If confronted with a violent crime against a single individual in progress (severe beating, rape, assault) do you try to do something about it (phone authorities or confront the criminal, stop the crime) or do you figure it’s none of your business and walk or drive on by?  Worse (to me), would you record the crime for social media use without doing anything else? 

Okay, Melanie, I’ve gotta know – did anyone choose the “none of my business” or “post for social media cred” options? I just…can’t. I simply cannot imagine anybody chiming in with nope, nothing to see here, keep it moving.

The latest elementary lesson I saw on it was called Be An Upstander, Not A Bystander, and I’d say that pretty well sums up my beliefs on the matter. We belong to each other.

If someone asked to be your apprentice and learn all that you know, what would you teach them?

First the silly: Get your dog snuggles every day. If you can’t snuggle a dog then at least troll cute puppy videos on twitter. Kitty videos work, too. Invest in comfy socks and a quality mattress. There’s no shame in hiding ice cream from the kids. Find music you love and blast it while you’re in the shower. Learn to make at least one superior pasta dish because the power of delectable carbs is immeasurable.

Now the serious: Stop fighting reality – it only brings pain, suffering, frustration, and anger. Eliminate the word “should” from your vocabulary. Get a little sun on your face every day. Find your people and stop worrying about what anyone else thinks. Eat well, exercise regularly, and treat yourself to a hot fudge sundae now and again.

First think of a product. Now, what would be the absolute worst brand name for one of those products?

Positively-Charged, De-Stinkifying, Chemical Distributors For Tumble Dry.

What ridiculous and untrue, yet slightly plausible, theories can you come up with for the cause of common ailments like headaches or cavities?

The smell of sickly sweet perfumes and room sprays hang thick in the air, clogging up sinus cavities, seeping into mouths and burrowing into molars, infecting everything they touch with 150% glucose and a dose of sugar rot.

If you’d like to, please share a photo or an example of gratitude that you have. 

Sparks from a Combustible Mind hosts Share Your World.