Wednesday, January 8, 2014

The most empowering commercial of 2013 addresses insecurity in a remarkable way

About a year ago I saw a commercial for Allstate insurance (of all things) that was "extraordinary." Is it weird to say that an advertisement touched me emotionally? This one did, and I agree with everything it says about insecurity and about life.

The commercial is called "Good Life" and here's a transcript of the words (as said by a little girl):

"There are man-eating sharks in every ocean, but we still swim.

Every second, somewhere in the world, lighting strikes. But we still play in the rain.

Poisonous snakes can be found in 49 of the 50 states, but we still go looking for adventure.

A car can crash.
A house can crumble.
But we still drive and love coming home.

Because I think deep down...
We know all the bad things that can happen in life, yet they can't stop us from making our lives, good."

So empowering, and that is what overcoming insecurities of all kinds is all about.
Let's make life good for 2014 and shatter through all of our fears together.

I'm changing my posting schedule for 2014.

I will only be posting three times a week: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. And yes, I'll still be as random as before. Thanks for following along.

44 comments:

  1. They've been playing that one a lot lately. It's a great push for us to take risks and try new things despite the risks, because that is truly living.

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  2. That is awesome! And yeah, cutting back is hard to do. I'll be lucky to get 3 posts in a week this year, but I'll do as I can. :)

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  3. I've seen it and I agree with you. Life is about living, otherwise we'd each be hermetically sealed in our own little box.

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  4. @Pat: LOL yeah I cut down. I'm not quite done with blogging (as you seem to be).

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  5. Oh I do love this commercial! The words are so powerful and then combined with the girl's sweet voice it really is extraordinary! :) And I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who found insight in an Allstate commercial. lol

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  6. I've somehow missed this commercial. Love it. Who would ever guess an insurance commercial could be truly inspiring?
    Happy 2014 to you, Michael.

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  7. Many of us are cutting back on our blogging to get more time for writing. Thrice a week is great.

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  8. I hadn't seen this commercial before but its inspiring and very effective.

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  9. Wise decision, change is good if it's our decision, and sometimes when it isn't.

    Best wishes for 2014!

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  10. It's a great commercial. Happy new year, Mike!

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  11. Definitely empowering. I of course automatically think of my writing and how I want to be fearless with it... not let those doubts rule me as I try to push onward. Such a great message, Michael. And when it comes from someone as *real* as you, it actually makes it more powerful, if that makes sense.

    You're one of my favorite people--I'm so glad I stumbled across your blog whenever it was that I did. I hope we have another get together sometime this year and I look forward to what adventures you live this year!

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  12. I haven't seen that commercial, but then again, I don't tend to watch too much TV (not like I used to...I miss TV). Anyhoo...I really like the message. I need to remember it more often and remember to not let my insecurities hold me back. Hard to do, but necessary.

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  13. @Morgan: Only if it is in the spring/summer/fall. I hate this winter crap and just stay in my hole in the ground when it's all snowy and yucky.

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  14. Thank you for sharing that! I don't watch much TV so I don't see the commercials. That's a great attitude to hang onto, I think. Here's to an awesome 2014 for all of us! :)

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  15. Happy New Year!

    That is a great commercial! I love when they have one that is inspiring or touching in some way (like the gum commercial with the girl and her dad, who gives her gum wrapper paper cranes).

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  16. That is a great sentiment. 3 times a week seems good to me. Welcome back.

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  17. Huh, somehow I've missed this commercial. It is amazing! Thanks for sharing it.

    I guess we could add lots to that list if we wanted to. Here's to making life good, and as another IWSG poster said today, kicking fear out and having faith that life is good and possible.

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  18. Those are powerful words. I have to say that yesterday I saw a Liberty Mutual commercial that moved me too. I don't recall if the words were as powerful, but the visual got to me.

    Happy New Year and I hope your new schedule is a better fit for you.

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  19. Great post Michael. Only 3 times a week ! Once, maybe twice, will do me.

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  20. Why couldn't I have written that? Thanks for sharing, Michael.

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  21. I'm planning to blog more this year than I did last year, but that's because my blogging activity dwindled down to next to nothing in 2013. 3 times a week is plenty! We should all write more, blog when we're able.

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  22. Three times a week is still plenty. I'm down to once a week and that's with as many breaks as i can squeeze in (come on Easter!).

    mood
    Moody Writing

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  23. Such a great post for the new year, Michael! You made me smile and look for adventure.

    Jai

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  24. I haven't come in quite a while, but then I haven't been a lot of places in quite a while. Kind of hold up in my cave. I am really glad I stopped by today though, because I love that commercial (never thought I would say that). It is inspirational and I hope to live it in 2014 also.

    Happy New Year Michael.

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  25. Wow. An uplifting commercial. Kinda leaves me dumbstruck, LOL. I'll keep this one for those days when I need something like this. Thanks, Michael.

    I actually favor the Allstate commercials anyway. Because of Mayhem. "..you're good..."

    *still chuckling*

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  26. Very inspiring today! Thanks for motivating me, and your new blog schedule sounds good.

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  27. Such a great commercial. Their advertising team is amazing!

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  28. WOO! Happy new year!! I hope it's awesome for both of us!

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  29. There is truth in all of that. I'm cutting back on blogging this year to 1-2x a week or less. I'd rather spend the time writing more books. :D

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  30. that's a lovely message.
    Hope your year has started well, Michael! How is the new place?

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  31. It will be good to see you posting again!

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  32. Oooh, I can't say I remember ever seeing that commercial before. Powerful message.

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  33. My loose schedule is usually to aim to post every 3 days. But sometimes it varies rather wildly. Still, at least I have an aim.

    Actually, my base aim is to post once a week, at the very least. :)

    Very rarely to ads move me or make me want to buy what they're advertising. One of the only products I ever bought JUST because of the ad was Dilmah tea. ;P

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  34. I love your random. Welcome back.

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  35. I'm glad that you'll still be posting Mike. That ad is very inspiring and so was this post. Thanks for sharing.

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  36. Welcome back! I hope you had a peaceful and happy holiday.

    I usually mute commercials so I didn't hear this one, but now I want to watch for it. You're right -- the message is moving.

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  37. Yes, we still keep on finding hope, and creativity! And the whole point of commercials is to elicit an emotional response of some sort. I'm sure All State appreciates they are effective :)

    .....dhole

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  38. That is a great commercial. Stay safe and warm over there. While you guys are having record temperature drops, it's been unseasonably warm over here. Mother Nature is either messing with us, or we're in deep s***.

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  39. Hi, Michael...

    Happy New Year.... In know a bit late, but I haven't had a free second to drop by until now.

    ALL The best for 2014...

    Yes, we will face the harshnesses of life TOGETHER!

    WE are a very STRONG and SUPPORTIVE community. That will NEVER change!

    Wow. That is an amazing speech. I can't believe I haven't seen that one!

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  40. I've never really paid attention to that commercial before. What a great message. Have a happy 2014!

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  41. I've seen quite a few commercials recently that have touched me on some emotional level. One was a foreign one (maybe Korean?) about a group of old men who relive their glory days by taking a motorcycle trip across the country. It sounds lame but it was really quite moving, though I have no memory of what they were advertising.

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  42. I love that commercial too. Her little voice is so earnest. Very powerful.

    Thanks for reminding us that no matter the circumstances, we still keep going.

    Happy New Year!

    Leanne ( http://read.wordpress.com )

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  43. I guess I'm pretty behind because I hadn't read this yet- boo me!

    There's an interesting article this month in The Atlantic about Surviving Anxiety and he talks a little about the connection between creativity and anxiety/nerves. He point to many creative people who waited years for publication or who were published but were unable to function very well outside their writing- alcoholism and writing is almost a cliche in fact and it might for the reasons he talked about. It's a long but worthwhile read. It makes the nerves in those of us who have them seem... almost worthwhile? Cheers my friend! Hope you enjoyed your holiday!

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