We need a recess

"join the rescue recess movement"

Remember when as a kid in school, the recess bell would ring. My heart would jump for joy as I would always try to be the first to hit the swings or grab the soccer ball. Ahh...recess, exhilarating fun. A chance to get out of the stuffy classroom and get some oxygen pumping through the system with some good old fashioned fresh air. Beautiful!

"get out of your stuffy office and into the sunshine"

Imagine if, every business had to give it's employees a recess in the morning and another in the afternoon? I would bet anyone, that productivity would increase, stress would be reduced and the work place would be a happier place. Just like the kids, it would be hard for the big people, to be stressed when they are having fun. Kids can invent games and so can the supposedly smarter adults.

"it's not possible to be stressed when you are having fun"

I know some are thinking, hey Eduardo, we have coffee or smoke breaks now, so what's the difference? Is this just semantics? NO, this is a fun break. Do what you like but have fun for 20 minutes, twice a day. Companies in my world would do what ever they could to facilate the fun concept. Maybe they would install Wii games on your computer or just tell you to go outside and go for a walk in the park. Perhaps 20 minutes wouldn't be enough? Who cares how long the break is, if the productivity and quality of work go up?

"what this world needs is more fun"

We've got it all wrong, life isn't and shouldn't be serious stuff. Life should be fun, easy and abundant (there I go again). Creativity which is the juice for super achievement is hard and difficult when your world gets too serious. Creativity is the offspring of fun. Isn't that beautiful? Have more fun, get more abundance.

(Hey another great idea....what if when people go for counselling when their relationship is falling apart, they are first required to visit the Happy Consultant. He or she would prescribe a heavy dose of fun to be taken for an extended period. If that didn't work, then go straight to your lawyer).

"and what about Happy School for the slow learners"

I have decided that the world of business, needs "happy consultants". Forget the physcholgist, first try a happy consultant. I think I'd make a great happy consultant. I've got the qualifications...I'm happy. That's the first prerequesite. Next, I'm creative, I can think of ton of ways to have fun. I've done and love to research the topic. So hire me! (I'm expensive but I'd give a money back guarantee on funny paper of course).

I figure that if the workplace was a happier environment, that it would save companies and even the government billions of dollars in lost productivity. The health system wouldn't be over stressed. And most importantly the world would be a better place. This is just so good...I'm excited...wait recess is over, I better get back to work.

Smile, there is always a goofball like me, looking out for you!

Eduardo

P.S. Donations to the 'Rescue Recess' movement can be sent directly to me.

Are you having fun?

It occurred to me that maybe we are not having as much fun as we think we are. Or maybe we are having more fun than we think. Lest this question is keeping you up at nights, I am about to come to your rescue!

This is a very simple and fun little test that I've designed to measure your happiness quotient. You know how these things work, right? 1 means never, 2 is hardly, 3 is neutral, 4 is most of the time and 5 is just about always. Ok, let the fun begin....

People smile when they see me? 1 2 3 4 5

I smile when I see strangers 1 2 3 4 5

I laugh (daily) 1 2 3 4 5

I have fun at work 1 2 3 4 5

I have fun at home 1 2 3 4 5

I share funny emails 1 2 3 4 5

I have celebrations for special events 1 2 3 4 5

I tell jokes 1 2 3 4 5

I do silly or goofy things 1 2 3 4 5

Others tell me jokes 1 2 3 4 5

I am optimistic 1 2 3 4 5

Ok, the test is over, add up your score. Here's how to rate your score;

40 or above: Congratulations you are either extremely happy or seriously deluded. Either way, good for you, you are invited to my parties.

30-40: You need to lighten up and have more fun. Sorry no invites to the party until you shape up.

30 or below: Amigo you have a bad case of terminal seriousness. Your life may not be a long one, but it will seem that way!

That's it class is over, I expect you all passed with flying colors. Don't forget when you come to the party to bring a really nice present for the host (me).

Eduardo

P.S. Those who know me personally may have reached the conclusion that I purposely slanted the questions so that I would score highly.... You didn't think I was going to take the chance of failing my own test did you?

Eduardo's get rich quick scheme!

"the quickest path to success is to have a good mentor"


Those crazy researchers at Standford University have come up with another gem. If you are a computer geek, we should get together, we could make a fortune on this one!

Here is what their research revealed; when they studied sedentary people (that's code for couch potato's) they found that an automated, exercise, reminder phone call, had about the same (get up and go) power as calls from human counsellors. Think about that? We are just as motivated by a machine generated message as from some qualified expert.

Just think of the possibilities? We could sell little message machines to mothers that they could have motion actived in little Johnny's room. When Johnny retreats to his room, the machine would nag him to clean his room, just like the real Mom does. I'm sure Mothers around the world would gladly buy our machine to do the nagging for them!

Next thing the woman of the household would want is a programmable, husband nagger machine. 'Take out the garbage, cut the grass and don't be late for supper' are just a few of the pre-programmed messages on our machine (in a very sweet voice of course).

Now before I incur the rath of women all over the planet, let's get serious. What does this latest research really tell us? I'm thinking that whenever we tackle changes in our lives we need support,encouragement and reminders. There are huge opportunities for those with the technical expertise to assist those who want to lose weight, quit smoking or become more successful.

Encouragement is addictive and pleasing to all of us.

This is something we knew so well when we are kids, however as we get older we forget just how important it is. It is so much easier to critize and find fault. I wonder if anyone really ever got nagged to success?

So what should we do with this knowledge? First, let's surround ourselves with positive; images, sayings and people. Let's feed our brains with encouragement, making sure there is more good stuff going in that crap. This is why I always have my little magic cards in my car and on my desk.

Maybe you would like to get a daily, automated phone call from Eduardo, telling you what a wonderful person you are and reminding you to (fill in the blanks)________________. NO? Well, then how about, from someone you deeply admire and respect?

Smile, I have more dumb ideas than you have money!

Eduardo

"it is better to be thought a fool
then to open your mouth and remove all doubt"
Mark Twain

Friends with benefits

"a true friend is someone who thinks you are a 'good egg'
even though, he knows you are slightly cracked"
(Bernard Metzer)

Research has shown that those of us with good friends, will live longer and be happier and healthier. I don't need to quote any study because there have been so darn many to support this theory.

"good friends are hard to come by and even harder get rid of" Eric Yoda Wallman

Friends liven up your life with twisted jokes and embarassing stories. They are the source of my best belly laughs. They must be the world's best stress reliever.

Now just in case you looked at the above photo and got the idea that my friends are all females, sadly that is not so! It's just that the are so much better looking than their husbands and boyfriends and I wanted my site to look really good! And just in case you got the wrong idea from the article title...that's funny, but not so!

Soon I'll be united with my amigos on the beaches of Mazatlan one more time. That you could all be so lucky to have as much fun with your amigos (just don't tell any of them, it would go to their fat little heads)

I can easily visulize the first beach volleyball game, the first stroll down the beautiful beach, the first coffee in the morning watching and listening to the sounds of surf and the first bucket of ice cold cervesa from a smiling Humberto. Todas esta bien (it's all good).


"many people will walk in and out of your life,
but only true friends show up with cold beer on a hot day"

Eduardo

"I wish you as many wacky friends as I have. As a matter of fact, if you want, I could lend you one"

What this world needs...

"The more troubled the times the greater is the need for inspiration. For only from inspiration can the fires of hope be lit. And without hope all is lost"

This morning I listened to United States President Barack Obama's inaugeration speech. It sent chills through my body. That was the best political speech I have ever heard. It was beyond inspiring and if you have not seen it, you should. You can find it on youtube.

How fortunate our American friends have chosen a man with purpose and vision that appears to be so right for these times. Only time will tell whether the man will live up to the grandeur of his words. I'm very hopeful and that is the point. Hope was in short supply before this remarkable young man came on the scene.

His approach to his Presidency is nothing short of a breath of fresh air. Mostly though I am taken back by his ability to inspire the masses. So rarely do we see anyone who can really inspire, especially when it comes to politicians.

Here are a few excerpts from his speech that hit a chord with me...

"the time has come to set aside childish things" from the scriptures

"what the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them"

"for we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and non-believers"

"to the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect"

"for as much as government can and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies"

"we choose hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord"

Beautifully written speech delivered so powerfully that I challenge anyone to find fault with it. Inspiring....

Smile, the chance for world peace seems a little brighter today

Eduardo

Why you should be optimistic

"within every adversity lies the seed of a benefit so magnificent, that once realized, will bring you to your knees in gratitude"

Alex Tan had this to say...."perhaps our eyes need to washed by our tears once in awhile, so that we can see life with a clearer view again" I doubt that brought much comfort if your stocks and savings are taking a beating?

However, being the eternal optimist I'm looking for reasons to be optimistic. Being true to myself I even found some humor which I'll be only too happy to share with you....

"a pessimist is a man who thinks
that all women are bad,
an optimist is one who
hopes that they are" (Chancey Depew)

Feeling better? Not yet? Well, here are a few thoughts that might help...

1) Nothing is static pernamently. Everything in nature is operating in cycles. Even after the worst possible storm comes the sunshine.

2) Bad times make people nicer. It is usually in the worst of times that we see the best in people.

3) Maybe this will be end of consumerism run amuck. This endless desire to get something newer, bigger or fancier than our peers hasn't brought us anymore happiness. Maybe, this is the time to strive for voluntary simplicity. Time to learn to appreciate what really matters and ditch our rediculous egos.

4) As quick as things turn sour, they can turn around.

5) We are insanely lucky! We could have been born in Darfur or Somolia. We won the gene pool lottery and don't even know it (or forgot)

6) Everything is not as it seems....it is much better. What a beautiful opportunity for me to live my own philosophy!

Feeling better now? Great! (see how opitimistic I am?)

Ok, one last feel good thought (I made up just for you)

"if we could only see ourselves
as God sees us....
now that would be really funny"

Eduardo

Why books suck

"you can't bore me into learning anything"

I am a voracious reader. I've just calculated that I've consummed over 200 books in the last two years. And since it has been a long standing intention of mine to write my own book, it has me thinking...what makes for a good book?

Books on Happiness bore me!

There are thousands of books on how to find happiness. I've read quite a few of them and have not really found one that excited me. Do you know why? It is because they are usually written like text books...BORING. How is that so many authors take a subject like happiness and make it boring. Mostly its because they come from an academic background. They can't resist backing everything up with tons of proper documented proof. It's in their DNA. Most writers miss this essential truth of any great book...

"we are drowning in information and starved for inspiration"

Truth is, there is no shortage of information. You can find answers to almost anything, just by visiting Mr. Google. Information is abundantly available for free. The books and blogs that actually cause changes in people are the one's that motivate us to actually do something or challenge our thinking in some way.

"we remember best what interests us and what makes us laugh"

It is not always the smartest or even the best writers who sell the most books. Nope, it's the writers who connect with us readers. The one's who motivate us are the writers who touch some emotion,share something of great interest or amuse us.

"most books that are purchased are not read front to back"

I came to the realization that anytime a person writes for others, he is asking a lot of the reader. He is asking not only for your hard earned cash but also your time. Excepting of course blog writers like yours truly, who leave you with your cash but still want you to spend some of your time.

"school is out forever and we ain't going back"

No English teacher is ever going grade my writing again. I can break the rules of puntuation and structure (and I do frequently). All I really need to do is inform and entertain.

"we are all born naked and screaming, let's hope it never changes"

And as you see I can put in something totally unrelated to the subject, just because I think it amuses me and maybe you.

Smile, we are big kids and can do whatever we want!

Eduardo

P.S. The most valuable book or blog is one that you share with someone else because you know they need or would appreciate what it has to say. That's what a good friend would do and writers need all of the friends they can get.

BONUS THOUGHT; When you help a friend, you can be sure that the next time she needs help she will come back.

Tell me the truth...is your life a little boring?

"if your life is boring, it's because you are boring"

Just thinking about that feels like a slap on the face to me. The last thing I would like the world to think of me is I am boring. And if a person is boring, it is for one one reason. You are playing the game of LIFE too safe!

"the person who says yes most often, has the most fun"

Obviously I don't want to say yes to everything or I would now be the proud owner of 243 time shares in Mexico. However, many times we deny ourselves the zest and juice in life because we let little fears get in the way of excitement and discovery.

"a safe life doesn't come cheap"

Doing what is safe in your life is comfortable and predictable. Seems like it would be worth the price, right? Not so fast bucko. Playing it safe all the time, denies you the opportunity to make new friends, have new experiences and most important finding out who you really are. That's a big price to pay!

"the density of life today is so thick, that we too soon forget the first lesson we learned as children....the purpose of life is to enjoy it"

I think playing it safe is mostly born from a desire to protect our fragile ego. We don't want to fail in front of our peers. We sure don't want to look foolish when by doing nothing we can be safe. Meanwhile the goofball in the group is having all the fun. Nope, no one will think us stupid or foolish if we do nothing. But they may think us boring! YIKES

"isn't it time you broke a few rules"

Remember this...when you obey all the rules, you are doing what others want you to do. You are living a life controlled by the thoughts of others. This is just one of the reasons I like Mexico so much. They have far fewer rules and repressive laws. And they don't seem to mind bending some of them or at least cutting you a little slack. I'm not talking about robbing banks or harming people. Just little things like not wearing a helmet on a bike or strolling down a beach with a drink in your hand. No harm to anyone, except possibly myself.

"ego is usally the problem"

We are mostly raised in western society to comply and to step outside of the norm is to risk the criticism of others. Our poor little egos hate being criticised. So we stick to the safe and boring. Maybe, the world needs a few more goofballs? I have always admired those who controlled their egos as opposed to those whose ego controlled them. There are way too many people on the serious team, so I joined the other side..

Smile, there is always room for one more goofball!

Eduardo

"the hardest thing kids face today is to learn how to live a fun life...without ever seeing a good example"

It's not about you!

"the greatest lesson in life is that....it's not about you"

I've believed for some time now that the Cosmic Jokester (some of you call him God) left a clear path to obtaining everything. In fact you could think of it as a fun easy game we call 'LIFE'. The Cosmic Jokester didn't want to strain your little brain too much, so he made it easy and put the answers right under our noses.

"the answer to everything can be found in a paradox"

A paradox is a seemingly contradictory or even absurd statement that expresses a possible truth. For instance consider this; the best way to impress someone is to be impressed with them. Or, 'the best leaders are the one's that serve others'. You get the idea!

This is an emerging concept for me, so don't bother asking me to develop a paradox for every problem you have. Just go look for one yourself. The Cosmic Jokester didn't put me here to provide you a short cut, just to explain the rules.

"life was never meant to be hard and difficult, but rather like a gentle stroll down a tropical beach"

To most that would sound like an absurd statement. But I'm willing to wager that if your thought about for a long while you would start to find a grain of truth in that seemingly absurd idea.

"if you only learn one thing about life...learn this"

It's not about you!

If you are looking for the solution to obtaining; happiness, abundance, business success, acceptance, love, recognition or for that matter anything. All you need to know is the greatest paradox...it's not about you. Now put that in your pipe and smoke it!

And grasshopper when you've deciphered this paradox, your life will be instantanously easier and more abundant. Then you can join me on the beach!

Smile, the Cosmic Jokester (and Eduardo) are on your side!

Eduardo

P.S. If you are like many and think I'm a little nuts, then I will make you a challenge. Print the card you see above or write it on a card and put it where you will see it daily. Just think about it and after a week, I'm betting you will be a little nuts as well (and happier)

It's just that easy!

"it's not who you know,
it's who you know that likes you"

I've been writing for the last year about how to make our lives; fun, easy and over-flowing with abundance. Lately, I've been wondering...what is the easiest way to accomplish that? If there was just one thing that could impact our lives in a positive way, what would it be?

In search of an answer, I tried to think of who I knew that seemed to have a charmed, happy and profitable life? I could think of many people, some I knew and some I read about. So I asked myself, what do they have in common? And the answer is.....

"they are all likeable"

People who are likeable tend to get the best jobs, build the best companies, have more friends, better relationships and enjoy life more. Sounds good, right? But that doesn't even touch the benefits of being likeable. Here are a few more benefits;

* Doctors give more time and better care to patients they like
* Likeability is the most consitent predictor of election results
* Likeable people inspire others to give more
* They get better and quicker service from retail businesses
* Likeable students get better marks from teachers
* They get forgiven quicker for misdeeds (I need that one)
* They have better physical and mental health
* Live longer and happier lives

There's more but you get the point. Things come quicker and easier for likeable people. We favor them and do what we can to make their lives fun, easy and abundant. And this amigos is one of the biggest secrets I've ever learned...

"it isn't the choices we make about other people that makes life enjoyable, it's the choices they make about us"

There will always be the foolish few who actually prefer to go it alone. Their attitude is I don't need other people to make it. And with supreme effort, they still succeed. I'm just not one of those who wants to make any more effort than is necessary to reach my desires. If others want to help me out and make my life easier, I say welcome onboard. Life is fun, easy and abundant when others want you to succeed because they like you.

I've decided that at Eduardo's Happy School, the first subject taught will be....How to be more likeable! I can't think of a more important subject. My graduates will all be taught this vital skill and as a result will be world leaders in likeability.

Now that we have established that the most important skill to attain in life, is likeability, the obvious question is how? I've been researching and applying my limited brain power to provide you some answers. Appreciating the limited brain power aspect you will have give me more time.....so come back tomorrow!

I promise you some fresh insights. I might even go into more depth than the ever popular method of...buying the first round.

Smile, I really, really like you!

Eduardo

You deserve another vacation

"the penalty for not planning your own life is that you end up with too few holidays"

A study by New York University and University of Pittsburgh found that vacationers who returned from holidays tested better for alertness and were more productive (tell your boss that).

They also found that you would be 20 per cent less likely to have a non-fatal heart attack and 35 per cent less likely to die from coronary disease that those poor slobs who stayed at work.

One more thing, they found vacationers enjoyed on average one more hour of sleep.

So I'm thinking if we took say, 3 major holidays a year, that would mean a 100% less chance of dying from a coronary disease. And think how happy the bosses would be if the workers were 3 times as sharp.

So for a healthier heart...exercise daily (walking down a beach), eat nutritious foods (prepared and served by someone else), stay hydrated (with margaritas) and take lots and lots of vacations.

See I told you.....Life was meant to be fun, easy and over-flowing with abundance!

Eduardo

BONUS; A wise man once said...I think therefore I laugh No wait that was no wise man, that was me!

Thoughts from Cabo San Lucas

"nature doesn't like disharmony. Disharmony is inefficient and would be a poor use of energy. Nature is lazy"

I know I make this look easy! However there is a fine art to doing nothing. People who know me, would say I have mastered it. But wait amigos.....did you know that....

"Free time is the mother of inspiration"


So while I may appear in this picture to be doing nothing, behind the scene my brain is open to receive whatever great inspiration the universe wants to send me. Why, I was prepared to sit in that position soaking up nature as long as it took to feel inspired. So in doing nothing I was being highly productive.

This is not as easy as it looks and actually takes a little practice to master. It is imperative that you have peace and quiet. No one is allowed to disturb you in any way while you waiting for inspiration. Sounds good so far, right?

The only part that takes effort is to control your thoughts. No negative thoughts are permitted. You should think of your thoughts as being like water, let them flow away. Don't try to retain or dwell on anything. Yes, it is a form of meditation.

"time is precious, waste it well"

I find it works best in a tropical location fortunately it works just as well anywhere in nature, while going for a walk, taking a shower or a bath. Just empty your head (some think I do that well too) and let the inspiration in.

"life was never meant to be difficult, just a gentle progression...much like a stroll down a tropical beach"

Those people that don't know that you can think without talking have no idea what they are missing...

"the time you enjoy wasting
is not wasted time"
Plato

Eduardo

P.S. Now if you'll excuse me, it is time to renew my stroll down that tropical beach.

Where in the world is Eduardo

Canada is to too dang cold, so I'm spending the week in Cabo San Lucas (Mexico) You will find me on the beach or snorkeling in God's aquarium. This place is incredible. If you can find me I'll buy the first drink!

Adios....Eduardo