Cooper's Rule

One of my long-running things is an idea I got from FBI Agent Dale Cooper (from Twin Peaks), which as it turns out, I generally misquote ... even though I have the basic idea down. For the record, the exact quote from the show is this:

"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it. Don't wait for it. Just let it happen. It could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot black coffee."

Now that's some damn good advice, and it's something I've taken to heart. Whether it's a big chocolate milk, an ice coffee, watching a random episode of the Justice League or some wrestling matches, reading a comic book, or whatever else, I think I've followed this rule pretty faithfully. I think if everyone took Cooper's Rule to heart there would be less unhappiness in the world.

I used to quote this idea to Colleen all the time. For a long while, especially when she was in grad school, she'd write me e-mails where she was under a lot of pressure and was pretty stressed out. So I'd write back and try to give the best big-brothery advice I could think of, and then I would end with "Don't forget Cooper's rule!" Usually, though, my misquoting of the line would be something along the lines of "don't forget to have some fun", but really I wasn't too far off the beam. I used this idea tonight with Guinevere, too, during our chat. I believe it's the best advice I've ever gotten from a television show. Try it out sometime yourself.

It just might do you some good.