This April, as I made my way towards my improvement goals, I placed myself before many new enjoyable engagements, and so I thought it was a bright opportunity to write about Ten Things as I did before.
PENN & TELLER
I do like Penn and Teller, and this is a very enjoyable programme where, each episode, four magicians hope to fool them. Actually, most of them are just overcome with pride to be on Penn & Teller’s show in Penn & Teller’s theatre, performing for Penn & Teller. I particularly liked Jon Armstrong who used his tiny plunger to cut to anywhere in the deck - a trick I’d seen before and dismissed as a silly gimmick, but had I seen him demonstrate this in the shop, I would have bought it off him. I also liked Jen Kramer who found a thought-of card in a shuffled deck; and Shin Lim whose act was the closest any thing came to real magic. |
POKÉMON FOLDER
The left page pictured shows a collection of some of my favourite shiny cards. The page on the right contains each of the three starter Pokémon and their evolutions - I am particularly proud of this page, as these are the original base set cards from 1999. I have no idea how I actually got them as I joined Pokémon late, after these cards had been retired and new booster packs were created. I must have swapped for them with all the boys who probably wanted my new cards more than their old ones. Or found them on the floor.
I’m missing Venasaur and Charizard which, nowadays, will probably average out at about £11 each - so I better save up for the future!
GOOD PSYCHOLOGY
I think maintaining optimum psychological health is just as important as good physical health, and yet it is mostly overlooked. I am proud of the psychology of my household - it brings me much happiness to avoid happiness altogether and focus on the value of things. We often ask ourselves, “Did we do that out of Fear, or out of Value?” - Value isn’t the easiest route or the happiest, and sometimes it jolly hurts, but it is, to me, the highest of attainable goals. |
We are also very aware of when our Limbic System (midbrain) overrides the processing power of the Neocortex (frontal-lobe). The Neocortex responds only with Reason, but it is therefore slower than the Limbic brain which responds only with Reaction. Often the reaction can be harmful or produce “Negative Sentiment Override”. According to a study, 94% of people experiencing Negative Sentiment Override will continue to spiral down and down through negative emotions until they are irretrievably angry or depressed. I am proud to exist in a state of Positive Sentiment Override, even if my physical health is not ultimately Tip-Top.
We have a happy home.
RPG
The currency is Jelly Beans and you buy your items from a bakery - such as Lemonade that heals 20 HP, Pink Lemonade that heals 50 HP, or a Cinnamon Swirl which will revive a character. You can also buy your equipment from a sweet shop, such as Strawberry Laces that increase speed, and Butterscotch Boots that boost defence to magical attacks.
Naomi has also been helping me out with it - so we have a dungeon called Treacle Tower and a Boss I invented called Ten Tunnock’s Teacake.
COCONUT OIL
Initially, I felt sick from eating it, but this is because it has powerful anti-funal, anti-bacterial, and anti-microbal properties and naturally, being ill, I’ve been overrun with bacteria since having the Noro-Virus back in 2009.
It is basically just pure fat, but good fat - fat used to energise your body. It is absorbed as soon as you eat it and goes directly to the sources where it is needed, such as powering the brain or supporting the liver in its detoxification.
Coconut Oil’s other benefits include:
- Use as a throat lozenge when you have a sore throat or cough.
- Rub on dry skin to sooth it.
- Use as a lip balm.
- It is anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-microbal.
- Can help the healing of burns and rashes.
- Calms inflammation.
- Boosts immunity.
MASTERCHEF
I enjoy watching MasterChef because I watch it with Naomi who finds it very exciting, which makes it very exciting. It is also full of limbic reactions and readable facial expressions, so we tend to choose who we think should win based on how humbly embarrassed and honestly surprised they are, compared to the “I will make no mistakes!” person who gets sent home on the first day. We are often pausing the show to comment on psychology and body language, so I like that the importance and care of our psychological awareness has permeated through to relaxation and entertainment. |
NEOPETS BOOSTERS
Naomi makes me little Neopets booster packs wrapped in coloured paper, which I open in the evening - we had a lot of fun playing Neopets together back in 2014 and the trading cards became something of a shared interest. They remind me of the happy times playing not just a year ago, but also while I was still at school and would log on every day to solve the puzzles and read the stories. |
MR OWL
Since I often have a sore tummy, I have a comanionable hot water bottle to help ease the pain. My current hot water bottle is Mr Owl, and there are sure some times I have been very glad to have him. He mostly sits inside another cover (a hot water bottle cover cover) and peaks out, which makes us laugh. |
POKÉMON PARCEL
The box contains:
- Two pin-packs (one Ruby, one Sapphire), each containing three booster packs
- A theme deck featuring legendary Pokémon Regigigas
- A pack of Japanese booster cards
- Three boxes of individual Pokémon cards
TOWER BOOK
Last April, in 2015, I hit on quite a poorly time. Naomi, knowing I made my towers on ever-depleting sheets of squared paper, bought me an exercise book to fill will achievements.
I am immensely proud of my Tower Book because each coloured block stands for something different that I value. Red for Self-Development and when I have worked hard, Orange for Humour and events where I’ve enjoyed myself, Yellow for Kindness I have engaged with or received from others, Green for Humility and the gentle progression with which I pride myself, Blue for Open-Mindedness and not locking myself into negative psychology, and Purple for Intellectuality and reasoning out potentially difficult situations.
Look back on these achievements, and it is the closest you can ever come to perfect time travel.