Category: Random

snow showing how old you are

We got a rare snow here in the south recently, and I remembered this quote:

The aging process has you firmly in its grasp if you never get the urge to throw a snowball.

BTW, I threw numerous snowballs, so I’m not old. 🙂

Seriously, though, while that’s a joke, take time to enjoy your life each day. Look around, notice what’s going on around you, pay attention to details you normally overlook, and find enjoyment in the good things in your life. Most people are too busy and stressed to enjoy life, which is sad.

What can you enjoy today that you normally don’t? Even if it’s just a minute or two, that’s a start. Try it…

Snow is more interesting than you think

Have you ever thought about why snow is the way it is? Snow is fluffy water. It happens when the temperature is below freezing, but if you put water in a freezer it turns into ice. It’s a good thing that freezing precipitation isn’t ice, because that would be painful and destructive. So for whatever reasons, we get snow instead of falling ice. That’s very fortunate! Imagine if snow was ice crystals instead…

Why is that? Precipitation that freezes becomes hail, sleet, or snow. How? Obviously temperature is a factor, yet in all cases it’s cold enough to freeze the water. Could a snowstorm cause the snow to float long enough via updrafts to form hail?

I don’t have all the answers for that. But I’m thankful that snow is not ice as it falls and that it’s fun to play in.

Thanksgiving feast weight gain myth

I have an important Public Service Announcement that should be read by all before a Thanksgiving feast:

Eating one large meal will not make you fat.

Also, eating a piece of pecan pie or pumpkin pie that you normally would skip will not make you fat. Obesity is a big problem (ahem), but it’s a lifestyle, not the result of one meal. And research backs this up.

A study showed that during the holiday season including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years, the average weight gain was 0.8 pounds. That’s within standard deviation — i.e., you can gain that much in a day just from normal eating. It’s not a big deal.

So my point is, enjoy your holiday feast with family. Of course, if your doctor gives you specific nutritional instructions, follow that. (This is not medical advice.) Or if you have personal convictions that you should follow, then do that. But don’t let guilt or shame or some overreaching news article keep you from enjoying a piece of pie. Eat, drink, and be merry!

Let me add to that — this isn’t about eating a lot. Actually enjoy the feast if you get to partake in one. And enjoy the people around you. It won’t all be perfect — life never is — but be thankful for what you have. And don’t let shame or guilt keep you from enjoying a feast with family. This day is unique — you won’t pass this way again.

invisible new posts

Greatest apologies for the lack of recent posts. It may seem like I’ve been away or neglecting the blog, but that is not the case at all. I’ve actually been right here! I’m still writing content, but just not finalizing it and publishing it. So it’s like there’s been an invisible barrier between us, where I’m writing but you cannot see me. I’m not actually invisible — just hidden behind some virtual barrier that doesn’t exist. (So here, virtual doesn’t mean being online or in the cyber realm, although it kinda is, but moreso means the essence of existing but not really existing. Does that make sense? Either way, there’s not an actual barrier, except it seems like there is. I suppose the “Publish” button is the demarcation between my world and the whole world.)

Rambling aside, here’s what happened. My last post here was about happiness and enjoying your life, which I’ve been thinking about and writing on lately. But this blog is not the ideal place for that. So it’ll be over at this page: How to find happiness, which will be updated as more related posts are added.

I’m tempted to give you a sneak peek of what’s to come, but then people searching for those things will find this random announcement and be disappointed. So just subscribe if you want an automated email when new stuff gets posted. (That’s all the emails you’ll get from me.) Regarding the upcoming posts, I’ll just say: “Trust me, I know what I’m doing.” (Bonus points if you know which TV show character is famous for that line. Leave a comment if you know.)