The BIG Takeaway™ newsletter By Rich Trombetta Dec. 12, 2022
Using examples from TV, movies and sports to launch a journey toward peace and happiness at work, at home...in life. Grab the remote and change your life.™ This week: Parking spaces, a game-winning shot, a dog swims to New Jersey and, finally, "he was the best of us all."
Section No. 1: This week's BIG Takeaway It's always the little things
Image: Sony Pictures
Making space for joy Drawing a parallel to happiness from the small moments in life 📺 The context This week a new ranking from the driver’s education website Zutobi found that Cleveland is the cheapest city to park a car. No surprise that New York is No. 1; Toledo tied with Seattle? I didn't see that coming.
The show "Seinfeld" has a classic episode where George argues with a character named Mike Moffitt about who has the right to a parking space.
Chaos breaks out and no one can agree on who gets the space. At one point Elaine says, "George, wait, you don't know who this guy is, people kill for a parking space in this city."
The show ends with Jerry doing standup making this brilliant observation.
"People will kill each other for a parking space in New York because they think, 'If I don't get this one, I may never get a space.' You see cars driving in New York all hours of the night. It's like Musical Chairs except everybody sat down around 1964. The problem is car manufacturers are building hundreds of thousands of new cars every year, they're not making any new spaces. That's what they should be working on. You go to the Auto Show, they got that big revolving turntable, and there's nothing on it. New from Chrysler, a space."
👉What I learned from this example from pop culture I sometimes forget it's the little things that bring the most joy.
The reaction to finding a parking space is like being inthe audience of an episode of Oprah's favorite things; people go insane. (I love this Oprah SNL skit; please treat yourself to the brilliance of Tina Fey peeing her pants.)
You could be on the way to "Hamilton" with tickets that required a home equity loan when suddenly the opportunity to save $48 is your simple way of sticking to the man.
Rational thought goes out the window. I will admit to driving the wrong way down a one-way street, doing a U-turn across traffic on 57th Street in New York City, asking someone to get out and stand in a space to save it and even moving construction cones to create my own space.
😀Let's go a little deeper
You're driving, eyes peeled,circling the block when someone in the car points and yells, "Space!"Fire hydrant. Dang it! Wait, there's another one. Breaks slam. Heads whip to look. Then the universal signal to claim the spot - blinker on. Tonight is going to be a good night.
This of course is always followed by the "we'll never fit" comment by the Debbie Downer in the group. But, damn it, you will fit.
About 38 three-point turns later you squeeze in, one of your friends guiding you in with a "a little more, a little more" until finally, forgetting the times you hit the cars in front and behind you, you exit triumphantly, like an emperor addressing the masses, taking in the glory of the moment.
"We won't fit my ass," you smirk at your friend. The victory is yours.
💪What I am going to challenge myself to do this week (and I hope you'll join me). 1. I am going to look for more "parking space moments" in my day-to-day life. 2. I am going to challenge myself to perform the ultimate act of random kindness by giving up a spot to a complete stranger. My goodness.
Quote for the week Once again we find ourselves enmeshed in the Holiday Season, that very special time of year when we join with our loved ones in sharing centuries-old traditions such as trying to find a parking space at the mall. We traditionally do this in my family by driving around the parking lot until we see a shopper emerge from the mall, then we follow her, in very much the same spirit as the Three Wise Men, who 2,000 years ago followed a star, week after week, until it led them to a parking space. - Dave Barry
Section No. 2: Other lessons from the week "He was the best of us all."
Image: Getty Images
Pop culture provides so many great stories of inspiration. Here are some from the past week.
"He was the best of us all."
Please read this Substack post about American sports journalist Grant Wahl. A treasure lost too soon. "Wahl had made headlines in November by reporting that he was detained and briefly refused entry to a World Cup match because he was wearing a rainbow t-shirt in support of LGBTQ rights." (CNN.com) The lesson: I need to examine if I am living my values and standing up for what is right.
Conduct yourself with complete joy
CNN profiled this person who won the chance of leading an orchestra. How can you not smile? The lesson: I need to just let loose more often.
When it's OK to put your happiness on ice
The Teddy Bear Toss is going strong this year. The lesson: I need to remember to always be open to new and creative ideas like this one.
Love what you do and you'll never work a day in your life
Hear and see the joy of a regular season game on a Wednesday night in Salt Lake City, Utah. Not the championship, not the playoffs, not anything remarkable. Side note: Who's the dude in the coat at the end of the video? The lesson: I need to celebrate every moment, no matter how big or small.
"Musgrove brings 'heat' to the coldest place on Earth"
"Padres ace throws fastball on Antarctica to raise funds for Challenged Athletes Foundation" The lesson: I might not make millions of dollars or be a professional athlete but I can still work hard to help others.
"Don't let the things you can't do get in the way of the things you can do." - John Wooden
Hansel Emmanuel, one-armed player for Northwestern St., scored his first collegiate points. He averaged almost 25 points per game his senior year in high school. The lesson: I need to think about what barriers I am letting me hold me back.
Did you hear the one about the dog that fled NYC and swam to New Jersey?
"The family bought Bear from a breeder with plans to train him to be a service dog for her 20-year-old developmentally disabled son, Wolpin said." The lesson: I need to remind myself to withhold judgment and make sure I understand the whole story.
Side note:With that said, I have to think if I know anyone who ever tried to escape to New Jersey. Well, there was Snake Plisskin in the 1981 classic "Escape from New York." But that's a story for another time.
Finally, first LensCrafters, now Walmart
LensCrafters promises glasses in "about an hour." Walmart is launching a drones delivery program that promises to get items to your home in about the same amount of time. The lesson: I need to check my stress levels and do a life assessment if I ever decide I need anything from Walmart in one hour. Toilet paper maybe?
Section No. 3: Homer and happiness
In case you missed it, take a read of my deep dive story on why Homer Simpson may hold the secret to bringing more joy to your life.
Our why: Inspire people to be the pebble that creates a ripple for change, not be the pebble in someone's shoe. (Also, selfishly, we really like writing about sports, TV and movies)
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