Joy Phenix's Blog

Three years ago, I learned a little secret: no matter how highly I regard my California education experience and childhood, I was ripped off. Ripped.  Off. And, as far as I can tell, generations of people from California (and other states on the West Coast) have been similarly robbed. Here’s why. I recently stumbled across [...]

This video was posted earlier this week, and, once again,  I wish I were in a position to do something like this.  I would love to go to the Alps, strap on this contraption and fly.  Do you remember the Rope Swing and the Frenchies who “fly”?  Jetman sees their adventure and raises it up [...]

” Do one thing every day that scares you.”   – Elenore Roosevelt Team Phenix went west for Spring Break this year.  We had such an incredible time with family that we knew “re-entry” to real life would be tough.   Right on cue, on Monday morning my son dutifully sat at breakfast sobbing, “I just don’t [...]

Aside from making me sad that I missed this ski season entirely, this video triggers a lot of questions for me. What makes a person say, ” I should try that?”   Do you have any crazy weekend plans?  Will there be any ideas that come to mind that might give others heart palpitations?  Is [...]

There’s not much to say about this video other than I’m looking forward to my kids being in Middle School if this is an example of how they think. I simply can’t get enough of this kid, and, it’s safe to say, this may be the best six seconds of your day. You’re welcome! Share [...]

Flash mobs are all the rage these days. These spur-of-the-moment, surprise dance numbers in public settings seem to be popping up from just about anybody who has an email list, a group of friends with extraordinary amounts of free time, and a low threshold for embarrassment. Most of the time, they are a publicity stunt.  [...]

In yesterday’s post I talked about the process of “fooling” your brain so that you can see things differently.  However, some people have developed their creativity muscles so well that their brain sees things I can only dream about.  When that happens, one sits back in awe. A young dutch artist, Thijme Termatt, is just [...]

Life has more than its share of moments when we stare at an opportunity and say, “Wouldn’t it be cool if…” Then the phone rings, the light changes, the meeting starts, or the alarm goes off…and we snap out of it, shake off the thought, and move back into life’s routines. Too often, we fail [...]

“Logic will get you from A to B.  Imagination will take you everywhere.”  – Albert Einstein Happy Friday!  If you happen to feel like you’re dragging your tired body over the finish line of a long week, remember that a little imagination can change the color of your weekend…and your life for that matter. If [...]

This fall I overheard one of my all-time favorite exchanges between my son (J) and daughter (E).  Here’s how it went: J:  I don’t know how I’m ever going to walk from the bus to the first grade hall.  It’s sooooo far! E: Don’t you know that if you ever have to walk really, Really, [...]