To say that Steve Jobs was a complicated man would be a HUGE understatement of fact. Steve Jobs was without any doubt a genius, visionary, and marketing master. It is also a true statement to say that there is not an aspect of our lives that is not touched by Jobs or one of Jobs’ creations. And that goes far beyond Apple and iPods, iPads, and iPhones… The personal computer (Apples AND PCs) were both shaped and refined by the amazing creativity of Steve Jobs. The entertainment industry was dramatically affected by Jobs and PIXAR. And the world was forever changed by one man…Steve Jobs. Continue reading →
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Book Review: Steve Jobs
Book Review: Mary Poppins
**SPOILER ALERT**
Mary Poppins (the book) is in SIMILAR to Mary Poppins (the movie) and also SIMILAR to Mary Poppins (the Musical) which is also more like Mary Poppins (the movie) than Mary Poppins (the movie) is SIMILAR to Mary Poppins (the book)…understand? I’ll try to explain….
I LOVE Mary Poppins…there, I’ve said it. Well, actually, I LOVE Mary Poppins as portrayed by Julie Andrews. I love THAT Mary Poppins more than I like the character in P.L. Travers’ book of the same name. Julie Andrews portrayal of the practically perfect in every way nanny is filled with humanity and wit, but I did not get the same “warm fuzzies” from the book as I did the movie.
One major reason is that the movie has been so “Disney-fied” that is bares little resemblance to the actual book penned by Travers, which makes the first that she had with Walt Disney much more understandable.
Walt Disney first attempted to purchase the film rights to Mary Poppins from P.L. Travers as early as 1938, but was denied because Travers did not believe a film version of her books would do justice to her creation and did not want an animated cartoon based on it. Disney finally succeeded in 1961, although Travers demanded and got script approval rights.
Once you get past the movie, the musical, and all the preconceived notions of who Mary Poppins is, you can truly enjoy the book. Filled with amazing characters and situations, you get a sense for how a creative like Walt Disney could have a field day with this material.
I found Mary to be a little more gruff than I expected. Mr. and Mrs. Banks do not seem as overwhelmed with child rearing, as much as just disinterested. They come in and out of their children’s days with regularity, but no mention of truly having a great affect on them. Mary flies in at the beginning of the book, she and the children have some amazing adventures and she leaves. There is no “let’s go fly a kite,” family realization of how important each other are, let’s all smile and hug moment, but then again, there are still SEVERAL Mary Poppins books I still need to read.
Too truly get a real sense of Mary Poppins and fall in love with the original character that Walt Disney brought to life, I wold suggest this book, but be warned, it’s not the movie or the musical…it’s something different, and in some ways…better!
5 Ways to Train Your Brain
If you want to grow stronger you have to work your muscles: break them down and rebuild them. We spend billions on diets, workouts, gym memberships, and even chemicals to grow our muscles, but do we spend end 1/4 of the time building the most complex muscle that we have, our brain? I have come to believe that you must train your brain in a similar way to training your muscles. So here are 5 ways to workout and train your brain.
1. Meditation
Structured meditation, spending 15-20 minutes of quiet, focused relaxation and breathing, can not only help build up your brain, it can reduce stress! A recent study showed an increased concentration of gray matter in the brain, especially in the regions involved emotion regulation. Another study revealed that patients who practiced mindful meditation, defined as a focus on the present, experienced decreased stress symptoms for up to a year later. And not just that, they experienced a decrease in blood pressure and heart rate.
Application: Sit quietly and try to concentrate only on your breathing for 10-20 minutes with no distractions or outside stimulation.
2. Read
Reading is not only fundamental, it’s essential for brain health. Studies have show that reading a variety of books and periodicals challenges the brain to think in new directions and absorb new concepts and information. Reading not only activates and stimulates, it increases the volume of white matter in the language area of the brain. And reading has also been shown to reduce the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) which is associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Application: Always carry a book/magazine with you. It’s amazing how much time you have waiting in line at the store or at the doctor’s office. You can also carve out 20 minutes of that lunch hour you have.
3. Exercise
Of course, exercise is great for your body, but did you know exercise also helps your brain? Christin Anderson, MS, wellness and fitness coordinator of the University of San Francisco, explains that exercise affects many sites within the nervous system and sets off pleasure chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine that make us feel calm, happy, and euphoric. Exercise has also shown to lessen the affects of adult ADHD and depression!
Application: Go for a 20-30 minute walk/run/swim/bike ride..or anything. GET OFF THE COUCH AND DO SOMETHING!!! Just 8-12 minutes of mildly moderate exercise can return massive dividends.
4. Solve Puzzles
According to Dr. Gary Small, UCLA researcher and author of The Longevity Bible, mental exercise can reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and increase your brain’s efficiency. Solving mind puzzles and brain teasers not only helps with reasoning ability and cognitive deductions, but they can also build language skills and mental stability.
Application: download a free Sudoku or cross-word app on your smart phone or iPad and complete one puzzle a day. Or spend a couple bucks at the checkout stand in your local grocery store and buy a book of puzzles. And make sure you carry it with you…everywhere!
5. Spend QUALITY Time Thinking
I know this sounds oxymoronic, but we spend a lot of our days thinking about everything, and nothing at all. Every day we are flooded with information and statistics. Before lunch we’re made dozens of phone calls, returned tons of emails, had several meetings, and made countless decisions. But do we really spend any of that time strategically thinking?
Application: Set aside 1 hour a day to think about a single issue. Start with something like a goal or perhaps your next vacation. Where do you want to be in the next year? What is the next goal you want to set, work for, and accomplish. Figure THAT out and work backwards from there, to where you are today.
These are not just some simple suggestions, this is what I do on a daily basis and I have found work for me. You’re results may not be the same as mine, but I would love to hear of any progress you make in training your brain!
What are your ideas and thoughts on how to train your brain?
