“One life, you fuckin’ die. That’s it! You don’t know what’s on the other side and we hope for this, that. We hope for Candy land, but we don’t know. It could be as simple as get in a box and stay there for all fuckin’ eternity. You had your shot, you’re a computer, we shut you down and you’re finished. So, if that’s the case, it behooves you to shoot for your dreams every time…in a world where you’re going to fuckin’ die”
~ Kevin Smith, Director/Artist
The Grizzly bear looking man grasped my hand and almost shook it off. We exchanged pleasantries and he began to reach into my psyche and describe my person. Who I am? The power I possess. My uneasiness from the way my eyes darted from laterally. The power in my body language. The leadership I could possess if only I harnessed my true nature. Remember, this is my first encounter with this man. Eddie is a Lion, not like any I’ve met before. My colleagues were astounded by his accuracy drawing conclusions about them and his wisdom. He spoke of auras and pride, things most people would scoff at. A great many things were spoken between us, but what I ultimately took away was be true to thyself.
One Way
I had a discussion with two close friends yesterday about the importance of one of the two honing his expertise and taking hold of his life. I say that with a little trepidation because I, myself, have been pussyfooting over things that must be done. What’s that famous line again? ”Be the change you want to see”. I realized that while helping my friend, I was essentially diagnosing my own shortcomings as well.
Ed the Lion mentioned that to me too. He told me to draft a list and “start scratching those items out”. This would be a blahzhay comment, had I mentioned PCD. I said nothing and he just arbitrarily made that statement. Happenstance? Probably not, sometimes you meet people who are just in tune to their surroundings and the world at large. Once this great Lion breathed those words into existence, I tied my laces, dusted off my shirt and wiped my brow. I was back on the proverbial horse.
I began this very blog and struggled for the correct words to articulate my thoughts. It would seem firing without momentum leads to stagnation and I almost began the same cycle that has had me procrastinating to great effect. Note: if this sounds like you, get up off your ass!!! I thought back to our conversation about being true to who you are and not trying to change yourself or anyone else to tailor them to you. The great Lion, Ed, told me that many great things are before you, if you’re willing to experience slight discomfort for greater gain. So, I pondered, “am I chasing whimsies?”
Wise words, right?! Enter Joe Rogan, an unusual segue, I know. Joe, widely known for his UFC commentary, Fear Factor reality show and a very memorable Dave Chappelle skit. To most people, he’s regarded as a douche with no substance or backing for such a name. People for whatever reason like to point their finger and say this person is that. It’s a societal thing, it’s comforting to place people in categories because it helps us define our own superiority on some fictitious rating scale. I digress, Joe has some truly insightful vignettes where he speaks on many topics from relationships to the errs in our school system to our materialistic nature. Some of my favourites:
His candor is refreshing, especially since I never foresaw such insight from this medium. These discussions that my girlfriend defines as “people talking” (hahaha) have become my salvation in unfamiliar surroundings. This is absolutely necessary, muses and motivation and enlightened. Everyone should seek to be true to thyself. Baby B and I would speak for hours about the importance of freeing yourself from mental constructs, most of which are self designed. For most of my readers to this is already trampled ground, but it holds true. It is imperative to follow your dreams, surround yourself with positivity and continue to grow.
With my newfound insight, I wrote this and signed up for hot yoga classes. An item on my list and a necessary evil to conquer the soreness from years of playing sports. Next on the docket, salsa lessons. There is nothing gained from not trying and if you don’t succeed, even in failure you’ll grow and attain wisdom. Remember, you may not be a unique snowflake, but you are somebody, not just a cog in a system of gears.
Be true to thyself.
Carpe Diem Que
Too Deep for an Intro
8 FebWell, yes, ma’am, I do… I mean, I got everything I need right here with me. I got air in my lungs, a few blank sheets of paper. I mean, I love waking up in the morning not knowing what’s gonna happen or, who I’m gonna meet, where I’m gonna wind up. Just the other night I was sleeping under a bridge and now here I am on the grandest ship in the world having champagne with you fine people. I figure life’s a gift and I don’t intend on wasting it. You don’t know what hand you’re gonna get dealt next. You learn to take life as it comes at you… to make each day count.
~ Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCarpio), Titantic (1997)
We recognize the world, although now–not only because we have emerged from a dream–we look on it with new eyes. We are offered a new style that is thoroughly of this world, that celebrates the mundane. This new world of objects is still alien to the current idea of Realism. It employs various techniques that endow all things with a deeper meaning and reveal mysteries that always threaten the secure tranquility of simple and ingenuous things. This [art offers a] calm admiration of the magic of being, of the discovery that things already have their own faces, [this] means that the ground in which the most diverse ideas in the world can take root has been reconquered–albeit in new ways. For the new art it is a question of representing before our eyes, in an intuitive way, the fact, the interior figure, of the exterior world. (Franz Roh, Magic Realism: Post-Expressionism (1925).Magical Realism. Ed. L. P. Zamora and W. B. Faris. Durham: Duke UP, 1995. p. 15-32.)
I have a propensity to pull the trigger when something is presented. Decisive movements in the face of options is what luck is all about. Luck being defined as opportunity meeting preparedness. I believe a person makes their own luck. With this said, I decided to pull the trigger and move out on my own. The actions needed to execute the list was in the balance. This has been the reason for my sudden absence on the blogisphere. If last year was a year to strengthen my psyche and become more dominant within my skin. This year is the year for breaking down the walls. January, my journey went public. February, I’m out in the world (…once again!), for good this time.
I’ve been playing a tug-of-war battle in my mind with how I want to proceed with the blog. Sometimes I believe this is more preachy and relationship based than I intended. In the days since my last post, I’ve come to grips with the fact this is a lifestyle blog and more importantly than that, it’s about my lifestyle. After all, I can only speak for myself, right?
I don’t know if I wholly believe in the first quote. Waking up and planning your day by the seam of your pants is a great experience… for vacation. Planning for the future and preparing yourself thoroughly for whatever opportunity arrives must be viewed as the Right Bauer (yes, I’m an excellent euchre player). I have two friends whom I consult with on almost all my meteoric life events and the day-to-day mundane. These men are more like brothers than friends. I have been in concert with both frequently over the last two weeks. Our lives are chaotic and stapling time down for a life conference is difficult, but we do what we can. I can always count my adopted brothers to splash water on my ideas or at least temper them with a dose of the opposite side. I respect this because most people are either stewing in sour grapes or complete “yes men”. It takes a certain type of person to listen to criticize, let it marinate and devise a plan. I’ve often been credited with seeing the end, but the journey throughout is opaque with mist.
Two Roads diverged…
Between the both of them, stern lessons in the ’48 Laws of Power’ I’ve carefully mapped out how I want to attack this year. It’s a path, it may change, but the important thing is that it’s put down. If ever you question what your path for a given task will be, pen it on paper so it’s tangible and then plot accordingly.
Magical realism, I heard this term for the first time last week and it’s curious how I’ve watched many films under this subheading, but have never known the term. This term to me is the equivalent of a protagonist being yanked from the ordinary world and dropped into a new experience where they’re faced with choices. This is the exact mission I’m on. I’m dreamed about my first day in my apartment, just sitting there like “what now?”. I don’t dwell on it, but I understand one thing, things will change. In meshing with my beliefs, I believe it will change for the better. So, I attack it.
So. What now?
Well, I said I’ve made a concerted effort to not speak before something was accomplished and I’m going to continue along that path. I can say that when I move in, I will not be sitting around and basking in my independence. It’s an exciting time, yes, but not a time for lollygagging. I’m here to make waves and so should you. While most of the “resolution tourists” have long since given up on their statements (allowing me more freedom at the gym), you and I still continue to mush on. Find a path, if the end is what you envision, plot the way to make it there. Make it count, the hands of time don’t go in reverse.
Carpe Diem Que