I'm not waiting anymore.

What we want we must create
What we risk will be regained
What we’d assume we must forsake
What’s been destroyed can be replaced--Trial

The world will fail us if we give it a chance. The longer we spend being led, the more we forget how to lead. Whatever you want out of life you need to create for yourself, rather than sitting around waiting for a life that's passed you by.

This quote also serves as a reminder to me that nothing in life is permanent. Everyone can relate to feeling trapped during certain periods of their life. Most times we act as if we don't have a choice in the matter; "I can't do this and I can't do that..." Well, yes you can, you are just afraid too. There is always a choice to be made. Sometimes that choice may not be the most convenient or easiest decision to make but there is always a way out. Sometimes we just need to make that leap of faith.

As I enter the second quarter of my life and inch towards my thirties, my friend and I have made the conscious decision to make a new film. We are looking to shoot the film for $200-500k. Investors are the only variable in the equation. We don't know how long it'll take to raise money for the film, if we can at all. Essentially, I will putting my life on hold for two to three years. It's comforting to know, however, that whatever I risk materially (money, career/salary, etc) can always be regained over the course of my life. As they say, nothing risked and nothing gained...

There is not one truth cast into stone.

Ironically, with everything I have written thus far, I have avoided writing about organized religion...until now. I've chosen to stay clear of religion for a few reasons; first, I'd be able to write a whole book on the subject. There is simply too much to dissect, I'd be writing for ages. Secondly, I already know what I believe (some ideas I have expressed in earlier posts), however, I have no interest in deconstructing organized religion just for the sake of it.

So what inspired this post? A friend of mine sent me a conversation between two middle aged female co-workers (apparently these women always leave their IM conversations open for him to read when he's at their computer doing work). The bigotry, ignorance and hatred expressed in their conversation was appalling. And yet, both these women claim to follow God's teachings.

I'll say this: It's important to learn how think rather than what to think. The experience of truth comes from one's own mind. I tend to stay clear of propaganda that's presented in the guise of literature. That is, any book that offers an answer, I avoid. I am more interested in ideas that encourage free-thought. Similarly, any thoughts expressed in this blog are not meant to be taken as truth, just opinion. What works for me, may not work for you.

There is an old Zen Koan (a story, dialogue, question, or statement) that states, “If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him.” Simply put, there is no need to depend upon, objectify or revere external figures. To worship is to misunderstand.

No one has the answer for you. Find your own truth. The fact there are people in this world who claim to know what happens when you die is frightening. What's even more troublesome is that people present their findings as truth, rather than opinion. Personal beliefs should be just that, personal. Once beliefs start becoming imposed on others, you cross a dangerous line. Everyone is searching for something. There are bound to be those who will exploit insecurities by offering a prepackaged ideology, free from original thought.

"Religion is dangerous, because it allows human beings who don't have all the answers, to think that they do..."--Bill Maher

I ain't changed but I know I ain't the same

Do I contradict myself?
Very well then I contradict myself,
(I am large, I contain multitudes.) --Walt Whitman

As we grow as people, so should our relationships with our friends. I often fear though, that sometimes this is not always the case. I think that this is in part due to the fact that we often categorize and compartmentalize our friendships based on single personality traits (the funny one, the crazy one, etc). This essentially limits the growth of our friendships as we tend to develop a perceived personality set for each of our friends. It's always important to approach and view our friends from a different perspective; this helps to reflect the person they are now and not the person they were 10 years ago.

As humans, we are capable of every possible emotion. No person has just one side (or even two sides). Similarly, how accurate is it when we are asked to describe our personality to someone else? Relationships are reactionary. Look at it from this perspective, someone who is extremely opinionated has described me as not being opinionated at all, whereas, someone who is not as opinionated has described me as being extremely opinionated. My world view and morals are steadfast, however, the dynamics in each of my individual relationships vary greatly from person to person.

Developing new relationships provide a mirror into who we currently are. It's nice to meet someone who reflects your current state of mind and outlook on life. With everyone that I have met this year, I can see that I've grown a great deal since the beginning of the year and I must say it feels good.

Cidade Maravilhosa

"Once a journey is designed, equipped, and put in process; a new factor enters and takes over. A trip, a safari, an exploration, is an entity, different from all other journeys. It has personality, temperament, individuality, uniqueness. A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless. We find after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us."--John Steinbeck



On the first day of every trip I have taken this year I always find myself asking the question, "What the fuck am I doing?". So when I found myself sitting alone at Newark Airport on Sunday night May 21st, I found myself asking the same exact question as my previous trips; "What the fuck am I doing?". This time however, I took comfort in my uncertainty as I realized that whenever I ask myself this question, all of my experiences in life have been extremely rewarding.

I think the single traveler is very misunderstood in America. If you mention to most Americans that you are traveling to a foreign country by yourself, you often get a look of pity in return. I think the visual that comes to mind is that of someone sitting in their hotel room by themselves, lonesome and friendless.

Indeed, traveling by yourself is extremely different than traveling abroad with a friend. They are two entirely different experiences, both with it's advantages and disadvantages. I am grateful that I've had the opportunity to experience both. I think that the most exciting aspect of traveling alone is the fact that you do not know who you are going to meet (if anyone) or who you will be spending time with on a day to day basis.

My first South America experience was absolutely amazing. I met some of the most genuine, unpretentious travelers in my life (Brazilian locals included). Staying in a hostel and interacting with other travelers is always hit or miss, as I've found in my travels to Asia. I also learned a great deal from other travelers; about their own cultures to their experiences in other South American countries. As Steinbeck stated, no two journeys are alike as each individual is able to offer their own insight and experience. Perhaps one of my favorite things to do is sit at a table with people from all over the world discussing different cultures and countries.

This trip has again opened my eyes to the fact that there are people in this world who have a complete disregard for 'social timeliness' and are living alternative lifestyles. If it feels right, go out and do it. There is an amazing amount of people in this world who are out there living their dreams instead of just talking about them. I think everyone I met is a testament to the fact that you can really do whatever you want in life. There really is nothing holding you back (aside from yourself). If you really want something, you'll find a way to pursue it.

What's more interesting is American's perceived notions of peace and security in the rest of the world. In my experiences, it seems that most people make the world out to be much more dangerous and unsafe than it really is. The media doesn't help either, as everything tends to be over sensationalized. For instance, if you mention to anyone in America that you are traveling to Medellin, Columbia they'd think that you are out of your mind. Speaking with many people who have traveled to Columbia, it is one of the safest countries to visit. I do admit that I was more cautious to travel to South America than Asia, but that was in part due to hearsay. Yes, it'd be naive to assume that everywhere in the world is safe, but the reality is, if you travel smart odds are you'll be fine. Things are often not what they seem.

With that said, if I had one word to describe Rio de Janeiro, Brazil it would be "flavor". If I had a few more words, it would be, 'full of life'. It really is like no other city on earth. An urban city encapsulated by nature.

From Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

From Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

From Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

From Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

From Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

From Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

From Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

From Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

From Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

From Rio de Janeiro, Brazil