Jan

5 Life Hacks Make A Day to Remember

by Bruce Goldstone on January 23, 2014

Seven morning chores—from exercising and changing the cat littler to bringing your lunch, ID, keys, cell phone and reading glasses to work—that you can remember with a mnemonic.

Remember your morning chores—Say CLICKER.
© iStock*

A Mnemonic Device for Every Occasion

A mnemonic device is any trick that helps you remember something you tend to forget. It can be visual, verbal, or both. Use the mnemonics in these 5 life hacks to make your life a little bit easier all day long.

1. How to Remember Your Morning Routine

Tasks pile up in the morning. Suppose you want to remember to exercise, clean the kitty litter, and take your ID, lunch, keys, reading glasses, and cell phone to work.

It’s easy to let one thing slip, especially when you’re groggy. So, make a mnemonic checklist by arranging your chores to spell a word. CLICKER does the trick here.

Change kitty litter
Lunch
ID
Cell phone
Keys
Exercise
Reading glasses

2. How to Get Around Town

In any town, the order of streets can be hard to remember. For example, in New York City, the numbers are easy, but the avenues trip you up.

New York City viewed from above, representing a reason to use a mnemonic device as a useful life hack.

Can you remember which avenue is west of Third?
© janniswerner / iStock

A simple sentence memory jogger can help you stay on top of it. In New York, for example, just think pigs to remember the Upper East Side avenues.

Three piglets lead to five piglets, forming a mnemonic device that's a useful life hack to help you remember the upper east side streets in Manhattan.

Upper East Side pigs (We’re not making a judgment, really!)
© Anatolii Tsekhmister / iStock

Three Little Pigs Make Five.

Third Ave, Lexington Avenue, Park Avenue, Madison Avenue, Fifth Avenue.

3. How to Look Smart When You Help with Homework

Mnemonics can help kids of all ages in lots of subjects.

Left vs. Right For those who get left and right confused (even though they know the words well), have them hold out their thumbs and forefingers.

Thumb and forefinger of the left and right hands become a visual mnemonic device and useful life hack to help you tell left from right.

Left or right? Just look down.
© Bruce Goldstone

Like magic, the left hand shows an L.

Comparison Math The < (less than) and > (greater than) signs are easy to confuse, but not if you think of them as a hungry alligator.
The Greater Gator
© Eric Isselée / iStock

Of course, the alligator always wants to eat the bigger meal, so the open part of his mouth points to the greater amount:

10 > 2 Ten is greater than two. 2 < 10 Two is less than ten.

Memorable Life of Pi Hard to remember the first seven digits of pi? Just tell yourself: How I wish I could calculate pi. Count the letters in each word and you get 3.141592.

4. How to Get a Dinner Party Right

It’s after work, and you’re getting ready for a big dinner party. No time to waste, and then a jar decides to give you trouble and just won’t open.

A woman trying to open a jar models one way a mnemonic device can be a useful life hack.

Which way do you turn a lid to open it?
© Jan Mika / iStock

Think: Righty tighty, lefty loosey. That means the top of the jar goes to the right to tighten and left to loosen. This rule works for most screws and bolts, too. (Of course, you have to know left from right. If not, see above.)

Finally, the food is ready, but what about setting the table. Do you remember which side the fork goes on?

A place setting, modeling a situation in which a mnemonic device can be a useful life hack.

Can you remember how to place a place setting?
© Spike Mafford / Photodisc

If not, just count: Fork and left both have four letters, so put the fork to the left. Knife, spoon and right all have five letters, so the knife and spoon go to the right.

Maybe you’re adding place cards, too. Mental pictures can help you spell guests’ names correctly. Suppose one of your guests is Sherry. But does she spell her name with a final i or y?

A basketball and a martini, representing a mnemonic device that serves as a life hack to remember if a name is spelled with an i or a y.

Would Sherry prefer a basketball or a martini?
© Francesco Santalucia / iStock (L), © Richard Cote / iStock (R)

If it’s an i, think of her playing basketball, for the dot on the i. If it’s a y, think of her with a martini, which looks like a y.

5. How to Successfully Call It a Day

Whew! You made it through the whole day, and you didn’t forget anything! But don’t forget your bedtime chores. If you need to floss, charge your cell phone, take your meds, and set the alarm clock, think FACT:

Floss
Alarm
Charge Phone
Take meds

Oh, I see how mnemonic devices can hack life! What mnemonic tricks do you use to make your days a snap? Please tell us in a Comment.

*Top image credits: All images from iStock: ID © Tom Mc Nemar, lunch © Pictac, phone © Maksim Kabakou, glasses © Evgeny Karandaev, man © OSTILL, keys © cat litter © axelbueckert.

Inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.

Bruce Goldstone Comments

Clever Ideas/Secrets to Life

Jan

From Smart Dogs: 10 Lessons for a Happy Life

by Sheron Long on January 2, 2014

Dog laughing, illustrating how learning life lessons from dogs can lead to a happy life. (Image © Dezi Greig)

Want a happy life in 2014? Ask a dog for advice.
© Dezi Grieg

Oh, I See. My Dog Taught Me!

Smart dogs can sit and stay. They can fetch and even speak on cue. But the lessons we humans give to our dogs in one-syllable commands fall way short of the rich life lessons we get in return.

Oh, I See Moments found that out when we asked dog owners to tell us the lessons they’ve learned from their smart, funny, loving and lovable pups.

The lessons go well-beyond “turn around three times before you plop down” to offer great advice on making a happy life. May these life lessons from dogs unleash happy times for you in 2014!

1. Do What Makes You Happy.

Dezi Greig’s dogs Titan and Odin taught Dezi a thing or two about happiness.

Dog running enthusiastically through a field, illustrating life lessons from dogs on doing what makes you happy in life. (Image © Dezi Greig)

Life off-leash for Titan is life lived to the fullest.
© Dezi Greig

Of the energetic Titan, Dezi says:

Titan taught me to play hard, sleep in, smile big, love more, forgive and forget. Thanks, buddy!

Greig caught the oversized Odin in an oversized chair. A happy moment, a perfect fit. What was Greig’s take-away from his pooch?

Be goofy, yell if you feel like it, if it makes you happy just do it, bite the vet.

Large dog asleep in chair, illustrating life lessons from dogs on doing what makes you happy in life. (Image © Dezi Greig)

Big ole Odin knew how to do exactly what made him happy.
© Dezi Greig

2. Poke Your Nose into Adventure.

How can you figure out what makes you happy if you don’t partake of life?

With a gleam in his eye, Dexter is always looking
for the next adventure!
© Rudy Martinez

Comedian Rudy Martinez learned about that from his dog Dexter:

Dexter taught me that frogs are not to be ingested, golfers are evil, that big dogs are chew toys with legs, and most importantly that dogs love a good dance party as much as anyone.

When it comes to life’s adventures, some are good and some are bad, but all count for something.

3. Live in the Moment.

When water presents itself, Lee McMullan’s dog loves to splash through it, causing Lee to develop this strategy for living in the moment:

Don’t worry, you’ll dry.

Dog splashing through water, illustrating life lessons from dogs on living in the moment to make a happy life. (Image © Lee McMullan)

Get your paws wet! This moment may not come around again.
© Lee McMullan

4. Share Time and Treats with Friends.

From her dog Luna, Malory Mildenberger learned the best kind of treats to offer a friend:

An over-abundance of exuberance, smiles, energy, a shoulder to lean on, a paw to extend in aid, a tail that never stops wagging, eyes brighter than the sun, a thick coat for when things get a bit rough, a ball to share, and kisses to heal wounds that are either physical or psychological.

Dog on bed whose behavior has life lessons for people on how to keep good friends close and have a happy life. (Image © Malory Mildenberger)

Behind Luna’s wise eyes are
the secrets for keeping good friends.
© Malory Mildenberger

5. Stay Curious.

What does the underside of a cow chin look like? My dog, Chula the Sheltie, just had to know. She was always curious, perhaps because she traveled between California and France and relished seeing new things.

Dog nuzzling a large plastic cow, illustrating life lessons for people on staying curious. (Image © Sheron Long)

“Pardonnez-moi,” says Chula, “I’m a little curious about your chin.”
© Sheron Long

Her curiosity took her under the food tables at the big Provencal markets, through lavender fields, down Paris streets and into butcher shops. Chula shared her French adventures from her dog’s-eye view in our book Dog Trots Globe.

Her curiosity inspired me—she taught me to sniff around and see what I could see, to sniff out fun things to do and learn. And she did everything with that wonderful Sheltie smile.

6. Pursue Your Passion.

Katrina Brooks tried to teach her pooch Max that “patience is a virtue,” but it may not be when it comes to pursuing your passion.

Dog going after food, illustrating life lessons from dogs on pursuing a passion to make a happy life. (Image © Katrina Brooks)

Max knows. Pursuing a passion can take focus and speed.
© Katrina Brooks

7. Make the Most of Every Day.

Alisha Rea was there the day her first puppy Banner was born. She describes how she literally saved the life of her best friend:

When Banner was delivered, she was lifeless and still. I began to cry and accept the fact that she was dead. My mother rubbed her all over and gave her mouth-to-mouth. I continued as my mom ran in the house for a warm cloth. Out of nowhere, I felt movement—it was so magical! I had brought her back and watched her take her first breath. That was 13 years ago.

Smiling dog, illustrating life lessons from dogs on appreciating life. (Image © Alishia Rea)

Banner and her owner Alisha love their life together.
© Alishia Rea

Banner and Alisha grew up together. They have been a team, herding sheep, showing in 4-H, visiting nursing homes. Their bond has taught Alisha to:

Live every day as if it were my last, cherish my friends, smile over the little things, and have patience even when all seems lost.

8. Learn New Tricks.

If you want to get out of a rut in 2014, take a lesson from Lia. This surfer dog will tell you that practice has a payoff.

Surfer dog, illustrating life lessons from dogs on learning new tricks to make a happy life. (Image © Agi Cortez)

If every doggie had an ocean, would she learn new tricks?
© Agi Cortez

Her owner Agi Cortez explains how Lia learned to surf:

Since puppydom, Lia has always preferred to sit on the center console in the car, refusing to ever take the back seat. This summer, she showed us what she’s spent years developing—her balance!

9. Be Just Who You Are.

Terina Stewart’s BFF has his own style.

Dog in sunglasses, illustrating life lessons from dogs on being yourself to make a happy life. (Image © Terina Stewart)

A big guy with style
© Terina Stewart

He likes himself and the way he looks, the one essential for loving someone else. And clearly he loves Terina. She says:

Even though he is big, he still likes to climb on my lap and cuddle.

10. Love and Be Loved Without Expectations.

Abandoned and full of drool, dirt, and mats, Thor was wandering down a highway when Kirsten Brand found him. It took Kirsten weeks to clean him up and months to heal his scars.

Now a year later, Thor has fallen in love with his forever family, protecting them seriously and loving them with all his heart. What did Thor teach Kirsten?

He taught me that when you truly and fully put into a relationship, you will get back more than you ever thought you could.

Unconditional love is a two-way street
in Thor’s forever home.
© Kirsten Brand

To see even more of these remarkable canine-inspired life lessons, download the free ebook:

Comment on this post below, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.

Sheron Long 14 Comments

Secrets to Life

Dec

The World Weighs In On Gift Giving

by Sheron Long on December 2, 2013

Boy chasing after Santa and a gift, illustrating the pressures of the gift-giving season. (Image © Alphaspirit / iStock)

Chasing after the perfect gift
© Alphaspirit / iStock

There’s Wisdom in World Proverbs

The power of a considered gift is stunning. The world has told us that for years:

Gifts break rocks and melt hearts. —Uruguayan

Now that’s a high standard. How am I ever going to melt the hearts of everyone on my list? What happens if gifts exchanged aren’t “equal”? And how can I say “Thanks” and mean it?

I could have talked it over with my dog or asked Emily Post, but instead I decided to consult the whole wide world. Listen in on the conversation.

Girl holding out a gift, representing the act of gift giving. (Image © Kemal Bas / iStock)

Hey, World. Where’s the Perfect Gift?

My husband Bob has it all—good looks, a fun personality. . . and too much stuff.

Ralph here. Ralph Waldo Emerson. Though my advice is not a proverb, it’s still quotable: The only gift is a portion of thyself.

I don’t think this means to give him an arm and a leg—something more like an experience or an adventure, just spending time together?

I may be Author Unknown, but—yes, you’re right: Every day is a gift, and that is why it’s called the present.

Oh, I see. The gift of time for Bob will melt his heart and keep clutter away. And here’s some real help from Brooke McAlary: 30 ideas for clutter-free gifts.

Family on a hike together, illustrating how time together is the best idea for gift giving.

What If My Gift Isn’t “Equal”?

There are so many ways “equal” plays with your brain. Equal to last year. Equal to what I get. Equal in cost. Equal in expectations. Help me, world! Give me the gift of some good advice.

Giving is not trading. —Swahili

Hands that give also receive. —Ecuadoran

Wait a minute. That’s a contradiction, I think. Tell me more.

What you give you get, ten times over. —Yoruba

Starting to get it now. The gifts don’t have to be equal because just the giving gives the giver a rewarding gift, right?

Right!: A bit of the fragrance always clings to the hand that gives you roses. —Chinese

Man holding roses for gift giving. (Image © Plush Studios / Blend Images)

A good gift is thoughtful, chosen with your friend in mind.
That makes it equal, no matter what the cost.
© Plush Studios / Blend Images

OK, I’m learning a lot, but here’s one thing I already know: The fun in giving is thinking about what jazzes your friend and connecting your gift to it. If you have a vampire friend, this means, “Don’t give garlic!”

Shocked vampire taking garlic out of a gift box, illustrating bad gift giving. (Image © Elisanth_ / iStock)

But if you have a granddaughter who loves music and you have a talent, share it.

Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere. —Chinese

Christella Morris at Crawl the Line must already know this bit of wisdom, too—she gives such good ideas and even better reasons to share your experience and your time.

OIC again: When two people give each other something each one loves, the gifts are always equal.

Grandmother teaching her granddaughter to play the piano, illustrating the best kind of gift-gving. (Image © Jack Hollingsworth / Photodisc)

What’s the Best Way to Say “Thanks”?

Long time ago, I learned about the mouth of the gift horse. As horses get older, their gums recede. Look closely and you can tell if the horse is old (long in the tooth) or new for you. Guess that means it’s bad to inspect a gift too closely.

You can say that again, and how many ways do we have to tell you?

Look not a gift horse in the mouth. —Danish, Dutch, French, Italian, Spanish, Romanian

If you receive a gift, don’t measure it. —Kenyan

You do not look at a sheep someone has given you. —Swahili

Alright. No inspecting, but—you know—it’s hard to hide your true feelings.

Man showing different emotions related to gift giving. (Image © Aleksandr Frolov / Hemera)

Being a bad liar, I need a world of help here. Last year, a good friend gave me a “Santa Liar, Pants on Fire” (perhaps to honor my obsession with honesty). It was a candle, and you get what part lit up. And you can imagine the position.

How can I say a genuine “Thanks” for that?

A stone from the hand of a friend is an apple. —Moroccan

The giver makes the gift precious. —American

Gee, thanks. All I needed was a new view. Now I know if I focus on the thoughtful giver and not the gift, I’m sure to smile.

Girl giving gift to father, illustrating a proverb from world cultures. (Image © Todd Wright / Blend Images)

No matter how small the gift or the giver,
a look into your daughter’s eyes makes her gift special.
© Todd Wright / Blend Images

And with that, we wish you a happy gift-giving season, full of the proverbial wisdom from world cultures. Thanks for opening our posts this year. We hope the “Oh, I see” moments inside are gifts that put a smile on your face all year ’round.