Ridin’ Purdy
Who Got the Keys to the Jeep?
When inspiration strikes, whether you're sitting on the couch or lying in bed, the best thing to do is to spring into action before the idea passes. But, what happens when you just don't have the energy to fully execute the idea at that moment? Maybe you improvise, like Kasper Lincoln recently did.
Lincoln, who lives in Prince George, British Columbia, had a hankering for Slurpee one day last week, but didn't feel like walking, so he drove. Unfortunately, before he could reach his destination he was arrested for driving a pink toy Barbie Jeep, which is not exactly street legal in BC.
Decked out in aviator sunglasses — and possibly belting out the lyrics to "I'm Just Ken" while gripping the wheel of a 46-inch battery-powered 2-seater — Lincoln meticulously meandered the mean streets of BC at a blazing 3 miles per hour. And although he tried to play it safe by using hand signals to communicate with other drivers, he was still pulled over by the cops for driving an unlicensed motorized vehicle on a road meant for full-sized cars. To make matters worse, he was driving on a suspended license and failed two Breathalyzer tests, so his toy ride was swiftly impounded.
Although the day ended on a low note, Lincoln remained positive and even laughed at the many jokes made at his expense online. Perhaps the next time he has a craving for crushed ice he'll replace those Nickel-Cadmium batteries with nitrous so he can outrun the cops like Dom Toretto.
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Yesterday, September 13th, was Positive Thinking Day. A little known day dedicated to promoting the power of positivity and the impact it can have on your life. I don't think it's meant to be a celebratory day — you won't find positive thoughts wrapped in cellophane paper under a sunflower — but more of a day to consider looking at your life experiences with a glass half full mentality.
In the past when asked to think positive, I would often joke that I was positive — I was positive that things weren't going to work out in my favor. Having become more self-aware and mindful over the years, I now realize how destructive that mindset was, even if it was (somewhat of) a joke. The subconscious mind is very powerful and effective at manifesting the things you didn't think you thought. I mean, it is after all, what brought the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man to Manhattan.
Adopting and maintaining a positive mindset can be challenging amidst the many unexpected setbacks, disappointments, and difficulties life throws at you (especially at work), but the physical and psychological benefits can pay significant dividends in the long run. Positive thinking has been linked to lowered stress levels, stronger immune systems, and increased lifespans as a result of the reduced anxiety, improved coping skills, and strengthened resilience it produced.
However, positive thinking isn't about being a Pollyanna pretending everything is perfect and ignoring reality. It's more about choosing to focus on the possibilities instead of limitations. At work, this could look like reframing mistakes as learning opportunities or viewing criticism as fuel for growth rather than a threat. Or, maybe it's looking at a tough meeting as a chance to practice patience, or a failed project as the setup for a better punchline down the road.
So the next time you face a challenge that makes you feel like the odds are stacked against you, channel your inner Kasper Lincoln — the guy who turned a potentially humiliating Barbie Jeep arrest into a laugh-out-loud moment. Because sometimes the most powerful move at work isn’t controlling the outcome — it’s remembering you’re still the one behind the wheel, even if the wheel is plastic and pink.
