Do.
September 26, 2008 2:04 PM   Subscribe

"Do. I can’t stress that one enough."

For the past three months, I've been telling myself, that 'I need to do something' to change my life, get on with things. This is a pretty good, if purposefully vague, roadmap, and I hope it'll be taken in the right spirit.

I also think this decade finally has a new Sunscreen.
posted by feelinglistless (63 comments total)

This post was deleted for the following reason: I don't know if this is going well. -- mathowie



 
LET GO OF THE SNARK

When you let go of the shift key.
posted by everichon at 2:09 PM on September 26, 2008 [6 favorites]


WEAR SUNSCREEN.
posted by stavrogin at 2:10 PM on September 26, 2008 [2 favorites]


oops, I didn't see you reference that.
posted by stavrogin at 2:10 PM on September 26, 2008


Do. As I say...
posted by Christ, what an asshole at 2:12 PM on September 26, 2008


Yes, What the world needs now is platitudes.
posted by jonmc at 2:12 PM on September 26, 2008 [10 favorites]


I'm going outside.
posted by Floydd at 2:12 PM on September 26, 2008


do. be. do. be. do.
posted by fixedgear at 2:14 PM on September 26, 2008 [1 favorite]


Aw. She thinks she's helping.

Of note: The google ads for "condescending boss"
posted by zerolives at 2:18 PM on September 26, 2008 [1 favorite]


Be all the cliche you can be.
posted by Maias at 2:18 PM on September 26, 2008 [6 favorites]


There’s a world out there to connect to, really connect to and email doesn’t count.

Says the blogger.
posted by Halloween Jack at 2:18 PM on September 26, 2008 [1 favorite]


DE is a way of doing.
posted by Smart Dalek at 2:19 PM on September 26, 2008 [3 favorites]


Brad Goodman: We have to change from Human beings, to human doing's, what's next?

Bart: A human going!
posted by The Whelk at 2:24 PM on September 26, 2008


blogging > doing.
posted by lunit at 2:24 PM on September 26, 2008


I've learned something today. Fuck if I know what.
posted by Astro Zombie at 2:25 PM on September 26, 2008


Go outside yourself

yes, usually, yes I do. Thanks for the reminder tho.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 2:27 PM on September 26, 2008 [1 favorite]


Remember to listen to a seven year old because you just have more words and life experience, not necessarily more wisdom.

Me: So, got any wisdom for me?

Seven Year Old: I fed my dog a gold crayon, and now he makes gold poop from his butt!

Me: As I journey through life, I'll try my best to keep that in mind. Thank you.
posted by Parasite Unseen at 2:29 PM on September 26, 2008 [9 favorites]


This reads like someone stripped the text from a bunch of those inspirational posters and strung it into a single vacuous narrative.
posted by Tehanu at 2:29 PM on September 26, 2008 [3 favorites]


If you think that's annoying and vapid, read what she has to say about herself. In the third person. In baby talk.
posted by dersins at 2:31 PM on September 26, 2008


The sunscreen speech was at least witty at times. This sounds more like Chicken Soup for the Web 2.0 Soul.
posted by demiurge at 2:31 PM on September 26, 2008 [1 favorite]


Well she's a self-described corporate brander. That fits.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 2:32 PM on September 26, 2008 [1 favorite]


feelinglistless, if this article makes you feel better or helps you through life, far be it from me to take that away from you. God knows, I've had my feelings soothed or inspired by cornier things. But posting them here as some sort of gospel kind of works against the intended effect is what I'm saying.
posted by jonmc at 2:32 PM on September 26, 2008 [1 favorite]


or do not, guess I. Hmm? Eh-heh heh oh ho hoo hoo!
posted by boo_radley at 2:33 PM on September 26, 2008


When I am an old lady I'm going to wear purple.
posted by mecran01 at 2:33 PM on September 26, 2008


Hey, Girl! Please preach your preachy preach preach elsewhere. But leave Fred, the Surfing Pinecone with me. Thanks.
posted by rokabiri at 2:36 PM on September 26, 2008


If you got a hunger for what you see
You'll take it eventually
You can have anything you want
But you better not take it from me
-- William Bruce Rose, Jr.
posted by Nahum Tate at 2:37 PM on September 26, 2008


You can pry my snark out of my cold, dead hands.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 2:38 PM on September 26, 2008 [4 favorites]


dersins: If you think that's annoying and vapid, read what she has to say about herself. In the third person. In baby talk.

Alas, there are evil people in this world of ours. One of these evil people told our Alex that her writings and her drawings were bad. This made Alex sad. Sad enough that she stopped writing and drawing altogether.

YOU ARE ALL EVIL PEOPLE.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 2:38 PM on September 26, 2008 [2 favorites]


I tried doing but I ended up in prison.
posted by strangeleftydoublethink at 2:38 PM on September 26, 2008


This reminded me of the sermon my old pastor was going to give the day he died in an electrical accident at the beginning of the service.

"Live. And Live Well. BREATHE. Breathe in and Breathe deeply. Be PRESENT. Do not be past. Do not be future. Be now. On a crystal clear, breezy 70 degree day, roll down the windows and FEEL the wind against your skin. Feel the warmth of the sun. If you run, then allow those first few breaths on a cool Autumn day to FREEZE your lungs and do not just be alarmed, be ALIVE. Get knee-deep in a novel and LOSE track of time. If you bike, pedal HARD… and if you crash then crash well.

Feel the SATISFACTION of a job well done—a paper well-written, a project thoroughly completed, a play well-performed. If you must wipe the snot from your 3-year old’s nose, don’t be disgusted if the Kleenex didn’t catch it all… because soon he’ll be wiping his own.
If you’ve recently experienced loss, then GRIEVE. And Grieve well. At the table with friends and family, LAUGH. If you’re eating and laughing at the same time, then might as well laugh until you puke. And if you eat, then SMELL. The aromas are not impediments to your day. Steak on the grill, coffee beans freshly ground, cookies in the oven. And TASTE. Taste every ounce of flavor. Taste every ounce of friendship. Taste every ounce of Life. Because-it-is-most-definitely-a-Gift."
posted by sicem07 at 2:39 PM on September 26, 2008 [1 favorite]


I think I'll just stay inside have a beer and and a cigarette and watch the debates.
Later I'll go downtown and try to pick up chicks.
posted by PHINC at 2:41 PM on September 26, 2008 [1 favorite]


Live for yourself.
Seize the day.
Leave in 25 minutes, then rinse.
For best results, shake thoroughly.
Call now.
Refrigerate after opening.
Stay tuned.
Don’t let this offer pass you by.
Do not store near heat or flame.
Wet hair. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
Do not remove under penalty of law.
Take one capsule by mouth daily.
Know your legal rights.
For topical use only.
Heat oven to 450º; bake for 15 minutes.
Press one for instructions in English.
Dry clean only.
Be heart smart.
Just say no.
Tell a friend.
Just do it.
Caution: may cause drowsiness.
posted by mothershock at 2:41 PM on September 26, 2008 [11 favorites]


Also, oxymoronysterical.
posted by strangeleftydoublethink at 2:41 PM on September 26, 2008 [1 favorite]


This made Alex sad. Sad enough that she stopped writing and drawing altogether.

If only.
posted by dersins at 2:42 PM on September 26, 2008


Alas, there are evil people in this world of ours. One of these evil people told our Alex that her writings and her drawings were bad. This made Alex sad. Sad enough that she stopped writing and drawing altogether.

YOU ARE ALL EVIL PEOPLE.


This is actually intesting. People write or draw or sculpt or weave gods-eyes because they get some joy or pleasure or satisfaction out of it. and if you ask anyone, they'll tell you that's the only reason to do such things and on a certain level they're right. But at the same time, someone telling you that what you've made is bad (or even mediocre) is going to hurt. That's just life. These days, thanks to the internet, everybody's a writer, but thatnks to the same internet, everybody's a critic, too. A mixed blessing, you might say.

Just a thought.
posted by jonmc at 2:42 PM on September 26, 2008 [2 favorites]


Choose online gaming, if it makes you feel good. Choose routine, it's healthy. Choose copying others when you are uninspired and need a kick-start. Email people when you don't want to intrude. Email people to share things you can't speak. Think about the person who turns to online communities in their hour of need. Stop thinking the moment you get home, relax--you've worked hard enough. If you can't make a difference because you are working 60 hour weeks, don't worry. Be lazy when you need to. Humor seven year olds. When you get to 70--try not to follow through. Take action in your life when responsibilities permit it. Sulk! Wait! Think! Read! Slow down. Live.

Do? "Why would I want to do a thing like that?"
posted by takeyourmedicine at 2:49 PM on September 26, 2008


Desi-do-rata
posted by rongorongo at 2:51 PM on September 26, 2008


Wipe front to back.
posted by docpops at 2:53 PM on September 26, 2008


Be true to your school.
posted by docpops at 2:54 PM on September 26, 2008 [1 favorite]


I'm a human being, not a human doing. Most of my evidence after i'm gone will be doings, will be nouns, but at the present i'm verbing.

Though all of these things have been said before, i'm still glad they're being resynthesized for others. Platitude or not, there are plenty of people that need this sort of thing to start moving again.

I'm too proud or embarrassed usually to tell anyone when i'm stuck in a spot , so stumbling across this at the right time in the sweet semi-isolation of the internet is all i can hope for in those times.
posted by phylum sinter at 3:00 PM on September 26, 2008


It's a rare opportunity that I get to see one of these annoying email forwards in its original context a full year before my mother will inevitably email it to me. Thanks, Metafilter.
posted by saraswati at 3:00 PM on September 26, 2008 [2 favorites]


First pants, then shoes.

Can we start a thread devoted to tips learned from Far Side cartoons?
posted by small_ruminant at 3:00 PM on September 26, 2008


also: i was an old lady yesterday, today i'm a young man.
posted by phylum sinter at 3:04 PM on September 26, 2008


Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 3:06 PM on September 26, 2008


OK, because I refuse to read it otherwise:
Please go out there and do. Live. Don’t be the same as yesterday. Don’t live vicariously online. Don’t use language that has no meaning or talk ideas you don’t really live. Don’t hide. Don’t copy others or live their ideas or life. Don’t fear doing your thing. Don’t fear doing. Instead of reading a decorating magazine, paint that room. Instead of thinking of baking, do up a cake. Run, walk, bike. Put that self help book down and pick up yourself.

Let go of the snark, your worries, your anger and fear and give into possibility, action, joy and life. Do. Do some more. Stop thinking about you. Stop blogging about just you and your kid and your pet. There’s a world out there to connect to, really connect to and email doesn’t count. Being of use is more important than being popular. Think about the lady down the street, the person at the drive through, the man fallen in the street, about politics, the environment, healthcare, another country and then do something about it. Never stop at thinking.

Dream big, work harder. Have lots of fun, lift a finger, do something for someone else. Cheer your friends on. Cheer yourself up. Celebrate as much as possible. Enjoy everything. Right now. It’s ok to want more and do more but be present with where you are or who you are with. Don’t rush the situation - even if it’s bad. Move on when you can. Don’t settle. Try everything you can and get over everything holding you back.

Go outside. Go outside yourself. Make a difference, make some change. Don’t complain about someone unless you’re talking to that someone. Don’t complain about a situation you’re not willing to make better. They don’t have it better and you don’t have it worse. Don’t make excuses. You’ll never see possibility if you do. And you’re smart and worth more than settling for a life of complaining and limitation.

Hope. Hope more. Give someone else hope. Get healthy and contribute to a healthy environment. Think about everything you do, you buy, you say. Only be lazy on sunday and even then, be conscious. Rest is useful, giving up is not.

Live with a light heart. Play more. Remember what it’s like to be seven. Remember to listen to a seven year old because you just have more words and life experience, not necessarily more wisdom. Have more questions than answers and don’t put everything into words. Sometimes just feel things and be. Be quiet more often, listen harder, talk exactly as you mean to.

Strive for your best and not what you think someone elses’ best is. Follow through. Don’t let others’ down. Don’t let yourself down. You are better than your circumstances. Ask for what you’re worth. Make magic happen don’t wish for it. Don’t envy others’ lives, envy yours. Live it fully. Teach by example how to live well, how to be treated, how to be kind, how to be alive.

Do. I can’t stress that one enough. Take action on your life. Make the change. No more sulking, waiting, thinking, reading, talking about. It’s time. You’re ready.
posted by bonaldi at 3:06 PM on September 26, 2008 [2 favorites]


YOU ARE ALL EVIL PEOPLE.

Thanks for noticing. It's good to know that our work is attracting attention.
posted by never used baby shoes at 3:10 PM on September 26, 2008


Don’t use language that has no meaning or talk ideas you don’t really live.

Gibbledy gobbledy gump! I'd like to be under the sea in an octupus's garden.
posted by not_on_display at 3:10 PM on September 26, 2008


i heard that "do easy" monologue in laurent garnier's resident advisor mix... now i get where it came from!
posted by jcruelty at 3:11 PM on September 26, 2008


People who rip on other people aren't evil, they just lack self-esteem. They do it to feel better about themselves.

Also, didgeridoo.
posted by LordSludge at 3:11 PM on September 26, 2008


Just a thought.

a BAD thought.
posted by davejay at 3:13 PM on September 26, 2008


You know what they say: you can't make chicken soup for the soul without slaughtering a few chickens. Mmm, death.
posted by naju at 3:18 PM on September 26, 2008


YOU ARE ALL EVIL PEOPLE.

This is actually intesting. People write or draw or sculpt or weave gods-eyes because they get some joy or pleasure or satisfaction out of it.


I do it because I WANT TO PUT MY EVIL INSIDE OF YOU!

GRAAHHHH!
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 3:21 PM on September 26, 2008


The most useful piece of advice I ever received from my father. He said "You can use newspaper to dry off mirrors with no streaking."

It's 100% true and useful more often than you'd think.
posted by tkolar at 3:28 PM on September 26, 2008 [1 favorite]


I'm going to have to go with twee pablum for 500, Alex. C'mon daily double!
posted by Justinian at 3:32 PM on September 26, 2008


The great philosopher Yoda once said: "Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try."

She's kinda like that.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 3:35 PM on September 26, 2008


The great philosopher Yoda once said:

Tequila? Kumquats? A Jedi craves not these things.


I think that's what the little green fuck said. The volume on the TV set was pretty low.
posted by eriko at 3:38 PM on September 26, 2008


grapefruitmoon: Only a Sith speaks in absolutes.
posted by ktrey at 3:39 PM on September 26, 2008


There's only one rule that I know of, babies—God damn it, you've got to rewind.
posted by katillathehun at 3:40 PM on September 26, 2008 [1 favorite]


Goat butts against the edge and his horns become entangled.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 3:42 PM on September 26, 2008 [1 favorite]


DO.

Indeed.

But first.

A nap.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
posted by BrianBoyko at 3:50 PM on September 26, 2008


HEALTH IS OUR GREATEST WEALTH
DILUTE! DILUTE! OK!
posted by carsonb at 3:51 PM on September 26, 2008 [1 favorite]


I've probably mentioned it before, but I live my life by two short phrases that I got from the back of a matchbox, twenty or so years ago:
Strike gently away from the body.
Keep away from children.
Works for me.
posted by Grangousier at 3:58 PM on September 26, 2008 [1 favorite]


The best advice I ever got was when I was a freshmen in high school. I was at my first forensics debate and about to go in for my first speech (or whatever, can't remember what it was called). I get to the room and this well-dressed upperclassman guy steps out. He takes one look at me, kind of bends over to get at my eye level and says:

"I'm going to give you a bit of advice, and I want you to remember it for the rest of your life: There is always someone worse than you, and there is also someone worse than that person"

And he walked off.

Years later it dawns on me that I probably looked really pathetic, and he either felt sorry for me or wanted to fuck with my head. How cathartic.
posted by hellojed at 4:11 PM on September 26, 2008 [3 favorites]


I'll get around to doing just as soon as I find a place to live and a job, thankyouverymuch.

ass.
posted by piratebowling at 4:15 PM on September 26, 2008 [1 favorite]


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