When the cold hits your face,
when the glow of the soft, twinkling lights compel your eyes to stare,
and the distant sounds of traffic soothe some melancholy mood,
Loneliness becomes a companion
who conjures up remembered feelings of warmth from nights long passed.
Time - for this moment - spiteful and biting - is a soreness that pains a contemplating mind.
Even darkness, and the night, seem kinder when sweet dreams and fond memories cry out to be left behind.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Gods and Ghosts
I remember the first time I had a real debate about religion.
I was in high school and was home, online, in an AOL chat room with some of my friends - one of whom was a devout Baptist.
I remember feeling rather strongly about arguing for logic and science and what I believed to be common sense, while he was more focused on his beliefs that were acquired through years of church activities and religious teachings.
I stood by my seemingly bullet-proof claim that the Bible and stories of Jesus and the like were all just extravagant tales written by men who had no connection to God. I distinctly recall saying how aliens from another planet could've landed here thousands of years ago and planted these beliefs, and there's just as much "proof" to support that happening as there is to support the elaborate stories of Jesus found in the Bible.
Fast forward a little over a decade later and I still have pretty much the same view on the topic.
(I have a love of logic. So sue me!)
Movies such as this one below further that belief:
Though not 100% accurate, Zeitgeist shows what I believe to be much more of a factual explanation of the origins of Jesus and Christianity.
However, it's only in recent years that I've come to the enlightened conclusion that arguing about the accuracy of religion by using logic is utterly pointless.
No one can ever truly prove or disprove the stories in the Bible or the Koran or the Torah, etc.
But, not only is an argument about the validity of these stories one you can't win, but it's also one that isn't really worth having at all.
Let's be realistic - The whole reason for the existence of religion is to give people some sense of hope and purpose in their lives.
It's goals are to teach goodness, which will ideally lead to happy people in happy societies. So in the end, any reasonable person will realize that nobody wants to be the one to try and discredit anything meant to spread happiness and goodness.
So whether you can put your faith in these ideals or not, it's purpose is what's really important.
Similarly, I've also adopted a deeper understanding of the concept of ghosts.
Since I love logic, you can probably understand that I am skeptical of the notion of spirits and hauntings, etc. I can't watch any of the Ghost Hunter shows without thinking that anyone who claims to "experience" something is just another person who has succumbed to the power of suggestion.
But after thinking about it, the real answer seems almost too obvious:
People believe in God for the same reason they believe in ghosts -- the prospect of something after death!
What a great relief it must be to believe that we aren't just clumps of cells that live and die and decompose in a mundane scientific cycle, but instead, we are all unique souls that live on in a beautiful world that we can never truly explain or understand.
May God bless you all.
I was in high school and was home, online, in an AOL chat room with some of my friends - one of whom was a devout Baptist.
I remember feeling rather strongly about arguing for logic and science and what I believed to be common sense, while he was more focused on his beliefs that were acquired through years of church activities and religious teachings.
I stood by my seemingly bullet-proof claim that the Bible and stories of Jesus and the like were all just extravagant tales written by men who had no connection to God. I distinctly recall saying how aliens from another planet could've landed here thousands of years ago and planted these beliefs, and there's just as much "proof" to support that happening as there is to support the elaborate stories of Jesus found in the Bible.
Fast forward a little over a decade later and I still have pretty much the same view on the topic.
(I have a love of logic. So sue me!)
Movies such as this one below further that belief:
Though not 100% accurate, Zeitgeist shows what I believe to be much more of a factual explanation of the origins of Jesus and Christianity.
However, it's only in recent years that I've come to the enlightened conclusion that arguing about the accuracy of religion by using logic is utterly pointless.
No one can ever truly prove or disprove the stories in the Bible or the Koran or the Torah, etc.
But, not only is an argument about the validity of these stories one you can't win, but it's also one that isn't really worth having at all.
Let's be realistic - The whole reason for the existence of religion is to give people some sense of hope and purpose in their lives.
It's goals are to teach goodness, which will ideally lead to happy people in happy societies. So in the end, any reasonable person will realize that nobody wants to be the one to try and discredit anything meant to spread happiness and goodness.
So whether you can put your faith in these ideals or not, it's purpose is what's really important.
Similarly, I've also adopted a deeper understanding of the concept of ghosts.
Since I love logic, you can probably understand that I am skeptical of the notion of spirits and hauntings, etc. I can't watch any of the Ghost Hunter shows without thinking that anyone who claims to "experience" something is just another person who has succumbed to the power of suggestion.
But after thinking about it, the real answer seems almost too obvious:
People believe in God for the same reason they believe in ghosts -- the prospect of something after death!
What a great relief it must be to believe that we aren't just clumps of cells that live and die and decompose in a mundane scientific cycle, but instead, we are all unique souls that live on in a beautiful world that we can never truly explain or understand.
May God bless you all.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Live the Moment
I thought about death.
I thought about losing someone close to me.
I thought about something unexpected happening that dramatically changed my life forever, and wondered how I’d feel and how I’d react.
I stopped and tried to envision how my outlook of life would change and what paths I’d choose to go down afterward.
The only problem with thinking so deeply like that about the future, is that it inevitably brings you back to thinking about the present and where you stand at this moment.
It's cliché, but life is short.
A long, hard look at the bigger picture almost always enlightens you to the fact that there's no good reason to sit around and wait for what you want to come to you.
You can't wait for life to come knocking at your door or just fall into your lap.
Living well is not something you can do passively.
Let that be your mantra and I sincerely believe amazing things will happen.
"You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear. Do it! Develop an appreciation for the present moment. Seize every second of your life and savor it!"
--Wayne Dyer
RIP Rik T.
I thought about losing someone close to me.
I thought about something unexpected happening that dramatically changed my life forever, and wondered how I’d feel and how I’d react.
I stopped and tried to envision how my outlook of life would change and what paths I’d choose to go down afterward.
The only problem with thinking so deeply like that about the future, is that it inevitably brings you back to thinking about the present and where you stand at this moment.
It's cliché, but life is short.
A long, hard look at the bigger picture almost always enlightens you to the fact that there's no good reason to sit around and wait for what you want to come to you.
You can't wait for life to come knocking at your door or just fall into your lap.
Living well is not something you can do passively.
Let that be your mantra and I sincerely believe amazing things will happen.
"You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear. Do it! Develop an appreciation for the present moment. Seize every second of your life and savor it!"
--Wayne Dyer
RIP Rik T.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Who Are you?
It's February.
If you had any New Year's resolutions and managed to keep them 'til now, GOOD JOB.
Research shows that it takes 21 days/times to make something a habit.
So if you've made it this far, DON'T FUCK IT UP!!!
:-)
So here we are - a little over a month into 2010 and what have I got to show for it?
Well, I did spend a week in Puerto Rico, trekking through the rain forest, touring the Bacardi distillery and exploring Old San Juan.
I'm also getting over a really rad strep throat.
AWESOME!!
But I'm a man focused on progress this year, and like my last post made clear, becoming a better person should be a consistent, never-ending battle in many aspects.
....such as fitness.
Here is a blog post from one of my favorite training authorities.
My favorite quote from it: "If you are too stupid to realize that regular exercise and a healthy diet is a necessary part of life I’m not going to waste my time telling you. Get on some prescription drugs, order a sausage pizza and watch another episode of Friends."
YESSSSS!!
Beautifully said!
Motivation has to come from WITHIN, people!
You also have to discover your own drive and determination to achieve any kind of goals - fitness or otherwise- that you truly desire.
Like Jason says, "You either want to do something or you don't"
I have people coming to me for fitness and nutrition advice, and they seem disappointed when they ask me how they can get a six-pack or lose arm fat and I say they need to change their diet.
Not to call anyone out, but I'll never forget a certain someone who said she'd rather double her time on the treadmill than give up the 5 spoonfuls of sugar in her cereal or stop eating rice with every meal.
Well guess what............
"You either want to do something or you don't"
NOTHING worth achieving comes easily - including a healthy body.
If you ask me for advice, I will ask you what your goals are and I WILL offer you a genuine, heartfelt opinion that I think will help you.
I WILL NOT tell you about some secret, all-powerful exercise or supplement or piece of equipment that will transform your life, because none exists.
But this isn't just a fitness rant, it's a lifestyle rant.
A friend recently shared with me this NY Times article about an intense research study that revealed the power of social circles.
Your close friends, not-so-close friends, and even your friends' friends, can have a dramatic effect on whether you're happy, addicted to something, fit, overweight, etc.
If this isn't a wake-up call to reevaluate the people in your life, I don't know what is.
Hanging out with guys who drink 4-5 beers or sodas a day or eat a large bag of Doritos with their lunch will prevent you from getting that leaner body you say you want.
Likewise, accompanying your buddies on a smoke break will hurt your chances of quitting.
But spending time with that healthy friend with similar goals WILL help you dramatically!
Energy is contagious!
Use it to your advantage!
Here's hoping you may you find positive people to help you with your goals.
Best of luck.
If you had any New Year's resolutions and managed to keep them 'til now, GOOD JOB.
Research shows that it takes 21 days/times to make something a habit.
So if you've made it this far, DON'T FUCK IT UP!!!
:-)
So here we are - a little over a month into 2010 and what have I got to show for it?
Well, I did spend a week in Puerto Rico, trekking through the rain forest, touring the Bacardi distillery and exploring Old San Juan.
I'm also getting over a really rad strep throat.
AWESOME!!
But I'm a man focused on progress this year, and like my last post made clear, becoming a better person should be a consistent, never-ending battle in many aspects.
....such as fitness.
Here is a blog post from one of my favorite training authorities.
My favorite quote from it: "If you are too stupid to realize that regular exercise and a healthy diet is a necessary part of life I’m not going to waste my time telling you. Get on some prescription drugs, order a sausage pizza and watch another episode of Friends."
YESSSSS!!
Beautifully said!
Motivation has to come from WITHIN, people!
You also have to discover your own drive and determination to achieve any kind of goals - fitness or otherwise- that you truly desire.
Like Jason says, "You either want to do something or you don't"
I have people coming to me for fitness and nutrition advice, and they seem disappointed when they ask me how they can get a six-pack or lose arm fat and I say they need to change their diet.
Not to call anyone out, but I'll never forget a certain someone who said she'd rather double her time on the treadmill than give up the 5 spoonfuls of sugar in her cereal or stop eating rice with every meal.
Well guess what............
"You either want to do something or you don't"
NOTHING worth achieving comes easily - including a healthy body.
If you ask me for advice, I will ask you what your goals are and I WILL offer you a genuine, heartfelt opinion that I think will help you.
I WILL NOT tell you about some secret, all-powerful exercise or supplement or piece of equipment that will transform your life, because none exists.
But this isn't just a fitness rant, it's a lifestyle rant.
A friend recently shared with me this NY Times article about an intense research study that revealed the power of social circles.
Your close friends, not-so-close friends, and even your friends' friends, can have a dramatic effect on whether you're happy, addicted to something, fit, overweight, etc.
If this isn't a wake-up call to reevaluate the people in your life, I don't know what is.
Hanging out with guys who drink 4-5 beers or sodas a day or eat a large bag of Doritos with their lunch will prevent you from getting that leaner body you say you want.
Likewise, accompanying your buddies on a smoke break will hurt your chances of quitting.
But spending time with that healthy friend with similar goals WILL help you dramatically!
Energy is contagious!
Use it to your advantage!
Here's hoping you may you find positive people to help you with your goals.
Best of luck.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Inspiration for 2010
Everyone greets the changing of the year with different emotions and sentiments.
Some are anxious to be done with a period of time that may have brought them great pain and bad memories, while others simply try to look forward to a new year with great inspiration to pursue life goals and other important changes.
Much like birthdays, celebrations of the passing of time can occasionally bring with them bittersweet reminders of things we'd rather forget. In these cases, it's always better to make sure we make the most of these tough experiences by learning what we can from them, and then never looking back. Only by looking forward and moving onward can you continue to become a better person and obtain your goals.
While '09 definitely had it's share of good times and everlasting memories, it also held more than its share of discontent that I'd rather forget about.
So now - in a new year and new decade - I look forward to 2010 with great optimism and confidence.
One of my many goals for the year ahead is to continue my pursuit of making myself a better man.
To paraphrase something I read in a magazine recently, I want to be the ideal man for our times.
A guy who's got it all together, in both body and mind.
I will continue my journey to be both ruggedly powerful and supremely confident, and capable of taking on whatever comes out of those gates (....to borrow a line from Gladiator).
I will not just look manly and heroic, but feel and act manly and heroic.
I will show that I can be a protector, a provider, and a take-charge kind of guy with a heart.
I will continue to be the best man I'm capable of being.
As for everyone else - Whatever your goals are, I hope you have the patience, wisdom, courage, and tenacity to achieve them.
Need some motivation?
Here are some quotes from my collection that I believe hold bits of priceless wisdom.
Enjoy.
"When we are motivated by goals that have deep meaning, by dreams that need completion, by pure love that needs expressing, then we truly live life."
Some are anxious to be done with a period of time that may have brought them great pain and bad memories, while others simply try to look forward to a new year with great inspiration to pursue life goals and other important changes.
Much like birthdays, celebrations of the passing of time can occasionally bring with them bittersweet reminders of things we'd rather forget. In these cases, it's always better to make sure we make the most of these tough experiences by learning what we can from them, and then never looking back. Only by looking forward and moving onward can you continue to become a better person and obtain your goals.
While '09 definitely had it's share of good times and everlasting memories, it also held more than its share of discontent that I'd rather forget about.
So now - in a new year and new decade - I look forward to 2010 with great optimism and confidence.
One of my many goals for the year ahead is to continue my pursuit of making myself a better man.
To paraphrase something I read in a magazine recently, I want to be the ideal man for our times.
A guy who's got it all together, in both body and mind.
I will continue my journey to be both ruggedly powerful and supremely confident, and capable of taking on whatever comes out of those gates (....to borrow a line from Gladiator).
I will not just look manly and heroic, but feel and act manly and heroic.
I will show that I can be a protector, a provider, and a take-charge kind of guy with a heart.
I will continue to be the best man I'm capable of being.
As for everyone else - Whatever your goals are, I hope you have the patience, wisdom, courage, and tenacity to achieve them.
Need some motivation?
Here are some quotes from my collection that I believe hold bits of priceless wisdom.
Enjoy.
"When we are motivated by goals that have deep meaning, by dreams that need completion, by pure love that needs expressing, then we truly live life."
- Greg Anderson
"If a man does his best, what else is there?"
- General George S. Patton
"I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have."
- Thomas Jefferson
"Patience has its limits. Take it too far, and it's cowardice."
- George Jackson
"If you are clear where you are going and you take several steps in that direction every day, you eventually have to get there. So decide what you want, write it down, review it constantly, and each day do something that moves you toward those goals."
- Jack Canfield
"What you need to know about the past is that no matter what happened, it has all worked together to bring you to this moment. And this is the moment you can choose to make everything new."
- Author Unknown
"Look not mournfully into the past. It comes not back again. Wisely improve the present. It is thine. Go forth to meet the shadowy future, without fear."
"If a man does his best, what else is there?"
- General George S. Patton
"I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have."
- Thomas Jefferson
"Patience has its limits. Take it too far, and it's cowardice."
- George Jackson
"If you are clear where you are going and you take several steps in that direction every day, you eventually have to get there. So decide what you want, write it down, review it constantly, and each day do something that moves you toward those goals."
- Jack Canfield
"What you need to know about the past is that no matter what happened, it has all worked together to bring you to this moment. And this is the moment you can choose to make everything new."
- Author Unknown
"Look not mournfully into the past. It comes not back again. Wisely improve the present. It is thine. Go forth to meet the shadowy future, without fear."
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
"There will always be challenges that have manifested, and dreams that haven't. But they'll always pale in comparison to the number of dreams that have manifested, and challenges that haven't."
"There will always be challenges that have manifested, and dreams that haven't. But they'll always pale in comparison to the number of dreams that have manifested, and challenges that haven't."
- Mike Dooley
"Do not wait for joy."
"Do not wait for joy."
- Author Unknown
Monday, December 28, 2009
Holiday Thoughts
When I started writing my Christmas cards last week, I stopped to think about what thoughts and feelings to put in each one. That then prompted me to think about what gifts I had actually gotten for everyone.
I naturally then started thinking about the amount of money I had spent overall and on each individual gift.
But I abruptly stopped myself.
These people are my family, and I shouldn't be worrying so much about my budget when it comes to people I love. I'm not hard up for cash or deep in debt, so why do I need to keep what I spend on my loved ones to a certain dollar value?
So I went out and bought some more gifts.
It felt good.
Merry Christmas
I naturally then started thinking about the amount of money I had spent overall and on each individual gift.
But I abruptly stopped myself.
These people are my family, and I shouldn't be worrying so much about my budget when it comes to people I love. I'm not hard up for cash or deep in debt, so why do I need to keep what I spend on my loved ones to a certain dollar value?
So I went out and bought some more gifts.
It felt good.
Merry Christmas
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Tipping Point
They say a watched pot never boils.
But what about when you ignore it?
Does it boil sooner?
Obviously, I couldn't care less about boiling pots, but the human will and the extent of a person's patience is something that has always fascinated me.
I consider it both part nature and nurture that make up one's limits of patience.
I, myself, have always been a very patient person.
As much as I've wanted certain things as badly as others, I've always been more than willing to take my time and wait....................................................................................and wait..................
and wait...................................................................
................ and wait some more when I'm trying to accomplish or hope for anything.
That doesn't mean I can't react quickly when I need to or want to, but it just means I believe certain things are worth waiting for - even if its not always easy waiting for them.
But sooner or later, everyone comes across something that they wait for and wait for but never get.
Maybe its something you can't predict,
or something you want but may just never obtain or have happen.
You tell yourself to give it time......
..........because "patience is a virtue" ................... right???
But what's your breaking point?
How much can you take?
At what point does patience become cowardice or laziness?
What will make YOUR pot boil over to action because you've waited too long?????
But what about when you ignore it?
Does it boil sooner?
Obviously, I couldn't care less about boiling pots, but the human will and the extent of a person's patience is something that has always fascinated me.
I consider it both part nature and nurture that make up one's limits of patience.
I, myself, have always been a very patient person.
As much as I've wanted certain things as badly as others, I've always been more than willing to take my time and wait....................................................................................and wait..................
and wait...................................................................
................ and wait some more when I'm trying to accomplish or hope for anything.
That doesn't mean I can't react quickly when I need to or want to, but it just means I believe certain things are worth waiting for - even if its not always easy waiting for them.
But sooner or later, everyone comes across something that they wait for and wait for but never get.
Maybe its something you can't predict,
or something you want but may just never obtain or have happen.
You tell yourself to give it time......
..........because "patience is a virtue" ................... right???
But what's your breaking point?
How much can you take?
At what point does patience become cowardice or laziness?
What will make YOUR pot boil over to action because you've waited too long?????
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