Be happy!

I just funded this Kickstarter project: I’m Fine, Thanks, a documentary about life and how easy it is to become complacent and dissatisfied.  Life is hard, we have responsibilities, we have commitments, but our biggest commitment to ourselves and to our kids, is to choose happiness and find a way to spend our days smiling.

This is for my future kids, my family, my friends, but most of all, my little nieces and nephews that have a big bright future ahead of them.  And for everyone else, it’s never too late!

(Thanks Chris Guillebeau for the tip and the continued inspiration!)

Work for what you want

I consider myself a pretty positive person, but today I am going to complain, just a little bit.  I have heard on other social media sites, as well just from talking to people, that new graduates have exceedingly high job expectations.  Here is my tidbit of experience with that.

Since January of this year, I have received about 23 resumes by email.  The number of people that have followed up?  Zero.  Zilch.  Zippo.  Oh wait, there were a couple of people that emailed me again, sending me the exact same blurb as the first time.  Doesn’t count.

When I came home in between my travels to Europe, I used to office temp.  I had to call the agency every day just to hear, “Sorry, nothing yet,” until one day, they sent me off on a job.  When I didn’t have any archaeology experience, I went out and volunteered for it – that means I didn’t get paid for it.  When I applied for the job that brought me to Calgary, I flew in on my dime for an “interview” and called the boss multiple times before I got hired.  And now, as the owner of a start-up company, I am not lying down waiting for work to come to me.

If you want something, go out and get it.  Work for it, because it’s not just going to magically get handed to you.

And now… check out diggingthedirt for the Top Ten Funny Archaeology Videos!  This one by Anies Hassan isn’t the funniest (there’s some tough competition) but it does show that all work and no play would just be boring.  Sometimes, you gotta dance!

Simon Davis: Don’t Stop!! from Anies Hassan on Vimeo.

The human planet

Leave it to the BBC to make another series that will take your breath away. The Human Planet addresses humans and their relationships with their environment, which people often forget is quite different around the world. It also shows how culture is so globally diverse, and will make you think twice the next time you wonder why life is so hard. Everyone could use a little dose of humility.

Thanks KDF for the tip!