A new game

smiling is contagious. or say they say...


so this game is really easy. 


All you have to do is get someone else to smile. (extra points for creativity) 


If the person is someone you already know- 1 point


If you don't know the person - 2 points. 


Spread the joy. Happy Hanukkah. -TopButtonButtoned

you're right

no fun colors today. sorry =( 


"you're right" THE BEST WORDS EVER.


learn these. learn them well. (especially if you're a guy)


i'm sure I've said this before, but, no one ever really wins an argument. 


it's all ego, that's the only thing that will stop us from admitting defeat. it's pointless, and everyone knows it.


but either way, when you're arguing you need to be at least a little bit right, or you have to have an excuse, or something. something to protect your ego. 


if we all held ourselves in higher-esteem, then the opinions of other wouldn't effect us so powerfully. 


do yourself a favor, even when you're right.. just tell the other person that they are right. and at the very least, don't tell them that they are wrong. 
no one ever wants to hear that they are wrong. 

-TopButtonButtoned

Patience.

That's the new goal. 


I'm reading a book about being patient, it's amazing. it's strange how just reading something totally has an effect on you. I literally just started yesterday and already feel more patient. 


But, if you want to fully have control over yourself, be a master over your own body, patience is the key.


If you want to live all around happier life, you have to patient. 


Imagine someone flicking your ear, but you don't respond, in fact you're able to smile. 


When you stand in a long line, you smile at the opportunity to build your patience. 


this like everything is obviously easier said then done. 


And now to end off with some cheesy quote.....

"Slow and steady wins the race" -TopButtonButtoned

High FIVE!

So apparently the "high five" originated in the late 1970's in a baseball game. 


it's amazing how powerful this exchange is...... why can it connect to strangers instantly? 


i've found myself before at a baseball game exchanging "high fives" with complete strangers. it's fascinating how it can create such a bond so quickly. 


i guess a lot has to do with touch. any sort of physical contact can create an illusion of closeness. 


and, the high five has such POWERFUL energy behind it. 


when two people high-five, they each give the other person a sense of self-worth, they acknowledge the amazing event that had just transpired. 


i'm assuming the same logic will apply to handshakes and the all-famous FIST BUMP!


UP TOP! -TopButtonButtoned 

critics (PT. II)

woah, first post in a while. and on to the post!

Critics, like I said, no one likes them.

But some critics are worse than others. 

grammar critics. (when they understood EXACTLY what you meant, but feel the need to point it out)

okay, so for whatever reason it bugs you when people say things improperly, but... 

they rather not be corrected. 

words. they mean whatever you want them to mean. if when i say sponge i mean toothbrush. and everyone knows it? what's the big deal? 

-Having bad grammar isn't a bad character trait. 

Food critics. 

some people feel like they have a more refined taste? how could you possibly eat a food incorrectly? isn't whatever tastes best... and everyone has their own tastes.... 

-since when was ketchup on eggs a sin?

Music critics. 

How could music be bad? like i said before, everyone likes different music. 

All critics.

-Silence is golden. TopButtonButtoned

putting yourself second.

My friend and I have taken it upon ourselves to not use the words " I, me, myself, etc..." 


(This rule doesn't apply to blog posts.) 


the idea behind this is that, if you only talk in terms of other people, you're putting their needs in front of your own. because that's what people are interested in, themselves.


if you erase the word "I" from your vocabulary, you'll have no problem listening to what the other person has to say... 


although, this isn't an easy task, i already have 12 demerits...... 


this may be an extreme, but... hopefully the results will be worth it. 

short post today. oh well. and now for a picture.

-TopButtonButtoned

i really wanted to post tonight, but then had no time.

I guess this post will have to wait for tomorrow, so essentially there is no point in this post... 


but, i shall include a picture. 


i'll just post something i enjoy.


Sweatpants. the most amazing pants ever. next to Aladdin pants that is.

Tal, no need to respond to this one, haha. hopefully the  real one will be tomorrow.

Best post yet? -TopButtonButtoned

an answer to all of life's problems.

perspective. 


that's it. 


someone always has it worse off than you do. think about it.


what do you want? do you want the glass to be half full or or half empty? 


is wallowing in self pity really the best solution? 


when it comes to other peoples problems, it's really easy to look at it, and say 
"it's not as bad as you're making it seem", which is probably true. (for us too)


you might not have a 4.0, but you're good at sports.
you're not necessarily the best looking, but  you're very charitable. 
you don't live in a mansion, but you have really great parents.


just, look for the good in any situation. there's always some good, ( more than you realize) 


"Stop looking at what you ain't got and start being thankful for what you do got" ~T.I.


one who can do this is sure to be happier person and more effective in life. 


i could probably write about this topic all day, but it's fairly self-explanatory. also, i still have to prepare for Shabbat.




Have a great weekend. -TopButtonButtoned

A letter to my parents

Dear Mom and Dad,
Thank you for feeding me, even when i was stubborn and wouldn't eat my vegetables. You changed my diapers, a special thank you for that. You put money under my pillow when my teeth fell out. Dad, you would make up stories to read me at night, so i could sleep peacefully at night. Mom, you always tied my shoes so I wouldn't fall down, you even taught me, so I could do it myself. I got to go to school for over 14 years, all of which you paid for. Also, you paid for my swimming lessons, oh and my guitar lessons , all of the clothing that I own too. I must have costed you a fortune.... yet, i threw tantrums when i didn't get exactly what i wanted. I'd be embarrassed to have you be around when i was with my friends.... you would ask me to take out the garbage or to clean my room, and i would 
throw a fit.... when i didn't do well in school, there was never a complaint from you. You drove me everywhere. There was always food at home, i never went hungry. Remember when I really wanted to get glasses, and you got me them even though you knew that i didn't really need them. When I drew on the walls, you didn't scold me. I was always able to play with my friends. You were always there when I needed help with my homework. 


If I were to list everything it would take a lifetime. 
I couldn't ask for more. 


Mom, Dad, I owe you everything. Anything and everything I am and own, is due to you. There is never enough thanks that could be said...


From this day on, I vow to be a better son. 

marriage (part I ? , I just assume this won't be the last post)

Rivka fetched water for 10 thirsty camels, until they were full.


Yaakov worked for years and years until he could marry Rachel. 


What am I supposed to do? I can't really top that..... 


well, before I can begin my quest for marriage...i have to work on myself... 


assuming I marry someone who is my equal, or even better than me... 


I better be sure that i'm really comfortable with myself... 


what is love? 


love.. is giving.. the more you give to someone the more you love them, that's why parents love their kids so much. 


so.... in order to prepare for this whole marriage thing.... i have to give... A LOT... ALWAYS..... 


I must become a YES MAN. (the movie is somewhat decent... but not an essential) 


The Challenge: saying yes to every request people make of me.... 

Marry me, please. -TopButtonButtoned

don't judge me.

a wise Madrich of mine once said... 


"Don't judge someone until you walk a mile in their shoes. because then you'll be a mile away, and you'll have their shoes"


so, i'm sad to say in high-school, i used to judge people, a lot. 


but, now... i shall try to swear it off. for a few reasons.... 


1) it's a waste of time, i could be thinking about more important things, like improving myself.


2) If i grew up exactly like they did, i'd be doing the same thing


3) I probably don't know the WHOLE STORY...


4) Judging people just makes you upset inside, i much rather be happy. 


if i want the benefit of the doubt, i think i can give it to everyone else also... 

Button up!      -TopButtonButtoned

why guys are more shallow than girls (seemingly)

   you meet someone of the opposite sex, first thing you gauge is how attractive they are...

although, that generally doesn't last forever, if they are boring or a jerk, you'll lose interest... 

why? why do looks come first? 

well, we're spiritual beings in a physical body. and we're surrounded all day with physicality... 

so naturally.... the first thing we look at his how "hot" the other person is. which i'm not saying is bad.

we are physical for a reason.

and, eventually you look for something more than just the physical, because, as i said, we're spiritual beings, so we constantly crave for more.... to find a REAL connection. 

like real character traits..... (or middot if you prefer) 

now... it makes a lot of sense... since girls often are more spiritually connected than men.... they generally will look more for the "spiritual" than guys will.......

so girls, spend 5 hours a day brushing your hair and looking in the mirror, if you want, as long as you make sure to be a REAL person... 

(same goes for guys) 

No one wants to marry a barbie.... -TopButtonButtoned

one man's trash another man's music.

Music is a hard topic to tackle in just one post, we'll see how I do.. maybe there will be another post...?.


whenever I listen to music, i can't help but tap my foot to the rhythm or start singing along..... but why? 


if your emotions are neutral at the time, they will generally fall in to sync with the song. 


but if your sad, you will generally pick a sad song to listen to, same goes if you're happy. why?


because how you're feeling inside is supposed to match what's going on around you outside.


making music: I like playing music, what's my fascination with music?why do people want to play an instrument or make up lyrics to a song...? 


here's what I think... we want to be G-d. or at least be like him....... 


meaning, G-d creates, so whenever we create music.... we're acting like G-d! 


I'll take it a step further, you want the song that you create, to be like you! so the song is  the 
ultimate expression of ones self, it's almost as if, it IS a part of him/her. 

I'll probably have another post (on music) ....... thank you Yossi for your laptop! 


-TopButtonButtoned

happy people are happier.

people who are pessimists are looked down at..... so now they call themselves "realists".. ..
for example (a real one too..) : "I'll probably never get married, i'm just being a realist."

"Ignorance is bliss", i'd rather be ignorant, than unhappy with everyone and everything..

So here are five small things in life that make me happy:
(If you want a whole blog dedicated towards things like that.... 1000 Awesome Things! )

1) Finding unexpected money ( like in your pocket or in the dryer)

2) Coming in to the room, as the commercial ends and the show begins. (unless you like commercials)

3) Pizza Bagels. (they combined the two best foods in to one )

4) Buttoning your top button (does that even need to be explained?)

5) Getting to finish off girls ice cream (because they never seem to be able to eat the whole thing)

you can be a depressed person, or you could be really happy, it's all up to you.....

Smile. -TopButtonButtoned

look me in the eyes! on second thought, maybe not.....

The second day of blogging! A success to say the least......

My thought of today... eye contact.

When two peoples eyes meet something happens,
 that's why liars can't look you in the eyes..... because they don't want anything to happen.

I personally try to avoid eye contact whenever I don't want to talk to someone. although, it never really seems to work. (maybe people are just trying to annoy me super attracted to me? yea, that probably makes the most sense)

Also, if I ever space out, people tend to think i'm just staring at them, and get really creeped out....

But, theoretically, intense staring can have the opposite effect, you can also share really intense moments.
(like with love and all that fun stuff)

Staring contests= inherently awkward. who thought of that game?

-TopButtonButtoned

nobody likes a critic.

i don't like introductions. maybe i'll do that later.... until then....
Today i made a resolution to not criticize people ever. I was reading this book entitled "How to Win Friends and Influence People", i'm actually still in the middle of reading it... anyway, Dale Carnegie (the author) points out how criticizing people will never help anyone ever.
here's why.....

1) People never listen to what you say, because as humans we have very fragile egos and the slightest insult will make us jump in to full defense. (is "full defense" even a saying?)

2) Whenever you insult people it will just cause them to resent you.

There are more reasons, i'm too lazy to list them all, and i don't want this post to be too long..

Apparently, Abraham Lincoln, used to be a very critical person... until one time he wrote a rather vicious letter to someone, who then challenged him to a duel. The duel never took place, but he did learn never to criticize EVER. And, well he was a pretty awesome guy, or at least most people thought so.. *cough* John Wilkes Booth *cough*

Also! the most successful people, are the ones who compliment, not the ones that criticize.

Well, we shall see how long this lasts (not criticizing) (also, the blog), hopefully a lifetime. but, you never know....

Thank you Alex for letting me use your laptop! (also, Alex, let me know what you thought of today's blog)