A Brave New World
When the first humans appeared on this planet, it is said, change occurred very slowly. A human adult within the first few thousand years of human existence had no real sense of past or present or future. And, looking back, we applaud them for their technological and societal advancements that spanned thousands of years, crawling forward really, more than advancing. Today's world is far different from that. Change has truly become our only constant. All the characteristics that our ancient ancestors whetted to help define who and what we are as humans are being carefully dismantled by today's people. We are dehumanized, de-individualized; we are a carefully streamlined, conscientiously living breathing society. We are more connected, more aware of our problems, and more appreciative of our collective achievements. As today's adults stand knee deep in today's society, staring down at their smart phones, and shaking their heads at today's youth, they forget to remember how we feel. Because we are scared of this new world. We are homesick for the simplicity of our parents' childhood, our grandparents' childhood. We long for memories before our time, stories we had no part in, people long passed, and places long changed. We seek a place in this world but it is changing under our feet; yesterday's world is not today's and the place we thought we occupied has changed as well. Still, we are brave. This new world is scary but it is also fast, amazing, and wonderful in ways that used to be unimaginable. We stand shoulder to shoulder, today's youth, and we wield our swords and we each pick a battle. We are determined to make this new world ours. And when someone achieves one small victory, conquers one small challenge, we all rejoice. This world does not yet belong to us, we know, but it's not quite theirs anymore, either, and we'll fight for our place. Hopefully, we'll learn from their mistakes. Someday, we will write our own rules. But for now, it's still a brave new world and we are just beginning to poke our heads into the sunlight.
"But I don't want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom. I want sin." Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
Monday, August 24, 2015
Sunday, August 9, 2015
What I've Learned This Summer
This summer has been an incredible one. I've gotten to meet amazing people, explore wonderful new places, and really grow as a person. The following are some lessons I've learned on my adventures:
1. Just like a pinch of salt brings out the sugar in a dish, a bit of time alone with your thoughts can help you enjoy your experiences more fully.
2. You don't have to know all the answers.
3. Finding the child within you will lead to true happiness.
4. There are very few things chocolate can't fix.
5. The world doesn't rest on your shoulders. Don't be afraid to share the weight with the people you love from time to time.
6. Be prepared for anything.
7. Don't sell yourself short. You're capable of a lot more than you think and even if you don't know how to do something you'll figure it out.
8. Never take your family for granted- they're the ones that will always have your back.
9. One of the best feelings in the world is knowing you've made an old friend smile, despite everything they are dealing with.
10. Take lots of pictures. And pose for lots of pictures. The memories captured will be priceless.
11. When you find the things you care about, go after them wholeheartedly. Your passions define who you are. Don't change that because of someone else's opinions.
12. You're young and invincible. Make the best use of that and don't forget it.
13. Always pack earphones and have good music ready.
14. A good book is the most faithful companion.
15. Yesterday's regrets have no part in today's joys. Learn from your mistakes and move forward.
16. Do the scary things. Nothing ventured is nothing gained.
Here's to countless more fantabulous times ahead! Let me know some of your favorite summer lessons in the comments :)
This summer has been an incredible one. I've gotten to meet amazing people, explore wonderful new places, and really grow as a person. The following are some lessons I've learned on my adventures:
1. Just like a pinch of salt brings out the sugar in a dish, a bit of time alone with your thoughts can help you enjoy your experiences more fully.
2. You don't have to know all the answers.
3. Finding the child within you will lead to true happiness.
4. There are very few things chocolate can't fix.
5. The world doesn't rest on your shoulders. Don't be afraid to share the weight with the people you love from time to time.
6. Be prepared for anything.
7. Don't sell yourself short. You're capable of a lot more than you think and even if you don't know how to do something you'll figure it out.
8. Never take your family for granted- they're the ones that will always have your back.
9. One of the best feelings in the world is knowing you've made an old friend smile, despite everything they are dealing with.
10. Take lots of pictures. And pose for lots of pictures. The memories captured will be priceless.
11. When you find the things you care about, go after them wholeheartedly. Your passions define who you are. Don't change that because of someone else's opinions.
12. You're young and invincible. Make the best use of that and don't forget it.
13. Always pack earphones and have good music ready.
14. A good book is the most faithful companion.
15. Yesterday's regrets have no part in today's joys. Learn from your mistakes and move forward.
16. Do the scary things. Nothing ventured is nothing gained.
Here's to countless more fantabulous times ahead! Let me know some of your favorite summer lessons in the comments :)
Saturday, August 8, 2015
The Slump
In middle school, I was an assistant teacher for our school's Homework Club. In addition to tutoring students, I would create lesson plans centered around homework management strategies. I remember one of the lesson plans I helped expand was one my mentor teacher had already done for many years. It was based on the book Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating by Brian Tracy. Tracy explains that the best way to stop procrastinating is by tackling your hardest task first; metaphorically, eating the frog first thing in the morning to get it over with. Each student got a bookmark with a frog on it and were asked to write down their "frog", the one task they needed to tackle immediately. Whenever there was a lesson at Homework Club, especially if I had helped to create it, I would try out the tricks that had been taught. The Eat That Frog lesson was no different. No one was more surprised than I when I found myself writing "Do something" on the bookmark.
My message to myself was an important one. It is not as if I was doing nothing: I still woke up every morning, finished my homework, fulfilled my extra-curricular responsibilities... Rather, I felt as if I was getting no where. I call this feeling the slump and, in my opinion, I experience it much too commonly for my personal taste. By nature, I am a do-er, always wanting to fix something or help someone. Every so often, usually right after things are going great, I'll get stuck in a vicious cycle of lots of ideas and no results. I'll run circles around myself before falling asleep at night. I'll spend all of my free time stressing out about meaningless things or finding bad ways of procrastinating and distracting myself. Sometimes, it seems like I have all these great plans but it is exhausting just to get through a normal day. These are the days when I think, "Do I actually have what it takes to be extraordinary, to make a difference the world?" The first push, the first product that pushes its way out of the slump is always the most painful. There will be many false starts. "Will it be enough? Will they like it? Am I being silly?" Venturing out fully, into the open, will take Herculean effort. But overcoming these slumps in life is not extraordinary. Acknowledging that these hurdles exist, that there are many more- possibly greater- hurdles that will follow and still pursuing your passions, still fighting for what you love; that's what makes someone extraordinary.
"I want to take over myself first but then, yeah, the world." Farkle Minkus, Girl Meets World
In middle school, I was an assistant teacher for our school's Homework Club. In addition to tutoring students, I would create lesson plans centered around homework management strategies. I remember one of the lesson plans I helped expand was one my mentor teacher had already done for many years. It was based on the book Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating by Brian Tracy. Tracy explains that the best way to stop procrastinating is by tackling your hardest task first; metaphorically, eating the frog first thing in the morning to get it over with. Each student got a bookmark with a frog on it and were asked to write down their "frog", the one task they needed to tackle immediately. Whenever there was a lesson at Homework Club, especially if I had helped to create it, I would try out the tricks that had been taught. The Eat That Frog lesson was no different. No one was more surprised than I when I found myself writing "Do something" on the bookmark.
My message to myself was an important one. It is not as if I was doing nothing: I still woke up every morning, finished my homework, fulfilled my extra-curricular responsibilities... Rather, I felt as if I was getting no where. I call this feeling the slump and, in my opinion, I experience it much too commonly for my personal taste. By nature, I am a do-er, always wanting to fix something or help someone. Every so often, usually right after things are going great, I'll get stuck in a vicious cycle of lots of ideas and no results. I'll run circles around myself before falling asleep at night. I'll spend all of my free time stressing out about meaningless things or finding bad ways of procrastinating and distracting myself. Sometimes, it seems like I have all these great plans but it is exhausting just to get through a normal day. These are the days when I think, "Do I actually have what it takes to be extraordinary, to make a difference the world?" The first push, the first product that pushes its way out of the slump is always the most painful. There will be many false starts. "Will it be enough? Will they like it? Am I being silly?" Venturing out fully, into the open, will take Herculean effort. But overcoming these slumps in life is not extraordinary. Acknowledging that these hurdles exist, that there are many more- possibly greater- hurdles that will follow and still pursuing your passions, still fighting for what you love; that's what makes someone extraordinary.
"I want to take over myself first but then, yeah, the world." Farkle Minkus, Girl Meets World
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