Here we are at the end of 2017. It's been an interesting year, to say the least! Much as happened in the world, some good and some not-so-good. As we close out the old year, let's take a look at what New Year 2018 has in store for us. Here is the calendar for next month's special days.
January, 2018
1.  New Year's Day, National Thank God It's Monday Day (TGIM)
2.  National Science Fiction Day, National Personal Trainer Awareness Day
3.  National Fruitcake Toss Day, National Drinking Straw Day, National Chocolate Covered Cherries Day
4.  National Spaghetti Day (Make mine al dente, please), National Trivia Day
5.  National Bird Day (I love my feathered friends!), National Whipped Cream Day, National Screenwriters Day
6. National Bean Day, National Cuddle Up Day, National Technology Day, National Shortbread Day
7.  National Bobblehead day, National Tempura Day (Yum!)
8.  National Winter Skin Relief Day (As a frog, my skin is always nice and moist...), National Argyle Day, National Bubble Bath Day, National English Toffee Day, National JoyGerm Day, National Clean Off Your Desk Day (Boy Howdy! I sure need this day.)
9.  National Shop For Travel Day, National Apricot Day, National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, National Static Electricity Day
10. National Bittersweet Chocolate Day, National Cut Your Energy Costs Day, National Save The Eagles Day
11. National Milk Day, National Step In A Puddle And Splash Your Friends Day
12. Kiss A Ginger Day, National Marzipan Day, National Pharmacist Day
13. National Peach Melba Day, National Rubber Ducky Day, National Sticker Day, Stephen Foster Memorial Day, National Vision Board Day
14. National Dress Up Your Pet Day, National Sunday Supper Day
15. National Hat Day, National Strawberry Ice Cream Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
16. National Fig Newton Day, National Nothing Day, National Religious Freedom Day, National Nothing Day, National Without A Scalpel Day
17. This is a free day to celebrate something special of your own choosing!
18. National Winnie The Pooh Day, National Thesaurus Day, Get To Know Your Customers Day
19. National Popcorn Day
20. National Buttercrunch Day, National Cheese Lovers Day, National Disc Jockey Day
21. National Granola Bar Day, National Hugging Day, Squirrel Appreciation Day
22. National Blonde Brownie Day
23. National Handwriting Day, National Pie Day (My problem is always which one to choose!)
24. National Compliment Day, National Peanut Butter Day
25. National Opposite Day
26. National Green Juice Day (You know what I always say, Green is Good!), National Peanut Brittle Day, National Spouses Day, National Big Wig Day
27. National Chocolate Cake Day, National Seed Swap Day
​28. Data Privacy Day, National Blueberry Pancake Day, National Have Fun At Work Day (Just not too much fun...I wouldn't want you to get fired!), National Kazoo Day
​29. Library Shelfie Day, National Puzzle Day, National Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day
30. National Plan For Vacation Day, National Croissant Day (Mais oui!)
31. National Backward Day, National Inspire Your Heart With Art Day (Always one of my personal favorite special days of the year.)
As you can see, even after New Year's Day there's still plenty to celebrate in January 2018. I hope you'll join me in selecting some of your favorite days to celebrate and let's keep the party rolling all month long. Join me on 1st of next month for my February Calendar of Special Days.
I invite you all back here on 3, January for more of "Irwin's Almost Famous Blogs."
I wish everyone a peaceful, happy, safe, and prosperous year ahead!  I'm hopping off now to the party store for all my supplies.

.I thought it might be kind of fun to use today's blog to write about a few inventions that were hugely popular, yet  seem very silly. See how many of these you remember. Perhaps maybe have even owned one or two of them!
We all know that inventions improve our lives. And it's been said that "Necessity is the mother of all invention." But these five examples clearly show that if you are clever with your marketing, necessity has nothing to do with how successful a gizmo or gadget will be. You only need to create the desire to own one.
1.  Fidget Spinners. These is a relatively new gizmos and can be found in nearly any convenience store, discount mart, or dollar store around the globe. These gadgets emphasize the need by many of us for a good distraction and way to release tension. "The design consists of a ball bearing center with flat, spindly lobes attached. With a simple flick, it can be spun around the axis, providing instant stress relief. Some sellers are even marketing them as a way to ease anxiety and help calm those experiencing neurological disorders like ADHD and Autism." I'm not sure I'd go that far, but they do seem to provide some relief for fidgety folks. Finger spinners rode their first wave of popularity in April of this year. They are so popular with children, that many schools have banned the toys, citing them as "too distracting." The person responsible for inventing the fidget spinner isn't exactly clear. Credible news reports have cited the inventor as Ms. Catherine Hettinger, a chemical engineer. In fact, she did file for and receive a patent for such a spinning toy back in 1993, but was unable to find a manufacturer. Her patent expired in 2005. Other sources claim an IT worker named Scott McCoskery sold an earlier version of the toy back in 2014. Whoever did invent it, it is a wild, wacky, non-necessity of a blockbuster invention.​
2.  And who can forget Pet Rocks? These were the perfect "pets" for those humans with no time to care for an actual pet. They debuted in 1975 as a hot holiday gift item and by 1976. sales were in the millions of dollars. We can thank Gary Dahl for this no-maintenance pet. Dahl even went so far as to write a humorous instruction booklet entitled, "Care and Training of Your Pet Rock" which explained how to feed, bathe, and even train the pet rock. The actual cost of the rocks was about a penny each. Most of the cost for these "critters" went into packaging and marketing. Dahl became very popular on the late night talk show circuit and even inspired a song by the artist, Al Bolt, "I'm in Love With My Pet Rock."

3.  Chia Pets. Even though these pets did require a bit more care than the pet cock, they were still extremely low-maintenance. They first debuted in the 1980's and hand one of the catchiest jingles ever written. "They were essentially terracotta figurines of animals and household pets, as well as busts of different famous people and characters. The twist: the statues grew chia sprouts to mimic hair and fur." The idea was the brainchild of Joe Pedott who sold the "Chia Guy"  in September, 1977. "Since then, the Chia Pet product line has included a turtle, pig, puppy, kitten, frog, hippopotamus, and cartoon characters such as Garfield, Scooby-Doo, Looney Tunes, Shrek, The Simpsons, and SpongeBob."
It wasn't until 1982 and the release of the Chia Ram that the product became a household name.  As of 2007, about 1/2 million chia "pets"  were sold annually during the holiday season. Joseph Enterprises currently holds several licensing deals and now offers a wide-range of chia figurines that has enabled the product to maintain its popularity with modern day audiences. There are, for instance, Chia heads, which depict famous figures such as former President Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. For nature lovers, the company Joseph Enterprises also offers various Chia Trees, Chia Herb, and Flower Gardens. 

4.  The Mood Ring.  In 1975, back in the days of discos and lava lamps, the mood ring became a cult favorite as one of the "hippest and grooviest" pieces of jewelry one could wear. The ring, supposedly, changed color to match the mood of the wearer at any given time. "Of course, the concept was more of a fanciful gimmick than anything else. The thermotropic liquid crystals used in mood rings change color in response to changes in body temperature. And while changes in mood do affect body temperature, there is no correlation between, say, the color red and being upset." Joshua Reynolds, the ring's inventor, marketed his idea as a 'portable biofeedback aid' and convinced the very upscale department store Bonwit Teller to carry them as part of their accessories line. Some rings sold for as much as $250...a bunch of money for those days. Within a matter of a few months, Reynolds made his first million. Celebrities like Muhammad Ali and Barbara Streisand were some of the first to wear this trendy new fashion item. It didn't take long for more affordable versions to become available so that everyone could tell their mood simply by looking at their ring. Certainly easier than paying attention to your feelings....
​These rings are still available, should you wish to own one, through several online retailers.

5.  The Snuggie. This is probably the closest thing on this list of inventions that actually might be classified as a "necessity." The Snuggie is a blanket with sleeves that allows the wearer arms to be kept warm while still being able to perform tasks like turning the pages of a book or using the TV remote. The Snuggie quickly became a pop culture sensation. "It started with the direct marketing advertisements. Commercials and ads depicted people comfortably lounging around, all seemingly unaware of how ridiculous they looked. It was about as creepy as it was comical. Some have described it as a robe worn backward and others likened it to a "monk's ensemble in fleece." it didn't take long for humans to get swept up by the craze. It may be hard to believe, but groups of people actually got together and formed Snuggie cults, putting together such events as pub crawls and house parties where everyone wore their Snuggie! By 2009, four million Snuggies had been sold. One company in Germany came out with a knock-off version that included attached gloves, while other versions sold abroad included a pocket for your cell phone. We now "fortunate" to have a line of Snuggie-like products that depict comic book superheroes and cartoon characters.

These inventions just go to show that you can sell almost anything if you have the right marketing campaign.
I hope you've enjoyed this trip down "Memory Lane" with me. Please join me tomorrow for my last blog of 2017 where we will look at the January, 2018 Calendar of Special Days.
​Peace.

I've been away for a few day celebrating the holidays with family and friends. I got back early this morning and had just enough time to prepare breakfast and tea when Dharma Frog showed up for my last lesson of 2017. It hasn't been the cheeriest of holidays. It is always difficult to lose a friend but when it happens during the Christmas season, it makes it much more difficult. On Tuesday morning, I lost my dear childhood friend. And although I am deeply saddened by her loss, I am grateful for this extra year I've had with her. She first got sick about 13 months ago and every day I've been able to spend with her was one I didn't expect to have. I asked Dharma for some pearls of wisdom about gratitude and friendship...words that I hoped would help me through these tough days.
His message was simple. "A frog may not stop the downpour, but he can always join his friend for a walk in the rain." I wasn't sure where he was going with his, but he soon explained exactly what he meant.  With the end of the year only a few days away, Dharma believes that this is the perfect time to reflect back on all the precious relationships in our lives and to remember everyone who enriches our lives, past and present. Friends are often the ones we turn to in our darkest hours. They believe in us. They stand by us. They love us...warts and all. We learn to love ourselves through the very simple act of loving and being loved by others. Friendship is one of our most precious gifts. And while friends may not be able to stop our troubles, they're always there to walk with us through the difficult times.
Friends are often our best teachers. Receiving support in times of need, experiencing laughter and joy during the good times, and being non-judgmental and accepting of us. We must always remember that friendship is a two-way street; offering our love, comfort, support, and laughter to our friends to just as important as accepting these gifts from them. True friendship is a beautiful balance of give-and-take. We learn what supportive love means through our closest friendships. Sometimes, we get so carried away with all the things happening in our day-to-day world, that we forget to think of others. A test of true friendship is whether or not you can be there for them, even when your own life isn't going smoothly. As Dharma reminded me, "Irwin, there should always be room for two under your umbrella."
What else is a friend? Friends allow us to be true to our conscience without fear of judgment. The conscience, Dharma believes, lives in the heart, And if we sit still, we can hear it.  Then, follow that voice. Support your friend when they do the same. A true friend will always support you when you are following your conscience.
Science shows us that gratitude seems to go along way in building and maintaining social relationships. For that is how we come to value others. By and large, most humans (and definitely most frogs) are willing to trade off our own welfare to help those to whom we feel close. Humans are an intensely social species...frogs are too...and both species place great importance on establishing beneficial relationships with others. When someone does something nice for us this becomes the very essence of gratitude. And gratitude may play a central role in the process by which strangers develop relationships that turn into friendships. "Whoever you are, I've always depended on the kindness of strangers." (Blanche Du Bois in the film "A Streetcar Named Desire")
Dharma isn't always straightforward with his lessons so what this all boils down to is this; Friendship is a rare and wonderful gift. Yet it's often one that gets overlooked. Having gratitude for those we call friends is important all year long. But as this year comes to a close, a year that has been very difficult for many of us, it is vitally important to express that gratitude to those we count on the most. Remember lovingly those friends who are no longer with us and hug those that are still here. Be there for each other o walk in the rain.
I walked many a mile through the rain with my late friend. And while she couldn't stop my downpour...nor I hers...we both knew that that, together, we could get through anything. After Dharma left this morning, I spent some time thinking about my friend, remembering her gentleness, loyalty, and unwavering friendship. Her grace at the end of her life was truly inspirational. I am so grateful for every day we had together.  I miss her terribly and I know that I was blessed to be able to call her my friend. Rest in peace, my sweet dear Sachi. My life is richer for having known you.

​"Let us be grateful to the ones who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." ~ Marcel Proust

I love weird facts. I quite often give you, dear readers, weird facts on all sorts of things. Today, I'm sharing with you a bunch of odd, unusual, or simply weird facts about Christmas. After all, we are only 4 days away. Not only are these facts pretty interesting, they also make great conversation starters at those last-minute parties and will be fun to share with family and friends after enjoying your Christmas meal.
Here they are, in no particular order.
1.  Don't tell the the children, but the image of Santa in his his sleigh was created in 1819 by Washington Irving, the very same gentleman who gave us the Headless horseman.
2.  The now-defunct Montgomery Wards Department Store created Rudolph the Reindeer as a marketing gimmick to encourage children to buy their Christmas coloring books. 
3.  The original Rudolph didn't have a red nose. back in those days, a red nose was a symbol of chronic alcoholism and Montgomery Ward didn't want their Christmas character to resemble a drunkard. Rudolph, it seems, was almost named Reginald or Rollo. They wouldn't have had the same "ring" to them, now would they?
4.  Clement Moore's beloved poem "Twas the Night Before Christmas" introduced us to eight reindeer: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Duner, and Blixem. The last two are German words that mean thunder and lightening. They evolved into the Donner and Blitzen that we know today.
5.  Leaving food out on Christmas Eve began with the Norse children who left hay and treats out for Odin's eight-legged reindeer named Sleipnir, hoping to entice them to stop by during their hunting adventures. Dutch children adopted this practice and began leaving food in wooden shoes for Saint Nicholas' horse.
​6.  Here's an unusual way to recycle your old Christmas tree. Some zoos take donated Christmas trees (live ones only, of course) and uses hem as food for some animals.
7.  The Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square is donated to the people of London every year by the people of Oslo, Norway in thanks for their help during World War II.
8.  Likewise, The City of Boston has, since 1918 , received a giant Christmas tree as a gift from the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Boston lent considerable support to the City of Halifax during their 1917 explosion and subsequent fire disaster.
9.  The now-famous Christmas Truce in the Trenches of World War I happened in 1914 when the British and Germans exchanged gifts across the neutral no man's land, played football (soccer) together, and even decorated their shelters.
10. In 2010 during the Christmas season, the Colombian government decorated jungle trees with lights. The tree light lit up when the guerrillas walked past and banners appeared asking them to surrender their arms. This campaign ultimately convinced 331 guerrillas to re-enter society and won Colombia an award for strategic marketing excellence. Way to go, Colombia!
11. Bicycle, the US playing card company, manufactured playing cards to be donated to all the POWS in Germany during WWII as Christmas gifts. The playing cards, when soaked in water, revealed an escape route for the POWS. The Nazis never knew.
12. Tinsel was invented in 1610 in Germany. It was once made from real silver!
13. If you gave all the gifts listed in the Twelve Days of Christmas, it would equal 364 gifts.
14. NORAD's Santa tracker was born out of a misprint in the newspaper. A 1955 Sears ad was supposed to print the number of a store that children could call to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas. Instead, the number that got printed was to the hotline of the Director of Operations for the U.S. Continental Air defense. (Oops!) Colonel Shoup ordered his staff to give the children updates on the flight coordinates of Santa.
15. The oldest artificial Christmas tree dates back to the late 1800's and were made of green raffia (think grass hula skirts). Next, the Addis Brush company used their machinery that wove toilet brushes to create pine-like branches for artificial trees that could hold heavier Christmas ornaments and were less flammable.
And your bonus fact...
You'd have to use an artificial Christmas tree for more than 20 years for it to be "greener" (more eco-friendly) than buying a fresh-cut tree each year.
I hope you enjoyed these facts and will have some fun sharing them with your co-workers, friends, and family.
This is my last blog until the 27th of December. I'm taking a little time off and hopping home for the holidays. I love spending Christmas with the family, especially little vrother, Quigley.  He's so much fun on Christmas morning and remind me of, well, me at that age. He gets so excited about every little thing. I know he drives our folks crazy, just like I did. And, too, he's on holiday from school for two whole weeks! (Sorry, Mom.)
Merry Christmas,  Happy Chanukah, Happy Kwanza, Winter Soltice, Las Posadas, etc.
Happy Holidays, everyone! See you next week.
            Peace on Earth and Goodwill to all men. (and frogs, too, of course!)

​The Dharma Frog was here earlier than usual this morning and after he left, I found I had lots to mull over. Our lesson today was about love but, really, it went far beyond that.
Today's lesson was a 3-fer. 
"A frog's sword should be love; goodness his armor, and humor his shield." These, my wise teacher taught me, are the humans' weapons of mass creation....the frogs' too!
My mother always taught me that love can create more good in the world than all the money. Mom's always right. Love has magical powers. It is transformative. We see evidence of that in our daily lives. Love makes us flourish. The need to love, and to be loved, is an intrinsic part of life...and not just for humans. All of the world's wisdom traditions teach us, in one way or another, to love others as we love ourselves. Yet today the world is filled with hatred, bigotry, and a growing sense of separateness among the world's populations. We've become a society of "us" versus "them." How is that we can know, at a gut-level, that love is all that's really important, and STILL persist in doing everything we can to destroy it? The Dharma Frog cannot know, of course, all the reasons why this occurs, but he believes that it is caused, in large part, by fear; fear of those that are not like us. We are terrified of finding out that we are actually all the same...with the same hopes, dreams, and desires for the future. Change is scary. But what if, and this is a big one, we actually tried to love everybody, especially those that look, think, and act differently from us? What then? Might love become a new kind of armament, replacing hatred and ignorance as our weapon of choice? Love, then, would become the sword, our own Excalibur, with the universal power to slay ALL the world's demons and ills.
The second part of Dharma's lesson tells us that goodness should be our armor. Whether or not we realize it, each of us "suits up" every day. For some of us, our armor becomes the clothes we wear. For others, it can be our job, or the car we drive. Armor is, according to Dharma, whatever we choose to hide behind. Do we dare to think about cloaking ourselves only in goodness and kindness? What would that feel like? I mean think about it...think about walking around being more than a little vulnerable and relying on our innate goodness as our only "protection," eliminating the need for all the trappings of material possessions that serve to mask our true identity to the world...just like a suit of armor. It's an interesting thought. From the time we're tadpoles, and little children, we're taught the Golden Rule. But are we always kind to others, even when we expect others to be kind to us? No! Shouldn't we be able to give as good as we take? But kindness and goodness are like yo-yo's; they always come back to us once we learn how to use them. Goodness and kindness is one "suit of armor" that's truly one-size-fits-all. Good ahead. Try it on. It'll look great on you!
The third, and final, part of Dharma's lesson says to shield ourselves with humor. And how true that is! We can use humor to deflect a negative situation...to keep it from escalating and getting out of hand. The world today can often be scary and a little depressing. Being able to see a little humor in everything can save us many tears. Personally, I'd rather laugh than cry! Too, we can use it to heal...ourselves, our relationships, and even our health. Humor has mighty powers. It's so important not to take ourselves too seriously. Humor can help with that, as well. There's no such thing as perfect. We all have faults and flaws...dare I say we all have WARTS? It's true. As soon as we quit trying to be Mr. or Ms. Fancy Pants, life becomes easier and more fun. We are less stressed. Trying to achieve perfection is both exhausting and unobtainable. Learn to see the humor in everyday situations. And it's OK to laugh at yourself now and then. Laughter lightens the load.
Love, goodness, and humor are weapons of mass creation. They build, empower, and heal. According to Dharma, "Fight your battles with love. Cloak yourself in Goodness. And deflect the negative with a little humor. Using these weapons every day will not only serve you well, will make the world blossom in so many unexpected ways."
As always, my wise teacher has it 100% right.
                       Now, where did I leave my sword and suit of armor....

As most of you know by now, I like to pass on to you readers tidbits of information that I read and find interesting. Today's blog is one of those occasions. 
Do you know how many languages there are in the world? I didn't until I read an article about the most popular languages spoken globally. It turns out that there are 6, 909 different languages! But only about six percent of them have over a million speakers. As the world becomes more globalized, so does the learning of language. Learning a second language, or third, or fourth can be beneficial if you're in business or do much traveling. There are ten languages that currently dominate the globe. Here they are:
1. Chinese/Mandarin with 882 million speakers
2.  Spanish with 325 million speakers
3.  English with 312-380 million speakers
4.  Arabic with 206-422 million speakers
5.  Hindu with 181 million speakers
6.  Portuguese with 178 million speakers
7.  Bengali with 173 million speakers
8.  Russian with 146 million speakers
9.  Japanese with 128 million speakers
10. German with 96 million speakers
With 1.3 billion people, it's no big surprise that Chinese is the number one language. But in a country so large and so diverse, they are able to sustain many unique and interesting languages. When we speak of the Chinese language, we are referring to all their different languages and dialects. Because it is the most common of all the dialects, Mandarin and Chinese are often used interchangeably. 
Here are the Chinese dialects in order of popularity.
1. Mandarin
2. Shanghainese
3. Taiwanese
4. Cantonese
And this, just in case you're wondering why there are so many Spanish-speakers these days. Spanish isn't generally spoken in Africa, Asia, and the majority of Europe but it is still the second most-spoken language globally. The Spanish language spread through colonization of places like  South, Central, and large parts of North America. Before becoming part of the US, the now states of Texas, California, New Mexico, and Arizona were all part of Mexico...a former colony of Spain. And while Spanish isn't common in Asia, it is fairly common in the Philippines. It, too, was a former colony of Spain. There are many dialects of Spanish depending on what country and region you're visiting. And although the dialects can sometimes cause confusion, it doesn't prohibit Spanish speakers from communicating with one another.
As for English, after World War II, the United States led the world in technology and medical advancements. it was advantageous, then, for students in these fields to learn English. As globalization grew, more and more parents world-wide encouraged their children to learn English. just like most other languages, English can be very different depending on who's speaking. British, or the Queen's English, can sound very different from American English. And the English spoken in southern states can vary from that which is spoken in the north.
Whatever language you speak, be proud of it. You no doubt share it with millions of others. Without language, we'd still be communicating through crude drawing on the walls of our caves (or lily pads)!

For those of you who celebrate Christmas today is, according to research, the most stressful of the entire holiday season. Why is that? Well, I think it's because the number of days left before Christmas Day is dwindling and yet most of us still have so much left to do. And even if you don't celebrate Christmas, the end of the year is always an extra-busy and stressful time of year as December 31st looms in the very near future.
I did a little homework over the weekend and have come up with a few ways to make this time of year...or anytime, really, less stressful and more pleasurable.
Those experts who study these kinds of things tell us that in today's fast culture, most humans (and dare I say frogs, too) feel they don't have the time to make friends, go on a date, take a vacation, sleep enough hours, or even eat lunch! In one study, eight of out ten Britons said they didn't have time to eat dessert...that's if they took the time to even eat dinner. And the average high school kid today is experiencing the same level of anxiety as the average psychiatric patient of the 1950's. Yikes! Neuroscientists tell us that being too busy isn't healthy. in fact, it can actually shrink your brain. So how did we all end up in a such a place? You may not believe this but it's really all an illusion. In recent studies, it has been shown that, globally, we have MORE leisure time now than at any point in our history. If that's true (and it is) then why do we feel so overwhelmed and stressed-out all the time? John Robinson, a leading sociologist who is also known as "Father Time," says it's because our time is so fragmented. As it turns out, multitasking really isn't helpful Switching back and forth between activities and jobs is actually more draining than finishing one task before moving on to the next. Mr. Robinson tells us that multitasking makes us stupider...effectively worse than being drunk or stoned. Yet we continue to push ourselves because being "too busy" has somehow become a status symbol. When we ask someone what they've been up to, I'll give you a dollar to a donut that they'll give you a one-word answer, "Busy." 
So how can we put an end to all this craziness? here are a few tips that you can use during the holiday season or whenever you life gets too overwhelming.
​1.  Write it all down. Do a "brain dump" and write down all the things you think you need and want to do. Science has proven that writing things down reduces worry and organizes our thoughts. Take a few minutes and write everything down. And even though you may feel like you're wasting time, in the long run, you'll accomplish more.
2.  Prioritize of "die." Experts tell us that most of us can't possibly get everything done each day. The best way to handle this is by repeating (over and over) "I cannot get it all done." When you look at your list, it'll be obvious that some things are more important than others (like sleeping, eating, picking up the kids from soccer practice...) it is super-important to learn to prioritize your tasks. At the end of the day, you want to feel good about the things that matter most...taking care of yourself, your family/friends, and your job/house.
3.  Make things automatic.  Things that are habitual don't tax your willpower. The more tasks and activities that you can turn into habits the less overwhelmed your brain will feel.  the secret to getting more done is by making them habits.
4.  Work like an athlete.  Humans (and all animals) were not made to work 24/7. To maximize your output, learn to work as an athlete does. Sprint, rest, sprint, rest, etc.  Alternate hard work with a little rest and you'll find you'll always be at your best. And hard work doesn't have to mean physical labor. mentally-challenging tasks are definitely included here. 
5.  It cannot be over-stressed. Learn to single-task. Complete one job before moving on to the next.
6.  Move to OHIO. No, not the state, although I understand it is a lovely place to live. The OHIO I'm referring to is the acronym meaning Only Handle It Once. Don't keep going back to the same task and thinking about how to do best handle it. Not only is that a waste of time, it's mentally taxing, as well. When you have a job/task/request that you are unsure about how to proceed with...take a few minutes and think about your options. make the best decision you can. Don't obsess over it...and then MOVE ON.  Revisiting unimportant things is  mentally-draining and is a time thief. 
7.  Have leisure goals. This may seem like an odd thing to list here but have leisure time will actually make you more efficient. Don't think about leisure time as a time of not doing. That's a trap many of us get caught up in. Research shows that we're happier when we feel we're accomplishing things, even when those things are playing sports with friends, working on that novel, or simply sitting and reading the newspaper. Set a single-task goal of enjoying yourself. You'll be glad you did!
I hope these tips will you any of you that find yourself under constant pressure to do more.
Take a deep breath, relax a little and start learning how to pick and choose what's really important every day. You'll be glad you did. (And so will everyone else!)

It rarely snows in Land of Lily Pad and when it does, it's a big deal for everyone. The froglets and tadpoles have a snow day from school and all the adults take the day off from work.  When Lily Pad gets snow, it's an unofficial holiday! We had one of those days earlier this week. Little brother, Quigley, and I spent the day outside drinking steaming hot swamp juice with mini marshmallows on top...our favorite wintertime treat. Mom baked cookies and Dad had to first shovel off our pad but then came outside and played in the snow just like he did when he was Jr's age. We had great fun! Since this was the first time little brother had seen snow, he had tons of questions. And in answering them for him, I uncovered a few facts that might interest you, too.
Quigley wanted to know if snow was simply frozen water. Of course, frozen rain is called sleet. So what is snow? Snow is a cluster of hundreds of tiny ice crystals that fall from a cloud.
Here are a few snow facts that may be new to you,
1.  The tiniest snowflakes are called diamond dust and are no larger than the diameter of a human hair. And since they are so small and so lightweight, they remain suspended in the air and appear like sparkling dust in the sunlight. Diamond dust is most often seen when it is bitterly cold and the temperature dips to below 0 degrees F. (-17.77 C)
​2.  Snowflake size and shape is determined by cloud temperature and humidity. 25 degrees to 32 degrees (F) - thin hexagonal plates and stars; 21 degrees to 25 degrees (F)- needle-like; 21 degrees to 14 degrees (F) - hollow columns; 14 degrees to 10 degrees (F) - sector plates; 10 degrees to 3 degrees (F) - star-shaped "dendrites"; and -10 degrees to -30 degrees (F) - plates, columns.
3. The largest single snowflake to ever fall was alleged to be a whopping 15 inches (38.1 centimeters) wide!  It was recorded in 1887 in Fort Keogh, Montana. Some of the largest non-aggregate (single snow crystal) snowflakes ever observed measured 3-4 inches, tip to tip. If you've ever experienced snow, you know that's pretty big!
4.  The average snowflakes falls at a speed of 1-6 feet per second (0.304 meters to 1.82 meters).The fairly large surface area and lightness of a snowflake make it act like a parachute, causing it's slow descent through the sky. By comparison, the average raindrop falls 32 feet per second (9.75 meters).
5. Snowflakes have a six-sided structure because ice does. When water freezes into individual ice crystals, its molecules stack together to form a hexagonal lattice. As the ice crystal grows, water can freeze onto its six corners multiple times, causing the snowflake to develop a unique, yet still six-sided shape. 
6. Snowflake designs are a favorite among mathematicians because of their perfectly symmetrical shape.  "However, if you've ever looked at an actual snowflake you know it often appears broken, fragmented, or as a clump of many snow crystals — all battle scars from colliding with or sticking to neighboring crystals during its trek to the ground," scientists tell us. 
7.  No two snowflakes are exactly alike because each one takes a slightly different path to the ground and, thus, encounters slightly different atmospheric conditions along the way. This accounts for different shapes and growth rates.
8.  Snowflakes appear white but are actually clear. When studied under a microscope, individual snowflakes do appear clear. It's when they all get piles together that they begin to look white. White light is made up of all colors in the visible spectrum so our eyes see snowflakes as white.
9.  Snow is an excellent noise-reducer. Why? As they accumulate on the ground, air becomes trapped between the individual snow crystals, which reduces vibration. It is thought that snow cover of less than 1 inch (25 mm) is enough to dampen the acoustics across a landscape. As snow ages, however, it becomes hardened and compacted and loses its ability to absorb sounds.
10.  Snowflakes covered in ice are called "rime"snowflakes. Snowflakes are made when water vapor freezes onto ice crystal inside of a cloud, but because they grow inside of clouds that also house water droplets whose temperatures are cooled below freezing, the snowflakes sometimes collide with these droplets. If these supercooled droplets of water collect and freeze onto nearby snow crystals, a rimed snowflake is born. Snow crystals can be rime free, have a few rime droplets, or be completely covered with rime. If rimed snowflakes blob together snow pellets, also called graupel, then forms.
Our snow in Lily Pad never lasts long and is usually gone within a few hours. Little bro, Mom, Dad, and I all had a blast while it was here. Whatever your plans are for this weekend, try to include some time outside appreciating the art and science of nature. And if you get some snow, take a closer look. Snow is really a small, frozen miracle.
See you all back here on Monday!
​Peace.

Everybody, even us frogs, have a rich fantasy life. Fantasizing can be good for the soul and make us feel good, especially when life gets hectic and stressful. Holidays are the perfect example. Some of us may fantasize about perfect holiday gatherings but, rarely, do they turn out that way. Other may fantasize about everything in the world going wrong at these family get-togethers but, again, rarely are they as bad as we imagine. Martha Beck, my favorite healthy lifestyle author, believes that fantasy is like medicine; it can "vastly improve our lives or, if they're the wrong kind, can poison us. But did you know that we can actually learn how to daydream in a healthy way? Ms. Beck says that it's one of life's most crucial skills. Here's what she has to say on the topic.
Most of the world's inventions, innovations, and great works of art began as somebody's dream. Imagination lets us create; it gives us a vision for our future. But if we let it go too far astray, it can cause us big problems. Learning how to daydream in a better way begins by noticing what your imagination does when you let it go "off leash." Without over thinking this, sit back and imagine your future tomorrow, next month, or next year. How do those visions feel to you? Do they make you happy and inspired? Or do you feel tense and numb? It may seem odd, but many of us do daydream in a way that makes us feel depressed, threatened, even trapped. See if any of the following patterns sound familiar to you.
1.  Flirting with disaster. The most destructive kind of daydreaming is what the psychologists term catastrophic daydreaming; your very own waking nightmare of all the awful things that might happen. If this is you, the next time you catch yourself having one of these waking nightmares, stop and tell yourself what's happening. it is possible to shake these off just as you would with a sleeping nightmare. the next step is to rein in your mind. If you are a chronic catastrophic daydreamer, this won't be easy, but you can do it. Ms. Becks suggests that trying to think positively only makes us struggle more and reinforces your negative feelings. Instead, she suggests that we stop focusing our attention on "the swirling anxiety" and then refocus the attention back onto reality...the here and now. Start with your body; don't judge the sensations you're feeling, simply notice them. Next, notice and feel your breath as it goes in and comes out. Pay attention to gravity. it's holding you firmly in place. Look around your environment. Notice small details of items and when your mind is fully engaged with your reality, your catastrophic fantasies will begin to disappear. Now that you can, at that moment, cope with whatever is happening. Each moment is all we ever have, for sure.
2.  Looping.  For most of us, we do this without even realizing what we're doing. When we think about the future we get caught up in a feedback loop of the same-old, same-old thoughts. This is known as looping. We never imagine anything different for ourselves. If we grew up in a household where financial resources and food were scarce, or limited, then we might loop our own fantasies of never having enough. These images sound dull and lack-luster...completely without imagination. But beware! They can be very, very powerful. Our looping thoughts can generate an endless cycle that can keep us from achieving our best future or destiny. Imagination is unlimited and it's free! Why not use it? Begin with dreaming about a future that's just a little bit better. And when that feels comfortable and you can do it with ease, then aim for something a bit better.
​3.  Pipe dreaming. Dreams should motivate you. Martha Beck feels that having outrageous fantasies can be a bit "like opiates; we get drugged into a happy stupor." We imagine everything, but do nothing. A bit like The Secret Life of Walter Middy." it's easy to fantasize about becoming a famous author or a Hollywood movie star without thinking about the work and training that has to come before these things can happen. fantasy should give you a taste of success that will be enough to keep you going "through the tough hours of fulfillment."  If you find that you have long-standing fantasies yet haven't done anything about making them a reality, then your mind could be addicted to these pipe dreams. The fix? Figure out smaller steps. Instead of imagining yourself as, say, the highest paid actor in Hollywood, try imaging yourself getting a part in your local community theater group. Or even taking lessons from a real acting coach! Once you've managed to make that happen, then move on to something a little bit grander. It's all about baby steps.
Once you've found and shaped your right fantasy, it'll bring you joy, not heartache and depression...or worse! And while your fantasy may not lead you to the exact spot you imagined, it could lead you to something even better!
Ms. Beck tells us that "healthy fantasies are one of the best holiday treats you can give yourself...just don't get trapped in la-la land." So best wishes and happy (realistic) fantasizing!

It's a cold dark morning here in Land of Lily Pad, but it is Wednesday and that means I have to get up and prepare for my weekly lesson with Dharma Frog. After getting myself cleaned up, I decide to do something different for breakfast...cereal. Fly Flakes were my favorite when I was a young tadpole and I just so happened to have some in my pantry. I set out two bowls, a pitcher of swamp water for the cereal and I get the tea kettle going. No sooner had I finished when Dharma jumps onto my pad with a loud thump. "Good morning Sir," I greeted my friend and teacher. "Good morning, Tadpole. I see we're dining on Fly Flakes this morning. Did you know that these were my favorite when I was a youngster, no older than your little brother Quigley, Jr." "No Sir, I did not. But now that you mention it, they were my favorites, too, when I was young. This is a very happy coincidence!"
We gobbled down our cereal and while we sipped on our hot tea, Dharma asked me a question. "Irwin, do you consider yourself a rich frog?" "Why not at all, Master, you know that I live rather simply. Why do you ask me such a thing?" Dharma thought for a moment and then spoke. "Son, the real measure of a frog's wealth is how much he's worth when he loses all his money." And so began my lesson for this week.
Dharma explained to me that true wealth shouldn't be measured by how much money you have in the bank or by the number of possessions you own. Rather, it should be measured by the things that are of real value, the things that are important and are lasting. With that statement, Dharma listed 5 things that make us frogs, and you humans as well, wealthier than money ever can.
1.  Physical, mental, and spiritual health. Good health is worth a lot. As someone once said, "There's no point in being the richest man in the graveyard."  Boy Howdy! Isn't that the truth! Being in good mental and physical health is worth more than any amount of money. And being spiritually at peace can give us more hope in difficult times than a pile of cash. All the money in the world can't buy that kind of comfort. So what's the cost of being healthy cost? Nothing. We can all take advantage of the great outdoors and exercise for free. We all have to eat so why not choose to eat healthier. that decision costs nothing. And as for your own personal form of spirituality? That costs nothing either. Churches are free and both the library and internet are full of free resources and books on spiritual teachings...whatever you believe.
​2.  Family. We may not always like our families but we should always love them. These are the ones that love us no matter what; they make us laugh and cry and are there when life gets tough. When we're young, we don't always realize how important our families are, but as we grow up and move away we begin to notice the void they leave in our lives when we don't see them as often as we used to. So what's the cost of loving and appreciating your family? Zero. Zip. Nada.
3.  Friends. These are the ones you love to spend time with. Sharing a joke or spending time with your best buds doesn't cost a thing. Even if they now live far away, you can send them an email, make a phone call, or contact them through Facebook. They're always as close as that. How awesome do you feel after a visit, or a simple chat, with your friends? I know I always feel really good and very, very lucky to have them in my life.  If you have good friends, you are very rich indeed.
4.  Being of service to others. There's no better feeling in the whole world than being able to help someone else. Whether it's volunteering for your favorite charitable organization or helping the elderly couple next door by mowing their yard for free. Being o service is all about making someone else's life a little better just by being around.  This reminds me of the classic Christmas story, "It's a Wonderful Life." If you look back over your life, can you see the difference you've made? If not, it's never to late to start.  At the end of life, we all want to feel that we've made a difference. making a difference doesn't mean bequeathing a pile of money to some museum. It just means being a good Samaritan from time to time. The cost? Nothing.
5.  The things that bring you joy; your hobbies and interests. Out of all the things on this list, it's really the only one that can potentially cost you money.  Yet many hobbies can be enjoyed for little or no cost. Books are available for free. So it's most music. Great videos on how to do almost anything are free on YouTube. Love art? No need to visit museums all over the world to see it. You can enjoy from the comfort of your home (or the public library). All you need do is look at books or check out your favorite artists online. Some museums even have a free day each month.
As Dharma and I finished up our lesson, and as he prepared to hop away for another week, he turned and asked me one last question. "Irwin, do you consider yourself a rich frog?" This time my answer was a resounding "Yes!" I know that I may be poor when it comes to ready cash, but I am rich beyond my wildest dreams. I enjoy helping others and I have many hobbies that occupy my time. I have friends, family, and love.​ And these are what make me the richest frog in all of Lily Pad.