I've posted a bit on this in another blog entry ""The 'insane' little voice in our head and entertaining ourselves"", but I thought I'd reiterate and add a few new gems
Life is full of serious moments. Sometimes it is spending time with at family functions, sometimes it is working on a serious project at work, sometimes it is burying a relative, sometimes it is interviewing for a job, sometimes it is trying to get a loan, and sometimes it is another stressful encounter with the world.
For me, the best way to break up the seriousness is to flake out a little. One of the ways I like flaking out is messing with people's minds. It helps if the victim of said encounter has a sense of humor, but sometimes it is funner if said victim DOESN'T have a sense of humor.
For Christmas and the upcoming new year try these ways to mess with the mind of others.
1. One of the all time classics: When someone is talking to you, ask them in a serious voice after you've heard them clearly, "What?" Keep a serious demeanor when you do this. They will either look at you and be like, you heard me or they will say in an agitated voice "nevermind". If you get them to repeat themselves twice or get them to say nevermind, declare aloud to them, "I win."
2) When someone is talking to you and it is clear they need feedback like a nod or word in agreement, deny them that and just stare at them in a worried fashion as if to say they are crazy. Once again, if they are unnerved by this, declare, "I win".
3) For those well into their adulthood when you are over a friend or family member's house and are sitting down. When you get up, bend over a little and put your hand across your back and say, "Owwww". When they ask, "Are you okay?", you say, just kidding. Then you announce winning again.
4) When you are talking with someone who is sitting down while you are standing up, walk back and forth without announcing what your intention is. If their eyes follow you, they will probably say, "stop that". Once again, announce winning.
5) Make a lot of noise as if you are falling down the stairs and when they say are you okay, yell like you are hurting, "I'm fine don't worry". If they fall for it, announce winning.
6) Hurry ahead of them and hide around a corner. As they are strolling in and about to reach you, yell "Boo". If they fall for it and you scare them, announce winning.
7) In church when everyone is singing a hymn, change the words to funny words--keeping them clean of course--and see if the people around you notice.
8) When you are at the counter, ask the clerk for something you know they don't carry. When they apologize and say they don't have it, say with a straight and serious face, "Why do you hate me?". If they get all defensive and say I don't hate you, say just kidding. Announce winning.
9) When you run into someone you know and they start talking to you. Stop them for a minute and say, "who are you again?". If they fall for it, say just kidding and announce winning.
10) When you are passing by strangers in the store out of the blue and looking away from them, "Say quietly, Shut-up they will hear you" when you aren't on the phone or nobody is around you.. Look over and say, "I'm sorry you had to hear that" and wait for their uneasy response.
11) One of my favorite, lightly pushing your kid into a wall and say, "Why'd you run into the wall?". They will look at you like, "Really?"
12) Have an obscure name ready--one that they will know--such as Sam Donaldson. When they are trying to recollect who is an actor in a movie, what is the name of the music group or singer, say "Ooh, ooh, I know. It's Sam Donaldson". When they look at you, like you are nuts, announce winning.
13) When you are in a store, raise your voice and pretend to be talking rudely to someone and yell, "goodbye" and act like you are hanging up. Look at the person in line next to you and say, "I'm sorry that was my parole officer". If they fall for it, announce winning.
14) Announce on a pretend call in a loving voice, "Don't worry baby, daddy will take care of you." When someone looks up say, "I'm I'm sorry, that was my cat." Watch their shocked response and announce winning.
15) Play frisbee in the park with a friend with a pretend frisbee and see how many people are looking for the frisbee.
16) Change your ringtone to person screaming in horror and when in public have a friend call you. Watch the surprised responses you get.
17) When you friend gripes about someone, say matter of factly, "Just kill em, that will send a message to the rest of them." Watch you friend look at you like you are crazy.
18) When you go over a friend or family member who has a beloved cat. Grab the cat and act like you are going to take it with you and say, "Well it's been good seeing you. Hope to see you again soon."
19) Ask your boss, when he has a fire alarm just outside his office, why he gets all the fun. He looked at me like, you are crazy.
20) Tell a person who is near a landmark birthday, but not at it that they look good for 30 (when they are 28 or 29), 40 (when they are 38 or 39), etc.
You can add to this list with your own. Remember a mind is a terrible thing not to mess with.
Cheer and Merry Christmas
