Time: 4:29 pm
Weather: Snowy and cold
Music: Green Hornet - Kill Bill
Mood: Enlightened
----
I would wager many of you have been anxiously awaiting my latest post with baited breath! But truthfully I know that to be a vain expectation. The return to Seoul searching was prompted by my most recent exposure to a game changing proposal: the only difference between a good memory and a bad one is effort and training. After finding Ed Cooke's AMA via Reddit I have yet again had my world turned upside down. Ed Cooke, a competitive memorize-r hailing from the U.K. has set out to teach language through the use of mnemonics and memes. And to top it all off it's completely free: Memrise. This then spurred on the desire to learn more about the "latent power" with which Ed claimed we all possessed.
And lo and behold there was a Ted talk covering this very topic: Ted Talk. Joshua Foer explores the art and I would go so far as to say the craft of memorizing. A scientific journalist by trade, Joshua set out to uncover the world of competitive memorizers and to reveal what made them tick. In a short 20 minute video he recounts his initial meeting with these apparent "savants" and his immersion into the world of memorizing. He not only covers techniques for unlocking this "latent potential" but also identifies the greatest handicap many of us face: that we first have a bad memory but more importantly we are biologically condemned to idly stand by and accept our apparent fate.
In a world where "new" is king and old is archaic and ill suited for the ever changing times, Joshua reveals the ancient techniques that great philosophers, poets and leaders of old utilized in order to sway audiences to tears or war through intricate and lengthy speeches. Though these methods are nearly 2,500 years old, their present value still holds true to our day and age. He challenges the Tedx audience to ask themselves (paraphrased) : 'can we live a meaningful and memorable life if we are unable to remember it?" This great craft of memorizing and its popular practice - he argues was lost due to the cognitive outsourcing of information and memories due to technological advances. However, the emotional dissonance between the significance of any given experience and our current ability to remember it with any great clarity or as much as 3-5 seconds will allow leaves us with a diluted and lukewarm existence. It is our memories, Joshua contends, that mold and shape us into who we are and ultimately guide us in the direction of who we will become. Have we then outsourced our identities and personal narrative to the vines, twitters, facebooks and instagrams of our present age? Would we be able to remember those epic nights and incredible trips, meaningful friends we shared without the aid of these services?
Let us desire to remember to remember with the same intensity, richness and integrity our minds are able to afford us and our experiences deserve.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Monday, June 24, 2013
The road less traveled
Time: 1:19pm
Weather: Overcast
Music: none
Mood: stubbornly optimistic
----
Upon writing this I am happy that I took a little bit more time to reflect upon this last walk with Gao. To be honest I saw a lot of myself in Gao and I think she would say the same. Last Saturday, I met a fellow patient - also diagnosed with a terminal case of wander lust. From Scotland to Korea we had walked similar paths and delved into each of these rich cultures.While she attended St. Katherine's, my sister school, we both strove after understanding and excellence in our respective fields. She recounted her projects and writing assignments with great fervor and passion - more than I've ever heard from an accounting major.
Her creativity really sparked within her writing when she was able to include her family and their experiences. Gao, though the youngest of 11, possessed a strong sense of purpose and unshakable love for her family and relatives. At first, the distinction between herself and her family was very clear but as we continued to walk they blended together wonderfully. She saw a lot of her life experiences and aspirations in light of her family not in the shadow of a predetermined path or expectation.
Her perspective has successfully melded her family bonds with her sense of self and mission in life. Often only the shortcomings of a family are the source of negative inspiration. "I won't turn into my mother" or "i'll treat my family different than my father" but for her, she gathered all of these precious moments of family wisdom and added her own flare and narrative.
Gao has retaught me the value of family and strength of these bonds. The American obsession with rebellion instead of listening was successfully thwarted. I witnessed the celebration of Gao's family in her responses and enthusiasm. Each of her family members has lent her colors with which to paint a vibrant and rich narrative. Her family is not so much an intrusion but rather an infusion of life and vitality to encourage and support her future growth. I am so pleased to have met someone who has embraced the soil they were planted in and have made it their own.
Weather: Overcast
Music: none
Mood: stubbornly optimistic
----
Upon writing this I am happy that I took a little bit more time to reflect upon this last walk with Gao. To be honest I saw a lot of myself in Gao and I think she would say the same. Last Saturday, I met a fellow patient - also diagnosed with a terminal case of wander lust. From Scotland to Korea we had walked similar paths and delved into each of these rich cultures.While she attended St. Katherine's, my sister school, we both strove after understanding and excellence in our respective fields. She recounted her projects and writing assignments with great fervor and passion - more than I've ever heard from an accounting major.
Her creativity really sparked within her writing when she was able to include her family and their experiences. Gao, though the youngest of 11, possessed a strong sense of purpose and unshakable love for her family and relatives. At first, the distinction between herself and her family was very clear but as we continued to walk they blended together wonderfully. She saw a lot of her life experiences and aspirations in light of her family not in the shadow of a predetermined path or expectation.
Her perspective has successfully melded her family bonds with her sense of self and mission in life. Often only the shortcomings of a family are the source of negative inspiration. "I won't turn into my mother" or "i'll treat my family different than my father" but for her, she gathered all of these precious moments of family wisdom and added her own flare and narrative.
Gao has retaught me the value of family and strength of these bonds. The American obsession with rebellion instead of listening was successfully thwarted. I witnessed the celebration of Gao's family in her responses and enthusiasm. Each of her family members has lent her colors with which to paint a vibrant and rich narrative. Her family is not so much an intrusion but rather an infusion of life and vitality to encourage and support her future growth. I am so pleased to have met someone who has embraced the soil they were planted in and have made it their own.
----
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Universal Intelligence
Time: 9:40 am
Weather: Sunny and cool
Music: K-pop Pandora
Mood: Content
------
"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid" - Albert Einstein
During the brisk walk with an old college buddy, Ilya, the idea of universal intelligence emerged. Ilya, an engineer over at Seagate, brought with him a feeling of practical empathy mixed with a tried and true desire to continually learn. The gusto with which he spoke of his work was a refreshing reprieve from the more customary feelings of dissatisfaction that seemed so common among my fellow post-grads.
In this walk, we discussed processors to politics - post-grad life to postulating the immense value of the human experience. Because of the vast array of available disciplines offered at Seagate, Ilya has essentially entered a combination of workplace and university. Imagine if you will, (pardon my nerdom) that Ilya has merely selected one particular guild/group to join for now to understand and learn the tricks of that trade and in a couple of years he is then equipped to jump into a totally different field/guild (of course after completing all the side quests). These opportunities were not lost on this life long student and at times it felt like he was describing what future courses he hoped to explore.
This drive - this insatiable hunger to learn and to grow is not limited to the realm of preset fields or industries. It's when we understand that everyone is an expert in something that maybe they will in turn be willing to share their wealth of knowledge. Society could do no greater disservice than to trivialize the work of so many hard working individuals. It seems the agreement should be that society acknowledges and utilizes the wealth of knowledge and experience present and in response individuals seek to share the gifts, knowledge and experiences they possess. In this way, the perspective of the whole is seen as the sum of the individual contributions - inseparable and indivisible.
However, this proposition hinges on the desire of the individual to fearlessly pursue and grow, in not only becoming an expert, but also seek to improve and share the progress they have made/discovered. What makes for a competitive company also makes for a competitive society. Hear me out, it can be likened to two companies - one who is innovative and one who has one product that hinges on a trade secret. I believe a company that continually innovates and seeks to perpetuate a culture of endless improvement will far surpass the company who invests everything in protecting it's trade secret. I understand that the example I have offered is quite polarized and that many companies prefer a healthy balance of both but it's when this sort of spirit of innovation is not confined to the marketing/development/sales teams but rather expands to all aspects and dimensions of a company that innovation has occurred. Thus creating a culture of improvement in which every part of society has an equally valid voice in the discussion.
----
Weather: Sunny and cool
Music: K-pop Pandora
Mood: Content
------
"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid" - Albert Einstein
During the brisk walk with an old college buddy, Ilya, the idea of universal intelligence emerged. Ilya, an engineer over at Seagate, brought with him a feeling of practical empathy mixed with a tried and true desire to continually learn. The gusto with which he spoke of his work was a refreshing reprieve from the more customary feelings of dissatisfaction that seemed so common among my fellow post-grads.
In this walk, we discussed processors to politics - post-grad life to postulating the immense value of the human experience. Because of the vast array of available disciplines offered at Seagate, Ilya has essentially entered a combination of workplace and university. Imagine if you will, (pardon my nerdom) that Ilya has merely selected one particular guild/group to join for now to understand and learn the tricks of that trade and in a couple of years he is then equipped to jump into a totally different field/guild (of course after completing all the side quests). These opportunities were not lost on this life long student and at times it felt like he was describing what future courses he hoped to explore.
This drive - this insatiable hunger to learn and to grow is not limited to the realm of preset fields or industries. It's when we understand that everyone is an expert in something that maybe they will in turn be willing to share their wealth of knowledge. Society could do no greater disservice than to trivialize the work of so many hard working individuals. It seems the agreement should be that society acknowledges and utilizes the wealth of knowledge and experience present and in response individuals seek to share the gifts, knowledge and experiences they possess. In this way, the perspective of the whole is seen as the sum of the individual contributions - inseparable and indivisible.
However, this proposition hinges on the desire of the individual to fearlessly pursue and grow, in not only becoming an expert, but also seek to improve and share the progress they have made/discovered. What makes for a competitive company also makes for a competitive society. Hear me out, it can be likened to two companies - one who is innovative and one who has one product that hinges on a trade secret. I believe a company that continually innovates and seeks to perpetuate a culture of endless improvement will far surpass the company who invests everything in protecting it's trade secret. I understand that the example I have offered is quite polarized and that many companies prefer a healthy balance of both but it's when this sort of spirit of innovation is not confined to the marketing/development/sales teams but rather expands to all aspects and dimensions of a company that innovation has occurred. Thus creating a culture of improvement in which every part of society has an equally valid voice in the discussion.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
A Spirit of Adventure
Time: 5:22pm
Weather: The perfect Minnesota summer day
Music: The hum of the ceiling fan
Mood: Creative
-----
Today I had an opportunity to meet two lovely ladies; Madeline and her well mannered and adorable baby daughter, Juliet. These two are like two peas in a pod. Juliet, picture below, had a little charming smile that could make any day brighter. The connection that I witnessed between Madeline and Juliet really was something special. With each loving koo Madeline made, Juliet would bashfully turn her head to the side and smile as if saying "awwww shucks, mom".
With the arrival of Juliet and her recent betrothal to her husband, Jake, Madeline has begun a wonderful new chapter in her life. During our relatively short time together I could tell that Madeline had summoned the physical strength and mental fortitude only a new mother could possess. The evidence of some long nights and fatigue shown on the edge of her otherwise carefree smile as we discussed her upcoming trip to Korea to celebrate a second traditional wedding with Jake's friends and family.
The discussion swung between moments of intense excitement about this opportunity to delve into Korean culture and her husband's heritage. However, this optimism seemed to dissipate beneath the nervous anticipation of entering into a culture rich in traditions and complex expectations. Thankfully, her resolve and love of international travel and cultural immersion championed these fears.
Madeline's resolve she told me came with her re-dedication to her faith life. She showed me the power of perspective and seeing future challenges and successes in light of her walk with Christ. What was most inspiring was her realization that her personal adventure begins from within and it is our personal responsibility to sustain that spirit of adventure. Do not fear the adventure that awaits you, sometimes the adventure has a smile and is named Juliet.
Weather: The perfect Minnesota summer day
Music: The hum of the ceiling fan
Mood: Creative
-----
Today I had an opportunity to meet two lovely ladies; Madeline and her well mannered and adorable baby daughter, Juliet. These two are like two peas in a pod. Juliet, picture below, had a little charming smile that could make any day brighter. The connection that I witnessed between Madeline and Juliet really was something special. With each loving koo Madeline made, Juliet would bashfully turn her head to the side and smile as if saying "awwww shucks, mom".
With the arrival of Juliet and her recent betrothal to her husband, Jake, Madeline has begun a wonderful new chapter in her life. During our relatively short time together I could tell that Madeline had summoned the physical strength and mental fortitude only a new mother could possess. The evidence of some long nights and fatigue shown on the edge of her otherwise carefree smile as we discussed her upcoming trip to Korea to celebrate a second traditional wedding with Jake's friends and family.
The discussion swung between moments of intense excitement about this opportunity to delve into Korean culture and her husband's heritage. However, this optimism seemed to dissipate beneath the nervous anticipation of entering into a culture rich in traditions and complex expectations. Thankfully, her resolve and love of international travel and cultural immersion championed these fears.
Madeline's resolve she told me came with her re-dedication to her faith life. She showed me the power of perspective and seeing future challenges and successes in light of her walk with Christ. What was most inspiring was her realization that her personal adventure begins from within and it is our personal responsibility to sustain that spirit of adventure. Do not fear the adventure that awaits you, sometimes the adventure has a smile and is named Juliet.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Walk the walk and Talk the talk
Time: 12:15 pm
Weather: Cool and bright
Music: The Great Gatsby playlist - Spotify
Mood: Content
----
Today was my first journey of many to take into a new world - a complete strangers life. Bianca, a bright and cheery 20 something had a carefree laugh and encouraging smile. As she spoke about her career dreams and relationship, she had a wonderful practical humor about her with a flare for zombies and semi-automatics. She gave me a brief glimpse into her family life and the surprising dynamics that her aunts shared through a rather physical medium.
She exudes hope and optimism about the things to come and is quite content with living in the present. Her imagination combined with her desire to learn will serve her well as she pursues event planning. Even during my wacky movie stories she didn't miss a beat. The only hesitation I noted was when she was discussing the "why" behind what she wants to do.
Like me, she occupies this limbo state between work and will. Is she willing to work or is her will in her work? As she discussed this she wore her emotions on her sleeve and wasn't ashamed of it. This hunger for adventure and a sense of purpose pervades throughout our generation. The desire to be challenged in new and meaningful ways must become a personal undertaking. It's about acknowledging how crucial novel and deep conversations are to the development and sustainability of life long growth. I look forward to witnessing the journey of this dedicated Whovian and seeing her life story unfold.
.JPG)
Weather: Cool and bright
Music: The Great Gatsby playlist - Spotify
Mood: Content
----
Today was my first journey of many to take into a new world - a complete strangers life. Bianca, a bright and cheery 20 something had a carefree laugh and encouraging smile. As she spoke about her career dreams and relationship, she had a wonderful practical humor about her with a flare for zombies and semi-automatics. She gave me a brief glimpse into her family life and the surprising dynamics that her aunts shared through a rather physical medium.
She exudes hope and optimism about the things to come and is quite content with living in the present. Her imagination combined with her desire to learn will serve her well as she pursues event planning. Even during my wacky movie stories she didn't miss a beat. The only hesitation I noted was when she was discussing the "why" behind what she wants to do.
Like me, she occupies this limbo state between work and will. Is she willing to work or is her will in her work? As she discussed this she wore her emotions on her sleeve and wasn't ashamed of it. This hunger for adventure and a sense of purpose pervades throughout our generation. The desire to be challenged in new and meaningful ways must become a personal undertaking. It's about acknowledging how crucial novel and deep conversations are to the development and sustainability of life long growth. I look forward to witnessing the journey of this dedicated Whovian and seeing her life story unfold.
.JPG)
----
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Beyond the meet and greet - how to thrive (not just survive) meeting new people
Time: 9:07 am
Weather: Cloudy and rainy
Music: "The gentle rain" - RJD2 remix
Mood: reflective
---
As the day of my first "Walk and Talk" fast approaches, I wanted to write a little bit about how I have overcome the fear of meeting new people. At first I relied heavily upon my skills and hobbies to engage with people in a setting I controlled. This was done primarily through card tricks.
Performing magic tricks provided me not only a highly memorable first impression but also a strong foundation in reading body language and expressions. In addition, it gave me an environment in which to test and practice new social nuances through timing and varying patter - the conversation a magician has with the audience. Due to the fact that a lot of the tricks I performed were impromptu I grew accustom to adjusting and making minute by minute alterations to my act in order to better entertain a new arrival or capitalize on a comment or expression of an audience member. But the biggest lesson was how to slow down and give each interaction I had with people the semblance of a beginning, middle and end. Through 100's of hours of performances in different countries (England, Scotland, Rome, South Korea and Mexico) these skills were honed and often relied on non-verbal communication to convey the performance.
Stories are integral to the human race, it's the very fabric of our societies - past, present and future. Through understanding this commonality we can then learn how to weave and construct strong, thoughtful and meaningful interactions with others - on the fly. Like any skill, this one takes time - often my stories were quite short.
Typical dialogue:
Pick a card - memorize the card - fall in love with that card - now place it among it's friends - give them a good shuffle - hold out your hand - was this your card? - no? - hold onto it as tight as you can - *taps hand* - are you ready for the magic? - Now was that your card? - yes!
With the use of showmanship and bravado I became the setting - the environment. I included them in the story through an interaction point - the cards. Through their interaction, they became actors and I personified the cards to fill out the cast. I built up the climax with a false twist - like in most great stories. Then provided them a fitting climactic finish - revealing their card has changed. Even though this story was only 1-2 minutes it is a very good story and is well constructed.
Once I had trained/performed/altered/trained/performed etc. in the art of story telling it wasn't very difficult to then adapt that to conversations outside of doing card tricks. Now when I speak to people I naturally and effortlessly slip into a story telling mode, following the same or similar order. This is often what people call self confidence and composure - I call it quality story telling.
Luckily, this is a skill. Let me repeat myself - THIS IS A SKILL. Something anyone can acquire through effort and determination. Many individuals often think people are born confident. However I believe the environment in which they grew up plays a much stronger role. Even though nurture may play a strong role the truly confident person is one who has bridged the gap between being externally motivated to being internally motivated. The strength of the mortar that holds your stories together is based largely upon your presence and the environment you create. (Please read that bit again) With practice, loads of humility and honing your ability to empathize with your audience; you can create stories that meet them on an emotional, intellectual and hopefully humorous level. I believe the pinnacle of empathy is when you can make someone laugh based upon wit and not vulgarity.
Now for me I used magic tricks to develop these skills and observations however I don't expect everyone to become David Blaine's overnight (ok maybe that's a bad example he's kinda odd) but I hope that you can take this experience and adapt it to your own interests or hobbies. The way in which to overcome this fear is basically frequent exposure therapy and your hobby/skill/interest serves as your entry point.
Think about it this way your hobbies/skills/interests as water wings and the pool as the fear of meeting new people. Once you have practiced and grown accustom to this environment with the aid of your water wings you will be able to graduate from this stage and swim freely with others, dive deep into meaningful dialogue, float effortlessly throughout social gatherings - and create some significant and meaningful waves along the way simply through uour presence.
Take Aways:
- Stories are the medium through which we communicate with others
- Learn how to tell stories - develop the skill of self confidence
- Hone your skill of empathy - pinnacle = tastful humor and wit.
- Remember you create the setting/environment others occupy when they interact with you (read again)
- Don't lean too heavily on your hobbies/skills/interests - keep your eye on the prize! (no water wings)
---
Weather: Cloudy and rainy
Music: "The gentle rain" - RJD2 remix
Mood: reflective
---
As the day of my first "Walk and Talk" fast approaches, I wanted to write a little bit about how I have overcome the fear of meeting new people. At first I relied heavily upon my skills and hobbies to engage with people in a setting I controlled. This was done primarily through card tricks.
Performing magic tricks provided me not only a highly memorable first impression but also a strong foundation in reading body language and expressions. In addition, it gave me an environment in which to test and practice new social nuances through timing and varying patter - the conversation a magician has with the audience. Due to the fact that a lot of the tricks I performed were impromptu I grew accustom to adjusting and making minute by minute alterations to my act in order to better entertain a new arrival or capitalize on a comment or expression of an audience member. But the biggest lesson was how to slow down and give each interaction I had with people the semblance of a beginning, middle and end. Through 100's of hours of performances in different countries (England, Scotland, Rome, South Korea and Mexico) these skills were honed and often relied on non-verbal communication to convey the performance.
Stories are integral to the human race, it's the very fabric of our societies - past, present and future. Through understanding this commonality we can then learn how to weave and construct strong, thoughtful and meaningful interactions with others - on the fly. Like any skill, this one takes time - often my stories were quite short.
Typical dialogue:
Pick a card - memorize the card - fall in love with that card - now place it among it's friends - give them a good shuffle - hold out your hand - was this your card? - no? - hold onto it as tight as you can - *taps hand* - are you ready for the magic? - Now was that your card? - yes!
With the use of showmanship and bravado I became the setting - the environment. I included them in the story through an interaction point - the cards. Through their interaction, they became actors and I personified the cards to fill out the cast. I built up the climax with a false twist - like in most great stories. Then provided them a fitting climactic finish - revealing their card has changed. Even though this story was only 1-2 minutes it is a very good story and is well constructed.
Once I had trained/performed/altered/trained/performed etc. in the art of story telling it wasn't very difficult to then adapt that to conversations outside of doing card tricks. Now when I speak to people I naturally and effortlessly slip into a story telling mode, following the same or similar order. This is often what people call self confidence and composure - I call it quality story telling.
Luckily, this is a skill. Let me repeat myself - THIS IS A SKILL. Something anyone can acquire through effort and determination. Many individuals often think people are born confident. However I believe the environment in which they grew up plays a much stronger role. Even though nurture may play a strong role the truly confident person is one who has bridged the gap between being externally motivated to being internally motivated. The strength of the mortar that holds your stories together is based largely upon your presence and the environment you create. (Please read that bit again) With practice, loads of humility and honing your ability to empathize with your audience; you can create stories that meet them on an emotional, intellectual and hopefully humorous level. I believe the pinnacle of empathy is when you can make someone laugh based upon wit and not vulgarity.
Now for me I used magic tricks to develop these skills and observations however I don't expect everyone to become David Blaine's overnight (ok maybe that's a bad example he's kinda odd) but I hope that you can take this experience and adapt it to your own interests or hobbies. The way in which to overcome this fear is basically frequent exposure therapy and your hobby/skill/interest serves as your entry point.
Think about it this way your hobbies/skills/interests as water wings and the pool as the fear of meeting new people. Once you have practiced and grown accustom to this environment with the aid of your water wings you will be able to graduate from this stage and swim freely with others, dive deep into meaningful dialogue, float effortlessly throughout social gatherings - and create some significant and meaningful waves along the way simply through uour presence.
Take Aways:
- Stories are the medium through which we communicate with others
- Learn how to tell stories - develop the skill of self confidence
- Hone your skill of empathy - pinnacle = tastful humor and wit.
- Remember you create the setting/environment others occupy when they interact with you (read again)
- Don't lean too heavily on your hobbies/skills/interests - keep your eye on the prize! (no water wings)
---
Monday, June 3, 2013
The power of being present - learning how to listen.
Time: 10:10 am
Weather: Gloriously sunny
Music: Les Larmes Radio (Pandora)
Mood: Optimistic
----
Goal:
To set up a short period of time (30 min to 60 min) to meet up with friends/new acquaintances to listen and be present to them as they tell me about their joys, dissapointments, goals, personal and professional life and everything in between while on a walk.
Introduction:
After finding myself at a loss and disatisfied with continually introspecting I decided to look out and see how I can be of assistance to others. Each of us have gifts and should use them in order to serve others. I'm good at listening but I want to become better and gain some much needed perspective into the lives of others. This I hope will aid me in listening better and give others the ability to let ideas/thoughts/joys/frustrations out and have someone just listen.
My intent is not to give advice or be preceived to have all the answers. I merely would like to hear more about you and see where you're at in life. Even if we run out of things to discuss merely to enjoy the walk and become more comfortable with silence. I believe a non-associated third party just listening and discussing (if you so choose) would be of great benefit. I often find that an outisde point of view or even just someone to discuss things with is refreshing and revitalizing.
As an added incentive for helping me with learning how to listen better i'll buy you a cup of coffee/tea! I hope to schedule these walks for Saturday or Sunday mornings at Lake Calhoun.
Just message me via Facebook if you're interested!! Please refer friends as well!
----
Weather: Gloriously sunny
Music: Les Larmes Radio (Pandora)
Mood: Optimistic
----
Goal:
To set up a short period of time (30 min to 60 min) to meet up with friends/new acquaintances to listen and be present to them as they tell me about their joys, dissapointments, goals, personal and professional life and everything in between while on a walk.
Introduction:
After finding myself at a loss and disatisfied with continually introspecting I decided to look out and see how I can be of assistance to others. Each of us have gifts and should use them in order to serve others. I'm good at listening but I want to become better and gain some much needed perspective into the lives of others. This I hope will aid me in listening better and give others the ability to let ideas/thoughts/joys/frustrations out and have someone just listen.
My intent is not to give advice or be preceived to have all the answers. I merely would like to hear more about you and see where you're at in life. Even if we run out of things to discuss merely to enjoy the walk and become more comfortable with silence. I believe a non-associated third party just listening and discussing (if you so choose) would be of great benefit. I often find that an outisde point of view or even just someone to discuss things with is refreshing and revitalizing.
As an added incentive for helping me with learning how to listen better i'll buy you a cup of coffee/tea! I hope to schedule these walks for Saturday or Sunday mornings at Lake Calhoun.
Just message me via Facebook if you're interested!! Please refer friends as well!
----
Friday, May 31, 2013
Setting the scene...
Time: 9:59 pm
Weather: warm
Music: Je veux te voir - Yelle
Mood: feeling tested
-----
As I drove home from drinks with some friends and their girlfriends it hit me, the 3rd or 5th wheel-itis. I find myself in an interesting situation. It's not that I don't understand their cuddling and kissing and such it's just that my girlfriend is half way across the world facing enormous stress and pressure from her work, family and overall life. And here I am wishing I could share this night with her, but after trying even for a moment to understand what she's going through, I suddenly feel embarrassed and childish but still quite lonely.
It's in these moments that I find myself asking "why". Why for everything? Why am I chasing this goal of traveling? Why do I think this will satisfy me? Maybe i'm trying to simulate the prodigal son parable in the bible? That I must go out into the void and feel the chill of true loneliness and abandonment in order to better understand the depth of God's love and care. In this way, maybe I will draw closer to this elusive "why".
In my heart I know "why" and yet I do not do that which I want to do and yet continue to do that which I do not want to do. When moving forward with planning and goal setting, I must establish a strong "Because". Not to say this is set in stone but as an indicator of where my passion dwells.
Through great adversity many have found their passion and calling. But in this era of comfort and wealth my desire to step out and see what i'm made of appears to be foolish and naive. Wasting the sacrifices and hard work of my parents.
But what is the worth of a lesson learned from the comfort of security and perceived strength? When you don't really know how strong your personal fortitude really is? Glass - brittle - weak. Is it because you know it to be this way that you hunger to be tested, to be broken so that you have no other choice but to endure.
Regardless of what others think, this hunger is in me. To fall and find that bottom so all I have is God. In this way am I mastering my body? When my body shows the marks of trusting a godless world?
Or is this just selfish deception, leading me astray for the sake of being lead astray. I am called to stand and dwell in the light. Trust is what I am called to do now. Trust, hope and pray. Look beyond myself. Break the cycle of Me and focus on the We. Pride and vanity use self-pity to have oneself continually turn back inwards gaining nothing of value and shutting out all the help and support that is available.
I need to stop being so picky about what form a blessing comes in. If he/she is fun, pretty, outgoing or interesting. I am a snobby Christian only accepting blessings on my own terms. Humble me. Break my spirit of pride and arrogance.
Lord - I pray for humility, courage and compassion.
----
Weather: warm
Music: Je veux te voir - Yelle
Mood: feeling tested
-----
As I drove home from drinks with some friends and their girlfriends it hit me, the 3rd or 5th wheel-itis. I find myself in an interesting situation. It's not that I don't understand their cuddling and kissing and such it's just that my girlfriend is half way across the world facing enormous stress and pressure from her work, family and overall life. And here I am wishing I could share this night with her, but after trying even for a moment to understand what she's going through, I suddenly feel embarrassed and childish but still quite lonely.
It's in these moments that I find myself asking "why". Why for everything? Why am I chasing this goal of traveling? Why do I think this will satisfy me? Maybe i'm trying to simulate the prodigal son parable in the bible? That I must go out into the void and feel the chill of true loneliness and abandonment in order to better understand the depth of God's love and care. In this way, maybe I will draw closer to this elusive "why".
In my heart I know "why" and yet I do not do that which I want to do and yet continue to do that which I do not want to do. When moving forward with planning and goal setting, I must establish a strong "Because". Not to say this is set in stone but as an indicator of where my passion dwells.
Through great adversity many have found their passion and calling. But in this era of comfort and wealth my desire to step out and see what i'm made of appears to be foolish and naive. Wasting the sacrifices and hard work of my parents.
But what is the worth of a lesson learned from the comfort of security and perceived strength? When you don't really know how strong your personal fortitude really is? Glass - brittle - weak. Is it because you know it to be this way that you hunger to be tested, to be broken so that you have no other choice but to endure.
Regardless of what others think, this hunger is in me. To fall and find that bottom so all I have is God. In this way am I mastering my body? When my body shows the marks of trusting a godless world?
Or is this just selfish deception, leading me astray for the sake of being lead astray. I am called to stand and dwell in the light. Trust is what I am called to do now. Trust, hope and pray. Look beyond myself. Break the cycle of Me and focus on the We. Pride and vanity use self-pity to have oneself continually turn back inwards gaining nothing of value and shutting out all the help and support that is available.
I need to stop being so picky about what form a blessing comes in. If he/she is fun, pretty, outgoing or interesting. I am a snobby Christian only accepting blessings on my own terms. Humble me. Break my spirit of pride and arrogance.
Lord - I pray for humility, courage and compassion.
----
Thursday, May 30, 2013
The Approach
Time: 10:02 pm
Weather: Rainy
Music: the hum of the fish tank
Mood: rejuvenated and relaxed
----
If you guys didn't know, I am a very visual person. I need to see things in action - moving and twisting within an interactive environment. Therefore in order to better encapsulate the previous entry I have created a Prezi in the hope of better visualizing this planning process. I believe that if I am able to clearly construct an image and or feeling that I can then share, I've made significant progress towards achieving my goal! Below is a link to the planning process and I hope you enjoy!
Instructions for using Prezi:
Link: The Approach
Weather: Rainy
Music: the hum of the fish tank
Mood: rejuvenated and relaxed
----
If you guys didn't know, I am a very visual person. I need to see things in action - moving and twisting within an interactive environment. Therefore in order to better encapsulate the previous entry I have created a Prezi in the hope of better visualizing this planning process. I believe that if I am able to clearly construct an image and or feeling that I can then share, I've made significant progress towards achieving my goal! Below is a link to the planning process and I hope you enjoy!
Instructions for using Prezi:
- Once the page has loaded click on the box in the bottom right hand corner
- Then click "Allow"
- Use arrow keys to navigate through the presentation
Link: The Approach
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
WAKE UP!!
Time: 9:12 am
Weather: sunny and balmy
Music: "Rhapsody in Blue" - George Gershwin
Mood: Stubbornly optimistic
----
And so today is the day of days. After watching about an hour or so of TED Talks on YouTube I have concluded that each and every great journey begins with one step, one pen stroke, one click of a key or spark of imagination. These talks felt like 5 separate meals/coffee with the weight and gravity of each topic as the main dish. Each in a way brought me from the shadows of doubt, over analysis and paralysis to a state of action. I want to be a DOer not just a Dreamer. Thus, I have started this blog to document and capture the challenges, successes and ambiguity that inevitably will come. The TED talks that I had watched were:
Dr. Sean Richardson: Mental Toughness: Think Differently about your World
He did a wonderful job breaking down the anatomy of a "mentally tough" mind. He spoke of the ability to persist as the strongest indicator of success and the importance of tempering the need for instant gratification. I thought one of his most memorable quotes was "Fail at 100%" because then you really know what you're made of and that at that moment you had given it your best. Also to synergize with one's feelings and not to fight them outright. Due to the fact that the more basic feelings of fear/anxiety were originally triggered by things that threatened our lives. But now, one must acknowledge the type of stress we face now and adapt to modern anxiety/stress. We must have a mindset to thrive not just survive. And finally, he points to the importance of being present and focusing on one's current actions and not solely on the desired results. Because if there is incongruity between perceived effort and results then it's gambling away our confidence. But if we are able to focus on this moment and see the value and integrity of our current actions then we find ourselves in a much better position to learn not lament.
Link: Mental Toughness: Think differently about your World
Colin Wright: Extreme Lifestyle Experiments
What really impressed me about Colin's presentation was how young he was and his dedication and passion for adventure. Now I don't mean it was just a bunch of bravado and misplaced enthusiasm, he actually followed through and made it happen! The crucial part of his plan was well...planning! But the way in which he approached planning was pretty ingenious because he looked not just at financial but also social, personal and basic needs. He first step was to figure out "where you want to be" then to work backwards from there. He first started his planning by establishing his "infrastructure" this was broken up into 3 key categories:
And finally, is the "JUMP" in which one actually executes on the plan. It's not about having the perfect plan because plans are intrinsically flawed and cannot be perfect. He spoke of "paralysis by over analysis" which I think is quite true. Waiting for that perfect wave until either one loses the desire/guts to pursue it or being so picky that you ultimately forfeit your chance to take the jump. Maybe one of the skills you must master is being ok with ambiguity and the ability to adapt.
Link: Extreme Lifestyle Experiments
Dr. Ivan Joseph: The Skill of Self Confidence
Dr. Ivan's presentation on Self Confidence was refreshing and perfect compliment to the previous talks I had watched. he really delved into what sort of attitude one needs in order to achieve this plan or goal in mind. He spoke also of the power of repetition. That with repetition comes the ability for the body to master the stress/anxiety that may arise. Like Dr. Richardson, through practicing and counteracting this new type of modern stress one is able to not merely survive but thrive. Through repetition an "environment of self confidence" is created from which your mind and psyche are well attuned. In addition, he also discussed the power of "self talk" and or the internal conversation one is having with oneself. Through reprogramming and empowering oneself through positive self talk one can rejuvenate and carry on even in the face of adversity or failure. He spoke being ok with not getting what you want....now but persisting towards one's goal. He went so far as to say he can accept failure but he cannot accept not trying.
Another application of this was motivating others and keeping their spirits high. I loved his phrase of "catching them when they're good" instead of merely criticizing and critiquing what they're doing wrong. Giving people the chance to come to their own conclusion of success and improvement is much more powerful than an external reprimand or even enforcement. The mortar to great plans is self confidence because "if you don't say it or believe in it no one will".
Link: The Skill of Self Confidence
Vik Nithy: Why we Procrastinate
Even though this was pitched to college students I believe the use of both physiological understanding and it's impact on mental processing was very well done. Within the brain there are two parts vying for control the limbic (play) vs. Pre-frontal lobe (work). It's through understanding this relationship that one can proactively counter procrastination. This is done through meta cognition (thinking about thinking) and establishing a plan that one can be productive. He says to plan: goals, time, resources, process, (for) distractions and (for) failures. I had known about the first 3 but never thought about the last 3. Through preemptive actions one can counteract future distractions and thus set yourself up for a better chance for success. Also by having a plan B you can react quickly to changes and remain in that state of "self confidence". I also think this spoke to what Apostle Paul wrote about: "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." - Romans 7:15. Even though this passage is in regard to sin, I believe procrastination is the modern day sin of sloth or laziness. This anatomical approach to procrastination also allows me to plan for the distractions and or failures in the future.
Link: Why we procrastinate
Adam Baker: Sell your crap. Pay your debt. Do what you love.
Out of all the Ted Talks that I had watched this one had received the most criticism from fellow Youtubers. Many spoke about how impractical this was or how impossible this was for people who had either amassed a large amount of debt (schooling) and or didn't have family/friends to support them. However, I think he was trying to get at something much deeper. Minimalism. It's not about having a bunch of things as security but rather freedom and agility and the ability to adapt and move quickly as one's treasures. He spoke of gathering experiences not money/physical wealth. Also he was clear that this was after some serious lifestyle changes and sacrifices was this dream able to come to fruition. I have never been really too tied down to things and or memorabilia because to be honest while I sit here and write this I honestly couldn't tell you where everything I own is. So if I don't know where it is how can I place so much value in it?
It was refreshing to see and hear about someone who had seen physical items not as security but as submission. I think having the option/ability to move is where one's wealth is. To set up somewhere new and do well and have the confidence and persistence to do well.
Link: Sell your crap. Pay your debt. Do what you love.
----
Weather: sunny and balmy
Music: "Rhapsody in Blue" - George Gershwin
Mood: Stubbornly optimistic
----
And so today is the day of days. After watching about an hour or so of TED Talks on YouTube I have concluded that each and every great journey begins with one step, one pen stroke, one click of a key or spark of imagination. These talks felt like 5 separate meals/coffee with the weight and gravity of each topic as the main dish. Each in a way brought me from the shadows of doubt, over analysis and paralysis to a state of action. I want to be a DOer not just a Dreamer. Thus, I have started this blog to document and capture the challenges, successes and ambiguity that inevitably will come. The TED talks that I had watched were:
Dr. Sean Richardson: Mental Toughness: Think Differently about your World
He did a wonderful job breaking down the anatomy of a "mentally tough" mind. He spoke of the ability to persist as the strongest indicator of success and the importance of tempering the need for instant gratification. I thought one of his most memorable quotes was "Fail at 100%" because then you really know what you're made of and that at that moment you had given it your best. Also to synergize with one's feelings and not to fight them outright. Due to the fact that the more basic feelings of fear/anxiety were originally triggered by things that threatened our lives. But now, one must acknowledge the type of stress we face now and adapt to modern anxiety/stress. We must have a mindset to thrive not just survive. And finally, he points to the importance of being present and focusing on one's current actions and not solely on the desired results. Because if there is incongruity between perceived effort and results then it's gambling away our confidence. But if we are able to focus on this moment and see the value and integrity of our current actions then we find ourselves in a much better position to learn not lament.
Link: Mental Toughness: Think differently about your World
Colin Wright: Extreme Lifestyle Experiments
What really impressed me about Colin's presentation was how young he was and his dedication and passion for adventure. Now I don't mean it was just a bunch of bravado and misplaced enthusiasm, he actually followed through and made it happen! The crucial part of his plan was well...planning! But the way in which he approached planning was pretty ingenious because he looked not just at financial but also social, personal and basic needs. He first step was to figure out "where you want to be" then to work backwards from there. He first started his planning by establishing his "infrastructure" this was broken up into 3 key categories:
- Skills: in order to get "where you want to be" sometimes you have to learn or master new skills. This might be a language, or trade or schooling to allow you to move forward.
- People: there may be people you need to get to know or set up a connection with in order to make a transition smoother, job available or journey possible. Contact points, especially in new countries, is crucial!
- Necessities: money may be a factor along with maybe downsizing your business to just a laptop. Or setting up employment options upon your return or even during your stay.
And finally, is the "JUMP" in which one actually executes on the plan. It's not about having the perfect plan because plans are intrinsically flawed and cannot be perfect. He spoke of "paralysis by over analysis" which I think is quite true. Waiting for that perfect wave until either one loses the desire/guts to pursue it or being so picky that you ultimately forfeit your chance to take the jump. Maybe one of the skills you must master is being ok with ambiguity and the ability to adapt.
Link: Extreme Lifestyle Experiments
Dr. Ivan Joseph: The Skill of Self Confidence
Dr. Ivan's presentation on Self Confidence was refreshing and perfect compliment to the previous talks I had watched. he really delved into what sort of attitude one needs in order to achieve this plan or goal in mind. He spoke also of the power of repetition. That with repetition comes the ability for the body to master the stress/anxiety that may arise. Like Dr. Richardson, through practicing and counteracting this new type of modern stress one is able to not merely survive but thrive. Through repetition an "environment of self confidence" is created from which your mind and psyche are well attuned. In addition, he also discussed the power of "self talk" and or the internal conversation one is having with oneself. Through reprogramming and empowering oneself through positive self talk one can rejuvenate and carry on even in the face of adversity or failure. He spoke being ok with not getting what you want....now but persisting towards one's goal. He went so far as to say he can accept failure but he cannot accept not trying.
Another application of this was motivating others and keeping their spirits high. I loved his phrase of "catching them when they're good" instead of merely criticizing and critiquing what they're doing wrong. Giving people the chance to come to their own conclusion of success and improvement is much more powerful than an external reprimand or even enforcement. The mortar to great plans is self confidence because "if you don't say it or believe in it no one will".
Link: The Skill of Self Confidence
Vik Nithy: Why we Procrastinate
Even though this was pitched to college students I believe the use of both physiological understanding and it's impact on mental processing was very well done. Within the brain there are two parts vying for control the limbic (play) vs. Pre-frontal lobe (work). It's through understanding this relationship that one can proactively counter procrastination. This is done through meta cognition (thinking about thinking) and establishing a plan that one can be productive. He says to plan: goals, time, resources, process, (for) distractions and (for) failures. I had known about the first 3 but never thought about the last 3. Through preemptive actions one can counteract future distractions and thus set yourself up for a better chance for success. Also by having a plan B you can react quickly to changes and remain in that state of "self confidence". I also think this spoke to what Apostle Paul wrote about: "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." - Romans 7:15. Even though this passage is in regard to sin, I believe procrastination is the modern day sin of sloth or laziness. This anatomical approach to procrastination also allows me to plan for the distractions and or failures in the future.
Link: Why we procrastinate
Adam Baker: Sell your crap. Pay your debt. Do what you love.
Out of all the Ted Talks that I had watched this one had received the most criticism from fellow Youtubers. Many spoke about how impractical this was or how impossible this was for people who had either amassed a large amount of debt (schooling) and or didn't have family/friends to support them. However, I think he was trying to get at something much deeper. Minimalism. It's not about having a bunch of things as security but rather freedom and agility and the ability to adapt and move quickly as one's treasures. He spoke of gathering experiences not money/physical wealth. Also he was clear that this was after some serious lifestyle changes and sacrifices was this dream able to come to fruition. I have never been really too tied down to things and or memorabilia because to be honest while I sit here and write this I honestly couldn't tell you where everything I own is. So if I don't know where it is how can I place so much value in it?
It was refreshing to see and hear about someone who had seen physical items not as security but as submission. I think having the option/ability to move is where one's wealth is. To set up somewhere new and do well and have the confidence and persistence to do well.
Link: Sell your crap. Pay your debt. Do what you love.
----
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