Matthew Dicks's Blog, page 207
February 20, 2019
Do you know who Madame CJ Walker is?
Madame CJ Walker is credited as the first woman in America to become a self-made millionaire.
Unlike the President, who started his career with tens of millions of dollars of his daddy’s money (but lied about the amount for decades), Walker started with nothing and amassed a fortune.
Walker was born Sarah Breedlove on December 23, 1867, near Delta, Louisiana. After suffering from a scalp ailment that resulted in her own hair loss, she invented a line of African-American hair care products in 1905.
Her invention and the company that she founded made her a wealthy woman at a time when women, and especially African American women, were afforded scarcely any of the opportunities that white men enjoyed.
He rise to wealth was truly extraordinary.
Later in life she became a philanthropist and an activist, making financial donations to numerous organizations and became a patron of the arts.
Nothing like the President, who claims philanthropy but was forced to shut down his foundation (and is still facing prosecution) after investigators found that he used donations to purchase paintings of himself, reimburse personal travel expenses, and more.
I tell you all of this in the event my daughter, Clara, asks you who Madame CJ Walker was, and when you say, “I don’t know,” you’re not forced to suffer the scorn that I was just subjected to.
Clara does, "I'm disappointed in you" very, very well.
February 19, 2019
Advice from The Beatles
So many times in my life, I see something clever, brilliant, or truly inspired, and I think to myself, “Why didn’t I think of that?”
Just last week, the trailer dropped for Danny Boyle’s latest film, Yesterday. It’s the story of a musician who wakes up in a world where The Beatles never existed, except that he knows they existed. He knows their music. He knows their songs.
He’s the only person on the planet who knows their songs.
Suddenly he’s in a position to become The Beatles. He can claim every Beatles song for himself. He can become world famous on the backs of other great musicians.
What do you do?
Elysha told me to watch the trailer, so I did. When I finished, she said, “I knew you’d like it. It’s the kind of story you would write.”
I thought, “It’s the kind of story I should’ve written! Damn it!”
So clever. Maybe even brilliant. Also an idea just waiting for the taking, and I didn’t take it. Screenwriter Richard Curtis did.
I had similar thoughts when I saw this Beatles graphic a while back. So clever. So whimsical. And again, an idea just waiting for the taking, and I didn’t take it.
Sadly, I don’t know who to credit for this one, but take a peek. You’ll love it.
February 18, 2019
Speak Up Storytelling #37: Steve Brouse
On episode #37 of the Speak Up Storytelling podcast, Elysha Dicks and I talk storytelling along with storyteller and guest host Steve Brouse!
In our followup segment, we talk about how a listener is using Homework for Life to remain in communication with his son, who is completing basic training. We also review listener feedback on the epic debate over the description of telepathy in Maire Greene's story.
In our Homework for Life segment, we talk about turning an unexpected snowball fight into a story that pushes back against conventional norms, and Steve Brouse shares his Homework for Life moment, combining two moments into a single idea for a story.
Next we listen to Steve Brouse's story of a missed phone call and all that happened because of it.
After listening, we discuss:
The value of opening windows into worlds we might not otherwise ever see
Effective ways of teaching our audience about content needed to understand our stories (without bringing the story to a halt)
When and how to use humor effectively in a story
The way in which the crafting of a story can also be a discovery process for the storyteller
Managing emotions during the telling of a story
Identifying and fully developing critical scenes in a story
Next, we answer a question about teaching storytelling to children.
Finally, we each offer a recommendation.
LINKS
Homework for Life: https://bit.ly/2f9ZPne
Matthew Dicks's website: http://www.matthewdicks.com
Matthew Dicks's YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/matthewjohndicks
Subscribe to Matthew Dicks's weekly newsletter:
http://www.matthewdicks.com/matthewdicks-subscribe
Subscribe to the Speak Up newsletter:
http://www.matthewdicks.com/subscribe-speak-up
RECOMMEDATIONS
Elysha:
Crashing on HBO
Matt:
Commissioning portraits of meaningful places for loved ones (via Etsy)
Steve:
Puzzles comprised of family photos (via Shutterfly)
February 17, 2019
Why you should embrace every snow day
We had our first snow day last week. A glorious, slightly unexpected day off.
Many teachers hate snow days, knowing how each one eats into our summer vacations.
A day off in February means another day of work in June.
But they are wrong to think this way for one simple reason:
It’s exceedingly presumptuous to believe that you’ll be alive in June. A multitude of disasters could beset you or the country or the planet, ending your life prematurely.
Take your days when you can get them. Assume nothing.
People think I’m kidding when I say this. They laugh. One person actually suggested that I use this rationale in my standup. “It would be a hilarious bit,” he said.
I’m not trying to be funny. I’m serious.
But I understand why people don’t think the way I do. I remember what it was like to walk through life so blissfully unaware of the razor’s edge.
For me, that all went away on an April night in 1992 when a man put a gun to my head and pulled the trigger. That was the night that I stopped assuming anything about my future.
That was the moment when I started taking my days when I could get them. Taking hours and minutes, too.
I told this story at The Moth if you’re interested in watching.
On rare occasions, I encounter someone who I am certain would feel the same about snow days as I do. Someone who I feel as connected to as almost anyone in the world, even though in some cases, we’ve never even met. Someone whose experiences mirror my own.
Recently I heard Stanley Alpert tell a story on The Moth Radio Hour, and I experienced that feeling of connectedness. The belief that he and I move through this world with the same purpose and philosophy.
The certainty that he understands the razor’s edge as well as I do.
I can’t recommend it enough. You should stop everything and listen now. It’s brilliant.
February 16, 2019
A perfect collection of birthday presents
Yesterday was an especially delightful today for me. It was my birthday, and the gifts that I were given were brilliant.
It started off in the morning with Elysha. Her family has always given their gifts at the crack of dawn, which was decidedly different than the after-dinner gift giving that I was accustomed to for all of my life, but I’ve decided not to fight this tiny bit of crazy.
She’s excited. I get it.
Elysha gave me two gifts:
Tickets to the 20th anniversary tour of Rent, a favorite of mine. I saw Rent at least three times with the original cast when it debuted back in the late ‘90’s at the Nederlander Theater on Broadway, and I can still sing all the song by heart.
I was thrilled.
A portrait of Kaleigh, my best friend who passed away in 2018. Elysha sent photos of Kaleigh to an artist who produced a beautiful rendition of my little friend of more than 17 years.
She always finds a way to make me cry with her gifts.
Then I went to school and was greeted by my students who gave me some entirely unnecessary but delightful gifts. One student gave me a handmade ceramic bowl with a card telling me that I was to keep paperclips in the bowl for those moments when I might need to throw them at students.
Another student asked me what I wanted for my birthday earlier in the week, and my list included a bucket of kittens, a time machine, a lifetime supply of cheeseburgers, an addition to my home, a robot, and a cage to hang over my desk to imprison naughty children..
So she built me the cage.
Using baling twine and wooden hoops, she created a perfect replica of the kind of cage that the witch in Hansel and Gretel stuffed the children into as she prepared to cook them.
I immediately hung it over my desk, much to the delight of my kids.
A few hours later it was time for lunch. I’m a member of a secret birthday club at school, and my friend, Wendy, revealed that she was my birthday buddy. My gift was a surprise lunch, complete with a white table cloth, birthday centerpiece, Chipotle burrito, and my good friend and former colleague Rob Hugh.
She gave me time with my friend. An hour to catch up and eat.
What a perfect gift.
When I arrived home later that day, I was greeted by my in-laws, who had spent much of the day with our kids. They handed me a renewed membership to the kids’ favorite museum, where they had spent much of the afternoon, and had so many kind things to say about how well behaved and polite our kids were throughout the day.
Future fun with the kids and the knowledge that they had a great day together… I can’t imagine a better gift.
I’m not the kind of person who gets excited over gifts. I’m a minimalist at heart who doesn’t really care much about things. But yesterday I received the things that I value most:
Experiences. Originality. Creativity. Thoughtfulness. The happiness of my children. Storyworthy moments.
Every single gift that I received fit at least one of these categories. It was a day filled with beautiful gestures of kindness and generosity.
I couldn’t be more thankful.
February 15, 2019
I leveled up.
I both love and hate this little meme.
I love the idea that I am leveling up today. Level 48. Yes, that’s badass. Severely badass.
I’m leveling up today.
But you’re certainly not an old person at age 43, and you’re also most certainly not an old person at age 48.
Correction: There are some 43 year olds who behave as if they’re old people, just like there are some 48 year olds who behave like old people, too.
I happen to know a 34 year old who acts as if he’s ready for the grave. Perpetually exhausted. Chronically cranky. Endlessly pessimistic. Unwilling to take risks. Incapable of trying new things. Unable to muster the energy to do anything after 8:00 PM.
Yeah, that guy is old.
The argument that age is a state of mind is not a new one, but I think there is a lot of truth to it. But it’s not only a state of mind. I think age is more importantly a reflection about how you spend your time. How you choose to live your life.
I know a 71 year-old man who has recently transformed his life by diving into something new and difficult and ultimately joyous.
I know a 74 year-old woman who runs her own online business and has recently revived her career in art and just started licensing her work.
I know a 72 year-old woman who retired four years ago and has launched an entirely new second act of her life. She is traveling, trying new things, and playing lots and lots of golf.
These three people are living younger lives than others who I know who are decades younger.
A positive, youthful state of mind is nice, but it’s how that state of mind informs your decisions and behavior that count.
Are you trying new things? Taking risks? Exploring perviously ignored corners of yourself? Are you still making friends? Trying to make the world a better place?
My students know that I’m turning 48 today. They occasionally take great pleasure in referring to me as old. They are obviously struggling with a limited intellect. But a young lady recently came to my defense after a boy lobbed one of these “old man” claims at me, shouting, “He does more stuff than all of us, and he can even do a back-bend!”
That young lady will never know how much I enjoyed that comment.
It was a lovely birthday present.
February 14, 2019
The worst thing about Valentine's Day
It’s Valentine’s Day.
I know that a great number of people can’t stand Valentine’s Day.
They reject it as a fabricated, commercialized Hallmark holiday
They protest the inflated flower prices and packed restaurants.
They are offended by the reminder that they are still single. Or newly single. Or endlessly single.
These are the folks who say things like, “I don’t need the calendar to tell me to give my wife flowers” and “Our love doesn’t wait for February 14th.” They snipe at happily married couples and blossoming romances.
Ask one of these folks what they have planned for Valentine’s Day, and they might stab you with their ballpoint pen.
Some of these complaints might have some validity, but here’s the real worst thing about Valentine’s Day:
All those people who complain about Valentine’s Day.
If you don’t like Valentine’s Day, just treat it like any other day. Ignore the roses and candy and hand-holding. Walk right past the boundless romance and starry-eyed attraction. Pretend it never happened, because complaining about Valentine’s Day has three significant problems:
It attempts to ruin the joy of others for entirely personal reasons.
It makes you look like an unpalatable, sour-puss jerk face.
Worst of all, complaining about Valentine’s Day is wholly unoriginal. It’s been done so many times already, and I assure you, it’s been done better than you will ever do it. We’ve all heard the complaints before. You’re not saying anything new.
And trust me, even worse than being alone on Valentine’s Day is being unoriginal.
February 13, 2019
My binder clip IQ test
Here’s a simple test to determine the intelligence of a small child:
Pry open a large binder clip. Ask a child to put their finger in the binder clip.
If the child puts their finger in the binder clip, the child is probably dumb.
If the child refuses the request, the child is probably smart.
If the child slides their finger horizontally into the space at the back of the binder clip, the child is probably a genius.
This test would probably work on adults, too, but it’s socially awkward to ask an adult to put their finger into anything, so I would advise against it.
February 12, 2019
I did not speak like this when I was ten years old.
The children are trying to argue with me that they are no longer little.
“We’re big kids now!” Charlie said.
I insisted that they are still little. “Look at you,” I said. “You’re short and tiny. I can still pick you up!”
Clara’s response:
“When I refer to myself as big, Daddy, I’m speaking in relation to the little ones. You know, preschoolers and such.”
Maybe she’s not so little after all.
February 11, 2019
Speak Up Storytelling: Marie Greene
On episode #35 of the Speak Up Storytelling podcast, Matthew and Elysha Dicks talk storytelling!
In our followup segment, we talk about our confusion between Tom of Brisbane and Tom of Long Island. We also discuss the origin of "telling stories from scars and not wounds" as well as advice on handling our explicit episodes of the podcast.
We also announce our Seattle ticketing for this summer's workshop and performance.
In our Homework for Life segment, we talk about finding memories from the past through Homework for Life. We also discuss list-making in storytelling and the importance of having as many options as possible when crafting stories.
Next we listen to Maire Greene's story about grave shopping.
After listening, we discuss:
Subtlety in storytelling
The power of bringing an audience into a new world
Small sentences that build stakes and momentum in a story
Accessibility of the story (Elysha and Matt disagree like never before!)
Reminding the audience of key characters and plot points if they have disappeared for any length of time
Next, we answer questions about displaying visuals during talks and additional outlets for storytelling.
Finally, we each offer a recommendation.
LINKS
Homework for Life: https://bit.ly/2f9ZPne
Matthew Dicks's website: http://www.matthewdicks.com
Matthew Dicks's YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/matthewjohndicks
Subscribe to Matthew Dicks's weekly newsletter:
http://www.matthewdicks.com/matthewdicks-subscribe
Subscribe to the Speak Up newsletter:
http://www.matthewdicks.com/subscribe-speak-up
Seattle workshop on August 17: https://bit.ly/2E1QU0S
Seattle solo show on August 17: https://bit.ly/2URekLY
RECOMMEDATIONS
Elysha:
The LEGO Movie: The Second Part:
https://bit.ly/2BvaEIR
Matt:
Jeff Bezos open letter: https://bit.ly/2WOLuOf
Nina Garcia piece: https://bit.ly/2Djr0Ep
