Once again, I saw a special on Fred Rogers (“Mr.” Rogers to most of us); once again I cried like a baby. Something about this man’s actions and mannerisms is so impressive and inspiring that it breaks down my jaded exterior.
What struck me this time, in fact, was that very contrast between Fred’s manner of speaking and that of myself and the other people interviewed on the show. He spoke so softly, without pretense or ego, that in comparison the everyday speech that the other interviewees used seemed terribly self-conscious and pompous. Their statements sounded entirely self-serving, and in fact every other word was “I” or “we” or “me”. In contrast, Fred almost never mentioned himself, choosing to speak about his coworkers, the show, and his family. For a show about him, you learned more about others.
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Normally this time of year I’ve put together a short list of things I “resolve” to do in the coming year. I call them my “New Year’s resolve-to-do Things”. Of course, this lasts all of a week before I lose sight of my reasons for creating the list, and then comes the depression from the failure.
But maybe this year will be different. I’ve decided that, in order to be more creative and inspired, I need more angst in my life. Currently my life is far too easy and happy, and maybe a little failure and depression is just what I need to get back on track. So I thought I’d dig a little deeper for things I want to change.
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Being self-reliant robs others of the chance to demonstrate love through supporting you
Self-reliance is thus self-ish
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This has got to be the funniest Google Search I’ve ever run. I was trying to find a quote from a movie, to comment on this post, and I knew it went “Say what you like about [something], at least it’s [something else]”. So I Googled for “Say what you like about…”
I think every single time someone has said that, they needn’t even have finished the sentence. Just the fact that you have to start it that way is an admission that you’re talking straight out of your…
p.s. I found the quote, from The Big Lebowski:
I mean, say what you like about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least it’s an ethos.
One of my favorite stories to tell is that of a couple who came into my restaurant when I was a waiter. They sat down across a large table from each other, asked me if I would kindly bring them paper and a pencil (I obliged with a roll of receipt paper), and then went the entire meal without speaking to each other.
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An intriguing quote from an upcoming PARC Forum:
In an entertainment industry where 10 minutes of pleasure is our product, working artfully towards a new creation is key. A beer seminar addressing E = mc2, child development and Jackson Pollock awaits you!
Peter Bouckaert, Brewmaster, New Belgium Brewing, Co.
If I’ve got to sit through Einstein and psychology, there’d better be free samples …
this morning, for the first time in years, a prize tumbled out of my cereal box and into the bowl. it had been such a long time since that last happened that i actually shouted out loud in excitement. now realize, this prize was nothing more than a “jungle book” bobblehead doll, retail value ~$0.10. but it really was the thought that counts, and it made my day.
moral of the story? give things to people, even little things. it can be a big deal.
so i’m wondering if all this work i do online is desensitizing me to real, physical needs and work. recently i’ve found myself working for hours at a time on websites and computer applications, and at the end of that time, with my brain fried and my fingers exhausted, all that is different is the location of pixels on a computer screen. have i really done anything?
sure, i know that “knowledge” is being spread at an alarming rate; and with a few keystrokes i can say to a thousand people what it would take me weeks to tell them all personally–but i can’t help feeling like a sucker. somehow, i think, this is all worthless. while i have been typing away, i could have been cleaning, reading, drawing, sculpting, building, or lots of other “ing” words.
speaking of which, i’m going to stop typing and go exercise. later.