April 2006

Research (I won’t even go there) shows that people who are in touch with their creative side (such as poets, writers, graphic artists, painters) have better sex lives than everyone else.

Apparently Creative expression yields a more vibrant sex life.

Personally, I think that maybe a person who’s imaginative and creative is simply that way all day.  And night.

If you aren’t already in touch with your creative side, you just got a little incentive to do so!

Joi

I’ve fallen in love with the Firefox browser!  There are a few things about it that could be better, but it’s speed offsets the other little things.

As a designer, I’m all about the appearances of a website, and unfortunately Firefox is set up in a way that you can’t see many sites in just the way they’re meant to be seen.  But the glitches are usually pretty minimal.  For example, on the celebrity sites we design, we always customize the scrollbar to match and harmonize with the colors of the website.  Makes for a pretty slick look - but the Fox doesn’t give a fig about pimpin’ scrollbars, so they look plain Jane in its browser.  Not a biggie.

We’ve downloaded Firefox on each of our computers - but we also have the ie option as well.  That way, we kind of go back and forth, depending upon what we’re wanting to see or do.  When time is of the essence (which is like 23/6), we grab the Fox.  She’s just so much faster.

“Life is like riding a bicycle. You don’t fall off unless you plan to stop peddling.”  - Claude Pepper

While pilfering through my quotes for a quote for today (Gandhi won out), I came across this one by Claude Pepper.  Mr. Pepper was a Harvard Law school graduate, taught law, practiced law in Miami Beach, Coral Gables, and Tallahassee, Fla., as well as in Washington, D.C. .  He capped it all off by serving as a Senator and Representative from the beautiful state of Florida.

He’s the sort of person who, when speaking, the rest of us would do well to lean in and listen.  I’m leaning.

I’ve never thought about life in the terms he spoke of in the quote above.  But I’ll be danged if he isn’t right.  If you’ve ever taught a child to ride a bike, you know that all is usually fine until they stop peddaling, for whatever reason.  It’s pretty much the same with swimming - if you stop treading or kicking, there’s no place left to go but down.

The only option you have is to keep on keeping on. Same with life, isn’t it?  Even when we’re tired….even when we’re broken-hearted or our spirit has been stripped bare….even when we’re sick - we have to dig deep and find a way to keep going.  Because if we stop, we’re going to drop and, unlike cats, we won’t land on our feet.

The dread, the descent, the deterioration, the drop, and the downfall can all be found in the same place - the very spot you discontinue.

Just keep on going.  It really doesn’t matter if you feel like it or not. Find a way, make a way - and when that way lets you down, find another.

Joi

“Live as if your were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.  ~Gandhi“

“Habit is habit and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs a step at a time.” ~ Mark Twain

“Humor is the great thing, the saving thing. The minute it crops up, all our irritations and resentments slip away and a sunny spirit takes their place.”  ~Mark Twain

To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.

This is often attributed to one of my favorite authors, Ralph Waldo Emerson.  In fact, in my own collection of quotes and poems, I had it in his folder.  But I recently read that it is actually an adaptation of a poem published in 1905 by Bessie Stanley. No version of it has ever been found in Emerson’s writings.

At any rate, it is an absolutely beautiful assessment of what success truly is and I love it muchly.

Joi

“Always be smarter than the people who hire you.”  ~Lena Horn

One of the coolest little books I’ve ever come across is “Life’s Little Instruction Book,” by H. Jackson Brown, Jr. The book actually began its life as a gift for the author’s son, Adam, who was about to head off to college.

The loving father began writing down observations and words of counsel that he knew would help the young man throughout his life. The collection grew and grew and by the time it was presented to Adam, a future bestseller was in the making.

As fantastic as the entire book is, the Introduction may be my favorite part. Not to be missed. Very, very sweet.

Below are a few of my favorite observations and words of counsel. I personally think it’d be an awesome idea to buy copies of the book for your own children, and add your own words of wisdom. It’s something they’d treasure forever and a day.

COMPLIMENT THREE PEOPLE EVERY DAY.

DON’T DISCUSS SALARIES.

OVERTIP BREAKFAST WAITRESSES AND WAITERS. (I addes the last two words. Didn’t want to leave anyone out!)

PLANT FLOWERS EVERY SPRING.

WATCH A SUNRISE AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR.

BE BRAVE. EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT, PRETEND TO BE. NO ONE CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE.

DEMAND EXCELLENCE AND BE WILLING TO PAY FOR IT.

TAKE GOOD CARE OF THOSE YOU LOVE.

WAVE AT CHILDREN ON SCHOOL BUSES.

Have a mind-blowing weekend - I hope you smile so much your beautiful face hurts!

Joi