Need a Pick Me Up?

Mostly what we hear about television, radio, and video websites on the internet are negative, complaining attacks against these media sources.

It's true - there are very negative things about all of the above but there are also some really cool positive things about the same - beyond the fact that they're all technological marvels, that is.

When I am having a difficult day and manage to find some time to "de-stress," I often just type "you tube dot com" into the address bar in my browser and search for funny videos.

On this hub, I'll share what I find helpful for getting stress levels down, video messages I've found to be motivational, interesting or funny and that have a positive effect on me.

Hopefully, these clips will have a similarly positive effect on you sometime.

I think I love the Spiders on Crack video so much because I'm from Canada - "Land of the Documentary."

When I was little, I loved the Canadian documentary-type "nature" and "wildlife" shows. If my parents decided to watch TV, I would hear the theme music from the nature/wildlife shows (usually some sort of flute) and would come running from anywhere in the house - plant myself down in front of the television set and learn about animals I might never have a chance to see for real.

The vid isn't what you think but sounds ever so authentically like a real Canadian documentary.

Below - a talented dog named "Skidboot" who appears to be able to do anything physically possible for his owner to tell him...

These "T Mobile" television commercials are definitely BIG SCALE. I like the "crowd co-operation" ideas and "unity" themes in all of them.

Not much more to say about these - obviously T Mobile had some considerable funds for creating, producing and distributing these commercials. Just the number of people choreographed together is breath-taking... which places these videos in my "awesome and inspiring" list for when I need a "pick me up."

Probably everyone has heard the saying, "Laughter is the best medicine" and that laughing helps decrease stress, lift your mood, etc., but MUSIC is good for you, too!

I don't really know anyone who seriously doesn't like music - even a deaf friend from a decade ago used to love music and could hear the notes/sound waves vibrate in the air, felt the floor by my speaker to feel the song vibrations... She liked to read song lyrics and was almost obsessive about watching people sing! Though she couldn't physically hear the music and singing, in a room full of people, nobody would know she was deaf because she "heard" through the rest of her body and enjoyed music as much as anyone else! She loved line-dancing and was really good at it!

Here's an article on a study from 2011 that says researchers found that listening to music greatly REDUCED ANXIETY in cancer patients:

Music Benefits Both Physical and Mental Health

(on the MNT/Medical News Today website)

The study was a large-scale review of 400 research papers that examined health results / effects around playing or listening to music. Results showed that positive benefits of the presence of music actually helped reduce anxiety (and had other benefits, too) better than some of the standard medications participants were taking to cope with anxiety symptoms...

So, there ya have it - chill, listen to music, and be healthy!

I found this fantastic video of a man who has no arms, no legs, but who talks about never giving up. In front of an audience, he lets himself fall down, knowing he has no limbs to help himself get back upright again...

Then he asks the audience some pertinent questions... just take a look.

Also below, a teenaged girl conveys an amazing message to ALL adults in the world, saying that adults need to change their ways... clear, concise, simple statements that everyone from age 3 to 103 SHOULD be able to follow. Wonderful calls to action - very powerful.

Born with tetra-amelia syndrome (autosomal recessive congenital disorder, absense of all four limbs) in Melbourne, Australia, 1982, Vujicic has become an international motivational speaker, dealing with disability topics.

Although he struggled emotionally, mentally, physically during his childhood, by the age of 17 he found ways to come to terms with disability and founded the non-profit organisation:

Life Without Limbs

Vujicic now considers himself to be living a full life and has learned to do various activities some people withOUT disabilities have trouble doing; typing, playing drum pedals, shaving, throwing a tennis ball, etc.

Nick Vujicic was married, February 2012 and he and wife, Kanae (nee Miyahara) welcomed a healthy son into the world in February 2013!

How's THAT for motivated and motivational!?

Things involving music make me decide to change the mood I'm in or help me to be able to create an attitude change when I'm upset, overwhelmed with tasks and personal worries. I love to search for "dance contests," "talent contests," "child musicians," and related topics when I'm having a not-so-good day.

I think a lot of people are attracted to and impressed with the things children are able to do, particularly in the arts, music and sports, so I've put a few videos here that I find enjoyable.

Hunter Hayes has been no mere cute kid or you tube personality. Born in 1991, he's a full-fledged adult now. He's also grown in talent to match his age, playing multiple instruments, singing - and he's also an accomplished song-writer (since at least 2008).

He was about 4 in the video, singing Jambalaya (On The Bayou) but now he writes a lot of his own songs. He's also been in the following films:

• Charlie's War (2007)
• My Dog Skip (2000)
• Figure It Out (1998)
• The Apostle (1997)

If you're interested, please find the Official Hunter Hayes website below:

Hunter Hayes .com

(be sure to check out the "videos" tab on this site - there are a lot of interviews, a ton of music to listen to)

Some of the best videos I come across are with kids doing what they do best - having fun! I love the water babies videos. Babies are so agile and fearless before we start messing them up, aren't they? Babies are like "Super-Humans" compared to the rest of us.

Enjoy the water babies!

The little one with the ice cream treat below is the sweetest! It seems as if the adults have been firmly trained by the child here and I'm sure you'll agree - very cute and funny. I wouldn't want that serious look thrown at me for too long!

Gary Wright - Dreamweaver (1976)

You can find the lyrics to Dreamweaver at the link below.

Dreamweaver by Gary Wright - Lyrics

My fave verse:

"Though the dawn may be coming soon
There still may be some time
Fly me away to the bright side of the moon
And meet me on the other side"

Some funny parody versions:

"Caroline Weaver"  Fave words from this version

"your no fun t-1001
youll cut into my brain
must of drunk too much dacaries
and your daughter savannahs a pain"

"Street Sweeper" My favourite words in this version are actually the chorus words:

"Ooh Ooh Street Sweeper
Can't believe how you sweep our streets so clean
But Street Sweeper
I wish you drove a quieter machine"

I took the script off for this skit because it was registering as duplicate content - the script is quite lengthy, so I will just offer the link to where you can read along while you listen to the video:

Baseball Almanac site: Script for "Who's on First."

I use this script from time to time to practice my public speaking skills. I also bring a copy of this script to a public speaking group for newcomers who are a little bit shy and a lot afraid to start doing speaking in front of more than 1 or 2 people. Newcomers can read along and gain more confidence, practice their volume level, intonation and things of this nature - plus - the script is FUN and most people really enjoy how this skit plays out by the end...