# How can I add more sureality into my life? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 2, 2005, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-add-more-sureality-into-my-life/302150 "2005-05-02T23:28:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-add-more-sureality-into-my-life/302150/1 "2005-05-02T23:28:48Z")
I just want to kick my brain in the proverbial backside and start it operating as if it were brand new. I want to experiment with normality, routine, and custom. I want to play with habit. Queue up at KFC, not to buy food, but to tell the indian serving girl she has a nice ass. Say ‘how has your day been’ to every single complete stranger I can. Not speak at work for a day. Pat the head of other people’s children. Run instead of walk. Paint my face purple. I think I answered my own question sausage. ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-add-more-sureality-into-my-life/302150/2 "2005-05-03T00:08:59Z")
You could always take a homeless person into a bar for a drink, or volunteer at a mental hospital. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-add-more-sureality-into-my-life/302150/3 "2005-05-03T00:10:08Z")
When I’m in this kind of mood, I start with a few difficult challenges that always shake up my world, maybe you’d like to give them a try. Day One - You are forbidden to buy anything. Anything, no bus fare, no snacks, no money to panhandlers, no magazines, no newspaper. No touching money or credit cards for 24 hrs. (This will reveal to you things about yourself that you will be thinking about for days.) Day Two - You are forbidden to complain or say an unkind word. About anything or anyone. No matter what. Not your mother in law who just lit your hair on fire, not you kid who just ruined your DVD player. No. Matter. What. This is much harder than it sounds. It will change your perspective. Day Three - On this day you must say thank you for everything that happens to you. Everything. Thanks for splashing me with dirty road water, thanks for the cold fries, oh, and thanks for short changing me. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I know they are three silly things but they are actually very powerful. Shake up your world, get a new view, see with new eyes. I haven’t done this exercise in such a long time. Thank you for reminding me of it, I think I will start tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-add-more-sureality-into-my-life/302150/4 "2005-05-03T00:19:38Z")
To steal from Penn Jillette of Penn & Teller, try buying Jello (or some other dessert) for a stranger at a diner. Heck, buy it for all of them. Similarly, you can pay the toll for the next car behind you, stuff quarters into strangers’ parking meters, etc. ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-add-more-sureality-into-my-life/302150/5 "2005-05-03T03:27:27Z")
Make up stories about things that you have done. Try to convince others that you have been a graphic designer, sailor, etc., etc… Oh wait, that’s already been done, hasn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-add-more-sureality-into-my-life/302150/6 "2005-05-03T03:33:28Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > Similarly, you can pay the toll for the next car behind you, stuff quarters into > strangers’ parking meters, etc. The parking meter thing may be illegal. At least it was on an episode of \*Jackass \* I saw. Elbows, interesting idea, I think I’ll give it a shot myself. ---
**Author:** ![Sarah\_Woodruff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sarah\_Woodruff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarah_Woodruff)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-add-more-sureality-into-my-life/302150/7 "2005-05-03T06:58:34Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > I just want to kick my brain in the proverbial backside and start it operating as if it were brand new. I want to experiment with normality, routine, and custom. (Cautiously) Spontaneity is good… > [@](#): > > I want to play with habit. Yes! Get out of that rut! > [@](#): > > Queue up at KFC, not to buy food, but to tell the indian serving girl she has a nice ass. Erm, not so good… scope out the situation first just in case of boyfriends/husbands/sexual harassment laws. > [@](#): > > Say ‘how has your day been’ to every single complete stranger I can. Yes, but don’t be suprised if they back away from you slowly… > [@](#): > > Not speak at work for a day. Can you get away with that in your job? If so, go for it. > [@](#): > > Pat the head of other people’s children. There may be laws against that in the Isle of Man… > [@](#): > > Run instead of walk. This won’t be enjoyable unless you’re very fit or wearing sneakers. > [@](#): > > Paint my face purple. Um…no. Just no. > [@](#): > > I think I answered my own question sausage. Or you could move to Royston Vasey. 😉 Or what Elbows said. ---
**Author:** ![orbitingio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@orbitingio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orbitingio)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-add-more-sureality-into-my-life/302150/8 "2005-05-03T07:11:18Z")
Read this: [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0142003131/103-9092369-0292617?v=glance](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0142003131/103-9092369-0292617?v=glance) Trust me. ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-add-more-sureality-into-my-life/302150/9 "2005-05-03T07:51:32Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > Queue up at KFC, not to buy food, but to tell the indian serving girl she has a nice ass. Or, when it’s your turn, ask them for a slab of their finest bird. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-add-more-sureality-into-my-life/302150/10 "2005-05-03T07:56:09Z")
Next time the phone rings, order a pizza 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Fringe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b5a626/32.png) [@Fringe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fringe)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-add-more-sureality-into-my-life/302150/11 "2005-05-03T12:23:59Z")
> [@Anastasaeon](#): > > Or, when it’s your turn, ask them for a slab of their finest bird. That’s the greatest thing I’ve seen all day. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-add-more-sureality-into-my-life/302150/12 "2005-05-03T13:29:56Z")
When you get in an elevator, face the opposite way (towards the back). ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-add-more-sureality-into-my-life/302150/13 "2005-05-03T15:35:05Z")
Getting pregnant by my girlfriend did it for me. ---
**Author:** ![Cagey\_Drifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-add-more-sureality-into-my-life/302150/14 "2005-05-03T16:44:09Z")
> [@lee](#): > > Getting pregnant by my girlfriend did it for me. what? ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-add-more-sureality-into-my-life/302150/15 "2005-05-03T16:48:15Z")
See? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-add-more-sureality-into-my-life/302150/16 "2005-05-03T19:24:05Z")
re. the KFC thing – try wearing a chicken suit instead; then the Indian girl could compliment you on your fine plumage! ---
**Author:** ![Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spatial_Rift_47)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-add-more-sureality-into-my-life/302150/17 "2005-05-03T19:52:22Z")
Some of these ideas border on breaching experiments in sociology, i.e. when you breach the boundaries of expected behavior, such as facing the back of the elevator. Such activities can be very powerful indicators of the hidden social norms that both you and the people around you have internalized without even realizing it. The rest are just plain fun. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-add-more-sureality-into-my-life/302150/18 "2005-05-03T21:44:22Z")
I did an LJ entry on this very subject, but I can’t find it at the moment. Things like going shopping at the local convenience store while wearing a Cthulhu helmet (I did that on my birthday) are fun. But, for the most part they only alter how the world sees you. For a truly surreal life, you need to alter the way you see things. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-add-more-sureality-into-my-life/302150/19 "2005-05-03T22:14:02Z")
Try replacing the coffee you normally drink with Folger’s Mescaline. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-add-more-sureality-into-my-life/302150/20 "2005-05-03T22:45:52Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > For a truly surreal life, you need to alter the way you see things. Well, more specifically, you have to alter what it is you allow yourself to see. Surreality exists outside of mental conrols, it is a philosophy that views rationality & reason with suspicion. Pure psychic automatism, **Lobster boy** , that’s what you need! Just do stuff without thinking about it, and refuse to recognize what you believe to be consequences of your actions! Birds do it. Bees do it. Even educated fleas do it. I think sometimes on the sly you do it. Maybe even you and I might do it… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-add-more-sureality-into-my-life/302150.md?page=2)