How do people do things?

This week, it's just a list. Nirvanna: The Band, Norwegian Informercials, and Rob Stephenson's NYC

How do people get things done? Sometimes I genuinely don’t understand how it’s possible. Especially with two young kids, how do people do anything other than just make food and clean up food?

But even without any tiny dependents, the fact that anyone gets anything done at all is incredible.

There’s a great John Mulaney joke that I love from his album New in Town:

Thank you for coming to this show by the way, I really do appreciate you coming to a thing because you didn't have to, and it's really easy not to go to things. It is so much easier not to do things than to do them, that you would do anything is totally remarkable. Percentage-wise, it is 100% easier not to do things than to do them. And so much fun not to do them, especially when you are supposed to do them. In terms of, like, instant relief, cancelling plans is like heroin. It is an amazing feeling. Such instant joy.

Kids don't like that. Kids always wanna do stuff. Kids get angry, they go, "Aw, we didn't do anything all day." You ever ask an adult what they did over the weekend and they say they didn't do anything, their faces light up. Be like, "What'd you do this weekend?"
"I, um, I did nothing... I did nothing at all. Did we do anything? No, I didn't do anything."

I recognize the irony of claiming I have no idea how people do things as a person who seemingly has gotten things done in the recent past. I had a book come out this year! I host a podcast that comes out every week! I’m writing this newsletter right now!

But still, I’m often just baffled at how it’s possible to do things. I sat down to write this newsletter and thought, “uh oh… I got nothing.” But then, in the spirit of my pal Alex Dobrenko at Both Are True, I was like “maybe having nothing… is something?”

I’m not sure it is something but I guess it’s technically not nothing.

Either way, that’s all I’ve got this week for an intro. I do have recommendations though!

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My upcoming events and other projects:

MY BOOK: Humor Me is out in bookstores everywhere

NEW PODCAST EPISODE: Your job or your sanity? How to not lose both (with Guy Winch) on How to Be a Better Human (TED/PRX). Very on topic for this particular newsletter! The fantastic Guy Winch comes on the podcast to discuss his new book Mind Over Grind and how to make space for life that’s not work.

LIVE IN LOS ANGELES: Quality Time at the Lyric Hyperion Theater, Sunday 3/8 at 5:30 p.m. Quality Time is one of my favorite shows in the city. It’s a variety show hosted by Erin Keif, Olivia Nielsen, & MaryLeigh Roohan. I’m going to tell some jokes and there’s music and improv and maybe poetry? It’s always a delight. This month’s theme is “The French.” Tickets and details here

LIVE IN LOS ANGELES: The LA Breakfast Club, Wednesday 3/25 at 7:00 a.m. I’m going to be giving a presentation about my book with a focus one special LA-centric places to find the hilarious and absurd at one of the best institutions in the Southern California. The LA Breakfast Club is a 100-year-old club serving up a breakfast buffet, friendship, and lots of songs about how much they love eggs. I recognize that this event is at 7 a.m. on a weekday but the LABC is one of a kind and I guarantee it’s an experience you won’t forget. Plus, your ticket includes a free delicious buffet breakfast! Details here

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This week’s list

GREAT:

Several friends told me I had to see the movie Nirvanna: The Band - the Show - the Movie and that I shouldn’t know anything about it before I walked into the theater. It was truly hilarious and unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. I really don’t want to tell you anything about it other than that you should see it and it’s very funny and Canadian and completely ridiculous. I don’t even want to link to it because I don’t want you to read a synopsis, just go watch the movie.

FUNNY:

I never expected that I would be recommending a comedy video made by the Norwegian Consumer Council but this is undeniably a great sketch. A Day in the Life of an Ensh*ttificator

INTERESTING:

I love reading Rob Stephenson’s The Neighborhoods. It’s partly a fun exploration of NYC, but more than that, it’s an impressive deep dive into esoteric history, a massive multi-year photojournalism project, and a documentation of culture. This week’s edition about Hunts Points was particularly excellent. Markets, Mansions and Manure

BONUS FOR PAYING SUBSCRIBERS:

It feels weird to ask people to pay to subscribe this week since I didn’t really write anything up top, so instead I’ll just say I’m very grateful to those of you who are paying subscribers to this newsletter! But also, I will always make sure there is a free and accessible version. I don’t expect anyone to pay, so I’m shocked and pleasantly surprised when people do.

That’s it for this week. Thanks for reading! Please share Bright Spots with anyone you think might enjoy it.

Technically writing this counts as doing a thing,

Chris Duffy

This has been Bright Spots, a newsletter.

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…wait, who are you?

I’m Chris Duffy. I’m a comedian, I host TED’s How to Be a Better Human podcast, and I’m both a former fifth grade teacher and a former fifth grade student. I wrote a book called Humor Me: How Laughing More Can Make You Present, Creative, Connected, and Happy that’s out now from Doubleday.