I loved Ellen DeGeneres as a kid. I hated when my mom would change the channel, and I don't really know what it was about her that captivated me. To this day, I still love her. She's got one of the best personalities on TV and never fails to make me laugh.
This week I started reading her book "Seriously... I'm kidding" for class as our pick of an inspirational book. I wasn't really sure how inspirational a book with "I'm Kidding" in the title was going to be, but a friend recommended it to me and I've read almost all of it in a matter of five days. In those five short days, she's taught me a lot about myself, other people, and life.
1. The secret of life = kale (and happiness).
"One serving of kale has 88 percent of your daily value of Vitamin C... and once you find happiness, you've pretty much uncovered the secret."
2. Beauty is about being comfortable in your own skin and knowing and accepting who you are.
"I'm confident, I live honestly and truthfully, and I think that's why I was chosen as the first 50-year-old, openly gay CoverGirl."
3. Don't worry about what the polls in magazines say. If you want to wear a pink dress, wear a pink dress.
"100 percent of the people polled could say a pink dress is a 'do' and guess what? I still ain't wearing one."
4. The secret to maneuvering through traffic = driving on the less-crowded streets.
"Well, not streets, sidewalks."
5. Being 10-15 minutes late sometimes is OK.
6. Technology is destroying our social skills.
"People have become so accustomed to texting that they're actually startled when the phone rings. It's like we suddenly all have batphones. If it rings, there must be danger."
7. Lists of pros and cons make decision making faster.
"Some people are very, very bad at making decisions ... I call those people 'annoying.' Quick decision makers are often stuck behind annoying people in the Starbucks line."
8. Stereotypes and labels are damaging.
"People make these sweeping generalizations and have preconceived notions of what you're supposed to be and who you are based on a few tiny, little words."
9. There are two types of people: deep thinkers and not-so-deep thinkers.
"Not-so-deep thinkers are people who litter. They're the people who don't use turn signals and choose not to replace the empty roll of toilet paper after they finish it."
10. Just keep driving.
(You thought that should've said swimming didn't you?)
"You just have to keep driving down the road. It's going to bend and curve and you'll speed up and slow down, but the road keeps going."
11. Everyone looks better in fuchsia.
12. Humans aren't supposed to be so lazy.
"You know what we should be doing more of? Squatting. Let's all squat more."
13. We're so spoiled.
"Now we just press buttons. Think about what the cavemen had to go through when they wanted to write something down."
14. It's good to fall down.
"Not because you're drunk and near stairs. Failure gives you the proper perspective on success."
15. We need to save Earth.
"Recycle. Save water, take group showers."
16. Sometimes waiting can be good.
17. Don't stop asking questions.
"Or until you're escorted away by security, whichever comes first."
18. We are who we are.
"We look a certain way, we talk a certain way, we walk a certain way. I strut because I'm a supermodel, and sometimes I gallop for fun."
19. Check yourself out.
"Literally, to make sure nothing has appeared or disappeared or grown or shrunk or tightened or loosened or sagged or ulcered or bulged or inflamed. I really hope you're not eating."
20. Take risks.
"You can start small. Eat an apple without washing it first."
21. Life is about balance.
"The good and the bad. The highs and the lows. The pina and the colada."
22. Don't look behind you.
"Unless someone yells 'look out behind you!' ... because there's a good chance ... if you're in a movie, an attractive teenage vampire is about to attack you."
23. Learn about your family.
"It's exciting to find out what our roots are. Knowing where we come from explains so much about who we are. Plus, it gives us so many more people to borrow money from."
24. We're all different.
"If someone ever says you're weird, say thank you. And curtsy."
25. Surround yourself with positive people.
"No one likes to be around Negative Nellies. Try and spend more time with Positive Peters and Happy Helens. And Beyonce. She's so pretty and fun."
