The Magic Word

The Word From Mitch

It's Mitch! The Fallacy of "Dead Air"

In radio broadcasting, "dead air" refers to moments of silence, in between music, commercials, and announcements. In commercial radio in particular, they avoid any dead air whatsoever like the plague. If listeners hear nothing, even for a moment, they might turn to another station. If they lose listeners, they lose advertisers, and therefore lose money.

Unfortunately, we've come to live our lives in this same manner, distrustful of any "dead air", and filling our every waking moment with "busy-ness", rushing frantically to "get everything done" before we collapse into bed at the end of the day. We've become terrified of any "down-time", afraid that we may miss something. Even our so-called leisure time, we fill with the noise and clutter of TV, video games, and "texting".

And yet, it's in that pause of stillness, when we allow for it, where we find the true gems, the real "magic" of our lives. For example, we tend to mull our various problems over and over, analyzing them from every angle, and even obsessing on them endlessly. But as long as we hold onto our problems in this way, and never let them go, we are actually killing off the space where the true creative solutions arise. It's when we let go of this endless "mind chatter" and allow our thoughts to relax, often not thinking of a particular problem at all, that the truly creative, innovative ideas and solutions arise, as if by magic. The analysis plants the seed, but it's in relaxing and letting go that we allow that seed to sprout into something creative and useful.

Similarly, in our daily lives, it's when we take a moment to just be, to pause in the "stillness", that we find a true sense of connection: connection to a deeper sense of self, connection to nature, or connection to our friends and family. It's where we find the true meaning and value of our lives, and the true appreciation. I find that when I make it a point to just stop and relax for a moment now and then throughout the day, I actually end up getting more done than I would have if I'd just kept relentlessly pushing my way through it all. And I also end up enjoying the process a great deal more.

Did you ever make it a point to just stop for a moment? Maybe you've never noticed that beautiful tree just outside your office window. And the way the leaves move gently in the wind. The way the trunk of the tree twists so beautifully. And hey! The flow of that tree suddenly gives you an idea for how to create the "flow" that you've been missing in the project you're working on.

The idea for this article came to me earlier today when I was out for my morning run. Often when I'm running, I allow my mind to relax, enjoying the scenery around me, or sensing my body and what it's doing as I run. And frequently I'll notice something that I'd never seen before, or get some great new idea, or have some profound insight into some area of my life.

It's easy to get into the habit of thinking that life's all about the continual pursuit. That becomes even more true during times of hardship, such as many experience during economic downturns. We get caught up in the "have-to's" and the anxiety of uncertainty. It's no wonder that stress related illnesses have become so rampant. But we neglect our relaxation time at our own peril. And of course, this is as much a reminder for myself as for anyone else. I know how crucial, even if it's only a moment here and there, that those times of stillness truly are. And yet it's easy to forget. So let's remember to take at least one moment sometime today to just sit in silence and appreciate…. anything. I promise you'll find real magic there.

"The notes I handle no better than many other pianists. But the pauses between the notes, ah.... that is where the art resides!"

—Arthur Schnabel

WorldWideWeb:

If you're on the internet, (and frankly, who isn't these days?) you'll find a wealth of information and resources that I've made available for helping with event planning, daily success, (and whatever else springs to my mind as useful.) Not the least of which is information about my entertainment and speaking programs for your events. Here's a variety of places you can find me on the Web:

MitchWilliamsMagic.com

PeoriaMagician.com

Event Planning Resources

Mitch Williams Products

IllinoisWeddingMagic.com

My Blog

Tyroni's Italian Cafe

Mark your calendar! Tell your friends! Alert the media! My next appearance at Tyroni's Italian Cafe in Bartonville will be on Wednesday, October 6, from 5:00 to 7:30 PM. Good food, friendly service, relaxed atmosphere, and my amazing magic! Who could ask for anything more?

And of course, I'm there the first Wednesday of every month. Hope to see you there: 5908 S. Adams in Bartonville. And be sure to check out the Tyroni's website.

Recipe: Spicy Zucchini and Portabella Lasagna

Zucchini and basil are a staple in our garden every year, and this is a recipe I came up with recently and have enjoyed making several times this summer. (I even wrapped some up and froze it, so we can have it later this year!) It's fairly easy to put together, since you don't have to cook the lasagna noodles first. And man is it ever good!

1 large (or several small) Zucchini—cut in ¼" slices
Portabella mushrooms—sliced
Whole wheat lasagna noodles
Spicy Arrabiata Sauce (or your favorite Marinara or pasta sauce)

3 large cloves Garlic—finely minced
Fresh basil
Cayenne pepper—powdered

1 cup Cottage cheese
1 cup Mozzarella cheese shredded
½ cup Asiago cheese
¼ cup Feta cheese
½ cup Parmesan cheese

Chop about a cup of fresh basil and mix it with the cheeses, garlic, and ½ teaspoon of cayenne powder in a large mixing bowl. Amounts on the cheeses are approximate, and can be altered to suit your taste. You can also substitute fresh mozzarella for half the mozzarella and/or ricotta for a portion of the cottage cheese if you wish. Coat a large, flat baking dish with olive oil, and place a layer of dry lasagna noodles, then a layer of zucchini, a layer of portabella mushrooms, sprinkle with some torn up fresh basil, cover with sauce, and top with up to ½ of the cheese mixture. Then repeat with a 2nd layer of each on top of that. Cover and refrigerate overnight, allowing the noodles to soak up some of the moisture. Bake at 350° for about 40 minutes, or until it's bubbly and the cheese is beginning to brown. Serve, and bask in your guests' delight.
Note: if you don't want it spicy, omit the cayenne, and use a milder sauce than the Arrabiata.

Trick of the Month: Simple Coin Vanish

Effect: A coin vanishes under a handkerchief, leaving no trace.

Method: Hold a coin up at your left fingertips, and with your right hand drape the handkerchief over your left hand, slowly drawing the cloth backward until it comes free of the coin. Repeat the action, but this time, the right fingers secretly grasp the coin through the corner of the cloth, taking it away under cover of the cloth, while you pretend that it is still held at the left fingertips. As the right hand draws the cloth back, the coin is secretly dropped into your breast pocket. Show that the coin has vanished from your left fingertips, and you can also freely show the handkerchief to be empty.

Client of the Month: Children's Hospital of Illinois

This past weekend I performed at the Wine and Experience Auction, an annual event benefiting Children's Hospital of Illinois, hosted by the Progressive Business Group. A branch of OSF HealthCare, Children's Hospital of Illinois is the third largest pediatric hospital in Illinois and the only full service tertiary hospital for kids in downstate Illinois. Children's Hospital cares for more children in Illinois than any hospital outside of Chicago. Through a mutually beneficial affiliation with the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, Children's Hospital of Illinois serves as the primary pediatric teaching facility, with approximately 30 residents graduating each year.

I'm pleased to be a part of supporting Children's Hospital and hope to be more involved with them in the future. To learn more, visit their website.

The Holidays are Coming!...

Make Your Holiday Events a Smashing Success!

It's that time again. If you're planning an event for the holiday season, it's time to begin making arrangements. Remember that venues and service providers, including entertainment, tend to book up early for the best dates. If I can be of service to you, or if you know anyone else who is planning an event, be sure to let me know as soon as possible.

In case you haven't seen it yet, here's an article on how to successfully plan entertainment for your holiday event.

Let me help make your event unforgettable and fun for you and your guests—guaranteed!
Call today: 309-647-3692.

Call Me! 309-647-3692 Or feel free to send me an Email.

"You made our themed corporate Christmas party 'It's a Magical Christmas' a perfect evening. I loved the way you incorporated our employees into your act; that made the whole thing seem so personal, and so funny with the reactions of all the employees. Without exception, our employees said… they loved the magician. This evening was our time to say 'thank you' to our loyal employees. The gift of magic you provided helped us do that, better than we could have done on our own. We will highly recommend you to everyone we know who is looking for great entertainment. Thank you for a tremendous evening!"

—Craig A Dunn, CEO, Wesleyan Investment Foundation, Indianapolis, IN

**** To learn how to make YOUR events absolutely unforgettable, contact Mitch right away!****

On the WEB: www.mitchwilliamsmagic.com
By EMAIL: mitch@mitchwilliamsmagic.com
By PHONE: 309-647-3692
TOLL FREE: 1-888-801-3170

This message has been sent to <<First Name>> <<Last Name>> at <<Email Address>>. You're receiving this as one of my past clients or someone who has requested information on my entertainment or speaking programs or other information from my website, www.mitchwilliamsmagic.com.

Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Forward to a Friend

Remove me from this list