Human Anatomy Videos

Hello, Zorro!

So whos Zorro? Hes a bossy pug who moves into Mister Buds territory, disrupting his orderly life. The picture book begins:

"Mister Bud had it pretty good.
Everything was just about right."

An experienced reader just knows things wont stay that way. And they dont. As soon as Zorro sticks his what passes for a snout into the household, things change. The two dogs have trouble sharing--toys, favorite sofas, food dishes, well, pretty much everything. Luckily, the two quickly realize they have something in common--they both have the same routine, and doing things with a buddy is much more fun than doing them alone.  Soon the pair are terrorizing the neighbors cat on their daily walks and napping on the same cozy rug. In short, they become best friends.

Carter Goodrich, the author/illustrator, was the lead character designer for Despicable Me, and his talent for showing each dogs personality in the art is evident. Mister Bud is the epitome of a contented dog enjoying his doggie lifestyle until Zorro arrives. And Zorro is the quintessential pug. Little in size but with a big dogs personality, Zorro doesnt let any creature, no matter how large, get anything over him. (I confess here that I am the proud owner of a pug and can attest that Zorros portrayal rings true.)

My only quarrel with this delightful book is that the conflict between the two dogs is over almost as soon as it starts. Id have liked there to be a bit more of a struggle before the two learn that joining forces is always better than going it alone. But thats a small quibble. Kids will enjoy reading about this mismatched pair who discover that even when everything is just about right, it can still get better.

Say Hello to Zorro!
by Carter Goodrich
Simon & Schuster, 48 pages
Published: 2011

Every now and then I wake up in a crappy mood, feeling totally unmotivated and not wanting to do anything or see anyone. It could be due to something bad happening the previous day, or it could be due to nothing at all. I just feel crabby for no reason. Weird, I know. But, Im sure you know what I mean. Everyone has experienced dreadful waking moments in the past.

In fact, it is not really surprising that a lot of people nowadays feel bad the moment they wake up. If you are bombarded with negative news like the recent airplane crotch-bomb threat and the Haiti earthquake, it is little wonder that youd feel the world is all doom and gloom.

However, it is worth noting that you can actually make your day better no matter what situation you have in life. So, in order to overcome that awful feeling to make my day a rich and beautiful one, I apply a few or more of the following tips throughout the day.

Here are 50 tips to set you on your way to a better day. Do yourself a favor and dont try more than a handful of these in a single day. In fact, put these ideas in a hat and pick one randomly the next time you get in a funk.

1. Think Positive Thoughts Before You Sleep
   The quality of sleep you get the night before can affect your mood the next day. Thus, if you want to create a better day tomorrow, you have to make sure that you think only positive things before you go to bed at night. Do not fret about your mortgage problems or dwell on the bad things that happened to you during the day. You need a good nights rest in order to prepare your mind and body for the busy day ahead.
   
2. Tell yourself That Today is a Better Day
   The first thing that you should say to yourself the moment you wake up is that today will be great and marvelous. Know that you have control of what kind of day you will have. Telling yourself that today is going to be a great day will give you a positive attitude and a winners outlook. The power of the mind is strong so feed your mind with positive things.
   
   
3. Wake Up a Few Minutes Earlier
   If you want to get out of bed at 6AM, set the alarm for 5:45 and then allow 15 minutes for your body and mind to adjust and wake up. At 6, hop out of bed! Waking up late and rushing through things will increase your heart rate and simply stress you out. On top of that, youll inevitably forget to do something and then stress about that too!
   
4. Take It Easy
   Take things easy. Breathe deeply and slowly. If you are feeling rushed, take a deep breath and remind yourself that in the big scheme of life, being a minute late is pretty small.
   
   
5. Keep a Mental Note of the Things You Need to Do
   It is always a good thing to try to keep a list of the things that you ought to do or accomplish for the day. If you are forgetful, you should write these things down. Aside from the things that you need to do at the office, you also need to remember those that you need to do for your family or friends. Write them all down so that you can manage your time wisely throughout the day.
   
6. Get Some Inspiration
   Do not expect manna to come down from heaven. If you want to create a better day, you have to make a conscious effort to achieve things. Give yourself a boost with some inspiration. Be sure to read, listen or watch something that can perk your day up. Sometimes, just seeing your child laugh is enough to make your heart smile.
   
   
7. Eat a Healthy Breakfast
   Your mood for the day can actually be affected by the things that you do and eat. In order to jump start your day and prepare your mind and body for the busy day ahead, you need to have a power breakfast. Make sure that you eat something healthy. Whole grains, protein, and fruits can surely give you the nutrients that you need to do the things that you need to accomplish for the day.
   
   
8. Some Stretching Will Do You Good
   Stretching and exercising your muscles will also help in jumpstarting your system. If you wake up sluggish, you need some exercise and stretching to perk up your day. Besides, stretching and exercising can also prevent muscle cramps and other aches that can ruin your mood for the day.
   
   
9. Pay Attention to your Hygiene and Appearance
   One of the things that people are conscious about is their appearance. To ensure you wont feel insecure, make sure to take a bath, wear clean clothes and pay attention to your face and grooming. If you know that you look presentable, you will feel empowered and confident.
   
10. Compliment Yourself
    Say good things about yourself. Do not be afraid to compliment yourself once in a while. However, be careful not to be conceited because people hate narcissistic individuals.
    
    
11. Adopt a Positive Attitude
    Before you step out of the house, make it a conscious effort to be positive in all things you do. Tell yourself that you will stay positive throughout the day.
    
12. Exert Some Effort to Smile
    Studies show that smiling, even if there is no reason to do it, can lift up your mood. Besides, a smile can make you look even more attractive.
    
    
13. Try Not To Be Reactive
    There is a tendency for men to react to everything negatively, especially on the road. Thus, you should try not to be reactive, especially when you are driving. If somebody cuts you on the road, just let it pass and think that the other guy may be having a bad day. Or just be please that you are not as rude as that individual.
    
    
14. Count to Ten to Keep You from Exploding
    If you think that you are going to get mad, count to ten to calm your nerves. This will let some steam out.
    
    
15. Think before You Act
    Many people end up feeling remorse after they have done nasty things without thinking. To prevent feeling guilty and remorseful, think first before you do something.
    
    
16. Dont Take Things Too Seriously
    Not everything that you hear people say about you should be taken seriously. Some people just like being nasty so you should not get affected with what they are saying.
    
17. Be More Attentive to People
    In order to minimize altercations or misunderstandings, it would really be a good thing to listen attentively to what others are saying. Being attentive will also help you come across as being sincere, thus making you more likable. Of course, dont do it for the sake of being likable. Be genuine in it.
18. Look at People and Situations in a Positive Light
    You really cant prevent bad things from happening. Sometimes shit does happen. In order not to let these things ruin your day, try to look for the silver lining in everything.
19. Give Compliments to Other People
    Make a conscious effort to compliment other people. This will help build better relationships. Just make sure that you are complimenting them genuinely.
20. Manage Your Time Wisely
    A good day can turn bad if you feel stressed out. Thus, manage your time wisely to ensure that everything that you need to do can be accomplished with time to spare.
21. Take a Break
    To prevent being burned out, you should take a break once in a while. Try walking around the office or doing some stretching while you are in your desk every time you are feeling a bit drained.
22. Deal with Things the Mature Way
    Do not be petty and do not act like a child. You are an adult so try to do things maturely.
23. Laugh a Lot
    Laughter can pick up your mood. Just do not laugh at other peoples mistakes.
24. Consider Inputs from Other People
    Take time listening to the suggestions and inputs of other people. Even if you are the manager or head of your department, you need other peoples contributions too.
25. Grab Fruit Instead of a Bar of Chocolate
    Fruits can surely wake you up in the middle of the day, whereas a bar of chocolate will just give you energy spike for a few minutes. So, you will end up feeling even more tired and sleepy.
26. Always Do Your Best
    You will not have regrets if you know that you have given your all in everything that you do.
27. Dont Wallow in Sorrow and Defeat
    Nobody is perfect and sometimes you need to experience losses and defeats to learn. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, use these negative things to make you a better person.
28. Stay Away From Negative People
    Negative people can just pull you down so there is really no point in spending your time with them. Stay away from them whenever possible. If they happen to be your mates, seek to inspire them. If that wont do, perhaps its time to find yourself new mates.
29. Be Courteous and Kind
    Doing other people some good will give you a warm and fuzzy feeling. And also make you more likable.
30. Build Bridges and Develop Friendships
    Having enemies can surely drain your energy, whereas building friendships can make your support team bigger and stronger.
31. Be Careful with What You Say
    It is often hard to take back the bad things that you say, so you need to be careful with your words.
32. Take Time to Stop and Smell the Flowers
    You can enhance your mood by counting your blessings and seeing the good in other people, things or situations.
33. Learn to Pace Your Energy
    You need to be careful with energy bursts and crashes. Try not to exhaust yourself in the morning because you will surely have a nasty and tiring afternoon if you do.
34. Incorporate Exercise Throughout the Day
    Exercise can give you a “high” because endorphins are released after a good workout.
35. Wear Comfortable Shoes
    It is very hard to stay positive if your feet are hurting. Ive seen too many of my female friends wear heels that hurt their feet just because they look good.
36. Drink Plenty of Water
    Dehydration can cause lethargy. So avoid it at all costs.
37. Pay Attention to What You Eat
    Eating junk food can contribute to mood swings. So eat moderately.
38. Go Easy on the Coffee
    Too much coffee can make you nervous and fidgety.
39. Treat Yourself
    Be sure to give yourself small rewards every time you did well. We all need to give ourselves a nice pat on the shoulders to give ourselves a little encouragement.
40. Plan the Next Day before Going Home
    Before you head home, make a list of the things that you need to accomplish in the office the following day.
41. Spend Quality Time with the People You Love
    Dont take anyone for granted. Sustain your relationships. Spending quality time together is the best way to keep and improve relationships.
42. Keep in Touch With Friends and Family
    If you live alone, calling your loved ones or just dropping by to say hi can lift your spirit as well as theirs.
43. Have a Hobby
    To keep your mind off your work, do something that you love outside your office work.
44. Have No Regrets
    You cannot go back in time so you cannot undo the things that you have done. Instead, make a conscious effort to make things better in the future.
45. Keep a Journal
    Writing things and ideas down can help you to keep track of your goals and remember things youve learned and observations youve made. And it can also help you figure out new directions for your life and then guide you as you go.
46. Take a Relaxing Bath
    After a stressful day, a relaxing bath can help you go to sleep comfortably.
47. Prepare the Things You Need Before You Go to Sleep
    This will help make tomorrow less stressful because you wont feel at a lost of what to do. Being prepared always help you to stay focused and assured.
48. Get in the Mood to Sleep
    Do the things that can help you go to sleep early because a restful sleep can help you improve your mood for the next day. Reading a book before bed or listening to soft music helps me to sleep better.
49. Make Love
    Making love can also release endorphins and help you have a good nights sleep. Plus, it helps to improve your relationship. Of course, I dont expect you to do it every day.
50. Go to Bed Early
    Try to go to bed early and get enough sleep to prepare yourself for the day ahead tomorrow. You dont want to wake up the next day feeling like a zombie.

THANKS TO

Mark Foo. Mark shares how you can achieve all that you want in life in his FREE eBook The 77 Traits of Highly Successful People. Claim your free copy now at http://www.77successtraits.com.

Author Jen Bryant and illustrator Melissa Sweet joined forces to create one of the best picture book bios Ive read in a long, long time. All too often picture book bios leave me underwhelmed. They either are skimpy with the facts or too much information is crammed into 36 or so pages. A Splash of Red strikes just the right balance.

Bryant does a superb job of getting at the essence of Horace Pippin, a self-taught artist who, after being wounded during WWI, reinvented himself as a painter. Pippins early love of art, his thrill of winning an art contest as a boy, and his determination not to give up are dramatically told in clean, vigorous prose. Particularly interesting is that nowhere in this bio does Bryant mention that Pippin is a black man. Although obvious from the art, Pippins standing as an determined artist is whats stressed, not his color.

Sweet more than holds up her share of the partnership. Her illustrations mimic Pippins folksy style, yet she brings her own sensibilities to the mix. Sweet includes Pippins quotes into her artwork and she uses a combination of watercolor, gouache, and collage to obtain her effects.

The books back matter includes a historical note that gives a straightforward account of Pippins life. Theres also a list of resources (and a website) for readers whod like more information. Highly recommended.

A Splash of Color: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin
by Jen Bryant
illustrations by Melissa Sweet
Alfred A. Knopf, 40 pages
Published: 2013

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