Discover Your Bliss

Free online video courses

Ready to learn from prestigious instructors from the comfort of your home for free?

Academic Earth does just that - you can choose to view a lecture or take a course complete with a syllabus, exams and lectures. 

Choose from 17 subjects and let your imagination be your guide. 

While I was browsing through the site, I found myself getting sucked into watching lectures and reading course descriptions.  There's quite a bit to learn here and it's from some of the finest universities in the country.

Don't think you can afford a high-class education?  Think again.  The internet makes the impossible, possible.  What bliss. 

How do you benefit from learning something new?  What does exploring the unknown do for you? 

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries. 

Rules of thumb for cooking rice

The following comes from Rules of Thumb:  A Life Manual -- Brilliant Guestimates, Shortcuts, and a Few Shots in the Dark by Tom Parker:

To measure water for cooking rice, rest the tip of your index finger on top of the rice and add enough water to reach the first visible joint.  This works for any size pot. 

What's your "rule of thumb" when cooking for yourself?  How do you know what will support your overall health?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries. 

Wisecracks from the wise

"I was asked at a lecture, 'Why can't I clone myself and keep the copies as spare parts?'  And my answer was, 'Be careful--one of the copies might keep you for spare parts.' "  Sydney Brenner, Nobel Prize in Medicine, 2002

Award-winning cell phone film

This film was made on a cell phone and cost next to nothing to produce. 

What feelings come up for you regarding this film?  How does this film shape your thinking?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries. 

Want something new? Do something different

This morning when I went out for my bike ride, I did something different. 

Instead of turning right on the bike path and heading for the ocean, I turned left.  Why?  Because I'd never turned left before and wanted to find out where that bike path led. 

By heading east, I saw a completely different terrain and fewer people (which I enjoy on my morning ride).

I also discovered something else - the bike path heading east is closed for construction and won't be open until 2011.  The chain link fence had been removed from its frame where the signed warned not to go.  I had a brief moment of "ah, what the heck" then turned my bike around to head back to the main road.

I also explored a path that I cross on my way to my usual bike trail - I always wanted to find out where it led - straight to a "end of bike path" sign. 

You might think I felt discouraged after these encounters, yet I didn't.  What I did feel was a sense of adventure having had a few of my questions answered. 

How can you view any challenges as adventure?  What would it look like to embrace the day with a sense of adventure? 

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries. 

Friendship Quote

"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked."  Bernard Meltzer, radio host and personality

Friendship Quote

"You can always tell a real friend:  When you've made a fool of yourself, he doesn't feel you've done a permanent job."  Laurence J. Peter

Pregnant women are smug

Thanks to a friend's posting on Facebook, I stumbled upon an amazing song duo that writes and performs funny and wacky songs. 

Although some people might be offended at the title - Pregnant Women are Smug - you might want to give it a chance - it's really funny and so true about how certain women act/say when they're pregnant. 

Enjoy!

Pregnant Women are Smug from Erika Lindhome on Vimeo.

How can you see the humor in an ordinary situation?  How does humor color you life? 

I'd love to hear your thoughts and discoveries. 

How valuable is your time?

I've been pondering this very question lately:  How valuable is my time?

If you, like me, feel that you're capable of doing a lot without outside help, then you might want to ponder this question.

 

Am I artistic?  Yes.  Is it possible for me to design my own logo for my new web site?  Yes.  Is it driving me nuts?  Yes.

After I added up the hours of logo pondering and peered into the future of "will I be happy with my own design," I came to my senses and asked for some help. 

The weight melted from my shoulders and I'm excited to have someone in my corner that can support me in creating a fab logo for my new site. 

The amount of money I will be paying for this support is teeny-tiny compared to the hours, days and months I would have subtracted from my life to accomplish the same thing.

How valuable is your time?  Where could you ask for support when it come to you time-spending habits?

I'd love to hear your thoughts and discoveries.   

Long time, no blog?

Okay, so I've been a bit lax in the blogging department.  I've been traveling for the past two weeks and haven't had my normal routine to support my blogging habits. 

Is this an excuse?  No, it's an explanation and an act of fearlessness.

When my travel kicked into high gear, I gave myself permission to let go of my normal blogging schedule in order to support myself in the moment. 

Before, I might have felt horrible that I let a few days slide without blogging, yet I'm okay with my decision and grateful to be back in the swing of things. 

Where can you give yourself permission to "breathe" instead of cracking a strict and unsupportive whip?  How does allowing yourself some time and space in busier times support you?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries.