I don't know whether I've mentioned it here before, but physical comedy is my kryptonite. When anything visually funny happens in a TV show or a movie we're watching, my husband immediately and wordlessly rewinds it for me so I can watch it again. That's love.
Whether big or small, the fastest way to my funny bone is something visually/physically funny. Which is why my husband knew he had to show me this video immediately.
Bonus, because my husband and I can't stop watching this:
Happy New Year!
Ah, January. Ye of resolutions, leftover holiday treats, the last scraps of Christmas cheer lingering like unwanted party guests. I love a chance for a fresh start and some navel-gazing, which probably explains why I've always loved the anticipatory countdowns and the flip of the page to January. I'm not one for making hard and fast resolutions that I burn out on by mid-January. I am one for thinking about the month and year ahead and working on all the things I already knew I needed to work on.
2016 was a big year for my little business. Growth is good but it's also scary. A few weeks ago I was working on something that had fantastic potential but which also scared the hell out of me. I was chatting with a friend and fellow career pioneer about it and was explaining that I seemed to be following a trajectory that was getting familiar: "*hand is level* Wow, okay, this is interesting, this is exciting *hand goes up* wait, what am I doing *hand starts coming down, like a rollercoaster* oh my god this is terrifying I have no idea what I'm doing I am going to bomb *hand crashes out* okay, wait, I think I got this, I just need to rely on my experience and believe in myself *hand starts coming back up*" You get the idea. So imagine my delight when I discovered a much more eloquent visual version of this insane journey of throwing yourself out there:
Image from john.do.
There's nothing quite so reassuring as knowing you're not alone, especially when what you're doing is new to you.
That visual reminded me of another one. I don't know who drew this, but I think of it often, whether in work or in rowing or in my personal life.
These are things I'm reflecting on as we begin a new year. Wishing you good fortune, fun adventures, just enough challenge and fear, and the guts to see it all through.
Seasonal marketing feels pretty lovely right now, and it's no secret that I'm a fan of all things British. During this busy week, let's enjoy some charming, feel-good Christmas adverts, as they are known in their native land.
Every year, lots of British companies participate in what would be the equivalent of our Super Bowl commercial competition. Starting in early November, these ads swoop around social media, stirring up buzz and setting the tone for the season.
The most well-known of the annual commercial showdown (DOUBLE MEANING) is arguably John Lewis, a high-end department store. This year's was particularly lovely. (Make sure to check out #MontyThePenguin from 2014, while you're at it.)
Boots is a store I always like to duck into in the UK. It's a bit like CVS and the beauty section of Target thrown in with a bit of something extra (they even make their own lines of makeup and beauty products). And hey, Kate Middleton's been known to pop into Boots as well. Their ad(vert) this year was particularly touching.
Tesco is my favorite place to pick up my favorite British treats (Haribo and Tunnock's), and I think we can all relate to what they've put out here:
This year's Marks & Spencer choice isn't quite doing it for me, but they can't all be our favorite, and this one is ranking quite well.
If you're a Wes Anderson fan, you can't miss this short film he directed for H&M starring Adrien Brody.
This Heathrow ad is quite a charmer.
Saving the best for last, and cheatin' while I do: Mog stole my heart last year in Sainsbury's ad, and so I'm including her here. Mog is a beloved children's book character in the UK, and this was her film debut.
(Fun fact for my American readers: "mog" or "moggie" are British terms for a cat without a pedigree or not of a known breed. If you rescue a cat from the pound and have no idea what kind of cat it is, you've got yourself a mog.)
Sainsbury's ad this year is also nice, but it will never be Mog. That said, I love that Sainsbury's chooses a charity to support with their campaign each year, and that their ads are subtly but perfectly related. Mog helped with Save the Children to support children's literacy, and Dave the singing Dad is helping the Great Ormond Street Hospital for children. Per UK Fundraising, "All profits from the sale of the specially created Gingerbread ‘Dave’ (£1) and The Greatest Gift film animation kit (£5) will go to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity." The charity is making it possible for parents to stay near their sick children while they're in the hospital.
Check out the behind-the-scenes videos as well: I enjoy them almost as much as the ads themselves. 2015, 2016.