1 01:00:01,250 --> 01:00:02,000 Good morning. 2 01:00:03,958 --> 01:00:06,041 And welcome to morning cereal 3 01:00:12,416 --> 01:00:14,208 Okay, good morning and welcome to 4 01:00:14,208 --> 01:00:15,833 Tuesday. Now, 5 01:00:15,833 --> 01:00:17,750 yesterday I promised you that I 6 01:00:17,750 --> 01:00:19,833 would tell you what the origin of how the 7 01:00:19,833 --> 01:00:22,708 month of March got its name. Well, 8 01:00:23,041 --> 01:00:25,708 March comes from Mardius, which is the 9 01:00:25,708 --> 01:00:28,541 first month of the Roman calendar, and 10 01:00:28,541 --> 01:00:30,833 it's named after the Roman god of war. 11 01:00:31,833 --> 01:00:34,208 And as spring came upon the earth, it 12 01:00:34,208 --> 01:00:36,708 meant that war could again be waged with 13 01:00:36,708 --> 01:00:39,791 the nicer weather. So Mardius, or March, 14 01:00:39,833 --> 01:00:42,500 it marked the beginning of the season of 15 01:00:42,500 --> 01:00:45,125 warfare. I told you it wasn't a feel-good 16 01:00:45,166 --> 01:00:48,000 story, but it's still interesting. Today 17 01:00:48,000 --> 01:00:50,166 is also brain injury awareness day, 18 01:00:50,708 --> 01:00:52,750 national backcountry ski day, which I 19 01:00:52,750 --> 01:00:54,250 like that one, and 20 01:00:54,250 --> 01:00:56,583 world obesity day. Okay, 21 01:00:57,208 --> 01:00:59,458 let's march into today's episode with 22 01:00:59,458 --> 01:01:01,833 today's quotes. One fun nostalgic quote 23 01:01:01,833 --> 01:01:03,958 and then a second quote to tease our book 24 01:01:03,958 --> 01:01:05,791 review later in the episode. Hopefully 25 01:01:05,833 --> 01:01:07,541 one of these quotes will speak to you and 26 01:01:07,541 --> 01:01:08,708 kick-start your day in a positive 27 01:01:08,833 --> 01:01:11,666 direction. The first quote was from funny 28 01:01:11,666 --> 01:01:14,291 man actor John Candy, who said, 29 01:01:14,541 --> 01:01:16,916 "As long as you can savor the humorous 30 01:01:16,916 --> 01:01:19,916 aspect of misery and misfortune, you can 31 01:01:19,916 --> 01:01:23,625 overcome anything." And not every day is 32 01:01:23,625 --> 01:01:25,416 going to go our way. If we can 33 01:01:25,416 --> 01:01:27,041 find our way through it, though, even 34 01:01:27,041 --> 01:01:29,791 better finding humor in it, then at least 35 01:01:29,791 --> 01:01:31,541 we know the sun will come up tomorrow. 36 01:01:32,666 --> 01:01:34,291 And today's teaser quote for the book 37 01:01:34,333 --> 01:01:36,500 review is, quote, "learned from 38 01:01:36,500 --> 01:01:38,125 experience the enormous 39 01:01:38,125 --> 01:01:40,083 chemical value of sympathy 40 01:01:40,083 --> 01:01:43,083 in neutralizing the acid of hard 41 01:01:43,083 --> 01:01:45,791 feelings," end quote. And as usual, we'll 42 01:01:45,791 --> 01:01:47,250 unpack that here in just a few minutes 43 01:01:47,250 --> 01:01:49,291 during the book review segment, but first 44 01:01:49,291 --> 01:01:51,625 let's jump into our usual dose of fun and 45 01:01:51,625 --> 01:01:53,416 historic facts from this day in 46 01:01:53,416 --> 01:01:56,208 history. Today's News Facts and Birthdays 47 01:01:56,208 --> 01:01:59,666 are for March 4th. Starting back in 1789, 48 01:01:59,666 --> 01:02:02,083 that's when the US Constitution went into 49 01:02:02,083 --> 01:02:03,833 effect as the governing law of the 50 01:02:03,875 --> 01:02:07,791 United States. Then in 1837, Chicago was 51 01:02:07,791 --> 01:02:10,250 incorporated as a city with a population 52 01:02:10,250 --> 01:02:15,666 of 4,200. Then in 1924, the song "Happy 53 01:02:15,666 --> 01:02:18,000 Birthday," it was published by Clayton 54 01:02:18,083 --> 01:02:21,708 Sunney. Then skipping up to 1952, on this 55 01:02:21,708 --> 01:02:23,958 date, Ronald Reagan and Nancy Davis were 56 01:02:23,958 --> 01:02:27,333 married. And in 1974, on this date, 57 01:02:27,333 --> 01:02:28,625 People magazine was 58 01:02:28,625 --> 01:02:31,583 launched. Then in 1983, on 59 01:02:31,625 --> 01:02:33,375 this date, Harrison Ford married 60 01:02:33,375 --> 01:02:36,333 screenwriter Melissa Mathison. They 61 01:02:36,333 --> 01:02:39,000 actually divorced in 2004. And then you 62 01:02:39,000 --> 01:02:41,833 might remember on this date in 1990, the 63 01:02:41,833 --> 01:02:43,916 college basketball player Hank Gathers. 64 01:02:44,125 --> 01:02:45,791 This is the day he collapsed on the 65 01:02:45,791 --> 01:02:49,625 basketball court. And then in 1994, John 66 01:02:49,625 --> 01:02:52,041 Candy, he passed away of a heart attack 67 01:02:52,041 --> 01:02:55,958 at the age of 43. Well, let's move on to 68 01:02:55,958 --> 01:02:57,458 birthdays and celebrate those who are 69 01:02:57,458 --> 01:02:59,750 still with us. Happy birthday. If today 70 01:02:59,750 --> 01:03:02,000 is your birthday, you share a birthday 71 01:03:02,000 --> 01:03:05,458 with actress Catherine O'Hara. She's 71 72 01:03:05,458 --> 01:03:08,416 today. And Jason Neustad, he's the bass 73 01:03:08,416 --> 01:03:12,208 player from Metallica. He's 62 today. And 74 01:03:12,208 --> 01:03:14,041 the number one movie on this date back 75 01:03:14,041 --> 01:03:17,333 in 1991 was "The Silence of the Lambs." 76 01:03:17,708 --> 01:03:19,375 And you might remember that we featured 77 01:03:19,375 --> 01:03:21,208 the follow-up movie "Hannibal" around 78 01:03:21,208 --> 01:03:23,708 Valentine's Day. But the original movie, 79 01:03:23,750 --> 01:03:25,750 "Silence of the Lambs," it was a huge 80 01:03:25,750 --> 01:03:26,708 hit. And it was only 81 01:03:26,708 --> 01:03:28,291 the third movie to win 82 01:03:28,291 --> 01:03:30,958 all the big five Oscars. Best Picture, 83 01:03:31,416 --> 01:03:33,500 Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, 84 01:03:34,083 --> 01:03:36,541 and Best Screenplay. It was actually the 85 01:03:36,541 --> 01:03:38,625 last movie to do that as well. The other 86 01:03:38,625 --> 01:03:40,958 two movies were "It Happened One Night" 87 01:03:40,958 --> 01:03:43,750 back in 1935, and "One Flew Over the 88 01:03:43,750 --> 01:03:46,833 Cuckoo's Nest" back in 1976. There's a 89 01:03:46,833 --> 01:03:47,666 ton of neat facts 90 01:03:47,666 --> 01:03:48,666 about this movie, but the 91 01:03:48,666 --> 01:03:51,333 one I'll just mention here is the popular 92 01:03:51,333 --> 01:03:53,583 belief and the popular quote that 93 01:03:53,583 --> 01:03:56,541 Dr. Lector says, where he says, "Hello, 94 01:03:56,666 --> 01:03:57,916 Clarice." When 95 01:03:57,916 --> 01:03:59,708 actually he never said that 96 01:03:59,708 --> 01:04:01,750 in the movie. He actually said, "Good 97 01:04:01,750 --> 01:04:05,125 evening, Clarice." Either way, it's still 98 01:04:05,125 --> 01:04:07,708 creepy. Well, the number one song in this 99 01:04:07,708 --> 01:04:11,458 date back in 1992 was "To Be With You" by 100 01:04:11,458 --> 01:04:14,083 Mr. Big. And I'm curious how many people 101 01:04:14,083 --> 01:04:15,833 remember this song. It definitely takes 102 01:04:15,833 --> 01:04:18,041 me back to junior high or high school 103 01:04:18,041 --> 01:04:20,583 crushes, but I believe it was also used 104 01:04:20,583 --> 01:04:22,500 in the TV show "Melrose Place" or 105 01:04:22,500 --> 01:04:24,583 something like that. So it had its 106 01:04:24,583 --> 01:04:27,125 moments, but it was inspired by a girl 107 01:04:27,125 --> 01:04:28,958 that only wanted to be friends with the 108 01:04:28,958 --> 01:04:31,666 writer, who obviously wanted more. He 109 01:04:31,666 --> 01:04:34,375 wanted to be with her. The song was at 110 01:04:34,375 --> 01:04:36,000 number one for about three weeks, and it 111 01:04:36,000 --> 01:04:39,083 was the band's only number one hit. Well, 112 01:04:39,083 --> 01:04:40,916 let's move on to some personal growth 113 01:04:40,916 --> 01:04:42,500 today in the book review segment of 114 01:04:42,500 --> 01:04:44,541 "Morning Serial." This is where we take a 115 01:04:44,541 --> 01:04:46,458 few moments to reflect on lessons learned 116 01:04:46,458 --> 01:04:48,708 from the current book we're reading. And 117 01:04:48,708 --> 01:04:50,041 currently we're reading through Dale 118 01:04:50,083 --> 01:04:51,666 Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and 119 01:04:51,666 --> 01:04:53,875 Influence People." It's a timeless book 120 01:04:53,875 --> 01:04:55,708 that is consistently in all the must-read 121 01:04:55,708 --> 01:04:57,250 lists, and it's packed with 122 01:04:57,250 --> 01:04:59,541 rock-solid advice and actions for us all 123 01:04:59,541 --> 01:05:01,625 to use and build healthy foundational 124 01:05:01,750 --> 01:05:04,916 concepts to live by. And on Friday, we 125 01:05:04,916 --> 01:05:07,708 began chapter 9 of part 3 with that 126 01:05:07,708 --> 01:05:09,791 chapter entitled "What Everybody Wants." 127 01:05:10,458 --> 01:05:12,666 And Carnegie believes that the vast 128 01:05:12,666 --> 01:05:14,666 majority of people out there are just 129 01:05:14,666 --> 01:05:16,875 thirsting for sympathy and that we 130 01:05:17,833 --> 01:05:20,708 Carnegie also gave us a magic phrase, if 131 01:05:20,708 --> 01:05:22,416 you remember, that will stop people in 132 01:05:22,416 --> 01:05:24,208 their tracks. It'll stop arguments, and 133 01:05:24,208 --> 01:05:26,666 it'll calm them down. And this is that 134 01:05:26,666 --> 01:05:29,958 magic phrase, quote, "I don't blame you 135 01:05:29,958 --> 01:05:32,708 one iota for feeling as you do. If I were 136 01:05:32,708 --> 01:05:35,291 you, I would undoubtedly feel just as you 137 01:05:35,291 --> 01:05:38,083 do," end quote. And Carnegie says this 138 01:05:38,083 --> 01:05:39,916 statement is true because if we were 139 01:05:39,916 --> 01:05:41,833 truly the other person, then we'd have 140 01:05:41,833 --> 01:05:44,291 had their experiences. We'd be in their 141 01:05:44,291 --> 01:05:45,833 environment. We'd have their temperament, 142 01:05:46,291 --> 01:05:48,791 their perspective, and you would truly 143 01:05:48,791 --> 01:05:51,041 make the same decision or have the same 144 01:05:51,083 --> 01:05:53,916 feeling as them because you'd be them and 145 01:05:53,916 --> 01:05:57,083 not you. We'll finish chapter 9 today, 146 01:05:57,458 --> 01:05:59,666 and Carnegie continues with another tale, 147 01:06:00,125 --> 01:06:03,583 this time about President Taft. And Taft 148 01:06:03,583 --> 01:06:05,583 had given an amusing account of an 149 01:06:05,583 --> 01:06:08,250 example of how he, quote, "learned from 150 01:06:08,333 --> 01:06:10,916 experience the enormous chemical value of 151 01:06:10,916 --> 01:06:14,083 sympathy in neutralizing the acid of hard 152 01:06:14,166 --> 01:06:16,791 feelings," end quote. And as the story 153 01:06:16,791 --> 01:06:19,416 goes, a rather aggressive mother, we'll 154 01:06:19,416 --> 01:06:21,791 say, was attempting to get her son 155 01:06:21,791 --> 01:06:23,833 appointed to a position in President 156 01:06:23,875 --> 01:06:26,791 Taft's administration. And her husband 157 01:06:26,791 --> 01:06:27,916 had some political 158 01:06:27,916 --> 01:06:29,291 influence which allowed 159 01:06:29,291 --> 01:06:31,458 the mother to gain the recommendations of 160 01:06:31,458 --> 01:06:34,375 several senators and congressmen on 161 01:06:34,375 --> 01:06:36,666 behalf of her son. And the mother 162 01:06:36,666 --> 01:06:38,666 attended these meetings just to ensure 163 01:06:38,875 --> 01:06:40,583 that they spoke with the correct amount 164 01:06:40,583 --> 01:06:44,083 of emphasis. Well, the position was one 165 01:06:44,125 --> 01:06:46,625 that required some technical expertise, 166 01:06:47,125 --> 01:06:50,000 which her son did not have. And based on 167 01:06:50,000 --> 01:06:51,666 the recommendation of the head of an 168 01:06:51,666 --> 01:06:54,583 agency, Taft recommended somebody else 169 01:06:54,750 --> 01:06:56,375 for the position, someone that was 170 01:06:56,375 --> 01:06:59,208 actually more qualified. And as you may 171 01:06:59,208 --> 01:07:01,208 have guessed, the mother of the applicant 172 01:07:01,208 --> 01:07:03,708 who did not get the job, well, she wrote 173 01:07:03,750 --> 01:07:06,625 Taft a blistering letter detailing how 174 01:07:06,625 --> 01:07:08,000 ungrateful Taft was 175 01:07:08,000 --> 01:07:09,833 after all of her hard work, 176 01:07:09,833 --> 01:07:12,250 and he could have made her a happy mother 177 01:07:12,250 --> 01:07:15,541 by just the wave of his hand. Taft wrote 178 01:07:15,583 --> 01:07:18,416 back a letter meeting her severity with 179 01:07:18,416 --> 01:07:20,166 his own. But he was 180 01:07:20,166 --> 01:07:21,541 disciplined and he did not 181 01:07:21,541 --> 01:07:23,458 mail that letter. And two days later, 182 01:07:23,458 --> 01:07:24,416 when he had cooled 183 01:07:24,416 --> 01:07:26,500 down, he wrote a polite 184 01:07:26,500 --> 01:07:28,375 letter as politely as he could to the 185 01:07:28,375 --> 01:07:30,500 mom. And it said that 186 01:07:30,500 --> 01:07:31,666 he understood what a 187 01:07:31,708 --> 01:07:34,458 disappointment it must have been, but her 188 01:07:34,458 --> 01:07:35,583 son was not qualified 189 01:07:35,583 --> 01:07:36,625 for the position and 190 01:07:36,625 --> 01:07:38,375 that he had hoped the best for him in his 191 01:07:38,375 --> 01:07:41,416 future. And was that enough for the mom? 192 01:07:41,875 --> 01:07:44,000 Nope. With the confirmation of the other 193 01:07:44,000 --> 01:07:44,833 applicant slightly 194 01:07:44,833 --> 01:07:46,958 delayed, Taft received yet 195 01:07:46,958 --> 01:07:49,041 another letter on behalf of the son that 196 01:07:49,041 --> 01:07:50,708 was passed over. And 197 01:07:50,708 --> 01:07:52,541 this time supposedly from 198 01:07:52,541 --> 01:07:54,416 the father. And this is where the 199 01:07:54,416 --> 01:07:55,666 humorous part comes in 200 01:07:55,666 --> 01:07:57,125 because although this time the 201 01:07:57,166 --> 01:07:59,333 letter was supposedly from the father, 202 01:08:00,083 --> 01:08:01,916 and Taft makes the point rather 203 01:08:01,916 --> 01:08:03,875 humorously here that it 204 01:08:03,875 --> 01:08:06,291 was written in the same handwriting as 205 01:08:06,291 --> 01:08:07,375 all the other letters from 206 01:08:07,375 --> 01:08:10,125 the mother. But this time, the 207 01:08:10,125 --> 01:08:12,416 letter stated that because of her son's 208 01:08:12,416 --> 01:08:13,666 not being picked for the 209 01:08:13,666 --> 01:08:15,541 position, that the mother had 210 01:08:15,541 --> 01:08:17,958 developed cancer of the stomach. And 211 01:08:17,958 --> 01:08:19,916 wouldn't Taft just restore 212 01:08:19,916 --> 01:08:21,583 her to health by withdrawing 213 01:08:21,791 --> 01:08:23,958 the confirmation of the other person and 214 01:08:23,958 --> 01:08:24,958 choosing her son 215 01:08:24,958 --> 01:08:27,541 instead? Over the top, right? 216 01:08:28,500 --> 01:08:31,083 Taft, now more resolute, wrote another 217 01:08:31,083 --> 01:08:33,250 nice letter back to the quote "husband" 218 01:08:33,916 --> 01:08:34,916 saying that he hoped 219 01:08:34,916 --> 01:08:37,333 the diagnosis of his wife was inaccurate 220 01:08:37,333 --> 01:08:39,041 and that he sympathized with 221 01:08:39,041 --> 01:08:40,625 her because Taft's wife too 222 01:08:40,625 --> 01:08:43,500 struggled with a serious illness. And 223 01:08:43,500 --> 01:08:45,041 finally that it was 224 01:08:45,041 --> 01:08:46,583 impossible to withdraw the other 225 01:08:46,583 --> 01:08:49,625 man's confirmation. Well, two days later, 226 01:08:49,625 --> 01:08:50,541 both the husband and the 227 01:08:50,541 --> 01:08:52,166 wife attended a musical at 228 01:08:52,166 --> 01:08:54,541 the White House and they were the first 229 01:08:54,541 --> 01:08:56,958 two to greet Mrs. Taft and 230 01:08:56,958 --> 01:08:58,583 President Taft, apparently 231 01:08:58,666 --> 01:09:00,458 with the mother making a miraculous 232 01:09:00,458 --> 01:09:03,583 recovery from her deathbed. The point to 233 01:09:03,583 --> 01:09:04,583 this story for Carnegie 234 01:09:04,833 --> 01:09:07,083 is to show the sympathy that Taft showed 235 01:09:07,083 --> 01:09:08,875 to the mother. And Carnegie 236 01:09:08,875 --> 01:09:10,250 gives several other accounts 237 01:09:10,250 --> 01:09:13,166 of sympathy helping win over the day. In 238 01:09:13,166 --> 01:09:14,458 one story, an escalator 239 01:09:14,458 --> 01:09:16,250 repairman, he was sympathizing with 240 01:09:16,250 --> 01:09:18,916 the store owner that eight hours of 241 01:09:18,916 --> 01:09:21,750 downtime was not ideal. But if it wasn't 242 01:09:21,750 --> 01:09:22,791 fixed, it could be two 243 01:09:22,791 --> 01:09:25,708 days of downtime. And in another example 244 01:09:25,708 --> 01:09:28,250 of a piano teacher saying how pretty a 245 01:09:28,250 --> 01:09:29,833 girl's nails were and 246 01:09:29,833 --> 01:09:32,041 acknowledging the sacrifice it would be 247 01:09:32,041 --> 01:09:33,458 to trim them to play the 248 01:09:33,458 --> 01:09:36,458 piano. Carnegie quotes Dr. Arthur 249 01:09:36,458 --> 01:09:39,541 Gates here who said quote "sympathy the 250 01:09:39,541 --> 01:09:41,541 human species universally 251 01:09:41,541 --> 01:09:44,166 craves" end quote. And he goes 252 01:09:44,208 --> 01:09:45,833 on to say that we crave it when we're 253 01:09:45,833 --> 01:09:47,291 children and we still crave 254 01:09:47,291 --> 01:09:48,916 it and we want it as adults. 255 01:09:49,500 --> 01:09:51,125 That's why we tell all these stories 256 01:09:51,125 --> 01:09:53,458 about our accidents or our 257 01:09:53,458 --> 01:09:55,041 frustrations to other people. 258 01:09:55,541 --> 01:09:57,916 It's almost a form of self-pity that we 259 01:09:57,916 --> 01:09:59,875 all participate in. And 260 01:09:59,875 --> 01:10:01,583 Carnegie says quote "if you 261 01:10:01,583 --> 01:10:03,958 want to win people over to your way of 262 01:10:03,958 --> 01:10:06,625 thinking put in practice his principle 263 01:10:06,625 --> 01:10:08,500 number nine which is 264 01:10:08,666 --> 01:10:10,958 be sympathetic with the other person's 265 01:10:10,958 --> 01:10:13,291 ideas and desires" end quote. 266 01:10:13,916 --> 01:10:15,750 Well we're really making our 267 01:10:15,750 --> 01:10:17,500 way through the book and we only have 268 01:10:17,500 --> 01:10:18,916 three more chapters in part 269 01:10:18,916 --> 01:10:20,541 three which is entitled how to 270 01:10:20,541 --> 01:10:22,916 win people to your way of thinking. I 271 01:10:22,916 --> 01:10:23,958 hope the book review has 272 01:10:23,958 --> 01:10:25,416 been proving helpful for you in 273 01:10:25,416 --> 01:10:27,083 your everyday lives. I know it's been 274 01:10:27,083 --> 01:10:28,916 helpful for me and tomorrow 275 01:10:28,916 --> 01:10:30,333 we're going to continue on and 276 01:10:30,333 --> 01:10:31,916 we're going to start chapter 10 of part 277 01:10:31,916 --> 01:10:34,625 three with that chapter entitled An 278 01:10:34,625 --> 01:10:35,791 Appeal That Everybody 279 01:10:36,041 --> 01:10:38,750 Likes. So be sure to join us for that. 280 01:10:39,666 --> 01:10:41,000 And as far as today is 281 01:10:41,000 --> 01:10:43,208 concerned make the most of it. Not 282 01:10:43,208 --> 01:10:45,333 every day is going to be easy and when 283 01:10:45,333 --> 01:10:46,875 it's not let's try to learn 284 01:10:46,875 --> 01:10:48,708 from it. Find the humor in it 285 01:10:48,708 --> 01:10:51,541 if you can as John Candy once said and as 286 01:10:51,541 --> 01:10:54,166 I always say just keep on putting one 287 01:10:54,166 --> 01:10:55,041 foot in front of the 288 01:10:55,041 --> 01:10:57,708 other. Stay positive and the sun will 289 01:10:57,708 --> 01:10:59,958 come up tomorrow. Okay hey 290 01:10:59,958 --> 01:11:00,875 thanks for joining us today 291 01:11:01,000 --> 01:11:03,083 we'll see you again tomorrow and have a 292 01:11:03,083 --> 01:11:06,250 fantastic day. Don't forget 293 01:11:06,250 --> 01:11:07,875 to follow and subscribe to the 294 01:11:07,875 --> 01:11:10,041 Morning Serial Podcast on the One Life 295 01:11:10,041 --> 01:11:11,750 Live It channel. You can 296 01:11:11,750 --> 01:11:13,166 find more episodes and videos 297 01:11:13,166 --> 01:11:15,125 by visiting our YouTube channel and the 298 01:11:15,125 --> 01:11:17,500 website at seaningless and at 299 01:11:17,500 --> 01:11:19,291 seaningless.com where you can 300 01:11:19,291 --> 01:11:21,708 also follow our other podcast the Mr. and 301 01:11:21,708 --> 01:11:23,208 Mrs. English podcast and 302 01:11:23,208 --> 01:11:24,291 the Life Happens podcast. 303 01:11:25,125 --> 01:11:27,250 In these other podcasts we'll dive deeper 304 01:11:27,250 --> 01:11:28,166 into everyday issues 305 01:11:28,166 --> 01:11:29,541 self-improvement and well-being 306 01:11:29,791 --> 01:11:31,958 business and finance and we welcome 307 01:11:31,958 --> 01:11:33,583 special guests too. So 308 01:11:33,583 --> 01:11:35,250 join us it'll be a good time I 309 01:11:35,250 --> 01:11:37,375 promise. Thanks again for listening have 310 01:11:37,375 --> 01:11:38,916 a fantastic day and 311 01:11:38,916 --> 01:11:39,416 we'll see you tomorrow.