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“A lot of people ask me if I were shipwrecked, and could only have one book, what would it be? I always say, ‘How to Build a Boat’.”
- Steven Wright

When was the last time you waved at someone from your car?

I’m talking about driving on the highway and waving hello to the guy next to you doing 70 miles an hour.

If aliens are observing our planet - and no doubt they are - they’ve probably noticed something peculiar about how humans change their behavior when riding certain vehicles.

They’d notice, for example, that when we’re on a boat we seem very happy and peaceful. We smile and wave at other boaters - our beautiful fellow human beings. People on dry land see us on the boat and wave at us.

But then something happens. We leave the boat and step into another vehicle - the one with 4 wheels. Suddenly it’s a whole different ballgame. We tense up, curse out loud, cut each other off, and yes, we still wave at each other - only this time with one finger.

Same human, different vehicle. What happened?

People even NAME their boats, hiring professional sign painters. (How come we don’t name our cars?)

Below are some actual boat names I saw recently (Notice how creative, playful, lighthearted and exotic they are):

Joyous, Segovia, It’s About Time, Flying Cloud, Copasetic, Sabre 52, Off the Cuff, Snookie Joy, Wife’s Squall, Verus, Sweetness, Sandy Said II, Quickwater.

If we named our cars it’d be more like Flat Tire, Drunk Drivin’, Bad Direction, Don’t Make Me Stop This Car, Breakdown, or Long Commute.

To be fair, chances are if you’re on a boat you’re on vacation. You’re finally free to relax, be happy and carefree…enjoy life. I get it.

But why wait until you’re on a boat?

Why wait?

So here’s your homework: wave at your fellow motorists the next time you’re on the road. Try it once. They’ll think you’re nuts. I’ve done it, it’s a great feeling.

And while you’re at it, think up a carefree name for your car and have somebody paint it on your trunk. Something cool, like Stargazer, or Gas Guzzlin’, or Hot Mamma.

What do you think of my little philosophy? What would you name your car? Got a boat story? Leave a comment.

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Living in a Wiggly World

Mark on August 24th, 2008

While I’m busy workin’ (and playing) here in the back room at Creative Journey Cafe, I’ve called upon the late, great philosopher Alan Watts to come entertain and enlighten you.
Here he is (video below) discussing man-made things vs. nature. So fire up the incense, pour yourself a cup of green tea (on the house), […]

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Go See ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’

Mark on August 18th, 2008

“I’ve often said: the only thing standing between me and greatness…is me.” - Woody Allen
Woody Allen’s new movie, Vicki Cristina Barcelona, is not just my favorite movie of the summer, it’s one of my new all-time favorite movies. And it just came out a few days ago.
I love when that happens!
Do you know the […]

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I took this photo (below) last week. I can’t help but wonder if the workers who paved this road realized they were making art, or if it was just another damn day fixing cracks in the street.

When you look at this picture, does it resonate with you?
How does it relate to your creative journey?
Tell […]

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Do You Have a Sketchbook?

Mark on August 12th, 2008

Do you have a sketchbook? A notebook? Something you can pull out anytime, anywhere, and be creative?
A sketchbook (let’s call it a sketchbook) is your best friend; you can say anything to it and it doesn’t judge. It’s always there for you - when you’re bored, when you’re fidgety, when you need to express […]

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What Are Your Life-Changing Books?

Mark on August 8th, 2008

What books have changed your life?
If you could recommend 3 books to us…books that will improve our creative journey in some way, what would they be?
Here are 3 that have changed my life, both personally and creatively:
1. Loving What Is by Byron Katie. If I had one book to give someone to help them […]

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How Do You Like Your Coffee?

Mark on August 4th, 2008

“Way too much coffee. But if it weren’t for the coffee, I’d have no identifiable personality whatsoever.” - David Letterman
Have you noticed? Everyone likes their coffee different:
…Cream and sugar.
…With skim milk.
…Black.
…Extra light with three Sweet & Low.
…Milk and six sugars.
…Hazelnut, with cream. No sugar.
(Or as my friend John jokes; “I like my coffee the […]

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You remember the TV show Northern Exposure from the early 1990’s, right?
I’ve been revisiting it on DVD. Man, it was one of the best, most intelligent, most creative TV shows ever.
If you need a little creative inspiration today, I think you’ll enjoy this great clip I found (video below). It’s John Corbett’s character, Chris, […]

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“The Trick to Money is Having Some” - (the title of a great book by Stuart Wilde)
Hey you guys, this week I found two really cool resources about money management and investing and thought I’d pass them along to you, because as we all know, money and creativity DO mix!
1. Cameron Reilly, creator of The […]

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Appreciation for Randy Pausch

Mark on July 28th, 2008

You’ve probably heard about Randy Pausch, the Carnegie Mellon professor who gave his now famous Last Lecture after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. He died a few days ago.
What an amazing and inspirational guy. He spent the last year of his life sharing his journey and inspiring millions of people to live fully.
Here he is […]

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