Friday's Laugh . . . And Then Some!

 Little Emily, the minister's daughter, ran into the house,
crying as though her heart would break.
"What's wrong, dear?" asked the pastor.
"My doll!  Billy broke it!" she sobbed.
"How did he break it, Emily?"
"I hit him over the head with it."

Laugh Like There's No Tomorrow: Over 2,000 jokes from the Internet

From our upcoming book compiled by Richard L. Weaver II
Laugh is setup with just over 4 jokes a day, all 365 days, and can be read in any order!
Expected Release Date: Fall 2010

Human limitations and then some!

Have you ever walked by a stockade-type fence, found a knothole in it, then looked at what’s taking place on the other side of the fence through that peephole?  Much of our lives are framed by that example.  That is, we obtain information about the world we live in through a very small antennae, mounted upon a tiny pedestal, and often pointed in a well-defined, carefully selected direction.  And yet, despite these limitations, the way we view the world is dependent upon the information obtained through this single, small, and somewhat insignificant antennae. 

Through my many years of writing and teaching about public speaking, one of my goals has always been to impress upon students the limitations of much of their personal experience.  A personal experience, although powerful in its ability to hold the attention of listeners (and this must be acknowledged), is rendered nearly meaningless in its ability to prove a point or as evidence to support a conclusion.  For that, the opinions of credible people supported by facts and statistics are not just important but necessary. 

Why is a student’s personal experience meaningless?  Often, it is for the same reasons that one person’s point of view—eyewitness testimony—can matter so little in a court of law.  In a court of law it counts for little and is often contradicted by other eyewitness testimony.   

It is, however, what we do with the information that comes through our minuscule antennae that causes many of the problems.  Most information comes to us in a random, unstructured manner.  We must do something with it—modify it!—to make sense of it.  First, we must determine relationships: how does the new information relate to other information we are receiving and to information we already have?  Look out the window where you are sitting right now.  Can you view nature as if there were no structure?  Our world, for us to understand it, requires organization, and when we get random, unstructured information from our world, as we do every waking moment, we organize it by perceiving relationships—relationships we form. 

How do we organize the information from our meager antennae?   First, because information often comes in small pieces, we try to put it into a larger context so that we can understand the pieces better.  This is a process called enlarging in which we look for a frame of reference for the message or messages—a frame of reference from our perspective. 

You can understand the process of enlarging, for example, when you notice a nonverbal expression emitted by someone with whom you are having a conversation.  Suddenly, you detect an expression of sadness or grief.  Immediately you start observing the whole nonverbal picture —the facial expressions, gestures, body movements, and vocal tones of the person sending the message—and trying to place the expression you have observed into that picture.  The fewer the pieces of information you have received, the more enlargement must take place. 

The second way we have of organizing the information we get from our very modest antennae is simplifying.  Just as we search for a relationship between pieces of information and a larger framework into which we can place those pieces, we also look for ways to simplify complex or confusing stimuli.  Complex stimuli are those we have difficulty understanding.  We simplify information by finding patterns, an order (derived from all that we know or observe) that will help us make sense of the message. 

For example, if you drive into a gas station to get directions, you might hear the attendant say something like, “You go up here to your first stoplight and turn left on Broadview.  At your next light turn right.  Then just after you pass Wiley High School, turn right, and the street you are looking for will be your next left.”  As a simplifying response you might reply, “So, it’s a left, two rights, and a left.”  We look for order in stimuli that will help us remember the essential information.  It is an order established by our brain from our experiences. 

Stereotyping, the process of assigning a fixed label or category to things or people we encounter, is one method we have of simplifying information.  All human beings employ stereotypes to deal with the tremendous flow of events around them.   

The third method of organizing information from your diminutive antennae is closing.  It is the process of filling in gaps between pieces of information.  Although we think in unified wholes, we get information in separate scraps; thus, we must put information together to make it complete rather than fragmented.  It is like filling in the pieces of a puzzle we are missing. 

We probably engage in closing (or closure) more often than we realize.  For example, how often have you completed a sentence for the person you were talking to?  The more you get to know people, the better you know how they think, and the more often you will think ahead and close their thoughts—or think for them.  Very close friends can say a great deal to each other with few words; without realizing it, they may depend on closure for their messages to get through.  Just remember, however, we are the ones filling in the gaps. 

Another example of closing is when you overhear others talking but are able to pick up only fragments of their conversation.  From the fragments you fill in the rest of the conversation.  Have you ever sat in a bus station, airport, or next to a busy sidewalk and made up stories about the people you observed around you?  From a minimum of cues you put together a fairly complete story, making sense of the available information by closure.  Though it may make sense to you, it is unlikely to be correct.  It is a figment of your imagination, but if you were to act, you would respond based on what you think or you believe or you feel. 

Then, when you add proximity and role to the mix of enlarging, simplifying, and closing, you begin to see why a single personal example may be wildly inappropriate, inaccurate, or simply, unjustified.  Proximity is simply your nearness to the event with respect to where you are located, the time that the event takes place, or your relationship to the event or people in it.  If you are a distance away, it is early morning and you are barely awake, and you have no relationship to the people involved, your viewpoint is likely to be distorted.  And your role relates to your expectations, needs, attitudes, and beliefs about the situation; your role restricts how you perceive situations whether it is a job role, family role, sex role, friendship role, or any of a number of others. 

When people are offering a single, personal viewpoint of anything, it really caries very little meaning beyond what it is.  It is an instance, anecdote, or singular example.  In general, when it comes to viewing things, people are untrained, untaught, unschooled, unskilled, unpracticed, uninitiated, ill-equipped, ill-prepared, unqualified, nonprofessional, and inexperienced.  They see what they see and nothing more.  Much as you need to respect their point of view, and their willingness to share it, in the larger scheme of things, it is one more example of our human limitations---and then some!

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At the website Cycleback.com there is a terrific essay that discusses perception entitled, “Movement Perception and Misperception,” by David Rudd Cycleback.  Cycleback ends his first paragraph saying, “The human uses its complex mental template to make the final perception, or judgment of what is going on. The template was formed by experience, knowledge, genetic tendencies, physiological abilities (your visual template is literally blind to the ultraviolet light that birds see, and the infrared light snakes see), personal bias, aesthetics, etc. Often the final interpretation, or perception, is a correct representation of what is being viewed. Sometimes the perception is off.” 

At the Scientific American website, there is a terrific essay, “Limits of Perception,” by editor in chief, Mariette DiChristina.  She begins her essay with a quotation by Arthur Schopenhauer, Studies in Pessimism : “Every man takes the limits of his own field of vision for the limits of the world.”  DiChristina goes on to discuss the interference of “noise” in the brain’s functioning.  It is easy to conclude that all perceptions are affected by “noise,” and it is “noise” that, in part, limits our ability to perceive accurately.

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Copyright June, 2010, by And Then Some Publishing, LLC.

Day #189 - Do it now.

SMOERs: Words of Wisdom

"What you can do, or dream you can, begin it.
Courage has genius, power, and magic in it;
Only engage, and then the mind grows heated.
Begin it, and the work will be completed."
                                                        ---Anonymous

Day #189 - Do it now.

SMOERs: Self-Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules! - Daily Reminders for Outstanding Living
An everyday guide full of quotations to uplift your spirits.
Free 30-Day sample: smoers.com

New Edgar E Willis video series and Thursday Essay Preview

And Then Some Publishing News
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I want to start by saying thank you to the person who bought SMOERs: Self-Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement, Rules - Daily reminders for outstanding living. You've helped get
June 2010 started off on the right path and your purchase donates $4.00 to Susan G. Komen - For the Cure to breast cancer.

If that wasn't exciting enough And Then Some Publishing has a new video series on the way! Last week, Anthony Weaver interviewed 96-year-old Edgar E. Willis who is the retired Emeritus Professor of Communication at the University of Michigan. We discuss his World War II memoir, Civilian in an Ill-fitting Uniform. This interview is a four part series discussing his time before, during, and after the war. In Part 1 of the interview I ask Edgar about his inspiration for the book, the reason for the title, and why he decided to include his life before and after his service.

You will really enjoy this video series and including Edgar reading from his book in Part 2!

And Then Some Publishing will be releasing Part 1 of the interview by the end of this week and will devote an extra And Then Some News post, including the video as soon as it's released.

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Find great book reviews every Monday: Book Club... And Then Some!

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Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview:

Thursday’s essay is called, “Human limitations and then some." This essay offers an accurate and relevant perspective on personal experience and the value of a personal point of view.  It helps give you what you need to know about how much you know and how much you understand.

Human limitations and then some
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:
Have you ever walked by a stockade-type fence, found a knothole in it, then looked at what’s taking place on the other side of the fence through that peephole?  A great deal of our lives is framed by that example.  That is, we obtain information about the world we live in through a very small antennae, mounted upon a tiny pedestal, and often pointed in a well-defined, carefully selected direction.  And yet, despite these limitations, the way we view the world is dependent upon the information obtained through this single, small, and somewhat insignificant antennae.  Knowing this puts all that we know and all that we think we know in proper perspective—and then some!

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And Then Some Works!

The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything, Who Killed Change? Solving the Mystery of Leading People Through Change

Book Club... And Then Some!



The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything    

by Ken Robinson with Lou Aronica


Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

This book is truly motivating, and it is because of a combination of reasons.  It is like “the perfect storm” of stimulus packages.  First, the writers offer an engaging, friendly, compelling writing style that makes reading easy and comfortable.  Second, their choices for examples are wonderful.  Whether you know the people or not—and you will know most of them—they describe each experience so well that you quickly identify with them.  

The third reason in this motivational “perfect storm” is their selection of “elements” to discuss.  For example, they discuss “thinking differently,” “creativity,” being “in the zone,” “connecting with people who share your passion and desire, and “developing the proper attitude,” among the elements offered.  And they discus the challenges, too, such as those that come from within, from a lack of confidence, or from fear of failure.  

There is no step-by-step procedure or “formula for success,” but serious readers do not need these pop psyche crutches or aids.  (Of course, some do!)  

What you get from Robinson and Aronica are a wide and broad variety of examples, and their examples offer the same wide and broad level of application or experience.  You read, identify, absorb, and learn—then you apply the ideas creatively and independently on your own in the contexts with which you are most familiar.  This is both the beauty and the force of this book.  It’s the power of example and then, “we need to aim high and be determined to succeed” (p. 21). 


Who Killed Change?  Solving the Mystery of Leading People Through Change

by Ken Blanchard, John Britt, Judd Hoekstra, and Pat Zigarmi


Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.



This is another book in the long line of fables used to identify and solve important and complex real-world business problems.  It is, like Blanchard’s many other books, well-written, brief, and easy-to-read (like a children’s story).  

From the many positive reviews of the book, it is clear that it accurately and precisely, as one reviewer put it, “focuses on the key information that one needs to consider when planning or salvaging a change initiative.”  

It seems to prove—once again—that the quick, practical, personal, and memorable read is likely the most important way to focus on major business issues.  More than just getting readers to think about managing change, there are many ideas here, too, that thrust effective managing to the fore in readers’ minds.  

The book is about a murder mystery with thirteen suspects, and the authors lead readers through an interview with each of the suspects.  Why each of them is a culprit is carefully explained.  How companies can attack the various issues is well presented, too.  If you’re interested in how to change organizational environments—and you are looking for a very simplified explanation—this is a good place to start.  There is no doubt it! 

These books are both available from Amazon.com: The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything and  Who Killed Change?  Solving the Mystery of Leading People Through Change. 

Friday's Laugh . . . And Then Some!

A man woke up in a hospital after a serious
accident.  He shouted, "Doctor, doctor, I can't feel my
legs!"  The doctor replied, "I know you can't---I've cut
off your arms!"

Laugh Like There's No Tomorrow: Over 2,000 jokes from the Internet

From our upcoming book compiled by Richard L. Weaver II
Laugh is setup with just over 4 jokes a day, all 365 days, and can be read in any order!
Expected Release Date: Fall 2010

Cleanse your mind of these thoughts

There are many thoughts that are unnecessary and just take up space in our brains, space that could be better utilized for productive positive thoughts, dealing with everyday problems, planning for the future, and contemplating all the past good memories.  It wasn’t until I read the wonderful book by Thomas Kida, Don’t believe everything you think: The 6 basic mistakes we make in thinking (Prometheus Books, 2006), and a book by Damian Thompson called Counterknowledge (W.W. Norton & Company, 2008), that I began thinking about this topic.   

I want to acknowledge my indebtedness to Kida and Thompson for these thoughts and for their support.  I have borrowed heavily from these books, and I have avoided quotation marks for ease of reading—but, be clear about this, these are their thoughts, not mine. 

The first big time waster is any beliefs you may have in fortunetellers, palm readers, and astrologers.  The last “big name” to give credence to astrology, of course, was Nancy Reagan, who consulted an astrologist whenever deciding President Reagan’s schedule.  Beliefs in any of these is pure nonsense. 

One trap that we fall into is believing in stories rather than in statistics.  I am continually telling people that when you hear of an accident, shooting, robbery, baby’s death, or any other extraordinary event, there often follows a law, ruling, or mandate  designed specifically to prevent other similar accidents, shootings, robberies, or deaths.  So, you have one incident that makes the news—an anecdote—and people scurry to prevent other similar instances when, often, these examples are rare, exceptional, or unique.  A teenager holds up a small grocery store, and suddenly you have a curfew in the neighborhood designed to keep teenagers at home after dark.  Another good example is when you hear of a recall of a certain model because of problems incurred by a small number of people, and you avoid purchasing any car made by that company. 

The second area where we can cleanse our mind is in any intention we may have regarding talking with the dead, facilitated communication, therapeutic touch, and dowsing (a technique in which an individual holds an object, like a Y-shaped tree branch and walks around the land in search of water.  When the branch twitches, it’s taken as a sign that water is below.)  A belief in any of these is ludicrous as well, and yet bright, capable, highly trained people hold extraordinary beliefs such as these that have little or no credible supporting evidence. 

A third area where a significant number of people believe in something where there is little or no credible evidence to support their beliefs, and the beliefs are contradicted by hard evidence, is that there is such a thing as extrasensory perception, that houses can be haunted, that people are sometimes possessed by the devil, that there is such a thing as telepathy—or communication between minds without the five senses—that extraterrestrial beings have visited the earth, that there is such a thing as clairvoyance—or perceiving things not present to the senses—and that reincarnation exists. 

Another area where you can cleanse your mind is any beliefs you have in graphology— analyzing a person’s handwriting to determine what kind of person he or she is.  Research shows that graphology is totally useless, but you may have been denied a job if a graphologist said your handwriting indicated you are untrustworthy. 

A fourth area where cleansing can take place is support of a large number of commonly held beliefs.  For example, that humans use only 10 percent of their brains, the blind develop supersensitive hearing, crime and drugs are out of control in the United States, low self-esteem is a cause of aggression, religious people are more altruistic than less religious people, opposites attract, or if you’re happy in your job, you will be more productive.  There is no research to support these ideas. 

Also, you can cleanse your mind by removing beliefs you may have in such topics as Atlantis, bigfoot, UFOs, Bible prophecy, psychic powers, religious images or patterns seen in unrelated objects, near-death experiences, miracle diets, creationism, paranormal phenomena, or the existence of ghosts.  Anytime you hear a comment from someone who has witnessed an event —whatever it is—and says, “I knew right away it was a ghost/miracle/fairy/or whatever, because there is no other way to explain it,” you can rest assured that the claim is bogus, and the speaker is naive.  As I said earlier in this essay, we love stories.  A discussion of the contribution the media make in fostering beliefs in the weird and bizarre would offer material for a whole book. 

There are a number of other beliefs, too, that you can discard.  Breast implants cause serious disease.  It isn’t true now, and it never was true.  All anecdotal evidence.  Levitation is not supported by evidence.  Not a single death or serious injury has occurred from kids eating Halloween candy received from strangers.  No poisoned candy or apples containing razor blades.  Classified under pseudoscience is a whole range of activities related to parapsychology (some mentioned previously) such as extrasensory perception, telepathy (reading other’s minds), clairvoyance (perceiving things not present to the senses), and precognition (seeing the future).  None of it exists; none of it is true. 

How can you deal with falsehoods, fabrications, half truths, and lies?  Kida has some suggestions, and they fall under the heading, “Think like a scientist.”  First, keep an open mind, and be skeptical of any unsubstantiated claims.  Second, make sure a claim or belief can be tested.  Third, evaluate the quality of the evidence for a belief.  Fourth, try to falsify a claim or belief (e.g., look for disconfirming evidence).  Fifth, consider alternative explanations (even chance or coincidence).  Sixth, other things being equal, choose the claim or belief that is the simplest explanation for the phenomenon.  Seventh, choose the claim or belief that doesn’t conflict with well-established knowledge.  And, eighth, proportion your belief to the amount of evidence for or against that belief. 

No, there is no way to totally cleanse your mind, of course, and we will always be guilty of holding some false beliefs.  Sometimes it’s just fun to consider ideas you know are clearly false or outrageous.  Sometimes they just make you feel good.  Sometimes, too, you just wonder how in the world someone could believe something like that?  At least you know now that there are about 30 beliefs you never have to think about again.  It’s a start to a cleansed mind! 

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Nick Arizza, a medical doctor, has written a delightful essay entitled, “All your problems are based in false beliefs at ezinearticles.com, in which he discusses all the cleansing that can occur when you are freed of your false beliefs: “a feeling of lightening (i.e. a sense of buoyancy and an inner sense of radiance), feelings of relief, feelings of joy and contentment, feelings of self confidence, self esteem and self confidence, feelings of grounded ness and feelings of being more present in one's physical body than ever before.” Now that’s cleansing!

At trans4mind.com, Peter Shepherd has written an essay on “False beliefs,” in which his main thesis is: “Just recognizing your own particular false beliefs is the first and most important step toward letting go of them, to de-programming yourself. Next you need to re-evaluate your deeply-held belief and see if you'd like to revise it.”  Shepherd offers a number of suggestions for cleansing your mind.

A third essay, this one by Julie Jordan Scott, a Life Purpose coach, writer, and speaker, at the website topachievement.com, in an essay entitled, “Taking Action to Eliminate False Beliefs,” takes a similar tack as the two authors above, and after a number of recommendations for dealing with false beliefs, she concludes: “Choose today to eliminate false thinking from your mind's vocabulary. When you "hear" your thoughts walking that path of inertia, take the power away from them. Say STOP! Replace this false belief with a Truth. Take action on truth. Watch the amazing course that flow unfold before you.” 

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Copyright May, 2010, by And Then Some Publishing, LLC

Day #188 - Never let floors become ceilings.

SMOERs: Words of Wisdom

"No one ever attains very eminent success by simply doing what is required of him; it is the amount and excellence of what is over and above the required, that determines the greatness of ultimate distinction." ---Charles Francis Adams

Day #188 - Never let floors become ceilings. 

SMOERs: Self-Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules! - Daily Reminders for Outstanding Living
An everyday guide full of quotations to uplift your spirits.
Free 30-Day sample: smoers.com

Find a Cure support progress and How to be Funny Part 4

And Then Some Publishing News

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In April 2010 we started our support of Susan G. Komen - Find a Cure. That month $1.00 of every And Then Some Publishing, LLC book sold through Amazon.com went to help find a cure. Our goal was $500 which turned out to be quite optimistic. We only donated $9.00.

In May 2010 we raised the stakes. And Then Some Publishing, LLC believes we have some pretty darn good books and we want to get them into your hands. The pot was sweetened. Now we would only profit about $1.00 a book sold through Amazon.com and the rest would support Susan G. Komen - Find a Cure! Our goal was still a bit optimistic at $500. We donated $7.00.

That's just $16.00 for breast cancer research over two months. Even though we didn't reach our goals, we believe in And Then Some! We're going to keep trying...

Our goal for June 2010 is $500. And Then Some Publishing, LLC is staying with the May 2010 formula. We only profit about $1.00 a book and the rest would support Susan G. Komen - Find a Cure!

Click here for a list of how much support from each book sold through Amazon.com goes to Susan G. Komen. Also, check the AndThenSomePublishing.com donation progress report throughout the month. Share this report on Facebook and help us spread the word!

On June 1, 2010, sometime today,  Edgar E. Willis will release Part 4 of 5 of his video series, How to be Funny on Purpose: An Anatomy of Humor. Filmed in 1995, his video breaks down humor and helps bring an understanding of why we laugh at jokes and what makes a joke funny. Check out Part 4 of Edgar's video series How to be Funny... at EdgarEWillis.com.

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Find out more about what And Then Some Publishing has to offer:

See more book reviews every Monday: Book Club... And Then Some!

Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview:

Thursday’s essay is called, “Cleanse your mind of these thoughts."  We all carry around a number of false beliefs---sometimes a whole lot of them!  This essay, based on the writing of two authors, Thomas Kida and Damian Thompson, writing in two separate books, identifies 30 thoughts that "are unnecessary and just take up space in our brains, space that could be better utilized for productive positive thoughts, dealing with everyday problems, planning for the future, and contemplating all the past good memories." 

Cleanse your mind of these thoughts
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:
No, there is no way to totally cleanse your mind, of course, and we will always be guilty of holding some false beliefs.  Sometimes it’s just fun to consider ideas you know are clearly false or outrageous.  Sometimes they just make you feel good.  Sometimes, too, you just wonder how in the world someone could believe something like that?  At least you know now that there are about 30 beliefs you never have to think about again.  It’s a start to a cleansed mind!

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And Then Some Works!

You Were Always Mom’s Favorite! Sisters in Conversation Throughout Their Lives

Book Club... And Then Some!


You Were Always Mom’s Favorite!  Sisters in Conversation Throughout Their Lives 

by Deborah Tannen
 
Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.


I have cited a number of Tannen’s books in my textbooks, and I have always enjoyed reading them.  With respect to readability, research, and her use of examples, this book is no exception.  

For this book, Tannen writes, “in addition to analyzing transcripts of recorded conversations, I interviewed well over a hundred women about their sisters—women whose ages spanned late teens to early nineties, and who came from a wide range of ethnic, regional, and cultural backgrounds.  Most were American, but some were from other countries.  Americans included Asian-Americans, African-Americans, Indian-, Irish-, German-, and East-European-Jewish-Americans, and so on.  They were straight, gay, deaf, hearing, married, and single.  I made a point of including women of these many backgrounds in order to hear a range of experiences” (p. 5).  

One discovery that interested me—and confirmed observations I have often published in my textbook chapters that discuss relationships—is that “communication is women’s work” (p. 177).  “In many families,” Tannen writes, “communication is women’s work.”  One of the important comments I make to my mail readers who want successful relationships, in a section entitled, “Essential Elements of Good Relationships,” is, “...for partners to continue in a relationship, they must find mutually beneficial ways of communicating” (p. 182, Communicating Effectively, 9th ed. (McGraw-Hill, 2009).  

On the very next page, I write, “Men need to open up more, show their feelings, listen better, and reveal their responses.”  From what I have read in Tannen’s book about what she learned from her interviews, I know she would agree completely with my admonishments.  

The part of the book I found most interesting for me was her final chapter, Chapter 8, “Sisterness: The Good, the Bad, and How to Get More of the Lovely” (pp. 180-203), in which she discusses a number of aspects of communication, especially electronic forms such as Facebook and e-mail.  

Whether or not the book is valuable for sisters—insightful or useful—you can read the reviews for yourself.  Most reviewers found the book both helpful and insightful. One reviewer said, “Every woman with a sister should find examples that she can identify with. I plan on giving both of my sisters copies of the book.”  Just to balance the scale somewhat, another reviewer said, “Seemed like Tannen was trying to put some sort of organization or categorization on those relationships, but couldn't quite pull it off. The stories are so individual that it is difficult to make any meaningful generalizations. Interesting -- sure -- but not a particularly compelling or cohesive read.”
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Get this book at Amazon.com You Were Always Mom’s Favorite!  Sisters in Conversation Throughout Their Lives

Friday's Laugh... And Then Some!

A man in North Carolina had a flat tire, pulled off on the side of the road and proceeded to put a bouquet of flowers in front of the car and one behind it. Then he got back in the car to wait. A passerby studied the scene as he drove by and was so curious he turned around and went back.

He asked the fellow what the problem was. The man replied, "I have a flat tire."

The passerby asked, "But what's with the flowers?"

The man responded, "When you break down they tell you to put flares in the front and flares in the back. I never did understand it neither."

Laugh Like There's No Tomorrow: Over 2,000 jokes from the Internet

From our upcoming book compiled by Richard L. Weaver II
Laugh is setup with just over 4 jokes a day, all 365 days, and can be read in any order!
Expected Release Date: Spring 2010

The pursuit of happiness

"’Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness ‘ is one of the most famous phrases in the United States Declaration of Independence. These three aspects are listed among the ‘inalienable rights’ of man.”  So begins the entry entitled “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” at Wikipedia.org.   I wonder if most people think this is an inalienable right and, thus, should be handed to them (on a silver platter), or, does this free each individual to engage in an ephemeral [anything lasting for a very short time] search for emotional fulfillment? 

What is happiness?  “Happiness is an emotion associated with feelings ranging from contentment and satisfaction to bliss and intense joy,” according to Wikipedia.  The Wikipedia definition goes on to explain the various approaches taken toward defining and explaining happiness whether they be philosophical, religious, psychological, or biological and to identify its sources.  Most of us don’t need to understand such approaches; most of us know what happiness is and, too, how good it feels to have it when it occurs. 

“Research,” according to Wikipedia, “has identified a number of correlates with happiness. These include religious involvement, parenthood, marital status, age, income, and proximity to other happy people.”  What works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for another and, sometimes, you can possess all of the correlates and still not be happy!  You may ask, “What’s that all about?

I know of a person, for example, who wallows in unhappiness.  He has constructed an unhappy life for himself, and he actually works at making life miserable for those around him.  Victories and successes (if they occur) are always tainted with “Yes, but..,” “Well, if I had only..., or, “Consider the source” — always diminished, lessened, moderated, or dismissed by a cynical, disparaging, demeaning, or denigrating comment.  He is ruthlessly morose, recklessly gloomy, unconscionably despondent, and, otherwise, ill-tempered and irritable. 

At Stepcase Lifehack, there is an essay entitled, “9 Tips in Life that Lead to Happiness,” and after making it clear to yourself what it is that will bring happiness, Leon Ho offers 8 other tips: 1) “Make a plan for attaining goals that you believe will make you happy.” 2) “Surround yourself with happy people.”  3) “When something goes wrong try to figure out a solution instead of wallowing in self pity.”  4) “Spend a few minutes each day thinking about the things that make you happy.”  5) “It’s also important to take some time each day to do something nice for yourself.  6) “Finding the humor in situations can also lead to happiness.”  7) “Maintaining your health is another way to achieve happiness.” 8) “Finally, it is important to understand that you deserve happiness.”  

At the Dumb Little Man: Tips for Life website, David B. Bohl has written an essay entitled, “Four Steps to Achieve Happiness, Fulfillment, and Success in Your Life,” in which he says: 1) Visualize where you’ve been in your life, 2) Take responsibility for your actions, 3) Learn all you can in life, and 4) Appreciate what others bring into your life. 

The “On Not Being a Sausage” website, Diedre Good has written an essay, “How to Achieve Happiness,” in which she briefly discusses the program for happiness followed by “the happiest person in the world,” (labeled that by the BBC), Matthieu Ricard, a Buddhist monk.  “First, a sense of direction is very important,” Good writes.  “A sense of flourishing comes from inside, where the mind translates all the circumstances. This gives inner strength and freedom. Genuine happiness comes from altruistic love, inner peace, and not on external circumstances such as things that give us pleasure like meals with friends. Putting hopes and fears outside of us is ultimately disappointing.” 

Good goes on to say, “Cultivate inner love and peace and genuine compassion. This involves training....”  “Of course the mind will wander, but bring it back gently without recrimination. Our aim is to practice compassion and wisdom. Wisdom is so as to free others from suffering....‘  “We learn to deal with negative toxins or emotions. Look at anger and stop fueling it as if it were a fire and it will vanish....”    And Good concludes by saying, “When the brain is practicing loving kindness, it generates positive emotions.” 

At one website, Solve Your Problem.com, Jeff Cohen, in his essay, “How Do You Achieve Happiness...Really?” says happiness appears as easy to achieve as changing your attitude: “Be happy, thankful, and contented. Count your blessings now. You will be surprised at how much has already been given and provided to you. 

“Pay attention and focus on your blessings. Be thankful of the small things in life. Be happy that you wake up each day and see the sunrise. Be happy that you have a comfortable bed, nutritious food on the table, a reliable car that you use to go to the office, and family or friends around you. Appreciate the things that you usually take for granted and feel instant happiness. Do this first thing in the morning and the rest of the day will be bright..” 

When you enter “how to achieve happiness?” (without the quotation marks) in the Google search window, you will get over 500,000 websites with suggestions that range from meditation to books on happiness, from serving others to living honorable and true, from pursuing Truth to developing compassion.  The point isn’t the number of websites nor the specific suggestions, the point is that wherever you are in life, whatever your circumstances, numerous suggestions and a great deal of advice is available at the click of your mouse. 

To say, “I just don’t know how to be happy,” is a comment that reeks of naivete.  Nobody is going to hand you happiness, and nobody can make you happy.  It is an internal process over which you have complete control.  All you have to do now is make yourself happy! 

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At Life Optimizer, Donald Latumahina has written an essay entitled, “Finding Happiness: 20 Ways to Achieve Happiness in Life.”  His 20 suggestions are practical and realistic

 At Ezine articles.com , there is a terrific, short essay, by Rebecca Olkowski, “3 Survival Tips to Achieve Happiness When You Are Living With Negativity,” in which she suggests: 1) Get help immediately, 2) Work to achieve your own happiness, and 3) Work on your inner happiness. 

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Copyright May, 2010, by And Then Some Publishing L.L.C.

Day #187 - Resist the temptation of doing nothing

SMOERs: Words of Wisdom

"Life is inherently risky. there is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs, and that is the risk of doing nothing." ---Denis Waitley

Day #187 - Resist the temptation of doing nothing. 

SMOERs: Self-Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules! - Daily Reminders for Outstanding Living
An everyday guide full of quotations to uplift your spirits.
Free 30-Day sample: smoers.com

The pursuit of happiness - Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview

And Then Some Publishing News

How to achieve and support relationship rules is what the book, Relationship Rules: For Long-Term Happiness, Security, and Commitment, is all about. There are numerous suggestions, steps, and additional ideas that will motivate, encourage, and challenge relationship partners. Relationship Rules is available at Amazon.com.

The books Richard L. Weaver II enjoys reading offer a look at the truth. One of the reviewers of Willis's book said, “While some veterans would be content to simply remember through a haze essay of rose-colored reflections, Dr. Willis clearly reports the truth as he knows it.” Civilian In an Ill-Fitting Uniform: A Memoir of World War II, by Edgar E. Willis, reports the truth—unvarnished as it may be. The book is available right now from Amazon.com.

See more book reviews every Monday: Book Club... And Then Some!

Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview:

Thursday’s essay is called, “The pursuit of happiness.” If you are an unhappy person, or if you are generally happy but have long stretches of unhappiness, the suggestions in this essay (not all of them my own!), will help you. Notice that in the excerpt from the essay that follows, happiness is a choice, and you can make the choice to be happy if you want to.  
The pursuit of happiness

by Richard L. Weaver II 

Excerpt:

When you enter “how to achieve happiness?” (without the quotation marks) in the Google search window, you will get over 500,000 websites with suggestions that range from meditation to books on happiness, from serving others to living honorable and true, from pursuing Truth to developing compassion.  The point isn’t the number of websites nor the specific suggestions, the point is that wherever you are in life, whatever your circumstances, numerous suggestions and a great deal of advice is available at the click of your mouse.  To say, “I just don’t know how to be happy,” is a comment that reeks of naivete.  Nobody is going to hand you happiness, and nobody can make you happy.  It is an internal process over which you have complete control.  All you have to do now is make yourself happy!

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And Then Some Works!

The Language of Life: DNA and the Revolution in Personalized Medicine

Book Club... And Then Some!

by Francis Collins
 
 Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.


Before I was a speech-communication major in college—and since I was in the ninth grade in junior-high-school, I might add—I wanted to be a doctor.  Most of my courses in high school and early college were all science courses.  My interest in science did not wear off, and when I graduated from the University of Michigan, I had to make general science a minor since I had had so many courses in the area, and my graduation would have been delayed for at least a year if I had to pick up a new minor.  All this is explanation for my love of science and, thus, of this book. 

Collins has written a science book on DNA for the masses, and I absorbed the information like a sponge in water.  It is a terrific read not just for Collins’ unbelievable knowledge, the revealing and interesting examples cited, the comfortable, readable, and friendly writing style, or even the specific detail he offers: “The best-understood genes are those that code for protein.  This process involves first making an RNA copy of the DNA; that RNA is then transported to the ribosome ‘protein factories’ in the cytoplasm, where the letters of the RNA code are translated into the amino acids used by proteins....This translation is carried out using a triplet code word; for example, AAA in the RNA codes for the amino acid lysine, and AGA codes for arginine” (p. 7).  Most of the language is not of this style and not nearly as complex. 

But, getting back to my point about why the book is a terrific read.  The book is a terrific read because of how it relates to us all.  Collins writes: “The consequence of all this progress is that a new science has appeared at the very center of biology and medicine: you could call it DNA cryptography.  We’ve intercepted a highly elaborate message of critical importance for the future of the human species” (p. 13).  To drive this point home for every reader, Collins says, “Family health history turns out to be the strongest of all currently measurable risk factors for many common conditions, incorporating as it does information about both heredity and shared environment” (p. 14). 

The book is as reader-friendly as a science book can be.  At the end of nine of his ten chapters, Collins has included a box entitled, “What you can do now to join the personalized medicine revolution,” which offers specific methods for readers to take responsibility for their lives.  If you think you may have trouble with some of the language, there is an eight-page glossary to assist you.  Also, numerous figures help in explaining concepts. 

This is a great book written by the Director of the National Institutes of Health who spent fifteen years as director of the National Human Genome Research Institute at the National Institute of Health.  Collins was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2007, and the National Medal of Science in 2009.  The book is copyrighted 2010.
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Get this book at Amazon.com The Language of Life: DNA and the Revolution in Personalized Medicine