Fun stuff

  • Fun stuff,  Halloween,  Inspirational quotes

    Do you believe in magic?

    “Surrender to the way things want to happen next, even though this often involves a vast and terrifying loss of control. Trust the magic that was born into your soul.” ~Martha Beck, Finding Your Way in a Wild New World There’s a lot of research explaining why some people don’t enjoy horror films or spooky stories — or anything else in which things are manipulated by unseen forces. Are you one of those people? According to this theory, if you fit this psychological profile, you prefer to be in control. You want to know what’s ahead, so you’re not a fan of cinematic surprises like boogeymen suddenly appearing at the…

  • Adventure and exploration,  Fun stuff,  grandparenting

    Is anybody having fun yet?

    “We all accept too easily that life has to be hard, and we forget to make sure we have the most fun we can.” ~Amy Schumer Remember when you were a kid and having fun was a top priority? As we mature, we settle down and become responsible. We have to earn a living, take care of our basic needs, plan for the future, and periodically solve problems and put out a few fires. Somewhere along the way, the whole world starts looking darker and more complex, and we lose our joie de vivre. And we forget how to play. Or let me put it this way: The grown-up definition…

  • Fun stuff,  Holidays,  Humor,  Seasons

    Welcome, April!

    “It is the ability to take a joke, not make one, that proves you have a sense of humor.” ~Max Eastman Happy April Fool’s Day! Though I don’t have any pranks or jokes today, my mood always lifts as soon as I flip the wall calendar to April 1st. The sound of the word “April” works like an antidepressant. Mother Nature might have a few tricks up her sleeve, but no matter what the weather brings in the next couple of weeks, my sense of optimism tells me that winter is behind us. I’m thinking about my garden again, making plans, feeling hopeful. Happy weekend to all! ~CL

  • Creativity and discovery,  Fun stuff,  Music

    Sticky songs

    “We become what we repeatedly do.” ~Stephen R. Covey Cher won’t stop singing “Dark Lady” inside my head. The pop tune — which was released in 1974 but happened to be playing on my car radio last week — now repeats itself on an endless loop in my mind while I’m drying my hair in the bathroom each morning. Then it starts all over again, later, while I’m chopping veggies in the kitchen. And it’s not like I’m a huge fan of Cher. What is it with sticky songs? According to my online research, sticky songs (otherwise known as “earworms”) have a scientific label: Involuntary Musical Imagery, or INMI. “According…

  • Fun stuff,  Health & wellbeing,  Motivation

    Strength and temptation

    “Strength is the capacity to break a Hershey bar into four pieces with your bare hands — and then eat just one of the pieces.” ~Judith Viorst, author In any endeavor, success depends on discipline — otherwise defined as inner strength, as today’s quote suggests. If you want to build muscle, you must stick with your daily exercise plan. If you want to get published, you have to keep writing and submitting your work. If you want to kick a bad habit, you must be diligent about changing your routine. Personal discipline is hard. Temptation is everywhere. Oh, how easy it is to give up or get lazy — to…