Arman's Antics (#058)

The latest from shameless copycat Arman Khodadoost

Hey everyone!

Coming to you live from Austin, Texas. Here is your weekly dose of Arman’s Antics. Five things I’ve been exploring and discovering that are sure to get you thinking, laughing, crying (or a nasty combination of the three).

I hope nobody is reading this, but if you are, please keep it to yourself.

Welcome to the two new subscribers receiving this for the first time (304 total). I respect your inbox and don’t take your attention for granted.

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Essay I wrote last week

Your favorite artist is not the same as mine.

We have different tastes, and contrary to what society tells you, that’s OK. But I’m going to make a bold prediction…they each have earned their titles as our “favorite artists” for the same reason because they:

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Youtube video that will get your creative juices flowing

I’ve been in a creative dip lately.

So I’ve been searching for some motivation. This ancient relic of a TED Talk from 2009 helped, so I wanted to share it with you.

Here’s the description: “…Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses -- and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person "being" a genius, all of us "have" a genius…”

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Online essay that stopped me in my tracks

I signed up for an online writing class about a year ago called Write of Passage.

Sure, I learned a few useful tips and tricks on how to write words worth reading. But more importantly, I met fellow writers. It’s so helpful to be surrounded by weirdos who have decided to fight the good fight alongside you.

I’m not the best at keeping in touch with them, but this essay written by my fellow weirdo over at

The G Word

talks about one of my favorite topics — death!

Enjoy and you’re welcome.

Be a Eulogy, Not a Resume

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Harmless superstitions

We like to consider ourselves to be some highly evolved life forms who rationally determine what actions to take throughout the day.

But much of what we do is based on nothing more than superstitions. Just like dogs doing their elaborate dances they assume will earn them a treat. Humans are no different.

Allow me to prove it — one of my favorite harmless superstitions occurs on Saturday afternoons in the fall while watching my favorite college football team (go dawgs!).

I always start out wearing my favorite player’s jersey, underwear with the mascot’s face on it, and whatever else. But the instant there’s a few bad plays in a row, I rip them off one by one. By the end of a nail biter, I’ve completely changed my entire outfit.

I have fooled myself into believing that I’m helping the boys on the field by doing this. It’s irrational, but it’s worked enough times for me to link the two actions together.

Ridiculous? Definitely.

Harmless? Yep.

I hope I’m not alone in my craziness — what’s a harmless superstition that comes to mind for you?

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Random thought

Nobody ever walks into an Arby’s, looks around, and thinks, “this was a good decision.”

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That’s it for the 58th edition of Arman’s Antics.

Thank you for spending a few of your 100 attention points with me today. Again, I hope nobody is reading this, but if you are, please keep it to yourself. Now back to your regularly scheduled nonstop scrolling.

Have a terrific Tuesday!

Cheers,

Arman

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