are like my guardian angels.
While sharing stories about her childhood, Shirley talked about this favorite place she and her siblings played at and it turned out to be the place where my father worked all his life. It would be over 20 years before she and I met and Shirley is my dearest and best friend. We are better than sisters ever could be and I feel so fortunate to have her in my life.
The other angel....appeared in my life at a very young age....probably before I was 10 years old. His name was Richard and he was the love of my life. He was my sister's classmate and she is 6 years older than me. He attended her birthday party at our home. While all the other guests were in the patio listening to music and dancing, Richard and I were in the living room playing piano and talking. I liked him right away.
The next time he touched my life I was already married and one night as my husband and I were sleeping, we heard this huge crash coming from the house below us. My VW beetle slid down a hill and crashed into a small brick wall and thankfully not the house. Well I found out years later after my divorce, that Richard was the man that repaired that wall. Who knew....that he would also become the man that repaired my heart after a very nasty divorce. Now we both knew that our relationship was not one that would lead to marriage....although we talked and daydreamed about it many times. Even though I dated other guys and had other marriage proposals.....I just couldn't budge this man from protecting me and loving me. I even thought putting distance between us would cure this situation but it didn't. He wrote me letters every day. He called every week and he came to visit me. He saw me through the death of my mother....who, believe it or not....had called him to come back and watch over me after she was gone. He kept his promise...he did. One day, many years later, after having no contact with him for years, a feeling came over me that he passed away. It took me a couple of months searching online obituaries and somehow I found it. He had indeed left this world.
For many years I thought that these meetings were simply coincidences, but yesterday I finally connected the dots and it made me feel so happy. Thank you God for taking care of me. I feel so loved!
Now....how is this connected to fun? My feeling is that when you can recognize the gift in any situation....that is the fun part. Everyone in your life is bringing you a gift and the fun part is finding that gift! Have fun doing that....even though the bearer may or may not be someone that you like....they are still bringing you that gift.....find it and it will give you happy thoughts!
Yesterday while having brunch with my best friend Shirley, whom I've known for close to 50 years, I had this huge "aha" moment. Have you ever had someone in your life that has this weird connection to you that they keep appearing in your life? Now, granted, I don't mean someone that you reconnect with from time to time....what I mean is that you have a few chance meetings or coincidences that are unexplainable....and you connect like that person was meant to connect with you throughout life. Yesterday, I realized that I have 2 such phenomenas in my life and I am now convinced that they are like my guardian angels.
While sharing stories about her childhood, Shirley talked about this favorite place she and her siblings played at and it turned out to be the place where my father worked all his life. It would be over 20 years before she and I met and Shirley is my dearest and best friend. We are better than sisters ever could be and I feel so fortunate to have her in my life.
The other angel....appeared in my life at a very young age....probably before I was 10 years old. His name was Richard and he was the love of my life. He was my sister's classmate and she is 6 years older than me. He attended her birthday party at our home. While all the other guests were in the patio listening to music and dancing, Richard and I were in the living room playing piano and talking. I liked him right away.
The next time he touched my life I was already married and one night as my husband and I were sleeping, we heard this huge crash coming from the house below us. My VW beetle slid down a hill and crashed into a small brick wall and thankfully not the house. Well I found out years later after my divorce, that Richard was the man that repaired that wall. Who knew....that he would also become the man that repaired my heart after a very nasty divorce. Now we both knew that our relationship was not one that would lead to marriage....although we talked and daydreamed about it many times. Even though I dated other guys and had other marriage proposals.....I just couldn't budge this man from protecting me and loving me. I even thought putting distance between us would cure this situation but it didn't. He wrote me letters every day. He called every week and he came to visit me. He saw me through the death of my mother....who, believe it or not....had called him to come back and watch over me after she was gone. He kept his promise...he did. One day, many years later, after having no contact with him for years, a feeling came over me that he passed away. It took me a couple of months searching online obituaries and somehow I found it. He had indeed left this world.
For many years I thought that these meetings were simply coincidences, but yesterday I finally connected the dots and it made me feel so happy. Thank you God for taking care of me. I feel so loved!
Now....how is this connected to fun? My feeling is that when you can recognize the gift in any situation....that is the fun part. Everyone in your life is bringing you a gift and the fun part is finding that gift! Have fun doing that....even though the bearer may or may not be someone that you like....they are still bringing you that gift.....find it and it will give you happy thoughts!
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Laughter Yoga?
Here's how some Vietnamese people stay healthy.....hmm....already the logical side of my brain is resisting....but it is sure worth the try!
http://youtu.be/nmXvdP8L-r4
http://youtu.be/nmXvdP8L-r4
"Take a Load Off" by Martha Beck
O Magazine contributor Martha Beck is one of my favorites. I love her writing style and the topics she writes on are easily read and down to earth and usually very inciteful. I don't know about you, but reading O Magazine is a wonderful experience for me. It usually takes me a very long time to get through each issue because it is like savoring a really great piece of chocolate. You just want to save that good feeling and spread it out over time.
Here are a few excerpts from the March 2012 issue entitled Take a Load Off. The topic is What's on your plate which talks about her friend that is dying of cancer and on her deathbed joked about having just one more thing on her to-do list. Martha retorts: "Instead of fretting about getting everything done, why not simply accept that being alive means having things to do?" Well.....as a "To Do Lister" myself....I truly love making to-do lists....for several reasons. First of all, if I don't make a list, I forget to do something and then I waste energy trying to remember what it is I forgot. Now at my age, that can be critical...if you know what I mean.
In the next excerpt from this article, the topic is about your face (and hips, and butt...) she refers to this as the "big kahuna of worries: our appearance." Her advice...."Instead of obsessing over your own appearance, try noticing--and mentioning--beautiful things about everyone else. This will make people adore you, which, last time I checked, is what most of us are hoping to achieve by worrying about our looks in the first place." Wow....with advice like that....how can one go wrong? Now mind you...I will have to really put elbow grease into this one.
Be patient...there's more! The next topic is about everything you're doing wrong....about people who worry about being perfect. Her take on this..."I love the Buddhist concept of enlightenment as living without anxiety over imperfection. You can strain every fiber of your being trying to be flawless, only to face inevitable failure--or you can stop worrying about perfection, which instantly makes everything feel great. Save time and tofu: Choose option two."
The next topic - the past. She writes: "When we fixate on something in the past, we grab our own histories by the throat, cutting off the flow of physical and emotional energy that keeps us fully alive. To start the flow again, look forward. Think how you can apply what you've learned." This would be a permanent "to-do" item.
What people are saying about you right this second is the new topic. Her advice...."Today, pretend you're a Martian gathering data on humans. As you notice what they do and say without focusing on your fear of their opinions, you'll feel less self-conscious, and they'll feel the nonjudgmental attention they've always wanted from you. Win-win." One basic thought came to mind....do unto others....well you know how that goes!
Last topic I found amusing is called your account balance. She calls this the "global sacred rite of worrying about money"....then follows that up with..."People, it has no payoff." She shares about the time in her life when she was unemployed....then she decided to try writing for a living...but was too worried to write. She pushed aside the worry and worked....then admitted that she didn't make money that day, yet felt that she made money sooner because she stopped worrying. But the prize quote was: "Did I enjoy my life more from that moment on, regardless of how much I had in the bank? Abso-freaking-lutely." Oh my God....I am going to add that word to my list of favorites!
Abso-freaking-lutely.....Have fun today!
Here are a few excerpts from the March 2012 issue entitled Take a Load Off. The topic is What's on your plate which talks about her friend that is dying of cancer and on her deathbed joked about having just one more thing on her to-do list. Martha retorts: "Instead of fretting about getting everything done, why not simply accept that being alive means having things to do?" Well.....as a "To Do Lister" myself....I truly love making to-do lists....for several reasons. First of all, if I don't make a list, I forget to do something and then I waste energy trying to remember what it is I forgot. Now at my age, that can be critical...if you know what I mean.
In the next excerpt from this article, the topic is about your face (and hips, and butt...) she refers to this as the "big kahuna of worries: our appearance." Her advice...."Instead of obsessing over your own appearance, try noticing--and mentioning--beautiful things about everyone else. This will make people adore you, which, last time I checked, is what most of us are hoping to achieve by worrying about our looks in the first place." Wow....with advice like that....how can one go wrong? Now mind you...I will have to really put elbow grease into this one.
Be patient...there's more! The next topic is about everything you're doing wrong....about people who worry about being perfect. Her take on this..."I love the Buddhist concept of enlightenment as living without anxiety over imperfection. You can strain every fiber of your being trying to be flawless, only to face inevitable failure--or you can stop worrying about perfection, which instantly makes everything feel great. Save time and tofu: Choose option two."
The next topic - the past. She writes: "When we fixate on something in the past, we grab our own histories by the throat, cutting off the flow of physical and emotional energy that keeps us fully alive. To start the flow again, look forward. Think how you can apply what you've learned." This would be a permanent "to-do" item.
What people are saying about you right this second is the new topic. Her advice...."Today, pretend you're a Martian gathering data on humans. As you notice what they do and say without focusing on your fear of their opinions, you'll feel less self-conscious, and they'll feel the nonjudgmental attention they've always wanted from you. Win-win." One basic thought came to mind....do unto others....well you know how that goes!
Last topic I found amusing is called your account balance. She calls this the "global sacred rite of worrying about money"....then follows that up with..."People, it has no payoff." She shares about the time in her life when she was unemployed....then she decided to try writing for a living...but was too worried to write. She pushed aside the worry and worked....then admitted that she didn't make money that day, yet felt that she made money sooner because she stopped worrying. But the prize quote was: "Did I enjoy my life more from that moment on, regardless of how much I had in the bank? Abso-freaking-lutely." Oh my God....I am going to add that word to my list of favorites!
Abso-freaking-lutely.....Have fun today!
Monday, March 19, 2012
Just Got This Joke From My Cousin on Facebook!
If you have a joke to share....please spread the FUN!
King Khan: Actor with Billions of Fans!
Shahrukh Khan....an actor from India, who has been in the business for 20 years....the man has fans all over the world....that numbers over a billion....(not in the millions....but OVER a billion....the count I last heard was 4 billion!)...and I am proud to say that I am one!
Watching movies has always been my favorite pastime. After years of watching strictly American films.....in the last 2 years....I have fallen in love with Hindi musical films and just last year discovered Korean dramas and romantic comedies. American films have definitely taken a back seat!
Recently I've noticed that American iconic idols have visited India.....Oprah (who even wore a sari), Tom Cruise, Lady Gaga, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie...to name a few. Is it any wonder?
Granted....Bollywood is no where close to the technology and story lines of American films....and yet how can this man have over a billion fans around the world? My take on this is that American cinema has been too graphic in their portrayal....I'm talking about not only sexual content but also every violent masochistic aspect one can imagine, and then some...and we call it art. Bull cookies! I don't know about you...but I loathe ultra-violent movies! What happened to the innocence in our movies? I want it back!
Shahrukh Khan is a man that is loved and revered all over the world...some people even see him as a god (well that is extreme even for me). He is humble to his fans....he is so loving with his family and he is known to be a hen pecked husband. He is actually a shy person....he works very hard and very long hours. Yet he still has time to talk to fans on the street. His Facebook comments are quite introspective. He talks about how he misses his family when he is travelling....and special times that he has with his children and their friends. Although a Muslim himself...his wife is a Hindu and they worship both in their home. He attended a Christian school and has studied the Bible. He has raised his children to respect and study all religions. Now I realize that last sentence could spark a lot of debate....but let's see....how many wars can be attributed to religion? How can we denounce something that we haven't taken the time to study? How can we call all Muslims violent....or for that matter condemn all Jews, Catholics, Protestants or whatever religion you may have feelings and emotions against?
Sharukh has a Bachelor's degree in Economics. He has acted both on the big screen and on television. He has hosted game shows, emceed award shows, modeled and promoted products. Although he has acted in several musicals....he admits that he can't sing and has a backup singer that does sings for him in all of his movies. His dancing has definitely improved over the years and it has been because of the many movies and performances he has been in. In his last 2 movies, he has acted, directed and even produced through his company Red Chillies Entertainment.
In Ra.One, he wanted to take Indian cinema to a whole new level with the help of technology. He and his wife Gauri took risks that others would not and could not take in order to give back to the industry that has given them so much. The marketing of this movie was tremendous....the music was a huge secret and when leaked caused such a stir. Before long, a lot of people were dancing the Chammak Challo...a catchy tune!
Here is the official promo from the movie Ra.One for the Chammak Challo....I hope you enjoy it.
http://youtu.be/yh2K9VlGj9Q.
Shahruk looks pretty goofy in the movie...especially goofy hair...but it is all part of his charm.
I am also posting for your enjoyment...his latest performance at the 2012 Filmfare Awards. It is a must see as well!
http://youtu.be/Phnv-Eu2jfQ
There is so much one can say about this man....I watched many of his interviews about his life, his family, his movies...his love of sports.....and have thoroughly enjoyed them all.
There are several movies he has starred in that are my favorites...in no particular order or excellence...Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (KANK), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ), Veer-Zaara, My Name is Khan, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi....just to name a few. You can probably watch a lot of these movies on YouTube.
Enjoy and by all means have fun!
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