Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Dec
29
Rexaminning Priorities
0
I think I've finally found a hobby that is much more rewarding than certain other hobbies/interests of mine...
HDTV-- $1,500
Gibson SG Guitar- $1200
Digital SLR Camera- $1,500
Iphone- $300
New Ski’s- $500
Vs.
South Africa
Egypt
Italy
Nepal
Peru
HDTV-- $1,500
Gibson SG Guitar- $1200
Digital SLR Camera- $1,500
Iphone- $300
New Ski’s- $500
Vs.
South Africa
Egypt
Italy
Nepal
Peru
Dec
29
Destiny never came
0
I never believed in destiny or fate, however, after this past year, I almost fell for it. Sometimes it seems like it was all meant to be. Like everything was meant to unfold in perfect symmetry. I remind myself that this cohesiveness only holds true if we are observant of our surroundings. So much can pass by unnoticed. The dots aren't connected for us- we connect our own and assemble them whichever way we choose. A random universe; the world is set in motion independent of our own thoughts and actions.
Looking back, I’ve seen where other decisions would have taken me. I caught glimpses of what could have been. It’s like navigating through a series of mazes. With each turn, awaits your next move. Sometimes things turn out for the better, sometimes they don’t, but just know you are never trapped. Navigate with your mind's eye rather than a blind eye.
Looking back, I’ve seen where other decisions would have taken me. I caught glimpses of what could have been. It’s like navigating through a series of mazes. With each turn, awaits your next move. Sometimes things turn out for the better, sometimes they don’t, but just know you are never trapped. Navigate with your mind's eye rather than a blind eye.
Dec
29
Through my eyes
0
"He (man) adamantly refuses to acknowledge that within the immediate focus of vision is the source of revelation. In a rock, he sees nothing more than a rock, in a flower nothing more than a flower and in man nothing more than man...If the gate will not give way it must be forced. Nothing can dam the rising tide. And all the evidence points to the fact that the tide is rising. Let man make himself as secure as he imagines, the gate will give way."
I am struggling with the concept that everywhere and everyone is the same, yet no one person or place is similar.
Why hike in Australia when you can go hike in America? Why travel 20 hours to sit on an isolated beach in New Zealand when you can hop on a short flight to Mexico? I think this perspective is quite popular, especially in America. If you view each location as strictly activity based, (relaxing on a beach, the act of hiking itself), then yes, everywhere can be the same.
So what set locations apart? The first answer is obvious (and a bit boring), the difference is in geological features; sand, surf, location, size, etc. Australia's unique landscapes and ecosystems are entirely different than Mexico, or the Bahamas for instance.
The second answer, I would argue, are the experiences we attribute to each destination. From this perspective, a beach is not just a beach. Our feelings, social interactions and personal realizations; these are what separate beaches from beaches, mountains from mountains. This world is a blank slate. We leave mental footprints, wherever we journey to; our memories and experiences define and set locations apart. I can assure you I was a much different person on the beaches of Thailand, than I was standing on the coastline of Australia, taking it all in. Two extremely different mindsets.
It's the same way a photo is not just a photo. It’s how each individual person see’s the world through their own eyes. We all see something differently, despite experiencing and viewing the same thing. Different results will always be produced.
Journey, and journey far.
I am struggling with the concept that everywhere and everyone is the same, yet no one person or place is similar.
Why hike in Australia when you can go hike in America? Why travel 20 hours to sit on an isolated beach in New Zealand when you can hop on a short flight to Mexico? I think this perspective is quite popular, especially in America. If you view each location as strictly activity based, (relaxing on a beach, the act of hiking itself), then yes, everywhere can be the same.
So what set locations apart? The first answer is obvious (and a bit boring), the difference is in geological features; sand, surf, location, size, etc. Australia's unique landscapes and ecosystems are entirely different than Mexico, or the Bahamas for instance.
The second answer, I would argue, are the experiences we attribute to each destination. From this perspective, a beach is not just a beach. Our feelings, social interactions and personal realizations; these are what separate beaches from beaches, mountains from mountains. This world is a blank slate. We leave mental footprints, wherever we journey to; our memories and experiences define and set locations apart. I can assure you I was a much different person on the beaches of Thailand, than I was standing on the coastline of Australia, taking it all in. Two extremely different mindsets.
It's the same way a photo is not just a photo. It’s how each individual person see’s the world through their own eyes. We all see something differently, despite experiencing and viewing the same thing. Different results will always be produced.
Journey, and journey far.
Dec
29
We called it America
0
“You aren’t an American until you leave America.”
A wonderful quote by Henry Rollins. He penned this in his tour journal when he was touring the UK in the 80’s. As Americans, how do we know how the rest of the world views us, if we never leave our own country?
By spending time abroad and interacting with other culture's, you truly see how American’s are viewed by the rest of the world, both negatively and positively. Whether it's having conversations in hostels with Europeans, or going out to meet the locals in Brazil, Thailand or Japan, there is always something new to learn about your country, from a foreigners perspective.
A wonderful quote by Henry Rollins. He penned this in his tour journal when he was touring the UK in the 80’s. As Americans, how do we know how the rest of the world views us, if we never leave our own country?
By spending time abroad and interacting with other culture's, you truly see how American’s are viewed by the rest of the world, both negatively and positively. Whether it's having conversations in hostels with Europeans, or going out to meet the locals in Brazil, Thailand or Japan, there is always something new to learn about your country, from a foreigners perspective.
Dec
29
We fell in love with familiarity
0
"There are several sort of ills in the world from which a person can never escape altogether, let him journey as far as he will. One escapes from one breed of an ill only to encounter another breed of it"--Mark Twain
This got me thinking, where do the majority of our problems come from? Are most societal? Is it through the pursuit of a desired lifestyle that causes our stress? Do we simply want because we are taught to want? A big home (plus a vacation home), a luxury vehicle, lavish vacations, the latest gadgets, big salaries, etc. As our salaries increase, so do our lifestyles, rather than our savings accounts. How often do we judge ourselves against our family, friends and neighbors? Is life one big race? A race even worth participating in?
I often wonder, those who have the least have the most. After visiting New Zealand’s south island, I was nearly convinced. This middle aged man, originally from London, cut my hair one afternoon in the small town of Nelson. He lives simply and gets by running a barber shop. He fishes every weekend and enjoys life amongst nature. He spoke about how he could have had a chain of barber shops in London or even Auckland; An educated man far from ambitionless, yet a man who simply had other desires than material success.
I thought to myself, how great it would be to be free from America’s grasp. How nice it must be to live in an area that is not full of pretension, so hell bent on status, such as New York City. How nice it must be to be surrounded by people who aren’t jaded by other human beings. An open society that isn't so obsessed by class structure . A place that boasts low instances of corruption and even lower instances of crime. Four million people spread out over two islands-- Breathing room. More wildlife than humans. No traffic means less congestion, which means less stress. People who are genuine, kind for the sake of kindness. On the surface, it seems that New Zealand's south island is unspoiled by man, or at least, not as spoiled like other areas of the world.
Undoubtedly, the quality of life is much greater in New Zealand and Australia, but at what cost? Many people find the cost of living very expensive compared to the average wages. Limited job opportunities. A lack of overall convenience and flexibility (towns shut down at 5pm). The weather can be extremely unpredictable and the chance of natural disasters high. It's safe to say, everywhere as it's downsides.
How about those looking to relocate because they are running from themselves? Nowhere in the world will help you deal with skeleton's in the closet; jealousy, hatred, depression, addiction, loneliness. All of us have a past. Vices follow. Know and free yourself before searching for a suitable lifestyle. At least that's what I tell myself. I do believe that paradise can be anywhere you make it out to be. It's a state of mind. We can't escape ourselves nor man, but we can find that ideal place that we've been searching for when the time is right.
This got me thinking, where do the majority of our problems come from? Are most societal? Is it through the pursuit of a desired lifestyle that causes our stress? Do we simply want because we are taught to want? A big home (plus a vacation home), a luxury vehicle, lavish vacations, the latest gadgets, big salaries, etc. As our salaries increase, so do our lifestyles, rather than our savings accounts. How often do we judge ourselves against our family, friends and neighbors? Is life one big race? A race even worth participating in?
I often wonder, those who have the least have the most. After visiting New Zealand’s south island, I was nearly convinced. This middle aged man, originally from London, cut my hair one afternoon in the small town of Nelson. He lives simply and gets by running a barber shop. He fishes every weekend and enjoys life amongst nature. He spoke about how he could have had a chain of barber shops in London or even Auckland; An educated man far from ambitionless, yet a man who simply had other desires than material success.
I thought to myself, how great it would be to be free from America’s grasp. How nice it must be to live in an area that is not full of pretension, so hell bent on status, such as New York City. How nice it must be to be surrounded by people who aren’t jaded by other human beings. An open society that isn't so obsessed by class structure . A place that boasts low instances of corruption and even lower instances of crime. Four million people spread out over two islands-- Breathing room. More wildlife than humans. No traffic means less congestion, which means less stress. People who are genuine, kind for the sake of kindness. On the surface, it seems that New Zealand's south island is unspoiled by man, or at least, not as spoiled like other areas of the world.
Undoubtedly, the quality of life is much greater in New Zealand and Australia, but at what cost? Many people find the cost of living very expensive compared to the average wages. Limited job opportunities. A lack of overall convenience and flexibility (towns shut down at 5pm). The weather can be extremely unpredictable and the chance of natural disasters high. It's safe to say, everywhere as it's downsides.
How about those looking to relocate because they are running from themselves? Nowhere in the world will help you deal with skeleton's in the closet; jealousy, hatred, depression, addiction, loneliness. All of us have a past. Vices follow. Know and free yourself before searching for a suitable lifestyle. At least that's what I tell myself. I do believe that paradise can be anywhere you make it out to be. It's a state of mind. We can't escape ourselves nor man, but we can find that ideal place that we've been searching for when the time is right.
Dec
29
Give in
0
“Harmony, serenity , bliss do not come from struggle but from surrender.”--Henry Miller
This hit me like a brick while I was reading Miller in Melbourne.
Previously, I had believed that the only way someone can affect your life, romantically, is through a long term relationship, however, after this year, I am beginning to see things a bit differently.
Think about it-- We spend so much time agonizing over someone who ultimately plays into such a small part of our lives. What is 6 months with someone compared to another 600 months on this planet? I believe life to be long and grand, yet we spend days, months and sometimes years fixated on a former love, who is but a mere page in a much longer book.
The fact that someone you’ve known for just a few weeks can affect your life so profoundly is truly a wonder. It'd be foolish to call it love. Infatuation, maybe. Or perhaps, it's simply recognizing the long term potential of someone you spent such a small amount of time with.
We must also be aware of our subconscious, as we often try to fill voids. Sometimes, I think when we are feeling a bit lonely, we default back to a previous love; a safety net, "Maybe this person was the one after all." As my good friend once said, “everyone is the one”. Then, conveniently, we meet someone new and our default love who was supposedly 'the one' slowly fades back into our past. After all, do most of us just want a warm body? Do we crave affection more than the desire to be understood? Is all we care about comfort?
This hit me like a brick while I was reading Miller in Melbourne.
Previously, I had believed that the only way someone can affect your life, romantically, is through a long term relationship, however, after this year, I am beginning to see things a bit differently.
Think about it-- We spend so much time agonizing over someone who ultimately plays into such a small part of our lives. What is 6 months with someone compared to another 600 months on this planet? I believe life to be long and grand, yet we spend days, months and sometimes years fixated on a former love, who is but a mere page in a much longer book.
The fact that someone you’ve known for just a few weeks can affect your life so profoundly is truly a wonder. It'd be foolish to call it love. Infatuation, maybe. Or perhaps, it's simply recognizing the long term potential of someone you spent such a small amount of time with.
We must also be aware of our subconscious, as we often try to fill voids. Sometimes, I think when we are feeling a bit lonely, we default back to a previous love; a safety net, "Maybe this person was the one after all." As my good friend once said, “everyone is the one”. Then, conveniently, we meet someone new and our default love who was supposedly 'the one' slowly fades back into our past. After all, do most of us just want a warm body? Do we crave affection more than the desire to be understood? Is all we care about comfort?
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