| How to Have a Sense of Humor Posted: 26 Mar 2016 05:00 PM PDT A sense of humor can be a person's greatest asset. This skill can help you interact easily with others, improve your health, and even help diffuse difficult situations. What's not often understood is that you don't have to be funny to have a sense of humor, you just have to learn to see the lighter side of things. EditUnderstanding Humor - Identify the benefits of humor. A sense of humor is an attitude you adopt that allows you to find humor in both positive and negative situations. A sense of humor may reduce stress and anxiety, as well as increase coping abilities and self-esteem. [1]
- There are physical, cognitive, emotional, and social benefits of humor, which include: reduced pain and stress, increased mood and creativity, increased friendliness, and happier relationships with others. [2]
- Recognize the difference between being funny and having a sense of humor. Being funny means being able to express humor: perhaps telling a laugh-filled story, a witty pun, or a well-timed joke. Having a sense of humor means having the ability to let go and not take everything so seriously, and being able to laugh at—or at least see the humor in—life's absurdities. [3]
- You don't have to be funny to have a sense of humor, or be the one telling all the jokes.
- Find your funny bone. What makes you laugh? What things make you smile and lighten up? This is one way to start helping your sense of humor. [4] There are various types of humor, such as bonding humor and laughing-at-life humor. [5]
- Watch and learn. If you're not sure how to laugh or have a sense of humor about things, watch other people. How do your friends and family laugh at the world around them and the things that happen to them?
- Try watching movies with varied humor, including films with Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Adam Sandler, Kristen Wiig, Steve Martin, or Chevy Chase. Watch comedy classics, such as Meet the Parents, Young Frankenstein, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Blazing Saddles, Trading Places, Finding Nemo, and Bridesmaids.
- Be careful to observe other people, but don't just copy their humor. True humor is genuine and reflects your personality. [6]
- Focus more on having fun than being funny. Having a sense of humor helps you have fun despite what life throws at you. That means you can laugh at life and poke fun at your situation. Remember to keep focused on having fun.
EditLearning to Joke - Learn some jokes. Sharing humor with others can be a great way to connect. If you want to bring some humor to social functions, learn a few basic jokes. You can also look for humorous pictures, witty statements, and funny internet memes to share with others. Look for things that go with your style of humor.[7]
- For example, try something like this: What do you call a line of rabbits walking backward? A receding hare line.[8]
- What did the football coach say to the broken vending machine? Give me my quarterback!
- Find the humor in commonalities. People tend to laugh at jokes that deal with their situations, where they live, or their beliefs. [9] Make a light joke about the weather or the city you live in to break the ice with people. If you are in the same business, make a joke about that profession.
- When looking for something to say, comment on the weather. For example, "If it's doesn't stop snowing, I'm going to have to ski to work."
- Surround yourself with funny people. Think about your funny friends. How do they slip humor into the conversation? What kinds of jokes do they make?
- Check out stand up comedians or watch videos online. Focus on their delivery, the topics, and how they turn the everyday into something humorous.
- Observe the people in your life that you consider funny, and determine what it is you like about their humor that you can add to your own.
- Practice. Practice making jokes so you can improve and become more natural. Start by using humor with trusted family and friends. Tell them your goal and ask them to be honest with you. Listen to them if they tell you that your jokes need improvement. As you become more comfortable, expand your comfort zone by inserting humor into conversations with people not as close to you.
- Be careful not to offend people. As you develop your sense of humor, think about the context. Do you get offended easily when people are making jokes? Whether you are telling jokes or laughing at jokes, you want to be careful not to offend anyone or hurt their feelings. Having a sense of humor means you approach life with a good-natured attitude. You don't use others to get a laugh, and you don't laugh when people make fun of others. [10]
- If you are telling jokes, think about context. Is this an appropriate joke for work, a date, or the group of people you are with? Will it offend someone?
- Know the difference between punching up and punching down. Punching up challenges the status quo by poking at a powerful group. Punching down reinforces the status quo by making fun of a vulnerable or oppressed group.
- Racist, sexist, and crude humor can be extremely offensive. Joking about a person's religion, political belief, and other belief systems may also cross into offensive territory. Save the tasteless, offensive jokes for your head or for those "anything goes" friends.
- Put-down humor or aggressive humor is used to criticize and manipulate through teasing, sarcasm, and ridicule.[11] This can be funny when directed at public figures, but can be extremely hurtful if used against friends and take a toll on personal relationships.[12]
EditLooking on the Bright Side of Life - Learn to laugh. Laughter is a key to a sense of humor. Focus on laughing more every day, even laughing at yourself. Enjoy small things, find humor in everyday situations, and find humor in life's misfortunes. Smile as often as you can. Try making other people laugh, too. Make laughing a priority, for yourself and for others.[13]
- Laugh instead of reacting. When you find yourself in a tense situation, step back and laugh. Anger is a powerful emotion, but laughter also has a powerful hold over our minds and bodies. Toss out a one-liner, laugh at the situation, or use humor to diffuse a situation. [14] It might save you some stress and heartache.
- Sometimes tense or uncomfortable situations benefit from some comedic relief. A joke can take some of the tension away and make people feel more comfortable.
- When you know you are about to go off on someone, crack a joke. If you're fighting with your sibling, you can say, "We've been fighting about this same thing for 10 years! Apparently, we're stuck as teenagers."
- If someone makes fun of your old car, you can respond, "I bet you don't look as good as you did 15 years ago, either!"[15]
- Let go of defensiveness. Let go of things that make you immediately feel defensive. Forget criticisms, judgments, and self-doubt. Instead, let those bothersome things roll off your back as you have a sense of humor about them. Everyone is not out to criticize you or to get you. Instead, smile or laugh.[16]
- Accept yourself. Having a light-hearted attitude about yourself is one way of keeping a sense of humor. Learn to laugh at yourself. Everyone needs to take themselves seriously sometimes, but learning to laugh at yourself is a way to self-acceptance. No one is perfect, and we all make mistakes. Don't take yourself too seriously, and keep good humor about your life.
- Laugh off things you cannot control, such as age and appearance. If you have a big nose, make fun of yourself instead of getting upset. If you're getting older, laugh at the over the hill cards. Even if you feel uncomfortable making fun of yourself, shrug that stuff off, especially if you can't change it.
- Laugh at your slight embarrassments and faults. It helps to see the humor in your humanness.
- Think about the embarrassing moments in your life. Find a way to tell that story where it's humorous instead of mortifying. You will need to poke fun at yourself, and maybe exaggerate or dramatize the events.
- Give others a break. Part of having a sense of humor is transferring that over to others. Just like how you shouldn't take yourself too seriously, try to use the same principle with others. Be forgiving and focus on positives when people make mistakes. Lightheartedly laugh off their mistakes like you would your own. This not only makes you feel good, but it makes them feel accepted, which can help your relationship.[17]
- Instead of getting mad because your employee is always late to meetings, make it into a joke by saying, "Glad you're not running an airline."
- While the joke your co-worker made might be tasteless or offensive, it might not require getting upset. Having a sense of humor means you let things roll off your back and you choose what to get upset about.
- Get spontaneous. Most people won't do something because they're scared of failure or looking silly. Having a good sense of humor about yourself can help you get over these things holding you back. A sense of humor helps you get out of your head and let go of your inhibitions so you can experience life – no matter if your endeavors are successful or not. [18]
- Having a sense of humor helps you realize that it's okay to look stupid. Even if you look stupid, just laugh at yourself. And then smile because you tried something new outside of your comfort zone.
- Enjoy things that make you laugh or smile. That's the best way to develop a sense of humor.
- Keep at it! Humor is an important part of life.
- Make sure you do funny things at the right time. Timing is crucial to make someone laugh. Not every situation needs humor.
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| How to Pack a Sleeping Bag Posted: 26 Mar 2016 09:00 AM PDT Improper packing can turn your cozy sleeping bag into a wet, heavy lump. Learn how to protect it and fit it comfortably in your rucksack. When you return from your adventure, don't forget to give your bag a little attention so it stays comfy for your next trip. EditPacking a Sleeping Bag for Backpacking - Consider getting a stuff sack so you can pack the sleeping bag in a smaller volume. One choice is a "compression sack," which has cinch straps to further compress the bag after packing.
- The minimal amount of extra weight from the sack can be worth it for the reduction in volume, and the protection against tears. However, a lot of long-distance hikers don't use a stuff sack--they just stuff the bag in their pack and let it take up empty spaces. The only reason to stuff it in a sack is to keep it contained, for convenience. Compression sacks are a good way to save space but are a little heavier than a regular stuff sack.
- Stuff the bag in the stuff sack. No folding, no rolling, just take one end and start stuffing it into the bag until it's all in. Starting with the foot end so it's easier to get all the air out. By "stuffing" it this way the insulation will stay more evenly distributed since it never gets folded the same way. If this is a compression sack, cinch the straps to tighten the bag further. Pull the cord on the stuff sack as tight as possible. The goal is to have there be an opening no larger than a quarter if at all possible.
- Folding and rolling tends to cause repeated stress on the same parts, and can cause lumps in the stuffing or tears in the fabric. Folding also takes longer and makes it harder to compress.
- Protect your bag from water. Keeping your sleeping bag dry is a major priority, especially for down bags. Nothing is more uncomfortable than sleeping in a wet bag on a cold night. Waterproof stuff sacks and rucksacks are one option, but they can be expensive and not always reliable. For extra protection, use a quality pack cover and line the interior of your pack with a trash compactor bag.
- Bags can get wet not only from rain, but setting your backpack on the wet ground (since you often strap it to the bottom of your bag), or when crossing streams.
- If you don't have a trash compactor bag, line the inside of the stuff sack with a regular garbage bag before you stuff the bag in.
- Fold the top of the garbage or trash compactor bag over so that it is sealed and water won't get in. If you're using a garbage bag inside the stuff sack, twist the excess ends of the garbage bag and stick the twist under the edge of the drawstring so nothing sticks out. No need to use a twist tie. They are too easy to loose on the trail and add to trash on the trail.
- Pack the bag at the bottom of your pack. Since you won't need the sleeping bag during the day, pack it underneath everything else. This will also reduce strain on your back and knees, since the bag is lighter (by volume) than most other supplies.
- If your pack has two compartments, store it at the bottom of the top compartment.
- If it is not possible to fit all of your gear inside the pack, and the larger items like tent and/or sleeping bag have to be lashed on outside, strap the sleeping bag to the top of the pack and the tent to the bottom. When you take the pack off at rest stops and set it on the ground, it is preferable to have the tent instead of the sleeping bag in contact with the ground, especially if it's damp or muddy.
- If you strap the bag to your backpack, be sure to try and center it on the pack as best as possible and cinch it as tight as you can. Otherwise many people end up having to stop to re-secure their bag because it is falling out.
EditPacking a Bag by Rolling It This method is convenient for compressing a sleeping back to a convenient size for situations where volume is not as much of an issue, such as car camping or sleepovers. - Fold the bag in half. Fold it width-wise, so it becomes half as wide and twice as thick when rolled up. Depending on the size of your bag and stuff sack, you may need to fold it a second time.
- Roll up the sleeping bag. Start rolling at the end without straps attached. Roll the bag as tightly as you can, then pull the straps over the bundle to keep it together.
- To roll it as tightly as possible, kneel with your knees on the end of the bag, rolling it against your upper leg.
- Fit the bag into its sack. This usually is not a stuff sack, but a fitted sack that the sleeping bag can fit into when rolled up.
- If you do not have a stuff sack, cinch the rolled up bag tight with a belt, or a string or rope as a last resort. You may need a friend to hold the bag while you tie it.
EditStoring a Sleeping Bag at Home - Wash the bag if necessary. If the sleeping bag gets dirty, wash it in a front-loaded washing machine. Run it through the dryer until completely dry. If you have a synthetic sleeping bag, check the tag for special instructions before you do this.
- Down sleeping bags get clumpy in the wash. To make them even and fluffy again, add a tennis ball to the dryer near the end of the cycle.
- Never wash a sleeping bag in a top-loaded machine. The agitator may tear the fabric.
- Air out the sleeping bag after each trip. Never store a sleeping bag while it is wet or even a little damp. If the sleeping bag doesn't need a visit to the laundromat, just spread it out to dry instead.
- Some people turn the bag inside-out and hang it so that the inside airs out (that's often what gets smelly over time).
- Leave it uncompressed during storage. Storing a sleeping bag in a stuff sack may compress the material permanently (he stuffing inside can separate along where it's folded and this makes it colder and less warm to sleep in). Let it expand between trips with one of the following storage methods:
- Place it in an oversize, breathable storage bag made from cotton or nylon.
- Spread it out under the bed.
- Hang synthetic (but not down) sleeping bags on a large clothes hanger.
- Protect it from insects and water. If you're storing your sleeping bag in a damp room, place it in a bone-dry, airtight tub. Keep it away from areas with a known insect problem.
- There are "end caps" for sleeping bag stuff sacks that you can buy. These are placed on the end of the stuff sack and then cinched tight to reduce the length of the stuff sack/bag. These are not necessary, but might be helpful if you have a bulky sleeping bag.
- If you have room in your stuff sack, store other supplies that you only need at night, such as thermal underwear, a head torch, or bedtime reading. A sleeping bag liner is another good option that allows you to adjust for warm or cold nights. Do not include anything that could leak or get wet, such as toothpaste or a tent.
- Down sleeping bags can be compressed further than synthetic sleeping bags. You can fit them into a smaller stuff sack, and compression sacks are more effective.
- If your sleeping bag doesn't have a hood, wear a hoodie or coat with a hood to bed. This will keep you warmer and protect your face from bugs.
- If you need to save money, buy the sleeping bag at a secondhand store and sew the rips closed.
- If you expect weather colder than your sleeping bag is rated for, put a short sleeping bag inside the larger one. This is not ideal due to the weight, but may be more affordable than a high-range sleeping bag. Alternatively, you can buy inexpensive sleeping bag liners. They simply fit into the inside of the bag. Some have velcro to secure it so it does not shift during the night. These provide an extra few degrees of warmth, protect the inside of your main bag from getting dirty, and most are washable (the silk ones may need to be hand washed), so it's easy to keep your main bag clean.
- On warm nights when you just need a light sleeping bag, you can either just carry the liner, or place the liner on top of your sleeping bag to provide extra cushioning.
- There are many types and models of sleeping bags that these instructions may not be entirely applicable to. The most immediate example would be the old military surplus "mummy" bags often available at surplus stores. These are usually rather difficult to compress (rendering a stuff sack less than ideal), since they tend to be stiffer than their modern counterparts, and most specifically say "Do Not Wash" on an interior tag.
- If your sleeping bag gets a hole in it near the zipper, fix it immediately. The whole sleeping bag could fall apart.
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| How to Decorate Easter Eggs Posted: 26 Mar 2016 01:00 AM PDT Decorating Easter eggs is a fun activity that you can do with your kids. There are lots of different ways to make the eggs colorful without sticking to a traditional kit. When working with art supplies, always work with hard boiled eggs. After ten minutes on the stove and some cooling down time, you're ready! Assemble your materials and let's get started. EditWith Crayons - Let the eggs cool until you can hold them in your hand, but still feel some warmth. In general, give the eggs about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Use crayons to draw and color on the eggs. The heat from the eggs will melt the wax so you don't have to press too hard, which could crack your eggs.
- If you have small children, guide them along their first egg. They may need to be shown how much pressure is appropriate or how to draw along a curve.
EditWith Rice or Pasta - Allow the eggs to cool completely before decorating them. If they're warm, the glue will take longer to solidify and it might make the process messier as a result.
- Dye your rice. Though you can paint the rice, it'll look neater and cleaner if you dye the rice before using it. It's a simple process and can be done in minutes.
- All you need is a plastic bag, water, food coloring, and parchment paper. And rice, of course. If you decide to dye your rice, it has to set for about 30 minutes before using.
- Glue pieces of dried pasta or uncooked rice to the shells. It's easiest to go side by side, rolling the egg in a bowl of rice. This ensures that the egg is evenly coated.
- You can either apply the glue directly onto the egg from the glue bottle or tube, or you can use a small paint brush to brush on a thin layer of glue.
- Paint a pattern in glue onto your egg -- that way when the egg gets rolled in the rice, only your pattern will stick! This will give your decorations a three-dimensional feel.
- A good alternative to rice that doesn't need to be colored? Why, sprinkles, of course!
- Enjoy your Easter Eggs!
EditWith Stickers and Markers - Put stickers on the eggs to decorate them. To ensure that the stickers stick, make sure that you dry the outside of the eggs completely and let them cool to room temperature first.
- Use markers to draw pictures or fun designs on your eggs. You may need to go over each design more than once to get a vivid picture. Experiment with different market tips by using a range of thinner and thicker markers to vary your designs.
EditWith Old Ties - Find an old tie that's 100% silk. It has to be 100%. Has to, has to. It also has to be one you don't want to wear anymore.
- The more colorful, the better. And it doesn't necessarily have to be a beautiful tie; what makes a great tie doesn't necessarily make a great egg. If you don't have any laying around, ties (even silk ones) can be found super cheap at most thrift shops.
- Cut up the seam. This should double the size of your tie, giving you a piece large enough to work with. Cut out a section that can easily wrap around your egg.
- You'll need a section of your material that fits the egg and can be held together; a couple extra inches (5 cm) at least is necessary.
- Wrap your egg in the tie and in an extra layer of fabric. For the tie material, have the right side (the side you would see if you were wearing it) directly touching the egg. For the material on top of that, you'll just need a lightweight, light colored material. A pillowcase is perfect.
- Wrap the egg in the tie material with a twisty tie. A string works, too, but a twisty tie is much easier to work with. Make sure the part of the pattern you want is on the part of the egg you want it on. Then wrap on the light material in the same manner.
- Boil 'em. Put them in a pot and cover them with water. Then add 1/4 cup (50 g) of vinegar. Boil, boil, and boil for about 20 minutes. Then take them off the heat and put them in a colander or on a towel to dry.
- Be patient! Give them some time to cool down before you touch them.
- When they're only a little warm, open them up and see the masterpiece you created.
EditWith Food Coloring - Grab a glass. Fill it up with water that goes about 1/4 of the way up the egg. Add some food coloring. Add plenty of food coloring. There's not a lot of water in that glass. 6 or so drops is a solid amount.
- Place in the egg. Remember, the water should only cover a section of the egg. Allow it to rest, soaking up the coloring. Walk away for a bit. Eat some yogurt. Make a quick phone call. Don't be tempted to mess with the egg.
- Add more water in intervals. After about 15 minutes, add enough water to cover 1/2 the egg. 15 minutes after that, add enough water to cover 3/4 of the egg. After that, add enough water to cover the entire egg. Do you see what's happening?!
- Your egg now has a graded effect. Because the ratio of food coloring to water was so small, the color at the bottom is much richer. After adding water, the color gets lighter and lighter. If you'd like more shades, just add smaller amounts of water more times.
EditWith Paint - Allow the eggs to cool completely. Set them in the fridge if you'd like to speed up the process.
- Use acrylic paint with a brush to create fun designs. Since eggs are pretty small, get some fine-pointed paint brushes. If you're working with children, show them how to hold the egg so as not to get paint all over their hands or smudge the egg.
- Paint one half at a time and let it dry before painting the other half to avoid smearing the paint. It'll be easiest to stick to geometrical patterns and shapes.
- Use a dry sponge to apply white paint on the eggs after the other paint dries. This will give the egg a sponged effect.
- You could also use bright colors (or buy dye) and put that on your sponge; it'll give your Easter egg a sort of tie-dyed effect.
- Display your Easter eggs!
- Use an old sheet or newspaper on the work area to keep it from getting messy with the supplies.
- Put your kids in old clothes or use an apron to cover them.
- Have a good big space to work in so it's not messy.
- Do not plan on eating the eggs you decorate unless you can confirm that you did not use toxic materials to decorate your eggs.
EditThings You'll Need EditGeneral Supplies - Eggs
- Pan of water
- Glue
- Crayons
- Markers
- Stickers
- Rice, pasta, or sprinkles
- Dye
- Acrylic paint
- Brush and sponge
- Scissors
- Food coloring
EditWith Ties - Old ties
- Light material
- Pot
- Vinegar
- Twisty ties
- Towel or colander
- Scissors
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