Eight easy steps

They say that the Danish are the most happiest in the world. Hmmmm Denmark? Home to our favorite breakfast pastry, Vikings and (most importantly) LEGO bricks, Denmark has been voted the happiest place on Earth.

Most of us aren't Danish, or even know where it is on a map but we can enjoy life, one sweet short step at a time.

Step 1: Back away from your computer for the rest of the day. Yes, I know its hard. Yes, I know that you've been next to your mac since 1998, but times have changed. As soon as you finish reading this, GO! Go out to the "outdoors" or if you live in a cold-weather climate, your neighborhood WAL-MART.

Step 2: Find something that you like to do. It might eccentric and original, or it might just be as plan vanilla as making ice cream in one of those incredibly hard to use ice cream machines imported from Europe. Savor the freedom.

Step 3: Stop worrying about material goods. Think about it; how would life change with a million dollars. Now live that life (sans the money). If you wanted to go volunteer, then volunteer. If you would go skydive, go skydive. Think about the non-material goals that you want to reach for.

Step 4: Make a goal book. I'm serious. Write down your goals, and write down your progress. Write everything relating to your goal, even the setbacks.

Step 5: Take things more slowly. We're too busy. I seem to almost collide to everyone in the hallway. If you're a klutz at life, slow down. Society thanks you. The world would be a better place if people would spend another three seconds (gasp) to hold the door for the person behind you.

Step 6: Get some sleep. Overstressed and overworked people don't suddenly find energy (not unless you count Red Bull). Get some sleep. More than eight hours means you don't have people asking where were you last night, first thing in the morning.

Step 7: Start living life. Life is flowing all around us; get in it. Get involved! Be the guy that everyone wants to stop and talk to, even if its mudane matters such as the weather.

Step 8: Focus on the big things. Hey change takes time! In our society, anything can happen. The sky is the limit. Do you want to go to Harvard? I can see you walking among those Ivy-covered buildings. Actor? I see your name on Broadway. Dream big, like you can fly.

Eight easy steps on living life.
Eight easy steps.

The Pursuit of Perfection

Welcome to life. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. Around and around we go, rushing from place to place, living life in the fast lane. Speedwalking past hallways, rushing around the kitchen, furiously writing down notes. All in a futile pursuit; the pursuit of perfection.

Its all around us, its engrained in our society. The hope for a better future, the hope for a better live drives us to the edge of reason. The American Dream can be fufilled at a human cost. A cost that cannot be reflected in black or white, but simply in shades of gray. How much suffering has come from the pursuit of perfection? Why do we spend our lives constantly chasing life, instead of living it?

A new start

Alas...it has been a while since the last time I wrote on this blog, this collection of musings far and wide. And its time to announce an ambitious New Years Revolution. I pledge to write at least three times a week, every week in 2008. I look foward to continue to write fresh, informative pieces of writing for the world to enjoy. Its time for a new start.

Life in these halls

Welcome to High School. Another four years to look foward to. This is the start of a brand new life.

Life in these halls. People rushing by, trying to get to their second block car, faster than a car roaring down the blue route. Love flowing, hugs and kisses fill the atmosphere of our fast paced lives, a place with nothing concerning PDA. "Hey", "Whats up?", "Yo!", greeting you every 100 meters. High fives, hand shakes, body slams, every form of non verbal communcation coming to you from every direction. And then you realize this is high school; there are life in these halls.

How is it going to school with 1400 of your fellow teenager peers. We have our ups, our downs, our good days and bad days, and days where we want to just collapse on the bed, and listen to music. And this is our life.

Class. Another lecture, another worksheet, another lab, another test. Remind yourself to go with the flow, even if its good or bad. No time to worry; too much on mind

The bell rings. Its the end of the day. You have just survived another day of class. Oh, but no, your day is not complete. How could it be after seven short hours. No must trudge along to fifth block.

Orchestra. The sound of beautiful music fills the room. Charasmatic leader at front; passion in his eyes and his heart. We play, we play harder and better, yet it is not good enough. We can only be better.

Ring. The bell tolls once more. Some of us, leave to catch the bus, relieved that their day is over. Not for the rest of us.

Practice: "Its only six miles up to Smedley Park". You laugh with your fellow teammates at another grueling day of hard, physical torture, yet you seem to love this time of day. Running free; free of everything; running for yourself; running for the world. 'Tis wonderful thing to be free.

Ring. Your day is over? Or has it just begun?

Life in these halls.

Welcome back to Life

As most of you know, million of (eager...or not) school children, have flooded back to school over the last week. And I was one of them.

It has a been a quiet summer. A summer full of moments, some memorable, some that I want to get out of my memory. It is the quiet tranquil lull in a life before the storm we call freshmen year. And now its over. And life begins once more.

Another year of waking up at the crack of dawn, another year of running until dusk, another year of friends and fun, another year of life. What is school? Sure, it is a place where we go to learn, and thats why they make us go, but is it something more than that? Its a place where you find lifelong friendships, its the place where your heart has soared and broken, it is a place that helps define who you are as a individual.

What does this all mean? Are we any closer to finding who we are? Only time will tell.

Into the sunset....

Today I am leaving for a much needed break to Ocean City...it will be nice to just to kick my feet into the sand and just have a little relaxation. Summer is finally here, full of beautiful days of pure sunshine and good memories.

After my short break to the beach, I will be leaving for CTY (John Hopkins Center of Talented Youth) for three weeks. It is simply the highlight of my summer, enjoying quality time with my friends at the campus of Franklin & Marshall. It is where I learned to live life, because life is simply too short.

Au revoir...........into the sunset....

It's all over

I started the wonderful journey of middle school, four years ago.....when I was just a little fifth grader, full of dreams about what would this part of my life be like. I have had the most wonderful and craziest four years of my life. Only in middle school can we really first start growing up...and learning how to live life.

I remember every single problem we deal with during these years that we're not quite sure what to do. We can only live and forget. There's been so many highs and lows in the last four years...it can't be explained in words alone.

If there was only one thing I learned it is this: Be yourself. This is the undeniable truth about humanity; about life. Know where you came from...and more importantly know where you're going. You can't forget your roots, your family, your friends. They are what really matter in life.

And you have to know where you going...you can't drift through life; I learned this lesson too in middle school. We have so many dreams; so many ambitions....and we should never let them go. Nothing is impossible.

And now it's all over. This chapter of my life has closed for good. I'll never forget this experience they call "middle school". We can only look to the future.

Intelligence isn't everything

Is Intelligence everything?

I see the answer everyday...in forms of whispers...and in the form of subtle discrimination and prejudice.....

These so called "smart people" had for the most, a terrible childhood. Maybe it's because I never felt the pain of the world , when I was so young, maybe that is why I still trust humanity. But for some of them, the elementary school years were a painful and rocky time for them. Children do not understand sometimes, and they felt frustrated.

When they got to middle school, and for the first time we see academic segreagation. They put the brightest in one classroom and the "normal" in the other. They start to snicker when they hear a "stupid" response, or a question that they believe can be obviously answered.

They might grow up; might grow up to be our brightest. But something that has taken me a long time to figure out; intelligence is nothing. These "smart" people have been through so much that they take it out on the rest of us.

I might be considered smart; but I never will be one of them. I'll stand up and die for ethics; for what is good in this world. Maybe they don't realize but if we don't stand up for what we believe in, then what is this world good for.

I would take someone with a heart and a curious mind to someone who could fill in the bubbles and get a great test score. We live in this new era of humanity; our relationships with one another will only become stronger.

Maybe I'm just a compassionate person. But I will stand up for everyone else; because they have stood up for me. My fellow Americans, have protected our rights, they have died for them. They are the teachers; the policemen; the brave men and women in uniform. They are America. I'm sure all of us have said something embarassing; something akwardly worded.

Intelligence isn't everything. If it is, what is the purpose of life?