Okay, confession time. As a kid I was an addict. But not THAT kind of addict. I was addicted to teasing my big sister Donna. I now know that the adrenaline rush I received every time I got a reaction from her was my “drug” of choice. Here was just one of the nefarious methods I used to get a fix.
To enter our house, one had to open the garage side door, walk through the garage, then the laundry room, and through a third door into the kitchen. When Donna would come home from work or a date, I found it irresistible to hide in the dark laundry room and scare the living daylights out of her. After screaming at me to STOP IT!!! she would complain to Mom, and Mom would warn me to NOT do that again. And I did not do it again… until the next time she came home from work or a date.
I also got a rush from embarrassing her. Perhaps the most embarrassing shenanigan I pulled – this time when I was much younger but old enough to know better – was so odious that to this day I’m embarrassed to admit it. But I’m a sucker for telling a good story even if it’s a self-deprecating one. And this is definitely that.
Donna had a date coming to the house that evening. I thought it would be clever and oh so funny to dress up like Cupid and dance around the room to entertain her would-be suitor. I fashioned a “bow and arrow” and wings out of coat hangers, wore a pair of shorts (my only attire), and did, in fact (and it pains me to admit this), dance around the living room. Her date was not merely as amused as I felt was deserving of my comedy performance. But my sister was not only not amused. She was mortified.
It’s a wonder Donna didn’t kill me on the spot. I don’t know for sure, but that may have been the last date she had with that guy. If so, it was undoubtedly because he wasn’t about to pursue a relationship with a young lady who had a lunatic for a brother.
You would think that after all of those laundry room scares and embarrassing moments I perpetrated, my sister would have disowned me. But surprisingly, she and I, to this day, are as close as, and maybe even closer than, we’ve ever been. Much to her credit.
By the way, all these years later I’m still addicted to adrenalin. But I’ve refined my methods for getting my fixes. Presenting my show and seminar The Magic of Cultivating Positive Emotions as a regular performer/speaker at America’s premier health and wellness resort is a joy. And one of the biggest kicks I get are when I get written notes from attendees like these:
“Thank you Rod!! That was fantastic and I’m feeling more positive leaving this room. Your words came at the right time for me. I’ve been in a negative headspace! I look forward to reading your book.”
“Informative, inspirational, funny. The best lecture in all of my 35 years at the Ranch.”
“Very engaging. Love the incorporation of magic.”
“Lots of constructive suggestions mixed with a little bit of magic. We really enjoyed it!”
“Absolutely loved the session. Great storytelling and was very engaging.
“I took away a lot of practical info that I can carry forward in my daily life. Thank you!!”
