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June 24, 2003
Skeleton awareness
I rediscovered this great technique to brighten the day after brushing my teeth this morning. I actually first discovered this a few years ago whilst aimlessly surfing one weekend - and posted an article on the Views from Broadway pages - but since I have been too busy attending to work stuff to update this journal with anything new in the last few days - I thought I'd reproduce this original stress-combating technique right here for all you out there in need of some relief from the every-day pressures of life ...I remember, for many years when I was younger, not knowing what the phrase "skeletons in the cupboard" meant. I can't actually recall how old I was when I eventually discovered the meaning - could have been whilst I was at college. Anyway, whenever I hear the phrase being used nowadays, I always get a mind-recollection (sort of like a movie being played back in your mind's eye) of a a scene from a Fawlty Towers episode; the one where Basil and the Manuel are trying to hide a dead body inside a cupboard in a hotel bedroom. Funny isn't it? Anyway - it's interesting how the reference to the human skeleton is used in a very negative context in the phrase "skeletons in the cupboard". Images of skeletons (or parts of skeletons) are also, unsurprisingly, used as indications ... of death of murder of something really terrible or mortal danger ... and yet, for each and every one of us - beneath our own personal, beloved, squidgy flesh lies our very own object of mortality. Sometimes I find it really helpful to be reminded that I am built on my own skeleton. I think everyone should. I'm calling it "skeleton awareness" - and here is a best-practise that really works for me As you go through your morning bathroom ritual - stop for just 30 seconds of skeleton awareness: Look into the mirror, then use both of your hands to pull your lips wide apart, then snap your teeth together open and closed. (As in the photo.) This really makes you aware of your skull. It's a really effective way of reminding you that your face is just a layer of meat! (What if you woke up one morning and it was gone!):
Starting every day with such "skeleton awareness" changes everything! When you sit on the train or the bus or the tube - skeleton awareness makes for a much more interesting journey-to-work. You will be so much more aware of all the people around you - as walking skeletons with a layer of meat all around. Keep your skeleton-awareness whilst you're at the office - in meetings. If you start to lose the skeleton awareness effect - then just pop into the office bathroom and repeat the "stretch your mouth open" procedure to restore the effect to it's full-blown level - it only takes 30 seconds or so.
Posted by jag at June 24, 2003 08:47 AM
Comments
I think I've took a wrong turn.
I see mad people :)
Posted by: Pinky at June 24, 2003 04:26 PM
Welcome to the funny farm.
(Not funny.)
Posted by: Jag at June 24, 2003 06:12 PM
Heloo here, i havent been here in a while, my bad... but you got me thinking of fawlty Towers, now i cant stop laughing!
Posted by: Jaina at June 24, 2003 09:25 PM
Hi there! Great to see you back - hope your hols in Portugal was good. Glad you found it funny. Made me laugh too. BBC2 are re-running Fawlty Towers - first episode was yesterday apparently. Not that I'm going to get to watch them - I get home too late from work. Sad person like me only gets to watch the BBC News 24 "B Team" who start their shift at 11pm.
Anyway - catch you on the bus later!
Posted by: Jag at June 24, 2003 10:34 PM
I'm going to turn away now, very slowly. Please don't follow me and especially please don't do that thing with your mouth. I'm scared now.
Posted by: Larry Lurex at June 26, 2003 04:47 PM
Interesting... you'd look v silly if anyone caught you doing this in public (although I guess you could day you were checking your teeth...). Nutter! ;-)
Posted by: Stu at June 26, 2003 05:38 PM
Larry: what are you afraid of? (Your skeleton perhaps?)
Stu: yes - have to be real careful not to be seen doing that - and yes: you have to be a nutter to even try it! (But isn't everyone a nutter deep down inside?)
Posted by: jag@o2.co.uk at June 26, 2003 08:08 PM