Einstein Wisdom #10: Absurd, A Vital Ingredient
Only those who attempt the absurd can achieve the impossible. – Albert Einstein How did April Fools’ Day start? Some connect it to the Spring Equinox festival Hilaria, a Greco-Roman religious day requiring merriment, rejoicing and, well, hilarity. Grief and sorrow were forbidden. Others connect April Fools’ Day to the switch from the Julian to Gregorian calendar. This change moved New Years Day from the Spring Equinox to January 1st. Those who didn’t get the memo and kept starting their year in late March were called, ‘April Fools.’ In France, paper fish were placed on their backs, symbolizing young, easily caught and gullible fish, the ‘poisson d’avril’ (April fish). Read more. The Tarot’s first card is called ‘The Fool.’ It’s number is 0, the egg-shaped glyph symbolizes nothing, while holding a space for all possibilities. In this system, ‘The Fool’ represents life in early spring, a sunlit time of innocence when the ways of the world have yet to cast shadows and cause doubts. This April 1st, why not try something marvelously foolish. As Einstein also said of invention and creativity, “If at first the idea is not absurd, there is no hope for it.” [Thanks for sharing, Marc!] Otherwise, here are 16 Fun April Fools’ Day Pranks BTW, March 31 is National Crayon Day. Start the fun early.
Einstein 7: Bicycles
Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving. – Albert Einstein In 2005, while trying to forget an ex-girlfriend, Jeff Goldblatt realized many struggled with lost hopes and dreams, disappointments and loves. He founded National Get Over It Day This annual opportunity each March 9 [Tuesday, this year] includes a certificate that states, Under no coercion by anyone [except those who are tired of hearing me bitch and complain], I hereby declare that I will get over the following: To keep riding our bicycles during stalls, the Purpose Fairy recommends peddling to a community that feels warmer, safer and more hope filled. Read more. LifeHack.org’s “Five Secrets to Keep Going When You Think You Can’t” include: Fake It Till You make It, because — eventually — the experience teaches something helpful. Read more. Mary Oliver agreed when she said, “Someone I loved once gave me a box of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift.” To truly get over those kinds of presents, go garden shopping. Prepare to celebrate National Plant A Flower Day, March 12 [Thursday this year]. Blessings & best wishes, Sandra Gould Ford ***** In my attempt to Get Over Winter and plant flowers, I checked statistics and found my city, Pittsburgh PA averages nine days and almost five inches of snow in March. I investigated more and learned: Falling snow is clear, not white. 7,600 people joined the biggest known snowball battle on January 31, 2016 in Saskatoon, Canada. Six-pointed stars, diamonds and rods are three of over 35 snowflake shapes Here are More Fascinating Snow Facts *****
Einstein 6: Commencements
Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them. – Albert Einstein Did you know that the phrase “Toe the line” is a track and field term about staying behind the starting mark for races? In thinking about starting places, the Ace that begins the Clubs suit in traditional playing cards is re-presented as the Ace of [magic] Wands in Tarot decks. Meditations on that card — a staff, sometimes a torch — suggest fresh starts and invitations to advance, lighting ways to brighter self understandings and elevated self realizations, of facing limits and boundaries with Randy Pausch’s advice. In his Last Lecture about Achieving Childhood Dreams, the professor of computer science, human–computer interaction, and design at Carnegie Mellon University said, “The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something.” With Pausch and Einstein’s words in mind, know that March 2nd is Read Across America Day. Why not celebrate the joy of reading with these 10 inspiring short stories. ***** Google’s founders were willing to sell to Excite for under $1 million in 1999. Excite turned them down. Ronald Wayne was a third Apple founder who sold his 10% stake for $800 in 1976. While a 2009 search for the Loch Ness Monster didn’t discover the dinosaur, scientists found over 100,000 golf balls.
Einstein #5: Embracing Widening Circles
Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty. – Albert Einstein Imagine freeing ourselves as Einstein recommends. I was searching for information about embracing all of creation when these words from Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov presented, “Love all God’s creation, both the whole and every grain of sand. Love every leaf, every ray of light. Love the animals, love the plants, love each separate thing. If thou love each thing thou wilt perceive the mystery of God in all.” The novel’s 41st Chapter contains thought-provoking conversations about Prayer, Love, Contact with Other Worlds and Hell Fire. True, the world contains enmity, ill will, animosity, indifference, apathy and hatred, the shadows that ensnarl and shrivel human potential. On the bright side, imagine lives liberated and blossoming in widening circles of affection, friendship, tenderness and love … one person and a step at a time. Choices. Here are more for the coming week. Tomorrow, Sunday is National Sticky Bun Day Wednesday is Tortilla Chip Day and Thursday celebrates Pistachio Nuts. Best of all, Friday, Feb 26 is “Tell A Fairy Tale” day. Here are Fairy Tales from Around The World, including “The Golem of Prague” read by Leonard Nimoy [Star Trek’s Mister Spock.] Enjoy! ***** The largest, edible pancake weighed over three tons and measured 49 feet across. The highest toss of a pancake is 31 feet above the ground. The Opus Restaurant in Manchester, England sells single pancakes for $200. They’re served with a jelly named Dom Perignon and are made with Madagascan vanilla pods and 23-carat, edible gold leaf. Read more Pancake Surprises.
Einstein #4: Fun
Creativity is intelligence having fun. – Albert Einstein Because intelligence is how our minds gather and use information, consider: Vertical thinking is when we solve problems logically, like deciding to have more money by working longer and harder. Lateral thinking finds novel solutions to straightforward problems. For wanting more money, a lateral approach could start with deciding why a bigger bank account is desired. Perhaps a fun, satisfying life can be enjoyed without extra jobs. Bilateral thinking involves seeing two sides to situations [the light and the shadow] and balancing logical problem solving with imaginative possibilities. Bilateral thinking has been called a way of drawing, “from both sides of the brain in such a way that creativity is enhanced with one foot in Wonderland and the other solidly standing in the real world.” Read more. So, have fun today [tomorrow and forever]. Here are 17 ways to develop your creativity. Remember: February 17 is Random Acts of Kindness Day. Enjoy! ***** Fingernails are flattened claws. Men have nipples because all people start life as females. Nipples are remnant-reminders. People produce enough spit during a lifetime to fill two swimming pools, which is part of the uvula’s job. [The uvula is that pink bulb dangling at back of throat.] Source for these Shocking Truths. These pink dahlia petals are the original photograph from which this post’s Featured Art was adapted. For a limited time, receive special discounts. Save 10% on purchases over $50 with code winter2110. Save 15% on purchases over $100 with code winter2115. Save 20% on purchases over $150 with code winter 2120. Shop my ImageKind galleries. Experiencing awe could be another way of exercising the mind. I felt my brain doing calisthenics while watching this wonderful video. [4:30] Click to view.
Einstein # 3: Imagination, Preview of Coming Attractions
Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions. – Albert Einstein Beyond previewing ‘coming attractions,’ how else can imagination help? One of the best answers comes from John The Librarian’s blog where he writes: Imagination is what enables us to recognize that, despite our differences, there are many things that are universal to human existence – pain, suffering, frustration, happiness, love, joy, yearning … [Imagination] allows us to overcome the fear of the Other and accept them as one of our own. Imagination, more than anything else, is what truly differentiates us from other animals. Read more of this timely message. Monday, February 8 is National Kite Flying Day which makes me think of another Einstein statement, “Logic will get you from A to Z. Imagination will get you everywhere.” So, why not let some of your eight types of imagination soar. See where they fly. Here’s how to make kites from plastic bags. Watch. I suspect picking early February to go out and fly kites must be from southerners. For the more northerly and snowbound, mark your calendar! April is National Kite Flying Month. If not this Monday, definitely plan on flying bunches of kites during those Spring-y thirty days. This Post also acknowledges that, this week, Margaret Rebecca Kimball Gould Blakely attained the best of wings after successfully completing her Earth-bound journey of 93 years. Thanks for everything, Mom. ***** Speaking of kites, NationalToday.com reports that, so far: The longest kite was 3,394 feet The fasted recorded kite flew at 120 mph A kite once flew for 180 hours straight and A Japanese kite-maker flew the most kites, 11,284 on a single line ***** Diamonds and Triangles Baby Quilt & Wall Hanging Diamonds and Triangles is my one-of-a-kind, reversible, dual-purpose 24″ x 36″ quilt designed to both cuddle babies and display as wall art. Dramatic African prints form the top. “Diamonds and Triangles” is reversible and is backed by a single fabric of joyfully-dancing figures. To display as wall art, a sleeve for a rod [of this dancing figures fabric] will accompany the quilt. 100% cotton. $250. Visit Shop.
Einstein #2: Gift of Fantasy
The gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive knowledge. – Albert Einstein During my childhood, I liked Saturday morning cartoons like Mighty Mouse [“Here I come to save the day!”] and Bugs Bunny. At night, I always enjoyed Hollywood musicals like The King and I, Oklahoma and State Fair. There were so many fabulous songs. A favorite is from South Pacific’s “Happy Talk,” which says, You gotta have a dream, if you don’t have a dream, How you gonna have a dream come true? Listen here. In the United States on this coming Tuesday, some will watch a ground hog to learn how much longer winter will last. Because February 2nd is halfway between Solstice and Equinox, winter will always last six more weeks, whether or not that chubby critter sees its shadow. Ancient cultures celebrate this mid-winter event as a time to “wash the Earth’s face,” a time to clean all that’s become old and haggard so that fresh, pure possibilities can shine. This week, why not fantasize about 2021? Pick three, wonderful dreams. Write them each morning. See what comes true, what gifts arrive by year’s end. The gold in Earth’s core could cover every inch of this planet [the oceans, mountains and continents] with a four-foot-thick layer of that shining metal. Source Over 13 billion years after the universe was born, that birth can be watched in the static on television. Source I’ve heard there’s more space between the stars than between the particles in atoms. I just read that – if the contents of the atoms from all 7.8 billion people on Earth were gathered, that mass would fill an apple. Essentially, we’re 99.99999% empty space. Source Diamonds and Triangles Baby Quilt & Wall Hanging Diamonds and Triangles is my one-of-a-kind, reversible, dual-purpose 24″ x 36″ quilt designed to both cuddle babies and display as wall art. Dramatic African prints form the top. “Diamonds and Triangles” is reversible and is backed by a single fabric of joyfully-dancing figures. To display as wall art, a sleeve for a rod [of this dancing figures fabric] will accompany the quilt. 100% cotton. $250. Shop here
Einstein #1: Fairy Tales & Intelligence
If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.– Albert Einstein First, please know that tomorrow, January 24 is National Compliment Day. Offer a few. Wednesday, the 27th is National Chocolate Cake Day [Yum!]. Friday is National Puzzle Day. Have fun! This post begins Succeed & Soar’s Einstein quotes collection.During my research, I found some great support for fairy tales, starting with G. K. Chesterton’s statement, “Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.” Dragons became more real that I thought when someone suggested they could be anyone or thing [like a thought] that is a DRAG-ON our spirit, our plans, our progress. So, why not enjoy a fairy tale or two [or three] with your inner child. Here’s a few famous favorites. Perhaps one reason children who experience fairy tales could be more intelligent happens when they evaluate-discuss themes like those in Little Red Riding Hood [a wolf in disguise], The Three Little Pigs [use the best building materials], Snow White [eat with care] and Cinderella [stand up for yourself instead of waiting for a fairy godmother]. Here are two great resources on the importance of fairytales: Imagination Soup Learning Mind Comment below. Happy reading! ***** This Einstein series will include some amazing, nature phenomenon, starting with these beautiful, deep-seat creatures. [04:24] Click picture to view. ***** How many licks are needed to reach the center of a Tootsie Roll pop? University experiments on this important matter have used machines and humans Licks range from 252 to 411. Read more. The Barbie doll’s full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts, from Willows, Wisconsin. Her birthday is March 9, 1959, when she was first displayed at the New York Toy Fair. Read more. The green computer coding in The Matrix movie is created from symbols in a sushi cookbook. Read more.