Posting to Post
Its been quite sometime since I've had a chance to write up a post, so here goes a quick little blurb, though I know little to no one reads these... it just felt about right to randomly have my thoughts out there. This last month has bee pretty busy with work and family. I'm free of the retail environment and now have a day to devote on working on creative projects, and doing things that I need to be doing - like spending time with the people I care about. Tragedy has struck around me yet again, and though you might not know that person very well, seeing your friends enduring that pain hurts too. Empathy is something that I had learned the meaning of, but hadn't really began to truly understand until this year. I've learned to really live in the moment, enjoy life, not to worry, and tell the people you love - that you love them. I know this post is a best, all over the place - but it's nice to put things like that out there. On the lighter side of life, I'm really looking forward to push hard towards my goals, both new and old, all the while making lasting impressions and some good friends.
Day By Day…
"When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a manner that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice." - Cherokee Proverb
This quote ranks as one of the highest of my favorites, I feel that it truly epitomizes how life should be led. In just over 1 year, I've been unfortunate in having lost two friends who have really had an impact on my life. One of them being my fraternity brother, friend, inspiration, and all around source of everyone's joy - Jourdan Van Zeebroeck. And recently my very good friend, the free-spirited, all-smiles, marching to the beat of her own drum - Kristin Marie Norris. To me both of them truly lived by this quote, and have left an indelible effect on not only my life, but the lives of all the people they've met. In the recent days, I've had a number of sleepless nights reminiscing on the instances and the moments that at the time didn't seem too incredibly special - but after all has been said and done, really meant the most. Through these unfortunate circumstances, we grow and learn. I've learned that we should really cherish all that we have been given - both physical and metaphysical. Each and every moment should be lived to its utmost capacity, whilst being forever grateful for every bit of those moments. Be the tiny drop in the pond that makes ever-growing waves effecting all that surrounds it.
In Loving Memory of Jourdan Van Zeebroeck & Kristin Marie NorrisUnder the Weather
I'm definitely not feeling too hot right now, of course staying up late and pulling an all night-er to get some side projects done probably didn't help. I thought it might have just been allergies, but I'm beginning to think that I might actually be sick for once. I don't feel too incredibly bad, so maybe its just a cold - I like to think that my body is fighting it and thats why it doesn't feel like full blow sickness. I don't think I have a temperature, but I'm too lazy to search for the thermometer. I was hoping to get a few things done today, but it looks like I'll be trying to take it easy. This "vacation/hiatus" or whatever you want to call it has flown by pretty fast. I still haven't gone surfing, and with the sickness - probably won't this week. I was hoping to get so much done, but it feels like my days are packed with so many activities - between studying, photo editing, maintaining the site, maintaining sanity, and taking care of my doggy - there just isn't much time in a day. But all else is well and I'll just,
"Keep moving Forward." - Walt Disney
Signs of Life
It has been quite some time since I've posted, on either the site news or the blog. Today is my last day of work on Season 16 of what we call TAR. While working two jobs has been great for income, its been horrible in terms of mental health and wellness. That being said, after today I will have a much needed month off of work. Now before anyone jumps to any conclusions about my work ethics - just know that I've been working 6 and 7 day work weeks for the past few years. This isn't some sort of mental break down or anything in the like, I'll still be working my 'oh so fun' retail job on Sundays once a week, and when I do return to next season of TAR I will be working a full 7 days a week for probably about a month and a half. After that month and a half I'll slow my schedule back down to that meager 6 days a week work schedule. Well that's enough ranting for now, I have a lot of hope for my time off among the things to conquer is; preparing for the FCP exam, increased training/exercise, hopefully some surfing, and a multitude of other things. It is my hope that after this month I can get a fire lit under my "@$$" to try to supercharge my career goals. I've been lucky thus far... stay positive, stay happy, be strong...
Quotable vol.1 ep.1
"Quotable" is a new sub-category of my blog which features quotes that I've found or have been given. I will give a meager attempt at analyzing it from my perspective, given my experience and background. It is my hope that this will allow me to better self-evaluate and spark more creativity for future projects... ENJOY!
"Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company." - President George Washington
The motto of, "keeping your friends close but your enemies closer" is not denounced by this Washington quote. Just because someone is your enemy and you do not agree with him/her, does not mean that individual is not of good quality in terms of judgment and wisdom, but that you merely cannot see eye-to-eye with when it comes to their opinion. This quote reminds me of the more simplified version of, "You are your 10 best friends."
"When I see a bird that walks like a duck and swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, I call that bird a duck." - James Whitcomb Riley
This is not to say that you lose a personal identity - our individualistic quirks and subtleties are what make us 'human.' If you can assimilate, then you've wholly understood and absorbed a grouping of people, where-in they usually see you as one of their own. It is my hope that in my own life, I have done this. My friends and family are people who have shaped me, their reputation relies on me, as mine relies on them. Prejudices are exactly that, prejudgments - if a group of people that I associate with are both positively and negatively affected by my actions, I mean that in the literal sense. If I were to mouth-off to a stranger on the street, what would that say about my character and judgment... more importantly what would have led me down that path? The influences of the people around me, which showed me that, that was the correct thing to do. My point is, though a book can't be completely be judged by its cover, it does give you a damn good indication that it's a book - and you're not going to find a video playing inside its covers. Surround yourself with greatness, and you'll learn to be great.
Perpetual Motion
Do you ever feel like your mind is never at rest? I do, it seems to me that if my mind where a mechanical machine I would have already proven that "perpetual motion," is NOT an impossibility. At times it feels like I have too much information that is just being continuously stock-piled in my brain; like a bad episode of A&E's, "Hoarders." Being a Jack-Of-All-Trade, I naturally have full-heart interest in an extremely broad scope of things. Coupled with an ever-growing desire to learn, means I am constantly shoveling information into my head. One might think that eventually I'd reach the breaking point and burst like a Mentos in a Diet Coke bottle. Yet, I'm not concerned with the effects of all this because I feel that learning is a part of the 'living' process. In-order to maintain growth academically, psychologically, and spiritually this is a necessary step to achieving self-awareness and understanding who you are. The only pit-fall to my method of attack is that, I am not an expert at many of the things I do, nor do I claim to be. Though many people may over-use the broad, demeaning figure-of-speech...
"Jack of all trades, master of none."*
...it is important to remember the phrase in it's entirity - giving it a more positive tone..
"Jack of all trades, master of none, though ofttimes better than master of one."
Even though it might be hard to be the best at any one thing, you will always be able to learn about another. With that having been said I guess I've rambled off enough for today, hopefully some of what was spilling out of my mind made sense. Maybe I'll update this post when I can clear up my thought process.
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_of_all_trades,_master_of_none
When You Do Things Right…
The other night, as per my late night schedule, I was up watching re-runs of Futurama on Comedy Central - I happened to catch a very interesting episode. Episode no. 52 entitled, "Godfellas" (in short) is much more in-depth intellectually than you might consider at first perception. Basically, Bender is hurled through space, destined to spend it alone - but whilst passing through an asteroid field a small asteroid fragment crashes into him leaving a "shrimp-sized" society on his belly. The people of the society look to Bender as a 'god' of sorts. Bender has some mishaps governing the society and non-believers prove their immanent self-destruction is assured. Bender then hears something signaling in binary code and comes to find that the mysterious object is what he deduces is God. The voice of "God" advises Bender that,
"When you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all."
By no means do I suggest that this is a divine revelation, and as stated on the Wikipedia page, theology writer Mark Pinsky reminds us that this is just a cartoon - but I think that as a quote in-of-itself can be very valuable to any individual. I know that in my life there are many things that I do that follow along with that quote. As a video editor this rings especially true in the work you do, if there is a cut - you don't want people to see it. It needs to feel organic and natural, as if the audience were there experiencing it live, and not a pieced together set of clips. Ultimately, this is a small lesson from a simply entertaining show. To me it proves the pessimism of our society, in that everyone is always searching for what is wrong with others, and what is wrong with themselves (furthering my point - the preceding comment is inherently pessimistic). But the things you do in life shouldn't be for the attention of others, and should be done so well that one would assume that, that is just how it is. Most of society, myself included, seems to live by the wayside in "not...know(ing) what you have till its gone," when really we should be grateful and do everything in our power to be that "un-easy" feeling when we aren't around. We should be the security of others who don't feel as strong and positive as you might be, so that one day when you need strong arms around you they will be there.
"When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice." - Indian Proverb
More information about this Futurama episode can be found on wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godfellas
Sources of Inspiration
I often find myself looking to others as a source of inspiration. But what makes someone worthy of being admired, revered, and/or loved? In my opinion, it really depends on the individual. I'm not speaking about famous people or world renowned idols, although there are some very notable figures, I believe that the people closest to you are the ones who directly effect your life and the decisions you make. Typically I'm the kind of person to turn to quotes and attempt to piece them together like some sort of puzzle guide to life. But recently, I've been really trying to be more positive about everyday life in general. I am very, very, very grateful for family and friends (both past and present) who have really helped develop me, into "me." I guess it's just apart of 'growing up,' but I've learned to really value the people around me. I guess after putting myself around some unsavory characters in my earlier life, I've managed to understand that surrounding yourself with people who are not necessarily like-minded individuals (though sometimes that helps), but individuals who can - in their own particular ways - push you to be more than what you think you can be. I guess what I'm trying to say, in not so many words, is THANK YOU! to everyone in my life for helping me grown and change, for the better. I don't think it's said enough, and it'd probably be awkward if I ever brought it up in conversation, but yeah, you're appreciated - greatly.
Inaugural Introspection
It seems fitting that my first official blog post begin as I draw near to my 25th Birthday. Over the past days, weeks, and recent months I've been on a seemingly endless quest, but not the typical "who am I" quest - I feel like I've gotten a good grasp of that one. This quest has been for what society has taught me; the pursuit of 'capital.' After recently paying off one of my two credit cards, a big burden has been lifted off of my month-to-month struggles. My deep longing for financial freedom has pushed me to formulate a few different strategies; pay-down the remaining debt, then starting a business with a partner, and another business solo. Of course like any entrepreneurial person would say, "I am not at liberty to speak upon those things until I have the right gears in motion." None-the-less life in our society is truly just a struggle. Though I am feeling better about my situation, I am ever striving to achieve that next level. That's not to say I am not grateful for what I have, or have been given - I know others have it much worse and still manage to make it, and some do it with a smile on their face. But, I personally feel that this is as low as I wanna go and "The grass is always greener on the other side." No more excuses, no more doubts, just success in any angle you can view it from. "When everyone takes 3-steps, take 2 more!"
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