Humor

Nov 17

Ripples #808: Light & Heavy!

By Paul Wesselmann Ripples No Comments

[11/17/2014] Ripples #808: Light & Heavy!

PEBBLE
If people never did silly things,
nothing intelligent would ever get done.
-Ludwig Wittgenstein

BOULDER
I always try to balance
the light with the heavy:
a few tears of human spirit
in with the sequins and the fringes.
-Bette Midler, shared by Sharon in Madison, WI

PONDER
As we inch closer to the holidays, you may be starting to prepare for the unique combination of “light & heavy” that this time of year often brings. There’s the joy of holiday spirit with all the good food and good times AND for many it is also crunch time to wrap up the academic semester or fiscal year.

I think the trick to maintaining sanity around this time of year is to seek your particular balance of light and heavy. Remember that humor is a great stress management tool and being goofy can help cut the tension during a long work meeting, a study session, or even holiday events that sometimes get stressful. Do what you can to take deep breaths, play hard, and work hard (and then play hard some more!). And remember to cut some extra slack for yourself and others during this time of year.

Peace,
Paul
The Ripples Guy… Read More!

Apr 01

Love0

Ripples #618.5: The First.

By Paul Wesselmann Ripples No Comments

Ripples #618.5: The Truth.
For our tribe of some people who share encouragement and gratitude.
Apr 1, 2011

PEBBLE:
This is the first.
-Yu No

BOULDER:
Sometimes The First
is the winner, the best.
Or not.
-Chuck Hulls

PONDER:
Do you know what The First is?
Do you know when The First is?
If not, I bet you are pretty confused right now.
Why is this happening?
Because this is The First.

Giggling,
Paul
p.s. Happy April 1st. Learn more here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_Fools’_Day… Read More!

Dec 15

Love0

Ripples v10.50: Shock Absorbers!

By Paul Wesselmann Ripples No Comments

Ripples v10.50: Shock Absorbers!
The Ripples Project: a tribe of 21,272
who believe tiny actions create big possibilities

_______
PEBBLE
The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.
-e.e.cummings, submitted by Gail H., Portland OR

_________
BOULDER
Laughter is to life
what shock absorbers are to automobiles.
It won’t take the potholes out of the road,
but it sure makes the ride a lot smoother.
-Barbara Johnson, submitted by Amanda P., La Crosse WI

_________
PONDER
There is so much STUFF going on right now in your life and in the world. Some of it is really serious which makes it even MORE important that you take time every day to laugh! So, search online for a good joke, call a friend who always makes you giggle, or ask yourself why the chicken crossed the road and let whatever pops up lead to a good belly laugh. After all, a chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion! (source: http://www.jokesclean.com/ )

Peace & haha to you,

Paul… Read More!

Mar 19

Love0

Ripples v8.12: Ripples of LAUGHTER!

By Paul Wesselmann Ripples No Comments

Ripples v8.12: Ripples of LAUGHTER!
3/20/06: your FREE weekly splash from Paul & The Ripples Project

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PEBBLE =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o

At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities.
-Jean Houston, submitted by Gail H., Portland OR

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= BOULDER =o=o=o=o=o=o=o

A sense of humor can help you
overlook the unattractive,
tolerate the unpleasant,
cope with the unexpected,
and smile through the unbearable.
-source unknown, submitted by Chris P.

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PONDER =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o

Two guys walk into a bar…..

Ok, I’m no good at telling jokes so I won’t even try. However, I think laughter is one of the healthiest exercises one can perform. It may not burn a ton of calories (which I need to do because last week I picked up my Girl Scout cookie order and I have been stuffing my face all weekend!), but it burns a ton of stress!

Here is a challenge for this week: think of the person with whom you laugh the hardest and make it a point to talk with them in the next few days. Share a joke, tell a story, make a goofy face, or if you have known each other many years, you may just need to start with “Remember that time we….” and let the chuckles commence!

My friend Kristen in Lansing will be getting a call this week from me….so stop reading this and go laugh with someone!!

Peace,
Paul… Read More!

May 22

Love0

Ripples v7.21: Ripples of SUNSHINE!

By Paul Wesselmann Ripples No Comments

Ripples v7.21: Ripples of SUNSHINE!
Monday, May 23, 2005
a FREE weekly splash from Paul & The Ripples Project

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PEBBLE =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o

A good laugh is sunshine in a house.
-Thackeray, submitted by Reta D., Sandy, Utah

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= BOULDERS =o=o=o=o=o=o=o

Those who bring
sunshine
to the lives of others
cannot keep it from
themselves.
-Sir James M. Barrie, submitted by Vickie B., Indianapolis, IN

Life is a pure flame,
and we live by an
invisible sun within us.
– Sir Thomas Browne, submitted by Marijane C., Madison WI

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PONDER =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o

I have just returned from a relaxing weekend with a former
professor and current friend….I arrived home to find an
afternoon sky FILLED with sunshine so I am going to enjoy it!

I hope the summertime sunshine has arrived at your doorstep,
and I hope that even on the overcast days you can remember
that the sun is still smiling up above the clouds.

Lightly,
Paul… Read More!

May 15

Love0

Ripples v7.20: Ripples of NUTTY!

By Paul Wesselmann Ripples No Comments

Ripples v7.20: Ripples of NUTTY!
Monday, May 16, 2005
a FREE weekly splash from Paul & The Ripples Project

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PEBBLE =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o

Live nutty. Just occasionally. Just once in a while.
And see what happens. It brightens up the day.
–Leo Buscaglia, submitted by Katie P., Minneapolis MN

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= BOULDER =o=o=o=o=o=o=o

…Nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells.

Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living.

It’s a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope…
that enables you to laugh at life’s realities.
-Dr. Seuss, submitted by Dennis B., Glenside PA

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PONDER =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o

Bloobity do.
Arffna loopy zoolicious!

I dare you to be goofy weird zany bizarre crazy silly this week. Dr. Seuss would enjoy it immensely if we created 13,000 splashes of nuttiness so let the ripples commence!

Peace,
Paul… Read More!

Nov 07

Love0

Ripples v6.42: Ripples of SOMETHING!

By Paul Wesselmann Ripples No Comments

Ripples v6.42: Ripples of SOMETHING!
Monday, November 8, 2004
Your FREE Weekly Splash of Inspiration from Paul & The Ripples Project

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PEBBLES =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o

Find something worth dying for and live for it.
-source unknown, submitted by Stephen R.

Find something you care about and live a life that shows it.
-Kate Wolf, submitted by Chris L.

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= BOULDERS =o=o=o=o=o=o=o

Read, every day, something no one else is reading.
Think, every day, something no one else is thinking.
Do, every day, something no one else would be silly enough to do.
It is bad for the mind to continually be part of unanimity.
– Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, submitted by Pat J. Wauwatosa, WI

I live by this credo:
Have a little laugh and look around you
for happiness instead of sadness.
Laughter has always brought me out of unhappy situations.
Even in your darkest moment,
you usually can find something to laugh about if you try hard enough.
-Red Skelton, submitted by Tanya S.

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o= PONDER =o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o

I doubled our dose of Ripples this week since we skipped an issue! If you have a ton of THINGS on your plate and you’re feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, don’t try to solve EVERYTHING. Instead, just choose SOMETHING to focus on….one thing. Whether that is a task you need to complete or a small treat for yourself or maybe a phone call you owe to a friend, just let that SOMETHING have all of your focus and energy. Then, when that is complete, go on to your next SOMETHING.

One thing at a time, my friend!

Peace,
Paul… Read More!

Sep 18

Love0

eRipples v2.38: Ripples of PLAYFULNESS

By Paul Wesselmann Ripples No Comments

eRipples: a FREE weekly splash of inspiration
version 2.38 [Monday, September 18, 2000]

PEBBLE ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

When the situation is desperate, it is too late to be serious.
Try playfulness.
-Edward Abbey, Leslie Stephany

BOULDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Playfulness is a kind of mood or attitude that you bring to your daily life.
It’s a predisposition to be spontaneous, and have fun at whatever you’re
doing. When you’re playful, you find your attention being more fully engaged in
what you’re doing. You’re better able to “be here now.”

A playful attitude infuses you with a sense of joy and positive emotions.
It creates a frame of mind in which you naturally and automatically find
more funny things going on around you.
I am convinced that cultivating your sense of playfulness is the key to
learning to lighten up in the midst of stress.
-Paul McGhee, submitted by Justine R. Hollingshead

PONDER ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Well, I made it to the end of the early fall “crunchtime” which included
adventures on both coasts and over a dozen spots in between. I have an
empty calendar for the next three weeks, and I am going to follow these
Ripples and fill each day with PLAYFULNESS!

Long walks, spontaneous lunches, catching up on movies, and nap time everyday!

I hope you’ll build in your own recess this week. You deserve it!

Peace to you,
ptw… Read More!

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