Wednesday, June 18, 2008 When life gives you Duma... POST A COMMENT Just spent 21 plus hours with the book-on-tape version of Stephen King's Duma Key...I wont give away the storyline; but, let's just say the main character has the worst day of his life...and things get worse, and of course things get a bit spooky... I'll be interested to see the condensed film version. A great story, that starts off slow -- I might have edited it down...but, if you hang in there, it's definitely a worth-while journey. I'd tip my hat to the King, but I doubt he needs any tips from me -- (his last two novels, received overwhelmingly positive criticism from The New York Times). The Cruz "Duma Key" Book Review: **** 1/2 stars (Four and half stars, out of a possible Five stars) Labels: Books, Cruz book reviews, Duma Key, stephen king posted by Henry Cruz at 4:10 AM Wednesday, June 11, 2008 Bring on the Happiness! POST A COMMENT When did it become a duty to be happy? -- 'remember a time when showing up -- and praying everything didn't fall apart -- was enough. Today everybody drowns themselves in floods-of-endless-distractions -- (setting high expectations) -- to achieve an endless non-stop-parade of happiness...'guess, since I grew up in poverty, we made-do with left-overs and searched into ourselves for the basics: family, friends, music. Today, I'm okay with small pockets of 'happy-endings' -- more along the lines of distractions from the everyday grind, and I'm good-to-go: reading, traveling, movies, writing, hanging out with friends, and taking walks are enough for me...'a nice dinner and I'm maxed-out-on happy pills. If you gotta-go-there and drown yourself in an endless-happy-hour --(to fit in with the Jones), here are eight tips -- (thanks to The Happiness Project) -- for making yourself a lot happier in the next hour: 1. Boost your energy: stand up and pace while you talk on the phone or, even better, take a brisk ten-minute walk outside. Research shows that when people move faster, their metabolism speeds up, and the activity and sunlight are good for your focus, your mood, and the retention of information. Plus, because of “emotional contagion,” if you act energetic, you’ll help the people around you feel energetic, too. 2. Reach out to friends: make a lunch date or send an email to a friend you haven’t seen in a while. Having warm, close bonds with other people is one of the keys to happiness, so take the time to stay in touch. Somewhat surprisingly, it turns out that socializing boosts the moods not only of extroverts, but also of introverts. 3. Rid yourself of a nagging task: answer a difficult email, purchase something you need, or call to make that dentist’s appointment. Crossing an irksome chore off your to-do list will give you a big rush of energy and cheer, and you’ll be surprised that you procrastinated for so long. 4. Create a calmer environment: clear some physical and mental space around your desk by sorting papers, pitching junk, stowing supplies, sending out quick responses, filing, or even just making your piles neater. A large stack of little tasks can feel overwhelming, but often just a few minutes of work can make a sizeable dent. Try to get in the habit of using the “one minute rule”—i.e., never postpone any task that can be completed in less than one minute. An uncluttered environment will contribute to a more serene mood. 5. Lay the groundwork for some future fun: order a book you’ve been wanting to read (important: not something you think you should read, but something you want to read) or plan a weekend excursion to a museum, hiking trail, sporting event, gardening store, movie theater—whatever sounds like fun. Studies show that having fun on a regular basis is a pillar of happiness, and anticipation is an important part of that pleasure. Try to involve friends or family, as well; people enjoy almost all activities more when they’re with other people than when they’re alone. 6. Do a good deed: make an email introduction of two people who could help each other, or set up a blind date, or shoot someone a piece of useful information or gratifying praise. Do good, feel good—this really works. Also, although we often believe that we act because of the way we feel, in fact, we often feel because of the way we act. When you act in a friendly way, you’ll strengthen your feelings of friendliness for other people. 7. Act happy: put a smile on your face right now, and keep smiling. Research shows that even an artificially induced smile has a positive influence on your emotions—turns out that just going through the motion of happiness brightens your mood. And if you’re smiling, other people will perceive you as being friendlier and more approachable. 8. Listen to your favorite music. Studies show that listening to music is one of the most effective ways to boost your energy and mood (second only to exercise). In fact, in one study, 92% of people felt happier when they listened to music they liked. For an added boost, dance around the room, too. This Gnarls Barkley music video makes me happy: Source: The Happiness Project Labels: Books, Duma Key, stephen king, The Happiness Project posted by Henry Cruz at 7:28 PM     ARCHIVES October 2005 . November 2005 . December 2005 . August 2007 . September 2007 . October 2007 . November 2007 . December 2007 . March 2008 . April 2008 . May 2008 . June 2008 . July 2008 . August 2008 . September 2008 .