Well, we've made it halfway through 2013 and this seems like a good time to take a step back and reflect on the year so far. Plus, at the beginning of the year I made a list of resolutions that I wanted to accomplish. So let's take a look at how I've done with those.
1. I want to read at least one new book each month
- So far so good on this one! Through six months I have read six books. Here is the list too:
January - Chasing Moonlight: a great book about the true story of Moonlight Graham
February - The Great Gatsby: I reread it because it had been awhile and the new movie was coming out. I haven't seen the movie yet, though.
March - Fish Philosophy: a book about the business philosophy of Pike's Place Fish Market
April - Zig Zag: an awesome book by Keith Sawyer about the power of creativity
May - Hidden Mickey 3: the third book in the Hidden Mickey mystery series
June - Hidden Mickey 4: the fourth book in the Hidden Mickey mystery series
Looking ahead, I'm pretty confident I can accomplish this one.
2. I want to write at least 100 blog posts
- Well, I should be around 50 posts right now to be on pace to complete 100, but this post is number 39 of the year. I have some work to do, but I think I can do it.
3. I want to start exercising more. I'm not exactly sure what that means, so we'll see how this one goes.
- I did start walking more during the day, but then it got really hot and I kind of stopped. Since I didn't really define what this resolution meant, I'd have to say I'm doing OK with it.
4. I want to stop cussing. I have no real reason why I want to do this, or how, but I feel like it would be a positive change.
- This has definitely not happened, especially after spending the last week with a bunch of baseball coaches. I still think it would be a positive change though.
5. I want to cross at least one thing off my Life List. Obviously, more than one would be great, but I'm not trying to get crazy here.
- This is going to happen in August when I begin teaching my first college class. I'm also hoping to be able to brew my own root beer at some point this year.
6. I want to hang some pictures in my home office. This isn't much of a resolution, but I figure if I write it down here I will be more apt to do it.
- Yea, I still haven't done this.
7. I want to talk to friends and family more. Too often I wait for people to contact me, so I want to switch that up a little and be the one to initiate the contact.
- I'm not sure how to evaluate this one. I've tried to do a better job with this, but I've also gotten the impression from some people that they don't really want to talk to me. This has really been a source of contention within myself so far this year.
8. I want to gain some self confidence and learn to like myself a little more. This is probably the biggest and most important thing I want to accomplish this year.
- I have definitely not done a good job with this. In fact, I've probably taken a step backwards this year. And many of the things I said I wanted to do to help this, I haven't followed through with. I guess I still have six months to turn this around, though.
9. I want to do something every day to make at least one person smile. I'm not sure how I'm going to accomplish this, or how I will even know if I make it happen, but I'm going to try. So don't be surprised if you get a random message from me or if I call you just to tell you a joke or something.
- I started off this year really making an effort to do this and trying to keep track of my efforts. That didn't last very long. I do think I do a pretty good job of making people smile though. It's just a matter of doing it everyday.
10. I want to floss more. I know we all say this after going to the dentist, but this time I mean it. I heard that you can add six years to your life just by flossing! That didn't mean much to me before because I thought the world was going to end this past December. But clearly that was a hoax, so now I have more reason to floss.
- I have completely failed at this, as evidenced by my latest visit to the dentist. But I am taking efforts to change this, and you will see a specific update related to this in the next few days.
So basically, there has been some progress towards accomplishing each of these resolutions, but there is still a lot of work to be done. With six months left in the year, we'll see how I do. How are all of you doing with your resolutions? This might be a good time for you to reflect as well.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Friday, June 14, 2013
A Feeling of Belonging
Do you ever feel like you just don't belong? Like maybe you were meant to live in another time? Lately I've been feeling this way. It's hard to explain, but I just feel out of place. Then I read this book, which had a bit of a fantasy element in it. In the book, there were instances of time travel. One of the main characters goes back and forth between present day and the early 1800s. While in the past he protects a woman who he keeps insisting doesn't belong there. He mentions that he gets a weird feeling about her, as if she was there by accident. As it turns out, she was actually a princess from the 1200s. It's all very confusing to try to explain, but it got me thinking. What if I'm here by accident too? What if I'm actually from another time and I got stuck here by mistake? What if other people think I don't belong also? Then I started thinking, what era might I be from?
I've always had a fascination with the Old West. Gunslingers, lawmen, boom towns. It's all so exciting! But is that where I'm meant to be? I'm not sure. I do love root beer and poker. But there's a certain level of lawlessness that I'm not sure is for me.
What I have noticed lately is that I've been really fascinated with the culture of the 1950s. I've been listening to a lot of doo wop music lately and my favorite restaurant is a 50s diner. In fact, I've always kind of felt at home in old school diner establishments. The simplicity of burgers and shakes while songs play from a jukebox just makes me smile. It's so peaceful to me. I've started wondering if I was meant to be a soda jerk. Then I decided to watch Pleasantville. That movie always makes me smile, and not only because of its portrayal of the idyllic life of the 1950s. As a matter of fact, it challenges that perception and encourages us to think about our preconceived notions of perfection. Mr. Johnson, the soda shop owner in the movie, gets a charge out of doing things differently for the first time. He wants to know why things have to be the same all the time, and why he has to wait all year for his favorite moment. I can relate to that. I wonder why we do things the way we do all the time and why it can't be different. I think that's where the feeling of not belonging comes from. It's not that I don't belong. It's that I want to challenge the way things are, which makes me stand out and feel like I'm different from everyone else.
So the real question is, how do I shake this feeling? How do I feel like I belong instead of feeling like a stranger in a strange land? How can I continue to challenge the status quo of the world and be accepted? How can I get other people to see that change is good and that we need that spark in our lives? Do other people feel like I do? If so, would they admit it? Will it take some sort of life altering event like in Pleasantville for people to realize it? Will I ever find the answers to these questions? I don't know. If you have any thoughts, feel free to share.
I've always had a fascination with the Old West. Gunslingers, lawmen, boom towns. It's all so exciting! But is that where I'm meant to be? I'm not sure. I do love root beer and poker. But there's a certain level of lawlessness that I'm not sure is for me.
What I have noticed lately is that I've been really fascinated with the culture of the 1950s. I've been listening to a lot of doo wop music lately and my favorite restaurant is a 50s diner. In fact, I've always kind of felt at home in old school diner establishments. The simplicity of burgers and shakes while songs play from a jukebox just makes me smile. It's so peaceful to me. I've started wondering if I was meant to be a soda jerk. Then I decided to watch Pleasantville. That movie always makes me smile, and not only because of its portrayal of the idyllic life of the 1950s. As a matter of fact, it challenges that perception and encourages us to think about our preconceived notions of perfection. Mr. Johnson, the soda shop owner in the movie, gets a charge out of doing things differently for the first time. He wants to know why things have to be the same all the time, and why he has to wait all year for his favorite moment. I can relate to that. I wonder why we do things the way we do all the time and why it can't be different. I think that's where the feeling of not belonging comes from. It's not that I don't belong. It's that I want to challenge the way things are, which makes me stand out and feel like I'm different from everyone else.
So the real question is, how do I shake this feeling? How do I feel like I belong instead of feeling like a stranger in a strange land? How can I continue to challenge the status quo of the world and be accepted? How can I get other people to see that change is good and that we need that spark in our lives? Do other people feel like I do? If so, would they admit it? Will it take some sort of life altering event like in Pleasantville for people to realize it? Will I ever find the answers to these questions? I don't know. If you have any thoughts, feel free to share.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Top 5 Hip Hop Trios of All Time
Recently I had the urge to listen to some De La Soul. I forgot how good their album, 3 Feet High and Rising, is. As I was listening it got me thinking about the greatest hip trios of all time. So here is my top 5.
5. De La Soul
Yes, the group that got me thinking about the topic makes it at number five. They're good, and I feel like they are very underrated. But I'm a fan and you should be too.
4. Naughty by Nature
Treach might be one of the smoothest rappers of all time. And Naughty perfected the party anthem with hits like O.P.P. and Hip Hop Hooray. Even some of their lesser known songs are really good.
3. Public Enemy
I've had the privilege of seeing Public Enemy in concert and they are phenomenal! They are hip hop royalty. Enough said.
2. Beastie Boys
The Beastie Boys helped bridge the hip hop and pop gap. They appealed to a wide audience and have a unique sound that has withstood the test of time. Plus they made one of the greatest music videos of all time.
1. Run DMC
Seriously, did you think anyone else would be in this spot? They are the godfathers of rap. And anyone from my generation knows the response when asked, "Who's house?" Admit it, you just shouted out, "Ruuuuun's house!"
I've included videos for some of the lesser known songs by these groups so you can appreciate a wider range of their greatness. But feel free to share your opinion on the topic and let me know if you agree or disagree with my list.
5. De La Soul
Yes, the group that got me thinking about the topic makes it at number five. They're good, and I feel like they are very underrated. But I'm a fan and you should be too.
4. Naughty by Nature
Treach might be one of the smoothest rappers of all time. And Naughty perfected the party anthem with hits like O.P.P. and Hip Hop Hooray. Even some of their lesser known songs are really good.
3. Public Enemy
I've had the privilege of seeing Public Enemy in concert and they are phenomenal! They are hip hop royalty. Enough said.
2. Beastie Boys
The Beastie Boys helped bridge the hip hop and pop gap. They appealed to a wide audience and have a unique sound that has withstood the test of time. Plus they made one of the greatest music videos of all time.
1. Run DMC
Seriously, did you think anyone else would be in this spot? They are the godfathers of rap. And anyone from my generation knows the response when asked, "Who's house?" Admit it, you just shouted out, "Ruuuuun's house!"
I've included videos for some of the lesser known songs by these groups so you can appreciate a wider range of their greatness. But feel free to share your opinion on the topic and let me know if you agree or disagree with my list.
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Celebrating Your Own Quirkiness!
Most of us have our own quirks, those little things that make us unique. Often times, though, we hide those quirks for fear of judgement by others. And I ask, why? How can we judge others for their quirks when we have our own? Besides, it's those quirks that make life interesting. I don't care if someone gives me a funny look while I'm dancing in my car blasting this song.
It's just fun! And admit it, you started bobbing your head while listening. Music is a big source of quirkiness. We all have those songs that we like but won't ever admit that we like. But why? Are we afraid that people won't like us because we listen to music some might consider weird. Sadly, yes, I think that is the case. I get judges for listening to Destiny's Child or Mariah Carey because society has deemed that I shouldn't listen to them. But I like to, so I do, and that's part of what makes me who I am. And you shouldn't be afraid to to show off whatever music you like, even if gets a few laughs and sneers from your friends.
Additionally, I like thinking of weird things like woolly mammoths and time travel. It's so hard to get people to engage in hypothetical conversations on topics like these, however. I don't understand why. I just want to exercise my mind with a variety of somewhat light-hearted topics. I realize they're far-fetched and not always rooted in reality, but why should that prevent us from discussing it?
I like the fact that I get excited to look for new pins to add to my collection and that I will watch a James Bond movie anytime one is on TV. I find that these quirks make me more interesting. But, again, I get the impression that others find that they make me weird. To that, I would say, we are all a little weird. So we should all be able to appreciate one another's quirks.
It's just fun! And admit it, you started bobbing your head while listening. Music is a big source of quirkiness. We all have those songs that we like but won't ever admit that we like. But why? Are we afraid that people won't like us because we listen to music some might consider weird. Sadly, yes, I think that is the case. I get judges for listening to Destiny's Child or Mariah Carey because society has deemed that I shouldn't listen to them. But I like to, so I do, and that's part of what makes me who I am. And you shouldn't be afraid to to show off whatever music you like, even if gets a few laughs and sneers from your friends.
Additionally, I like thinking of weird things like woolly mammoths and time travel. It's so hard to get people to engage in hypothetical conversations on topics like these, however. I don't understand why. I just want to exercise my mind with a variety of somewhat light-hearted topics. I realize they're far-fetched and not always rooted in reality, but why should that prevent us from discussing it?
I like the fact that I get excited to look for new pins to add to my collection and that I will watch a James Bond movie anytime one is on TV. I find that these quirks make me more interesting. But, again, I get the impression that others find that they make me weird. To that, I would say, we are all a little weird. So we should all be able to appreciate one another's quirks.
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