Author: cproctor3

Put a Smile On!

“You’re never fully dressed without a smile!” Cute little redheaded Annie told us this important lesson at a young age. No matter what you are feeling, put a smile on! She does not seem to care that this smile could be genuine or fake. As adults in the real world, should we worry about the fact that our friends, family, and society may be wearing a false front everyday? I say yes!

Annie says, "You're never fully dressed without a smile!"

 

I performed the spot the fake smile test in which you watch 10 second clips of 20 different people smiling. I correctly identified 14 out of 20 smiles, which is way above the average ability. Most people do not know how to decipher the difference between a real smile and a fake smile because they simply focus on whether they see a display of pearly whites and curled up lips in front of them. The test asked which part of the face shows if the smile is genuine or not and I correctly identified this as the eyes. I will admit, I learned this from watching countless seasons of America’s Next Top Model. Tyra taught me well!

 

I decided to test myself and took one photo of me ‘fake’ smiling and one photo of me genuinely smiling. In order to get a true emotion I thought about a funny and happy memory to get my eyes as well as mouth in the correct form. My results were consistent with the scientific findings of the differences in real and fake smiles.

 

In my fake smile, my eyes are open and do not contract. This is because the brain willingly contracts the mouth muscles because it has been taught to associate ‘open and curled mouth’ with smiling.

'Fake' Smile

 

In my genuine smile, my eyes are far more intense, contracted, and have that happy ‘sparkle’ to them.  At least I like to think so! Scientists use the eye contractions as the true way to measure a real smile because these muscle movements are less voluntary and occur with the sudden emotion that evokes a smile.

'Genuine' Smile

 

I found this exercise important because it worries me that many people put on fake smiles that others cannot always recognize as ‘covers.’ If someone is not feeling well, they should not continuously put up a false front and pretend like everything is just peachy. It is ok to feel sad, anxious, or stressed at times. It is also ok to share these less than sunny emotions with someone else. Usually people tend to feel better once they open up to another individual. This relates to Dan Pink’s empathy evaluation. Empathy is good for society because people are comforted when they receive empathy from others and in return, the giver feels satisfied by being able to connect and soothe another person.

 

While fake smiles are good for photos and making a good impression, I feel that people should not hide their true emotions to close family and friends. When emotions are bottled up, extreme and usually negative consequences can occur. So to Annie, I say you can be fully dressed without a smile, but you may need to phone a friend to help you ‘zip-up.’ :)

 

Images courtesy of Glossop Operatic and Dramatic Society and Christine Proctor


Ch-check It Out!

The meaning exercise I chose from Dan’s list of stimulating activities is the Time Check evaluator. I sat down, flipped through the pages of my pink floral planner and examined what had gone on in my life for the past three months. The first thing that shocked was the fact that it is already November. It feels like it was just yesterday when I was making my first sweaty hikes up freshman hill. I must say I am quite proud of my little planner. It has stood the test of time and gotten me to all my meetings, classes, social functions, and completed all assignments in time.

Little ole' Planner

Not only are all of my ‘to-dos’ still carefully written into date, but also they are color coded according to academia, social, school meetings, and personal. This system not only allows me to find the priorities by color, but it helps me make sure my week is filled with a balance. When I began the semester I wanted to be a good student, active in my sorority, a participant in campus activities, and a person of good health. When I gaze over my schedule, the rainbow of colors let me know that I have been doing well in this department. Of course, some weeks are heavy on tests and quizzes, while some are filled with chapter, mixers, and parties. Don’t get me wrong; I don’t obsessively fill in my planner. If I need to change something around it is no big deal, but it does tend to stress me out. As a freshman making ‘the college transition’ I am constantly exposed to new people, schedules, and experiences. It has, unfortunately, turned me into more of a time anxiety case than I used to be!

One of My Weeks (Tiring to Look At!)

I’ve always been one to keep a tight ‘to-do’ list in my head whenever I’m not focused on something else. Now that I am in college and there is so much going on, I find myself even more worried about not having enough time to walk to my next destination, study, or simply stop and chat with friends. My ‘time check’ exercise has shown me that I need more ‘un-accounted’ for time.


Who Are You?

Who are these people!?! This is a question I find myself asking my inner brain very frequently throughout the day. Dan Pink challenges his readers to make up a story about people we encounter in our daily lives, which is a great idea.

I am quite fond of long, daily walks around midtown Atlanta, and frequently run into characters on my 7-mile treks. While on my walks, I subconsciously make up stories about the people I pass. I feel it is a good way to connect with people without even speaking or interacting with them. Amidst the hustle, bustle, and stress of our fast paced world, the simplicity of reminding yourself that behind every face is millions of moments, laughs, and tears is both humbling and comforting. Who are these people? They are humans, of course!

Walking the Streets

It’s late afternoon in midtown Atlanta and the sun has lazily begun to set. What were abandoned streets merely an hour ago are now filled with horns honking, pedestrians pacing, and couples canoodling. A woman on a cell phone turns a corner, but she is not alone. She knows better than to whimsically stroll through a city street.

This woman is armed with not only fall’s new fabulous Michael Kors boots, but also a perfectly crafted Louis Vuitton purse and Chanel Sunglasses that make you question if there is a soul behind the shades. Her tall, slender, and toned five-foot nine frame is also escorted by two four-legged friends. Of course, these are not the average mutts from the pound. It would be an understatement to call them ‘dogs.’ Mystery woman’s entourage consists of pure bread Dalmatians: one boy and one girl. Despite their similar black and white spotted coats, it is easy to tell which one is which by their blue and pink Burberry collars.

Mystery woman’s name is Claudia. She is in such a rush! It’s her break between appointments at her art gallery, which she owns in Virginia Highlands, and she just had to wait in line at Starbucks! Honestly, how long does it take to make a double shot espresso with two pumps of sugar-free hazelnut syrup, nonfat steamed milk, and two sugar–in-the-raws? Hopefully the Atlanta Police will not give her a parking ticket for the meter she did not care to fill. No one would have the nerve to put an ugly orange ticket on the dashboard of her sparkly cream-colored Land Rover! Or would they?

Luckily, Claudia doesn’t have to worry about paying for parking at Piedmont Park when she takes Elle and Chester for their daily walk. Free parking is just one of the perks of being on the board at The Atlanta Botanical Garden, which is conveniently attached to the grassy oasis.  Claudia loves to take the babies, as she calls them, to Piedmont Park because she can look up and see her penthouse condominium in the Mayfair building. She swears that if you squint hard enough you can see her Monet original through the floor to ceiling windows. Deep down she knows that’s a complete lie, but it always makes for a good conversation starter during her weekend cocktails and cheese parties in the park with friends. Speaking of friends, she ponders what fabulous outfit she’ll wear for the night’s activities while the babies prance on the sidewalk, just as poised as their owner.

Claudia Looks at Her Penthouse Condo

Claudia realizes she has ‘nothing’ in her closet and will need to stop by Neiman’s before her husband, Steve, picks her up for dinner. Not to worry, though, the gallery closes at five and Steve won’t be done with surgeries until eight. She loves tat she can sneak in a glass of wine (or two) with girlfriends before he comes home from work. Before she can even think about the Pinot chilling in her wine cellar, she must take the babies back to doggie daycare and finish the day at the gallery.  Much easier said than done! Oh well, the day is easier to get through when Claudia knows she’ll be ending it in a new ensemble, eating filet mignon, and nibbling on Steve’s chocolate cake at Abattoir.

images courtesy of Christine Proctor


Personal Percent

For my twenty percent time, I worked on updating my LinkedIn Profile. In the business world, this networking website is extremely helpful to keep track of colleagues, clients, and old friends. The site allows users to upload a professional photo and an expanded and informal resume.

My LinkedIn Profile

This tool is especially useful for someone in the marketing field because it is a way of marketing yourself as a person. If someone cannot market themselves, they probably won’t be able to market products and services very well. I feel that my development of my page will help me focus on my professional image and prepare me for when I need to start promoting my skills for the job and internship search.

Work Experience

I was very excited to be able to ‘link’ with my professors, past clients, friends, and family. It is important to keep in touch with people throughout life because you never know who will open the door to your future!

Areas of Interests and Skills: Gives a Resume an Edge and Personality

 

Photos Courtesy of Christine Proctor


Behind The Campaign

For my interviews in the marketing field, I have chosen a successful young professional, a senior marketing student, and a lecturer in The College of Management at Georgia Tech. I chose a wide range of representatives from the field so that I can see how broad the range is as well as gain many perspectives from their different experiences.

Louise Proctor: Senior Marketing Student

My older sister, Louise Proctor, is a senior studying marketing at The Terry College of Business at UGA. After switching from Commercial Real Estate studies, she is excited to be majoring in the field of marketing. She feels as thought this is where she is meant to be in the business world and I agree! During my childhood, she was always able to convince me to do things for her. She certainly has the technique of ‘customer manipulation’ down pat!

Possible Interview Questions:

  • Since this is your second major, do you feel it is the right decision, or do you still feel uneasy?
  • What made you decide to switch?
  • What types of classes are you taking to prepare you for the field?
  • Do you feel that these classes are worth while?
  • What types of internships are you looking into?
  • How long will you wait before going to graduate school?
  • Do you think that social media will maintain its ‘freshness’ in the marketing field?
  • Do you desire to use a lot of technology based marketing practices or more traditional ones?

Brooke Wilson: Program Director, Moxie Interactive

Brooke Wilson is currently the Program Director for Verizon Wireless at Moxie Interactive. Moxie Interactive is a full-service interactive marketing agency located in Atlanta, GA. Moxie strives to use social media, analytics, and consumer analysis to reach customers in interesting and innovative ways. They have worked with clients such as Coca-Cola, L’Oreal USA, Verizon Wireless, Cartoon Network, Turner Broadcasting, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and 20th Century Fox. Prior to joining Moxie, Brooke worked for various marketing departments of companies including Kodak! I feel her experiences with numerous companies over the years of the social media boom will provide an interesting look at how trends can change rapidly with the use of new technology. It will also be interesting to see what she thinks the problems with these new trends are and how they can be fixed in the future.

Possible Interview Questions:

  • How competitive are jobs in the marketing field?
  • Did you feel that you were prepared straight out of college?
  • What types of experiences and skills are important for a young marketer?
  • What personality types do you see excelling in this field?
  • How often do you find yourself collaborating with other colleagues?
  • How has the use of social media impacted marketing?
  • Does marketing rely too heavily on consumer’s use of technology?
  • Do you see yourself staying with one company for the remainder of your working life?

Peter Vantine: Georgia Tech Marketing Lecturer

Peter Vantine is currently a part-time lecturer for the Marketing department of The College of Management at Georgia Tech. Prior to beginning his career in academia, Vantine spent twenty years in the marketing industry working with companies such as PepsiCo and other consumer product industry. His experiences add global knowledge as he lived in Asia, Latin America, and Europe. His experiences also add entrepreneurial accomplishments by leading two start-ups, three turn-arounds, and serving as CEO of three different companies. I am looking forward to hearing about his point of view of the marketing industry from a global perspective. His repertoire also shows that he is interested in entrepreneurial business, something that is highly intriguing to me!

Possible Interview Questions:

  • How does the marketing industry change when you leave America?
  • Did you feel that you needed to be fluent in all the languages you were selling to?
  • How do cultural differences change the way a campaign or message is received?
  • What do you feel students need to have under their ‘skills belt’ when leaving college and entering the field?
  • What is more important: a graduate degree or and impressive work portfolio?
  • Do you feel that the economy is in a good state for more entrepreneurs?
  • Do you recommend students seek out jobs internationally, or gain experience in the USA first?

Photos courtesy of Louise Proctor, Brooke Wilson, and Georgia Tech


Masters of Marketing!

Annie Young-Scriver

Annie Young-Scrivner has been the Chief Marketing Officer with Starbucks since 2009. She is in charge of brand and product strategy of the entire Starbucks brand, which includes beverages, food, merchandise, and overall image of Starbucks. Since joining the team, Annie has helped launch the new “Frappuccino your way” campaign, as well as develop new concept stores. These new stores include a spin-off of Starbuck’s original image, focused on a more upscale-café vibe.

Prior to joining Starbucks, Annie worked in the marketing departments at Quaker Foods in which she dealt with clients such as Pepsi, Frito-Lay, Tropicana, and Gatorade.

Ken Dice

Ken Dice has been the Vice President of USA Brand Management for Nike since 2007. He specializes in consumer marketing in the areas of entertainment, technology, and agency foundation. These characteristics are important for a company like Nike since it is the world’s leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Before joining the Nike team, Ken worked with Discovery Networks including The Learning Channel (TLC), The Animal Planet, The Travel Channel, and eight other networks. While working with Discovery Networks, his focus was on key consumer audiences. These concepts can be clearly seen in Nike’s countless ads encouraging consumers to get up and “Just Do It.” Nike also goes the extra mile to show what makes their product special, the technology. Nike is always educating consumers to show why they should pay to bear the swoosh on their chest. Ken’s background in marketing technology and entertainment allows him to educate the consumer in an intriguing and technical manner.

Joseph V. Tripodi

Joseph V. Tripodi is the Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer for The Coca-Cola Company. He has been on the team since 2007 and helped launch campaigns such as “Open Happiness” and “The Coke Side of Life.” The Coca Cola Company is known to be the master of marketing. After all, Coke’s logo is the most recognized in the world. This brand loyalty has come from countless successful campaigns featuring sports stars, celebrities, and even Santa Claus. While Coke uses many big names in its brand image, it always caters to the individual customer’s desires. Recently, Coke launched a dispenser in restaurants that gives the consumer the ability to mix their favorite Coke products with different flavorings to create unique beverages. All of these new techniques stem from the marketing department after gaining approval from Mr. Tripodi. Before joining Coke, Joseph V. Tripodi was the Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Allstate Insurance Company. He was responsible for all marketing in the company and even created their first brand innovation in 10 years, “Your Choice Auto and Home.”

 

Photos courtesy of Starbucks, Coca Cola, and Nike


From Pastry to Professionalism

Today is October 12, 2011, and I am currently in my first semester at Georgia Tech. Right now, I see myself attaining my MBA and specializing in marketing and entrepreneurship with a focus on consumer customization. How did I make these decisions, you ask?

Fall 2011= RAMBLIN' WRECK FROM GA TECH!

As a child I was always interested in food! I was fascinated by the way things tasted when paired with different spices, sauces, and cooking techniques. My interest and intrigue turned into skills and experience once I was tall enough to work at the kitchen counter. I remember helping my mom with dinner while food network buzzed in the background. I was always ready to stir, chop, or even sauté whenever my mom needed an extra hand. As I got older, I continued to help my mom out and eventually started to cook my family’s dinner at least two nights a week. In order to expand my repertoire, I turned towards my teachers on The Food Network and researched recipes on the Internet.

 I began to view cooking as my way of creating whatever I wanted. I loved being able to bring different components together to create one delicious product. The most satisfying part of my culinary fascination was the ability to make people happy with my creations. People always say, “The easiest way to the heart is through the stomach!” I can definitely say that is true!

Being in the Kitchen Always Put a Smile on My Face (2007)

As I grew older, my abilities expanded past the general culinary knowledge. After a successful custom cake creation for my sister’s graduation party, I discovered my niche in the culinary world: custom-decorated gourmet cakes. Before I knew it, I had created a full-fledged business with clients, deadlines, and demands! While the cake business sounds like fun and games, it is anything but! I was a one-woman show, often sacrificing any extra moment of free time I had on baking, decorating, researching, or updating my media outlets. Before I even realized it, I learned many valuable business lessons and techniques, such as marketing, customer service, consumer intuition, information technology, and time management.

My Fridge Was Always Full of Freshly Baked Cakes Ready to Be Assembled and Decorated, Which Means I ALWAYS Had Work to Do!

Although I learned many skills from creating my own business, the two that I value most are the ability to market a product to consumers based on their apparent desires. Usually, consumers do not know exactly what they want and will not make a transaction. I learned as an entrepreneur that it was my duty to explain my product, why the customer needed it, and most importantly what made it different from other competing products. What gave my cakes an edge was the fact that they were completely customizable. The product was a handmade, hand decorated cake filled with flavor combinations in keeping with the customer’s desires. I realized that I love marketing products that cater to an individual’s wants, and not just factory standards.

Just a Few of My Favorite Cakes Over the Years!

I realized I wanted to continue my marketing career in the future, but not necessarily in the kitchen. Throughout high school, I was known as “Cake Girl” or “Betty Proctor.” While these names were not hurtful, I felt that after 4 years, it would be nice to be known as Christine again. I set my sights on a college that would offer the rigorous academics that would scare most “Cake Girls” off! Hello Georgia Institute of Technology!

Four Years of "Cake Girl" Was Great... But I'm Ready to Move Past the Oven!

Promoting Christine's Cakes at a WOMENetics Conference Focused on Entrepreneurs (August 2011)

Now that I am at Tech, I have decided to major in Business Administration with concentrations in marketing and entrepreneurship. During my studies, I’d like to intern with companies that offer or are looking into consumer customizable products.

Georgia Tech College of Management Will Help Me Make My "Dream Job" a Reality... Hopefully!

I would love to work with (but not limited to) Coca-Cola and Nike. While at Tech, I’d also love to take advantage of the study abroad programs to gain a more international perspective. I feel that Georgia Tech’s urban location along with its access to multiple study abroad locations will expand my business point of view to a global scale.

I've Already Incorporated Coca-Cola into My Business, I'd Love If I Could Officially Be a Part of Theirs!

After Georgia Tech, I picture myself working for a firm that specializes in making products that fulfill the consumer’s needs. Current examples of this concept are the Nike ID collection and custom Coke dispensers located in many restaurants. I am intrigued by the idea of combining multiple variables in order to satisfy each individual. While I can picture myself working for a firm, I also envision myself starting my own business. I am not sure what I would like to make or perform, but I certainly want to be calling the shots!

Who Knows What My Future Place In the World Will Be...

 

Photos Courtesy of Christine Proctor, Coca Cola, and Georgia Tech


Never too Young to Innovate

After watching Cameron Herold’s Talk about kids being raised as entrepreneurs, I feel like I should join his mission to help parents see that kids need to go out into the real world and innovate. Instead of living sheltered lives, holding their parent’s hands 24/7, kids need to be pushed a bit further to see what the world is really like. Becoming an entrepreneur isn’t just about making money, it’s about problem solving with a purpose for society. Entrepreneurs take the tools in their surroundings and put them together in an efficient, innovative, and intriguing way. Consumers tend to flock to these products because they are ‘new’ and different. The products do not have to be completely out of this world, but they must showcase new uses, ideas, or new ways of going through life.

This relates to the Talk by Simon Sinek about inspiring leaders. Although Steve Jobs was not the first person to create a computer, Martin Luther King was not the first Civil Rights Activist, and The Wright Brothers were not the first to tinker with aviation; they all explored their interest with passion, innovation, and creativity. The deep devotion to their causes attracted attention and passion from others, which lead to an even greater momentum to their movements.

At the age of 14, I decided I wanted to make my sister, Louise, a graduation cake. I had spent countless hours watching the baking and cake decorating shows on The Food Network and did not have a doubt in my mind that it was past my abilities to create a similar product. I logged onto my computer to research recipes, techniques, and skills necessary to churn out a product of my own. I made a list of the tools I needed and asked my mom to drive me to the store since I was only 14 and without even a learner’s permit.

My Family at Louise's Graduation (June 2007)

Once I had all my supplies ready, it was time to bake. In the midst of all the chaos of having your first child graduate, my mom was somewhat doubtful of my abilities and just asked that I clean up when I was done so that the house would be free of flour for the party. I agreed and went back to my mission!

After much hard work and some trial and error, I presented a beautiful pink and green polka dot cake for my sister’s celebration. Not only was it a piece of art on the outside; the inside was a masterpiece for the mouth. The cake consisted of two layers of dark chocolate cake and vanilla cake, layered with dark chocolate mousse, dark chocolate ganache, raspberry preserves, and topped with cream cheese buttercream frosting. Every single bit of the cake was made with the highest quality ingredients and from a recipe, not a box. The guests at the party agreed that it was not only a treat for the eyes, but for the mouth, as well.

First Cake! (2007)

My mind was buzzing with idea from all the excitement, and at the young age of 14, I decided to create my own business, Christine’s Cakes. That was almost 5 years ago. Since then, I have created two of my own websites, a Facebook Fanpage (700 fans), sold over 2,000 cakes, donated to over 10 charities, and have been featured in multiple publications. The success of my cake business is attributed to its entrepreneurial edge. My cakes are different from most cakes you will find. They are a spectacle to look at and can be decorated in any way you’d like, but they are also edible! You might laugh, but today’s cakes are usually a mixture of cardboard, crumbs, fondant, gumpaste, and sickeningly sweet icing.

I'd Say It Was a Success! (2007)

My business centered around the idea of a 5-star restaurant quality dessert that you can eat! I am proud to say that over the years I have converted many non-cake eaters into addicts! “I didn’t like cake, but I licked the plate!” You’d be surprised at how many times I have heard that one!

Now that I am in college, I have taken a hiatus from the baking biz. It is sad that I am not able to use that as a creative and innovative outlet like I used to, but it has allowed me to reflect on what I have accomplished and how the lessons I learned about the professional, marketing, and customer service sectors will help me in future endeavors. My experience as a child entrepreneur has certainly primed me to become a productive and creative minded adult and I am excited to see where my passions lead me to next!

One of The Last Cakes I Made Before College for a Friend's Birthday!

Collegiate Cakes

Lilly Pulitzer Inspired Cake

My Graduation Cake! Go Jackets!

Spongebob Cake

HUUUUGE Wedding Cake I made this summer! Over 130 servings and it weighed 75 pounds!

If you would Like to see more…..

Check my website out : www.christines-cakes.com

Check my Facebook Fanpage : HERE

 

Photos Courtesy of Christine Proctor


Ready, Set, MOB!

North Avenue Light Show!

It’s a Friday afternoon and four students are ready to get creative! When Abbie, Devlin, Kelsey, and I came together on Friday we shared the footage we had accumulated from North Avenue Dining Hall. It was great to see everyone’s interviews and scenes from the famous watering hole. I noticed that the way we filmed and interviewed was different because we all have different creative processes. I am excited that each of us has a slightly different point of view because I think it will help make the end product more exciting for the viewer to watch.

After we watched all of our clips, we discussed how exactly we would go about putting them together. We decided to show overall footage as an introduction with some background information about the dining hall; then we can show favorite interviews from their corresponding times of day. The main purpose of this documentary is to show how much the student body truly appreciates the amazing facility our school has supplied us with! The students do not just simply see it as a place to grab a sandwich between classes, but as an entertainment facility, social spot, and of course, chow center! We want to highlight the fact that North Ave is not just a dining hall, it’s a place where invention mobbing happens. We discussed how the atmosphere is similar to ‘The Coffee Shop” from the first TED Talks. All the students rush into North Ave to escape the worries of the formulas, elements, and labs from their rigorous schedules. Once they have a plate full of hot wings, stir fry, and sub sandwiches, they are able to relax and turn on their right brain thinking.

The best part is, those brains are not alone! We all know that Georgia Tech has a reputation for having a quiet, solitary, and uncreative student body, but we are here to prove them wrong. When one walks into North Avenue dining hall, there is an explosion of creativity! Not only do students show their uniqueness with the food choices they make on their plates, but the sheer architecture of the building is aw inspiring…. Hello lightshow! Forget socially awkward and solitary! Every time I have gone, I have talk to someone new and learned something interesting about them.

Let's Get Creative on the Plate!

Our main goal for the video is to show how the dining hall brings students together and allows them to interact with one another. The interesting space, array of foods, and 24/5 access makes it impossible not to grab a good meal with good conversation. We were thinking that a possible end to our video could show three friends who all wanted different types of food for lunch (Asian, deli sandwich, southern, etc.). If there were no North Avenue Dining Hall they would separately go to lunch and end up mindlessly fooling around on their phones. Luckily, they can all get their choice food at North Avenue and share their thoughts about their classes, the latest music, or whatever crosses their mind. Although students aren’t creating physical objects at North Avenue, that’s for the chefs, they create memories and friendships that are spontaneous and exciting!

 

Photo Courtesy of Georgia Tech


Love of Laughter

After reading Dan Pink’s chapter about the importance of playing for creativity and innovation, I realized why I thrive after I’ve gone for a run, swim, or just engaged in a fun activity. In the hectic world filled with the stresses of classes, jobs, and whatever the future holds, it is imperative that the mind has the chance to recharge with playful situations. For my ‘play’ experiment, I chose to take James Thorson’s Humor Test. Each question related to enjoying making others laugh or enjoying laughter oneself. I found myself choosing “strongly agree” for each question. I feel that humor is a great tool for making friends and relating to people. It is more complex than some may see on the surface. Humor and wit can be used to present oneself as intelligent but well rounded, social but composed, and it serves as a way to entertain others. Thanks to my dad, my sense of humor and especially sarcasm has developed quite nicely over the years. I greatly enjoy the ability to make others laugh as well as laugh with them. Laughter truly is contagious and can penetrate even the most depressive feelings. I love being able to know that I can allow my mind to play by being able to laugh and smile!

Laugh and Love! (My cousins and I: Thanksgiving 2010)

 

Photo Courtesy of Christine Proctor