lessons

i really love this article from cracked.com, which explores the ten most important things they didn't teach you in school. it's clever, often hilarious, practical, occasionally touching, and more than a little wise. here's their rundown:

10: sex ed. (for girls): how to spot a douchebag
9: sex ed. (for boys): why porn is a not a good way to learn about sex
8: phys. ed.: practical self-defense
7: industrial arts: emergency repairs
6: business: success = meeting the right people
5: health: how to stop throwing your money away on snake oil
4: health: why losing weight requires some amount of suffering
3: home economics: how to cook cheap food that won't kill you
2: political science: why talk radio is a terrible source of information
1: social studies: life is hard and you will die, get over it

that summary really doesn't do it justice, so i highly recommend you just read the whole piece.

1913 - 2010

i stopped checking messages because i didn't want to hear the news without my parents. i lay in bed last night, and i thought, "what if he's already gone?"

and, as it turned out, he was.

"ninety-seven is a ripe old age" but you always hope for more time, more opportunities to be together.

it's weird to hear other people talk about him, to read news coverage that describes him as a national figure, a party leader, a signatory on an important letter... he's just papaşa.

self-helpless?

so, in the course of reading a motivational article on sparkpeople.com, i came across this tip for when you're feeling discouraged by your lack of progress:

"Activate your imagination with the Miracle Question.
The Miracle Question is a great way to help yourself focus on solutions. Imagine that tonight while you’re sleeping, a miracle is going to happen that will completely solve the problem you are struggling with, once and for all. How will you know, when you wake up, that the miracle has happened and the problem is solved? What will be different for you — how will you think, act, or feel differently once the problem has been solved? What will be different about the day ahead of you? Are these questions already helping you think or feel differently now, at least a little bit? How can you make this happen more often?"

this is a little bit silly.

my mom once said, "problems that can be solved with money aren't really problems." she wasn't being flippant, and she's not ignorant... but she's also not entirely right. still, i like the idea of imagining what life would be like without the problem. sometimes that motivates you to do what needs to be done, sometimes it helps you break up the big problem into its bite-sized, easier to tackle parts... and sometimes it makes you realize that you've misidentified the problem.

if i won the lottery (without playing?), i could pay off my student loans and other debt. and i could afford to just volunteer at cool places this year. but it wouldn't magically parachute me into a good law school. it would just make life easier once i got there by the sweat of my brow.

if i do get into a good law school, that won't magically make me in the physical shape i want to be.

if i got into shape, it wouldn't magically solve my financial problems.

it's helpful for me to realize that life is a little bit like playing whack-a-mole. there's always something new popping up. and laying in bed at night, hopeful that one particular problem will be resolved and anticipating the next opportunity to show creativity and integrity and grit... well that can help, too.

lawpunnery!

you know you've been reading a lot (too much?) about scotus decisions vis-a-vis the establishment and free exercise clauses of the first amendment when you get a hankering for lemon shebert.

i got you, rusch!

i recently got crafty and revamped a rusch clock from ikea. this simple, cheap plastic clock is easy to personalize, as has often been mentioned on ikea hacker.

all you have to do is pop off the clear plastic front-piece, pull off the hands, and decorate your blank canvas: the clock face.

because the clock was for idris, and because we watched "groundhog day" on groundhog day when we'd just been dating for two weeks, this is what i went with:

i actually came across the picture while brainstorming ideas, and it was too perfect for words! all i had to do was print it to size, cut it out, and make sure the numbers corresponded to the appropriate time.

i love how it turned out (and so does idris!), and am planning on making one for myself! that way whenever i check the time i can be reminded to make each day matter.

three gifts

i eaves-read another person's book on the subway today and was inspired by this question: "what three values would you most want to instill in your children?"

the first one that sprang to mind was generosity. dr. mark greene's dying words to his daughter, rachel, were: "be generous. with your time. with your love. with your life... be generous, always."



i kind of want those to be my first words to my children.

curiosity: the world is a wonder, and when i catch myself less than in awe, i know i am in trouble. i don't want my children to be often in that kind of trouble.

integrity: even when it's all you've got, it can keep you warm at night.

what would you give?