July 2007 Archives

CLOUD games are fun to play not only because it's free, not only because it's childlike, but because there are no winners or losers! Come on, try it for yourself. Look up! What do you see? Step outside first of course. There's nothing up there but a fluorescent light in that room you're in. Let's exercise our creativity a bit more and get some sun while we're at it. Come on, let's step outside. Ideally, we lie on our backs on the grass. If you can't get out of work though, you can stare out your window or walk onto your balcony. Now look up! This is a great game to play with children. It's a creative way to exercise their imagination even more. Now what if they see a dragon and you don't? Play along! Perhaps if you look harder, you'll see the majestic beings the kids are pointing at. What if you went on a Cloud Game date? Take your partner or a potential one. While you can gauge how your companion appreciates this simple joy, you might also learn new things about each other. A Cloud Rorschach test perhaps? Ah, the discoveries you will have. If you start seeing the same figures in the sky, maybe you're more compatible than you think. There are two rules in this game and it's best that you remember them:

1. No shooting down of cloud sightings. What looks like a bear to you may be a lion to another. What looks like a sheep to you maybe a goose to one. There are no wrong answers, except for unimaginative ones like those in Rule #2.
2. The following sightings are not allowed: pillows, cotton or cotton candy, marshmallows, sheep and well, clouds. Challenge yourself! Challenge each other! The more unique the sighting, the more fun you will have.

Other than those rules, the sky's the limit. ;) So look up! What do you see?

THANK you to the yuppie who held the elevator open for me as I rushed into the hallway screaming "Up! Up!". You saved me from being late for a meeting. Thank you to the security guard who greeted me with a cheery "Good morning, Ma'am!" You reminded me to start my morning with a smile. Thank you to the taho vendor who carefully placed my plastic cup of taho in a little bag. You helped keep the liquid from spilling all over my hand. Thank you to the guy at the ATM for helping pick up the coins that fell from my purse. Thank you to these and more random saints that I've encountered. Those little acts of yours had a great impact on me and my day. Amazing how little things can lead to something big. The "Pay It Forward" concept is quite familiar to a lot of us now; it's like chain mail without the irritation. Beverly Keaton Smith over at Embrace Your Gifts and Soar! writes about ARK: Acts of Random Kindness, the term inspired by the movie Evan Almighty. Ms. Smith shares tips on how to bring ARK into your life. And remember, when an ARK does come docking into your life, don't forget to say thank you. Now, go and build yours.

A CHILD comes up to you and exclaims, "Take me to the happiest place on earth!" Where would you take him? There are several places that make me grin from ear to ear and fill me with joy. I'll take him to those places too, and save the happiest one for last. Would you like to come along? Our first stop would be UP Diliman. I'd take the little kid to the shopping center, where several vendors have kiosks of fishballs, green mangoes and bagoong, corn on the cob, dirty ice cream and other snacks. I used to love spending part of a weekend afternoon right here, feasting on those goodies and chilling out with my friends. The atmosphere is always relaxed and the food tasty. Kicking back with fishballs then dirty ice cream after? Happy times! Next happy place would be a video game arcade. My husband and I enjoy unwinding at these joints. We always play together (or against each other) and have a wonderful time. Perfect for laughs and letting stress out and happiness in. I'd tell the little kid he can also go to Disneyland. Its tagline after all is "The Happiest Place on Earth." Or Vanuatu, which is the Happiest Country according to the Happy Planet Index. He can plan for a trip going there, if he'd like. I said I'd save the best for last. I'd take the little kid to an apartment building. Go up several flights. Open the door to one of the units. I'd ask him to sit on the comfortable couch. I'm sure he'll lean back against the soft pillows. I'd turn on the TV, pop in a DVD of "Heroes," grab a bowl of chips, a bottle of salsa and cans of soda. I'd settle on the couch beside the little kid, then call out to my husband. He'd join us in the living room and watch the series with us, snack along with us. I hope the little kid enjoys our company. Relaxing with my husband at home -- that's my happiest place on earth. Where is your happiest place on earth? Where would you take this kid?

I'VE read a lot of tips sharing how placing a plant on your office desk can make you more productive. I haven't put this to the test yet, but I am curious as to how it can help one work better. I have some theories. Is it the color green perhaps that makes you productive? Nature's greens are very relaxing yet energizing. Perhaps your stress levels will go down by having a vibrant companion by your side. And no, I don't mean your talkative colleague. Is it the oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange that makes one more productive? Breathe in, breathe out. Relaaax. The air would be much clearer and you'd get to save on those sick leaves. Is it that having a living ally by your side makes you feel better? The workplace can be messy and negative on some days. Having a plant at your table can act as support. You care for it well, it blooms accordingly. You prepare a project plan, you're not assured it goes through. At least you've got your growing plant to make you feel better. Just be sure it's not plastic. Is it that it can inspire you to be creative? Dress up its little pot. Put the plant in a funky mug. Prune the leaves and stems. Shine those leaves. If you have a grasshead, try different hairstyles. Then get back to that ad you're trying to write before your boss makes your gardening job official. These are all just my theories. One more thing, it makes your desk look good! The drab whites and greys of your office desk come alive with just a little pot of green. It's an instant picker upper. Now if only you could do something about the piles of paper in your inbox. Go grab a plant now and see if you can be more productive!

GOT anything planned for the upcoming Saturday? To those who may not like numbers or see any significance in it, it's just another weekend beginning. But to those who find a little thrill in dates, it could be a more special day than usual. It'll be July 7, 2007 -- 7/7/07. It could be the luckiest day ever. Here are some try-your-luck ideas for that Lucky 7 day:

1. Propose. Maybe you'll get lucky! Or get married. It's going to be one anniversary that will be hard to forget. (Flash forward to fifty years after the wedding: Wife goes, "Oh honey, do you remember the day you proposed?" Husband goes, "How can I forget? July 7, 2007. It was a lucky, lucky day." Wife goes, "You remember!" Husband grins to himself.) Renew your vows, too.
2. Hit the slot machines. Play a game of cards. Indulge in some arcade games. Don't forget to play wisely!
3. Check out the reveal of the New Seven Wonders of the World in Portugal. If you can't fly there, hop on over to their site and cast in your vote if you'd like to.
4. Catch Live Earth, a global concert that brings more than a hundred artists together, that brings music to more than a million people around the world, that hopefully brings to life even more awareness and action to help solve global warming.
5. Throw a party. The themes? Lucky 7 -- a casino party. Seventh Heaven -- come as angels? Or have a DVD marathon of that TV series. The number 7 is seen as a magical number -- why not go for a magic-themed party? Bring on those top hats and disappearing bunnies!
6. If you own a store and have 7, 77, 777 or 7777 in your address, throw a special sale! C'mon! It'll be a great day for store promotions. This can also work for any store -- put your wares on a Lucky 7 sale. What can you sell for P7 or P77?
7. Have a Share Your Luck Day. Do something for charity, share your blessings and the good luck you've been having with those who need it. Donate, plan a fund raiser... just do something nice with that good luck of yours.

I'm sure there are more ways to celebrate that unusual date. Did you know that in the US, July 7 is National Chocolate Day? Oh yum. What a great excuse to indulge in 7 chocolate bars. So, got anything planned for Saturday yet?