Happy People

No one has ever accused me of being one of these so-called "Happy People", but I'm trying...

For all 3 people that still read this, don't worry, this blog won't turn into one of "those", but I thought this was a pretty good read.

http://www.purposefairy.com/4899/15-powerful-things-happy-people-do-differently

100 (or 50+) Rules to Live By #3

-Don't be the embarrassing "old guy" inappropriately hitting on college girls at the bar.

-If you're going to be labelled make sure it's positive.

-Everyone is someone's role model.  Own it.

-Cigarettes don't make you look cool.  They make you look ignorant.  (Did you know that cigarettes are bad for you AND those around you?)

-Always try things.  But never "just fitting in".

-The ultimate is dying with a smile on your face.  Since you can't know when that time will come make smiling a habit.

-Love means putting yourself second.  If that other person also puts you second rethink your stance.

-Turn off your TV, Facebook, and Twitter for a week.  See what you can do.  And don't worry, you've got DVR.

-Stepping out of your comfort zone is the only way to expand it.

-Reconnect with that old friend you still think about every now and then.

100 (or 50+) Rules to Live By #2

-You've spent a lifetime building a network.  Use it.

-He/She may be your best friend, but he/she is still not a mind reader.

-Don't be a douche.

-Don't live beyond your means.

-No one is out of your league.  Act accordingly.

-Fuck 'em if they can't take a joke.

-"So I just try, fail and try and try again.  Cause someday I swear I'm gonna get it, Cause I'm convinced giving in is the worst thing there is." - Straylight Run

-"Just so I can say I did it" is not a reason to do something.  “For the Story” (FTS) might be.

-Don't settle.

-"You can spend minutes, hours, days, weeks or even months over-analyzing a situation; trying to put the pieces together, justifying what could’ve, would’ve happened…or you can just leave the pieces of the floor and move the fuck on." -Tupac Shakur

-Help others… Don’t be used by them.

100 (or 50+) Rules to Live By

Previously I wrote some Rules To Live By.  It was inspired by another blog I read but my list was created pretty quickly.  Recently (probably inspired by the New Year) a lot of these lists have come to my attention.  Though many are good, I figured I'd take another shot.  And let's be honest, I have no idea who reads this blog, so this is really more for me than you.

A few notes:

1 - I'm doing this list in chunks.  1 so it looks like I'm posting more often and 2 because I want you to digest it.
2 - I couldn't come up with 100 "rules" without them starting to become just silly.  I hope you will submit yours to me and I can round out the list with those provided by my readers (all credit given to the submitter).
3 - I'm not going to pretend I do everything on this list, but this if I was the ideal version of myself, I would follow every one of these "rules"... in 2012 I'm going to try to follow them more closely.
4 - I tried to put this list in some "from most important to least important" order, but that didn't really seem feasible.  Feel free to create an order out of these and let me know.
5 - I apologize if there is a tilt towards the male centricity.  I am who I am and my perspective is thus. If my female readers wish to add their perspective please see note #6!
6 - Feedback and your additions are encouraged.. good or bad.


-See the world.

-Show your commitment to your country once every four years.  Vote.

-I don't know if laughter is an emotion, but no matter how bad my mood or how sad I feel, laughter is the easiest way to break out of the funk.  Find your laughter.

-Throughout your life you'll take steps backwards.  With diets, friends, family, jobs, whatever.  Make sure you rebound with 2 steps forward.  Whatever it takes.

-Read.

-Don't just think about it. Do it. 

-Whatever was the first thought you just had, GO!  Finish this list later.

-Be spontaneous.  Even if it's scary.

-"Serious" is a great place to visit, but it's no way to live.

-Speak up.

Don't Give Up, Don't Ever Give Up

I am no televangelist and I don't want this blog to turn into anything nearing "preachy", but it is that time of year....

Anyway, not all of my readers are sports fans and many may have never seen this.  But, on so many levels, it really is that good. 



Thanks Matt D for reminding me!

May Be Inappropriate

But still funny and on point.

Spoon fed.

I found this to be pretty powerful!



http://blog.sustainablog.org/the-plastic-spoon-and-oil-addiction-in-america/

Thanks Mike C. for sharing.

Evolution...

The best part of The New Yorker magazine is without a doubt the comics (or cartoons if you will).  This one really struck me..

This Grandma is Cooler than Your Grandma (but not as cool as my 2)!

Make your own caption...





Thanks Ryan L. for sharing!

Counting Crows - If I Could Give All My Love

You've heard this song hundreds of times before and it's a good song, but then one day you hear it and it just clicks.  There's no explanation.  No deep meaning.  But, suddenly it's on repeat and finds its way onto various playlist and becomes the song you sing in the shower...

I am proud to present Counting Crows - If I Could Give All My Love.




PS.  I live in the south now, but this is as CLOSE to country as I get... or will ever get!

PPS. Adam Duritz is one of my hereos. 

PPPS.  Counting Crows, Live and Collective Soul was one of the best concerts I've ever been to.

Friends with Talent - Music (part 2)

It's been a while since I've used this forum to promote my many friends with talent, but honestly, that's one of my favorite things to do.  What better way to use social media than to share with the world how awesome you (duh!) and the people you choose to surround yourself with, are?  I mean, seriously!

So today I introduce you to Max Gruby...






If you like what you hear drop some feedback here.  Or subscribe to his channel on YouTube.  If you know anyone in the biz or want to hire him for gigs, etc. let me know and I can put you in touch!  (My contact information is on the side bar to the right.)

While you're here, be sure to check out my previous "Friends with Talent" posts.  Same deal.  If you like what they're doing leave some feedback!

And of course, if you've got a talent or something you want me to promote feel free to reach out.  I make no promises, but I'm definitely open!

Chasing Ice

This is pretty powerful. 

http://chasingice.com/

Thank you Brian C. for sharing!

The Gift's Rules to Live By

I don't have a child.  I don't have one on the way.  But, here are some rules I try to live by and some things I definitely plan to pass along to any male heirs (or nephews).

Note: I put this together over night.  It is obviously a work in progress and it's sure to change.  I will try to keep you all updated.  Suggestions completely welcome!
Note 2: I'm a guy.  This list is shifted towards boys/men.  If any of my females readers would like to submit their own version, I'd be glad to post it!

In reverse order:

20) Always open and hold doors for women. Chivalry really does never go out of style.

19)  Use your turn signal, damn it.

18) Spacing. The key to driving is good spacing.

17) Clothes don't make the man... but they sure help with first impressions.

16)  Never throw the first punch… But always throw the last! Unless someone of authority is coming. Then play innocent.

15)  Work hard, Play harder.

14)  Learn to cook. You’ll never go hungry and you might just impress a girl or 2.

13)  Your family are the people you love. The people you care about. The people that care about you. Sometimes that has nothing to do with blood.

12)  Gifts are not just for special occasions. Neither are kind words.

11)  Respect not fear.

10)  Make it count… whatever you do go all in or don’t bother…

9)  Friendships are 2-way streets.

8)  Quality over quantity when it comes to friends.

7)  You'll make millions of memories in your life... let the bad ones go.

6)  Make mistakes. Make lots of mistakes. Learn from them.

5)  Regrets are natural. Letting them define you is not.

4)  Never lie to yourself.

3)  Don’t put the “P” on a pedestal. But worship the woman to whom it belongs!  (this is unisex, by the way.)

2)  If you ever feel alone or that no one in the world can understand what you’re going through, turn on the radio. There’s someone singing about it right now.

1)  Religion is choice... being a good person is not!



* I'm not going to lie and say I fully live by these "rules", but I try.  And at the end of the day I'm pretty proud of the man I've become!  A huge thank you to all those who've helped me understand and helped make me who I am.. Noteably my parents and one Ryan L. (my personal positivity coach).

1001 Rules for My Unborn Son

This blog recently came to my attention and it's pretty good...  More importantly though, it's pretty inspiring. 

I don't agree with everything on here obviously so I've been working on a list of my own.  It likely won't have 1001 things (more like 20), but I'll get that up as soon as possible.

In the mean time you know I always give credit where it's due, so before I throw out my list I wanted to give you the "original" (I'm sure this isn't the first list of it's kind, but it's the one that inspired me).

http://rulesformyunbornson.tumblr.com/

Leagues

I want to take some time today to clarify something... This concept of "leagues".  I don't know how to define leagues in a simple way, but I'm not talking about baseball leagues or organizations, etc.  I'm talking about "she's out of my league" leagues.. 

From our informative/school children days we are taught that there are jocks/cheerleaders and geeks/nerds.  And we are taught that they can't possibly coincide peacefully.  I know people believe in this concept of leagues. I know there are movies and television shows and books that emphasize these leagues... I know that in high school there is some realism behind this concept - when "cool" is the only thing that matters...

Truth is, however, after high school they just simply don't exist... 

Just think about it... if 1 person in that so-called upper echelon league is willing to "slum it", then there can be no such thing as leagues... If you approach all girls (or guys) as if they are that one exception - that one who is willing to 'settle' then you've already conquered the first step.  Eliminating this imaginary barrier. 
In fact, How I Met Your Mother (one of the best shows on TV) clearly demonstrates that in each relationship (I'll accept that this may be an over-generalization) there is always one "reacher" and one "settler".. This too illustrates my point... there are no leagues...

Sure they're are going to be some people just not interested, and maybe it is because they are too good for you (let's face it, leagues or not, some people just suck).. but more likely it's because you project this 'less-than-worthy' image out into the world.. and they conversely have no lack for self-esteem. 

Now that you hopefully understand there are no leagues (and that anyone is within your reach), all you have to do is gather some self-esteem and allow yourself to realize you are not someone to be settled for!

Addendum:  I was just asked a very good question..

"Is being in a settler/reacher relationship healthy? I wouldn't want to be in a relationship where I feel like the other person settled for me or that I felt that I had to settle."

I respond to this as such:  "The key is if the two people in the relationship know that they are settling.. In practice there is only a settler/reacher in the eyes of everyone else... When you're with the right person you'll both feel like you're reaching.. cause you'll both feel like the other is amazing..
It's only your friends that will look at the 2 of you and see that she's too good for you, or you chose a loser, etc.."
 
I hope this helps to clarify things.  Keep the questions/feedback coming!

Ben Lee - Into the Dark

I know you've missed my regular music selections... despair no more.

Undeclared

In 2001 Judd Apatow created a TV series called Undeclared.  It only lasted 1 season (on Fox) and I completely missed it.  Until I caught a marathon on IFC last weekend I didn't know it existed. 

I am writing about this because this show seemingly (I don't have the time to actually look at their filmographies) launched more than a few careers.  Besides creator Judd Apatow (who really gained notary a year before with "Freaks and Geeks") this show starred relative career "infants":

Seth Rogen - "Knocked Up"
Jay Baruchel - "She's Out of My League"
Carla Gallo - "Bones" (TV)
Jason Segal - "How I Met Your Mother" (TV), "Forgetting Sarah Marshall"
Charlie Hunnam - "Green Street Hooligans"

Others who appeared included:

Jenna Fisher - "The Office" (TV)
Amy Poehler - SNL
Busy Phillips - "Dawson's Creek" (TV)
David Krumholz - "Numb3rs" (TV), "10 Things I Hate About You"
Alexandra Breckenridge - Dirt (TV)
Tom Welling - Smallville (TV)

And these are only the ones I could recognize/identify/place in other roles.

On top of that, within just one season guest stars included: Adam Sandler, Will Ferrel, Ted Nugent, Ben Stiller and Fred Willard.

Beyond the actors (which is interesting and impressive to me - hence the post) the show wasn't great, but it had some moments.  If you're interested IFC (network) has begun showing back-to-back episodes on Friday nights I believe..  I'd love for your comments.

Leslie Nielsen Dead at age 84

You've all undoubtedly heard about the passing of Leslie Nielsen yesterday, but still I felt it necessary to acknowledge it here.  You can go ahead and Google him or YouTube some clips from his movies (you'll find tons I'm sure), but I'm just going to leave you with this:

Until recently I thought the Nielsen TV rating was based on how funny television shows were compared to Leslie Nielsen comedies....

Ok, that's not really true, but would you be surprised if such a rating system existed?  Airplane! was a whole nother level of comedy (up there with Spaceballs - my all-time favorite)..

Exhibit A

Walking through the halls of school today I heard one girl talking to another:

"Yes. I broke up with him, but we were still talking, like on the phone and stuff, so yeah, I feel like he cheated on me."

For the sake of not offending my audience or alienating anyone I'll stop this post here....

Ashleigh Brilliant Quote

This made me laugh, and therefore I'm passing it along...


“When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me.”- Ashleigh Brilliant


Thank you Jebin T. for sharing.