12.31.08
Posted in Humor~General at 10:23 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
Every New Year’s Eve I attempt something new. One year it was a train ride to Marrakesh. One year it was a reggae club in Tel Aviv. And another year it was watching the groundhog drop at Scotty’s Donuts in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. So, it varies.
Although I don’t make my New Year’s resolutions until Groundhog Day, I will offer you my tips on trying something new–whether it’s a new type of New Year’s Eve celebration, or a new behavior, hobby, celebration, or relationship in the new year.
1. Just do it. Trust that everything you need to know, all the people you need to meet, will come to you. But first, you have to take the action.
2. Do it wrong, do it strong. Don’t be afraid to fail at your new venture. If you do, you’ve won some amazing consolation prizes:
* you learned how NOT to do something next time
* you proved to yourself you are brave for trying this new thing
* you are now in the company of great minds like Edison and others
3. Don’t be afraid to be a total novice. We don’t need to do everything perfectly when we learn something. Think of yourself as a kindergartener. They can get away with anything, because they don’t yet know the rules and they are not striving for perfection.
So, as you make your way into and through and then out of this new year, give yourself a gift. The gift of a courageous heart and mind.
That way you can be the first in the new year to, “Get Your SHINE Together!”
What will you try this year? Let me know! www.yourshiningexample.com
Permalink
12.30.08
Posted in Humor~General at 8:02 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
I was watching a video today, with background music. The music was a bassoon concerto. It made me wonder why we had to take music classes in grade school. Maybe it indirectly helped form our creative abilities. As I watched the video and listened to the music, I could picture someone playing a bassoon. I could differentiate that it was not a stringed instrument. I knew it wasn’t a brass instrument. Think of how many different images, thoughts, and connections went through my mind, in just a few seconds of listening.
Dr. Seuss knew that humor could help children to be more creative, and to even learn to read more effectively. He knew that they would be entertained, but they would gain other things as well.
* CREATIVITY: Young readers would learn to differentiate objects, sounds, parts of language. They could also learn to tolerate different people they encounter in their lives.
* FEARLESSNESS: These children would use his example as a role model to try out new speech patterns and silly words.
* HAPPINESS: Kids who are having fun are learning. They are more relaxed, so they can absorb more information and process it.
Humor is a lot like music–both help us to learn, both give us enjoyment, and both can encourage others in a chain of learning, enjoyment, and accomplishment. We don’t say, “Get Your SHINE Together!” for nothing!
What is your favorite instrument?________________________
What is your favorite Dr. Seuss book?_____________________
Permalink
12.29.08
Posted in Humor~General at 9:28 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
I saw a lot of funny things today at the zoo. Although the animals probably weren’t trying to be funny, they were! Whether it was the smile on the face of the mother elephant, or one of the new baby elephants as he grasped his mother’s trunk fighting to get water out of the spigot in the wall, everyone around us was laughing. From the orangutan picking his nose, to the sea otters swimming upside-down, all the animals were wonderfully hilarious!
We are what made the animals funny–or, more specifically, our perspective and point of view about the animals. We can do this in our human interactions, too. By taking that small pause to realize, “Maybe he or she didn’t mean to hurt my feelings. Maybe he was trying to be funny. Maybe that was her best shot at humor.” Sure, we can usually feel or sense hateful speech when it comes at us. But doesn’t it feel a lot better to give the person a second chance, as we pause to reflect on their possible humorous intention? Our mood will instantly be uplifted. There will be plenty of time to sort out the real meaning behind their words. But our pause will prevent hurtful feelings in us, and prevent any hurtful remarks we may conjure up.
I’m sure there was some scientific reason the elephants twisted their trunks to bring the hay to their mouths. And it was probably simply animal nature, the way the penguins screamed at each other. The bats weren’t really trying to get laughs as they ate apples while hanging upside-down (the bats, not the apples). But as long as we believed they were funny–they were! And we felt a lot less stress today, we laughed a lot more, and we have a fun time.
“Get Your SHINE Together!” no matter what your species.
Permalink
12.28.08
Posted in Humor~General at 9:13 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
Comedy Around the World this week goes around the block for a run. After a somewhat unpleasant evening, I felt an urgent need to go for a run. I like running, because it is a sport where I don’t need a strategy. I can easily move my feet, and if someone is gaining on me, I could simply just move my feet a little faster.
Tonight I thought of how this ersatz strategy is like humor. For example, both helped me to process my thoughts, overcome them, and then get on with the rest of my day. I did this by:
1. Moving my feet, one in front of the other. Just get outside and do it. Try to find something–anything–to laugh about. Remember Norman Cousins and his self-healing program of watching funny movies to boost his mood.
2. Leaning (if you’re doing chi running). If we get too overwhelmed by life and by our concerns, we can lean on people who do have a sense of humor. We can depend on their support, until we get our own humor back. These people remind us of how funny we really are; if we were less upset we’d notice that!
3. Looking ahead. When we look at the big picture, we gain perspective, and we lessen our hurt. Our sense of humor kicks in by encompassing the big picture and showing us where in that picture our concerns belong. And how funny they are.
When we can, “Get Your SHINE Together!” we don’t ever need to be running on empty!
Permalink
12.27.08
Posted in Humor~General at 6:39 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
Stress prevents us from seeing the humor in our daily lives. It can also prevent us from enjoying the holidays. As an antidote to stress, I’m offering this gift–The Christmas Movie Card
Terri Marie Whitewing, one of the contributors in the book, “Heart of the Holidays,” created this special three-minute “Christmas Movie Card” complete with her own music playing in the background to touching photos and statements. The message within the movie is meant to warm the heart.
The Story Behind the Card
Terri writes, “Because of all the moving I’ve done the past several years (5 moves in 5 years) I just didn’t feel like decorating much for the holidays if it meant looking at one more box. One day the message on the song for the movie came through loud and clear. ‘Christmas is something you carry in your heart. It’s always here when you feel it.’”
As a reminder when we get stressed out over the holiday Preparations, Decorations, and other such ‘rations, just remember… the Christmas Spirit comes in quietly - softly entering any moment of pure love.
It’s always Christmas inside a warm heart.
VIEW VIDEO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLYiXbhjHeM
Copyright 2008 White Wing Entertainment
Permalink
12.26.08
Posted in Humor~General at 10:01 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
A BIG announcement to United States, Canada & Australia:
Basile and the Greek Gods Of Comedy will be on Antenna TV!
Saturday Night December 27, 2008 10:00 PM. The PREMERE of Basile and the Greek Gods Of Comedy will be on the air and will continue to produce entertainment for ANTENNA TV for all Greeks around the world for years to come. Trust me, there is more to come! Entertainment and Comedy Specials just for Greeks!
Saturday December 27, 2008 at 10:00 PM on ANTENNA TV
MUST SEE GREEK TV!! BASILE and the Greek Gods Of Comedy
with Ellen Karis & Jim Mendrinos
Yasou Baby!
Basile
www.OPABASILE.com web site
Permalink
Posted in Humor~General at 12:41 am by Dr. Trina Hess
What would Christmas Day be without endless replaying of Rocky movies on a cable channel? Lacking, that’s what. After watching Rocky’s I (the original), II and then III, it hit me. No, not a left hook (but really would be a right hook, since Rocky Balboa is a southpaw). It hit me, the difference between the original Rocky movie and the sequels is kind of like using humor in our speeches, and in our lives. I remembered Craig Valentine’s saying that the best way to use humor in a speech is to make it organic. Don’t just add humor–uncover it from what is already there, from what you already are.
When we do that, we seem genuine. Why do we root for Rocky (I) so much? Because he was all substance and no style. He ran through the streets of Philadelphia at 4 a.m. alone. He trained hard in smelly boxing gyms. He had grit. He had guts. He had the goods.
But once Rocky II came around, he still ran the same route through town, amid the marketplace and by the river and finally to the steps of the museum. But this time it was different. This time, they added something–cheering fans. Adoring crowds yelled, “Go, Rocky!” “Come on, Rock!”
This addition took away from the likeable quality the original Rocky had. It was somehow too flashy. Too much style. It was something extraneous, added on to the person.
Adding an unrelated joke or using an unnatural (for you) style of humor does this, too. We become disjointed from that Rocky who drank raw eggs and ran early through the streets. We forget who we are. We become less sincere. We lose a bit of credibility. We seem to be putting on an act, rather than just being ourselves. We seem, in a word, unnatural.
“Get Your SHINE Together!” means uncovering the humor we already have in our lives, and using the style of humor that fits our personality, our qualities, and our demeanor.
Permalink
12.24.08
Posted in Humor~General at 9:06 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
Being on a movie set is an exhilirating experience. Working alongside famous movie stars is an even bigger bonus. I have had the privilege of doing that with Donnie Wahlberg (pictured here with me, on the set of The Kill Point, SPIKE TV), Eric Roberts, Tom Atkins, and a cast of several. There is always electricity in the air, even as the 13-plus-hour day drags on.
So, to make sure everyone can focus, the director will call out, “Settle!” This means we just stop what we’re doing, pause for a moment, and then ready ourselves for the scene to begin. Only by doing this action can we do the on-screen action–correctly. Our productivity depends on our calmness. Does that sound familiar?
As we sort through the myriad activities surrounding Christmas and then New Year’s, or whatever other holidays you observe, let’s “Settle!” That way, we can be productive in our ability to, “Get Your SHINE Together!” this holiday season.
**P.S. Big news: We just passed the 60 links to the website mark! Congratulations to YourShiningExample.com ’s fans! Thank you for your support of live comedy and of the power of humor!
Permalink
12.23.08
Posted in Humor~General at 10:26 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
Using your sense of humor is a lot like spotting a celebrity. Staying open to new and different possibilities, not having expectations, suspending belief, etc.
I remember back in the 1990’s I went to New York to meet up with some friends who were coming from overseas. I walked from where I stayed at West Side Y, and went to meet my friends. As I walked along a back street, something ironic happened (if you happen to be a Springsteen fan, you can appreciate the word-play here). I looked up and said to the man walking toward me, “Hey! Aren’t you Little Steven!?” He calmly smiled and said, “Yeah!” and agreed to sign the only available paper I had–my bank deposit slip. I got a passerby to take our picture, and then we each went on our way.
This meeting was possible because of three distinct things;
1. I had done my research. I knew who Little Steven was–even before he was a Soprano, he was a Disciple of Soul, and also an E Streeter. When we do our humor research, we find out our own unique style of humor, and then operate within that.
2. I had no expectations about meeting Little Steven that day. When we don’t expect to get laughs, we have more freedom and encouragement to speak our truths.
3. I believed I could do it. Although I didn’t know I would meet Little Steven specifically, I knew that in New York, there is always electricity in the air; there are many celebrities, and it is common to meet one of them. When we believe that we have a sense of humor, we are more likely to honor it by using it whenever we can!
Permalink
12.22.08
Posted in Humor~General at 5:47 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
When you, “Get Your SHINE Together!” you become more human. How?
1. By speaking on topics that people can relate to.
2. By counteracting the impersonal nature of technology and offering your voice, rather than your PowerPoint. And,
3. By admitting your mistakes, by making fun of them. Making light of them, and yourself.
This is what Scott The Nametag Guy wrote about recently, when he talked
about the importance of being stupid. About NOT being a know-it-all.
“The more frequently you admit your ignorance, the smarter you will become. In the words of Warren Buffet, “If we have a strength, it is in recognizing when we are operating well within our circle of competence and when we are approaching the perimeter.†What are you willing to admit you don’t know?”
Read more when you sign up for his free ezines: www.hellomynameisscott.com He gives a lot of similar tips to help you, “Get Your SHINE Together!”
What don’t you know today? Let me know–www.yourshiningexample.com
Thanks for your input,
Trina Hess
Permalink
« Previous entries
