2) I have grown to like the term “neutral buoyancy.” It is one of those perfect phrases in life that describes so much. It is used in science and naval engineering to relate that a vessel will neither sink nor float away, but I also heard it on an English detective show. One of the characters described how his lack of ambition in life allowed him to find his neutral buoyancy point. What a great descriptor for the Just Average movement! We have found our home when we settle in at that special place where we neither sink nor float away. What a major reduction in stress!

3) I recently ran across a discussion of a concept called moral licensing. Also known as self-licensing, it is a mental glitch that nearly all humans have. Paradoxically, when we do something that makes us feel as if we have bettered ourselves or our self-image, we can actually be opening ourselves to making immoral, or at least very poor choices the next time.

Although certainly not a moral choice in this simple example, we sometimes have a Diet Coke and think we have made a smart dieting choice. With the reassurance and confidence that stems from our foresight and self-discipline we think we have really made a rather smart decision. Later in the day, however, we might allow ourselves to indulge in a greasy hamburger and French fries since we banked up that “goodwill” from earlier. Obviously, it goes much deeper than this and fortunately, Malcom Gladwell spooled up a brilliant podcast to help us understand: The Lady Vanishes The Wikipedia article is also worth your time: Self-Licensing

This might sound like a pretty arcane psychological concept, but it fun and compelling to have this great human weak spot uncovered for us—especially if we are trying to improve ourselves and do things better in life.

4) I don’t speak Italian but I wish that I did. There are so many wonderful phrases that spring from this beautiful tongue. Festina lente means doing things slowly. We are all familiar with the much welcome “slow food” movement that has cropped up (pun intended!) to offset our modern habit of wolfing down our food. Maybe we should seek to slow down a lot of other areas of our lives. Must everything be done in a hurry?

5) Nominative determinism is the fun, and very loose, hypothesis that people tend to take up work that matches their name—sort of a way of fitting in by doing that which your forefathers might have. Smith for blacksmiths, Taylor for those who were adept with a needle and thread. But it goes well beyond these common and narrow examples as there are some truly great ones out there. Naturally Wikipedia is solid: Nominative Determinism, but a funnier first step is looking at these 12 humorous and well-fitting examples: 12 Names As you smile while watching this, you can wonder if somewhere there is a dentist named Dr. Smile? A friend told me that she knows of a dentist by the name of Molar and once was treated by an emergency room physician named Dr. Pain.

6) Morris King Udall, known simply as “Mo” Udall, was an American Congressman from the state of Arizona. He died back in 1998 and we still mourn his passing as he was an extraordinary decent man. We need more like him and while yes, he was a politician, his record was one of service before self and always trying to do the right thing. I also remember him for his wit. Commenting on the modern desire to constantly give our opinions, he said that “Everything has already been said—but not everyone has yet said it!” Touché Mr. Udall, touché! Sadly, Facebook and other media tempt us even more to add our two cents to any conversation.

7) Although I definitely did not like his book The Black Swan (see my critical review here: Black Swan), Dr. Nassim Taleb makes the point that no matter what we do in life that it is best to invest in preparation and not prediction. We always want to peer into the future (as a seer would) and while that can be fun, and even necessary at times, in the long run it is a fool’s game.

Instead, if we prepare for a range of eventualities, we make better use of our limited resources and we can be flexible and ready for things we did not even imagine. When things change, as they most definitely will, we can react accordingly. Sadly, we often fail to prepare because we are spending time try to predict. This is completely backward according to Dr. Taleb. Why do keep making this mistake? Perhaps yet another quirk of human nature that we just cannot seem to bring to heel.

8) Groucho Marx, perhaps the greatest wit of all time, once jokingly said “If you don’t like my principles then I have others.” P.G. Wodehouse, the English author of the hilarious Jeeves and Wooster series, quipped about the pressure of the holidays: “Ah Christmas, here it is at your throat again!” Of course he was just being funny, but there is a kernel of truth in all humor isn’t there?

9) Why is there always a handful (perhaps more than a handful—sadly) of powerful people who, besides having great sway in business, the military, politics, and other important areas of life, are also petulant, peevish, and pushy? It is as if Central Casting continually manufactures these individuals with some very nasty personality traits. There certainly never seems to be a shortage of them. Yes, these brightly burning stars can change the world, but I don’t imagine that they win many friends while doing so…

10) As we move toward Christmas I think not of powerful people, but rather of a quote from the poet W.H. Auden. He wrote: “If equal affection cannot be, let the more loving one be me.” Perfect words to live by even if we often stumble and fall short.

Ok, one of these days I will get to Max Weber and his idea of charismatic authority. I know that you, dear readers, have been thinking of nothing else. I promise I will get to it!

In the meantime, if you would like to share any of your own pet peeves or thoughts, don’t hesitate to leave a comment or send an email. I will be happy to publish them should you wish.