Dancing with the Stars

"The talents given to you and me, we must develop faithfully, so we can be good mouseketeers."

The Mickey Mouse Club song

Dancing with the Stars is one of my guilty pleasures. As a big fan of figure skating, I guess it isn’t too surprising that I am drawn to a television show that trains non-dancers to perform ballroom routines with professional dancers. Now that we are down to the final four couples, have you noticed that two of the remaining stars are athletes? The winner last year, Emmitt Smith played football, as did Jerry Rice, runner-up from the previous year. Current semi-finalists Laila Ali, a boxer, and Olympic champion speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno both show that athletes and dancers have a lot in common.

Both groups of people have what Howard Gardner calls bodily-kinesthetic intelligence. The like to play with movement. Gardner has proposed eight different kinds of intelligence which account for a broader range of potentials than traditional intelligence tests:

Linguistic intelligence ("word smart"):

Logical-mathematical intelligence ("number/reasoning smart")

Spatial intelligence ("picture smart")

Bodily-Kinesthetic intelligence ("body smart")

Musical intelligence ("music smart")

Interpersonal intelligence ("people smart")

Intrapersonal intelligence ("self smart")

Naturalist intelligence ("nature smart")

You can probably pinpoint which areas relate the most to you, your children and friends. You can take a test here to find out which elements of intelligence are the strongest for you.

I wish people were taught about multiple intelligences at a very early age. I think the theory teaches us two very important lessons: First, nobody is good at everything and second, everybody is good at something.

© Copyright 2007 Dixie Darr. All rights reserved

Next Big Thing

"To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk."

Thomas Edison

“I got the idea watching my dog scoot across the floor on his butt,” said Gwen, inventor of the Color Bug, a radio-controlled art product and one of eight finalists for Oprah’s Next Big Idea competition. That was the best story of the contestants, who were trying to win a contract to sell their products on QVC, and a good example of adapting an idea observed in one area to a completely different field. She wasn’t the winner, however. Maybe the audience, like me, thought kids should use their hands to hold their magic markers when they draw a picture, instead of using a remote control device to direct the marker.

The winner and my personal favorite was the Lock ‘n Bake Baking Pan, with sides that fold down for easy access to your cake or lasagna. This is a simple, practical device that will probably do very well on QVC.

What I like best about this invention is that it illustrates the point that useful, creative inventions are not usually completely new; they are improvements on something we already use that make it easier, faster, safer or more attractive. The best new products are probably tweakings of familiar products.

© Copyright 2007 Dixie Darr. All rights reserved

Fairy Godmother

“Help me be a blessing to someone today.” Morning prayer

My stepmother keeps what I call a “Fairy Godmother” bank account. When she inherited money from her sister, she put it aside in a special account that she dips into only to give to others that she wants to bless. I have been the recipient of her philanthropy as have most of her nieces, nephews and grandchildren. She gives to nurses at my dad’s doctor’s offices who go out of their way to be friendly and anyone else who she thinks deserves a reward.

I told her that when I grow up and can put away a little money after I pay my bills, I want to have a Fairy Godmother account, too.

“It’s not just money,” she reminded me. “You can bless somebody by smiling and being friendly, by baking them something special or giving them a bouquet flowers from your garden.”

She’s right. My friend, Jane blesses me occasionally with CDs of music, books and seminars. Members of my church reward me when they tell me that my column is the first thing they look for when the get our local paper. My writers group generously pass on tips and contacts.

Looked at from this broader perspective, we can all be fairy godmothers. Start now.

©2007 Dixie Darr. All rights reserved