Our nation is divided.
The inhabitants of our homeland are oppressed under a tyrannous government machine. A shadow casts itself over the ruins of broken infrastructure, shattered windows, and charred vehicles. Long have the citizens cried for a hero to emerge from the shadows to save them from this reign of terror. A civil war plagues the land, tearing one body into two casts with each their own shining hero that they hope will usher in a new era of prosperity for our ailing country. One, clouded by controversy of treason covered up behind the most advanced technologies our modern day can provide. The other, accused of being power-hungry and self-absorbed, greed as their motivation. Judgement day draws nearer as the heir to the throne grows weak, his successor to be determined via congregation of the masses. What cataclysmic events could have caused such a siege on our great country? Are these the remnants of a post-apocalyptic brigade? A war-torn nation, shrouded in demise of the inevitable end of days?
No. It's the 2016 Presidental Election.
While the actual timeline may not be as dramatic, it certainly has felt that way the last year or so this debacle has been going on. And here we are, less than a week before election day, some of us still left with more questions than answers. I have purposely tried to stay silent on my blog about the hundreds of headlines and articles over both candidates, mostly due to a lack of information. It only makes sense to shut up about an issue that you know little to nothing of (right?). Perhaps a bit of it was also because I never really knew how to sum up my feelings in just a few paragraphs. Obviously there is just so much attention to detail that demands a narrower explanation for the sake of argument, so every single word counts in conveying your message. As a bit of a brief background, I have always been very committed to American politics as a whole since my freshman year when I started learning about the system and how it works. This election year being my first eligible to vote, I was understandably excited to follow along. In the primary season I was a huge Bernie supporter, then when things didn't necessarily pan out, I had to sit down and ask myself what I really want to convey with my vote.
I think I finally know what that is now.
On a tangent, I almost thought about just not voting this go round. I didn't like either candidate, and morally I couldn't bring myself to vote for, as the kids say these days, "The lesser of two evils." This thought lasted for maybe about a week. If you're reading this, and if you take anything away from this blog today, let it be this: vote. Vote. VOTE. VOTE. I don't care what personal grievances you have about vote rigging or whether or not your vote counts or that no matter the vote, your life will not be affected by it. NEWS FLASH: YES IT FUCKING WILL. Consider this: even if you're not wanting to vote for national office, there are 469 U.S. Senate seats up for reelection (including every member of the House of Representatives), not to mention the countless number of local officials, judges, ordinances, amendments, propositions, and ratification that will absolutely influence the tiny 'ol town you live in. Wanna complain about all of the things your city or state should be doing? Doesn't it seem kinda counter-intuitive to complain if you didn't vote for or against the same issue you're trying to complain about? No one wants to be that guy. Do yourself and your community a huge favor. Knowledge is power, educate yourself and VOTE.
Now that I've got that out of the way...
I feel like this entire election season, both parties have been focusing so much on the opposition that there has been little to no thought on how we will actually progress as a nation when the time comes. Politics has become so much less about the issue, and so much more so about the figurehead. Our country's tendency is to place the desires and drives we have as the people squarely on the president's shoulders. After all, they are the greatest power in the free world. But as I mentioned earlier, it's our Congress that ultimately drafts our fate. That detracts from the point, though. As far as my own political ideology goes, I am a man of reason. As I grow older, I see a more moderate political viewpoint than my more feisty teen self. I'm very conservative about some issues (i.e. having a gun for protection isn't a bad thing) and very liberal about others (i.e. my stance on abortion). The frustrating part for me in this election cycle is immediately being branded one or the other: liberal trash or conservative neo-nazism. That loops around to our lack of focus on the actual issues. Instead, your belief on one issue must mean that you side with X candidate, because they said blah blah blah...when in actuality, our viewpoint of political issues are all very unique! Not every pro-gun activist wants military grade assault rifles in the hands of all American men, women, and children. Not every pro-choice stance wants abortion to be completely legal in the third trimester up until the day of birth. It all comes back to a common middle ground: moderation.
That's what I feel is missing in American government.
Of all places to find solace or a group to look up to, one of the last places you would think of is a metal concert. Now, I know what you're thinking, "Where's this going?" Stay with me, I promise it relates. I was thinking back to something I heard at an Iron Maiden concert earlier this year, Bruce Dickinson the lead vocalist was in between songs ranting about the culture in metal. I'm paraphrasing quite a bit, but it went something along the lines of, "What I love about metal is that there are no boundaries. Man or woman, child or adult, black or white, Jewish or Muslim, you are accepted into the metal family." Coming from a group who's name is a medieval torture device, that's pretty thought provoking. Having gone to so many metal shows after that, those words have rang truer and truer to me. A common part of metal shows are the mosh pit, where senseless violence meets controlled chaos. Although bodies may slam, heads may clash, and generally nobody knows what's going on, as soon as somebody falls down and hits the ground, everybody stops, grabs a hold of their fallen mosher, and pulls them up back into the fray to continue the fight.
America needs a mosh pit.
Right now, America is a prissy pop concert, yelling and screaming at the top of their lungs for the idol that is presented on stage before them. No one cares about anyone else's experience but their own, to be acknowledged or looked at or sang to or what have you. It doesn't matter whether you're voting for a president Trump, Clinton, Johnson, Stein, or Flying Spaghetti Monster; what lies at the core of this nation's inception is helping your fellow neighbor, your fellow American. I feel like the political divide during this election has weakened that value. I intentionally kept this blog as non-preachy as far as ideology goes as possible, because that's not the point I'm trying to make. What my focus is on, as it tends to be, is how we as a country will grow stronger after this election. Politics is an imperfect system, one that cannot simply be changed at the snap of a finger by the common man. What I see to be less than imperfect is the relationship that we share as human beings. I can't remember exactly where, but I heard someone on television say that it normally takes huge, sweeping change to bring the American people together. 9/11 was the last time this country put aside their differences and banded together as one nation. Now, out of context that sounds like I'm calling for another 9/11, and that is definitely not what I mean. But in the calamity, confusion, and frustration of the political mosh pit, we've just been going too hard. We need something to knock us down a peg so we can unify as one group, pull ourselves out of the wreckage and say, "Rock on."
No election result can give us that.
Thursday, November 03, 2016
Sunday, October 02, 2016
Twinkle
I'm terrible at commitment.
See for yourself. Take a look at my most recent blog posts off to the left. Notice any inconsistency over the last couple years? My blog has taken a bit more time in between posts as the years pass, and I'll be completely honest that most of it is attributed to my lack of commitment. Sorry about that, long-time readers! For those newcomers, congratulations! You got two blog posts in the span of about a week. That never happens, frankly. But this trend is also in part to the small commitment I do have in producing high quality, thought-provoking work based on past experiences that are not conveyed via humble brag. If my life can exemplify preparation of hardships for anybody else while simultaneously entertaining my readers, I feel I have successfully done what my blog initially set out to do. It's hard to match that tier of excellence on a weekly, sometimes even biweekly basis. I edit these things profusely now, rereading over the course of weeks and drafting and editing and peer-editing...this blog deserves to be beneficial for you! The fact that I get center stage for 5 minutes or so is enough for me. But this doesn't entirely make up for my unpreparedness. Those who know me know I'm often late to things, overbook from time to time, and am sometimes hard to get a hold of. Sorry isn't enough, but I suppose you could consider this as much of an apology as possible? I know it's a bit of a social faux pas, but wait, hear me out, I can explain:
These tendencies don't always exactly mean you're a bad person.
That is, I feel intent and context is always important in these kinds of situations. Have plans with somebody but you just don't feel like going and don't show? Shitty person. Have a lot of friends trying to bid for your time but have a tight schedule and overbook? Mildly justifiable. For instance, the desire to please everyone normally dominates your schedule book, trying to fit in everybody even for just an hour or two. It's no secret that it sucks having to upset people by rejecting an offer to congregate, especially when there are so many close friends that you want to maintain a strong relationship with. I've come to terms with the fact that the workload in people's lives sometimes does not allot you a time slot. It's a conundrum you have to expect so as not to unfairly hold others in content for simply living their busy lives. It also helps your own psyche in the ability and confidence to make plans. Does not spending time mean you value a relationship less? Not necessarily. There comes the magic word: intent.
What do you want out of your relationships?
Platonic or intimate, it's a common saying that the effort you put in towards something translates to reward in some capacity; you get what you give. Dedication to a craft yields success in that particular skill set. Investment into a significant other flourishes into a prosperous relationship. But is it practical to ask for the attention to be prioritized to you specifically in given scenarios? Obviously there is an existing hierarchy that prioritizes elements higher or lower than others; where the importance lies most is up for debate. I can't sit here and tell you the list goes family, friends, coworkers, acquaintances, social workers, and strangers, especially when that's not even the order I would put those in personally. Just as unique as the individual, the sentimental values of our interactions vary. It's akin to cutting in line for an attraction people have camped out for days to be at. Would that really be fair to ask for exclusivity?
But you can always play devil's advocate.
What happens when you meet that person who completely and entirely shakes the foundation of how you live every day life? One who, without influence, transfixes and captivates your eye towards them? I'm sure we can think of at least one person that if fate had not ordained you with, life suddenly becomes a completely alternate reality apart from what we know in comparison. We are fortunate as social beings to have the chance to meet many influential individuals, of whom we may not know end up signifying landmark developments in our timeline. I talked last week about staying observant of the masses that pour through the gaping funnel into our lives and of the vitality in being able to pinpoint these varieties of people. Although the night sky twinkles with billions of stars (many of which are invisible), there is still one that shines brighter than the others. In darkness, there is light to salvage us from what we thought was once unknown. A beacon of dependence, guidance, and reliability. Yet, even though the brightest, this star can still coexist with all of the other stars in the galaxy. The harmony of the universe is not disturbed by the birth of a brighter star. The canvas of sky still paints a beautiful picture, so why not apply the same logic to our sphere of influence? No star is less important than the other. Why overshadow one star's beauty from another? In fact, when put together, those stars can form something even more beautiful than meets the eye.
Find a star that completes your constellation.
See for yourself. Take a look at my most recent blog posts off to the left. Notice any inconsistency over the last couple years? My blog has taken a bit more time in between posts as the years pass, and I'll be completely honest that most of it is attributed to my lack of commitment. Sorry about that, long-time readers! For those newcomers, congratulations! You got two blog posts in the span of about a week. That never happens, frankly. But this trend is also in part to the small commitment I do have in producing high quality, thought-provoking work based on past experiences that are not conveyed via humble brag. If my life can exemplify preparation of hardships for anybody else while simultaneously entertaining my readers, I feel I have successfully done what my blog initially set out to do. It's hard to match that tier of excellence on a weekly, sometimes even biweekly basis. I edit these things profusely now, rereading over the course of weeks and drafting and editing and peer-editing...this blog deserves to be beneficial for you! The fact that I get center stage for 5 minutes or so is enough for me. But this doesn't entirely make up for my unpreparedness. Those who know me know I'm often late to things, overbook from time to time, and am sometimes hard to get a hold of. Sorry isn't enough, but I suppose you could consider this as much of an apology as possible? I know it's a bit of a social faux pas, but wait, hear me out, I can explain:
These tendencies don't always exactly mean you're a bad person.
That is, I feel intent and context is always important in these kinds of situations. Have plans with somebody but you just don't feel like going and don't show? Shitty person. Have a lot of friends trying to bid for your time but have a tight schedule and overbook? Mildly justifiable. For instance, the desire to please everyone normally dominates your schedule book, trying to fit in everybody even for just an hour or two. It's no secret that it sucks having to upset people by rejecting an offer to congregate, especially when there are so many close friends that you want to maintain a strong relationship with. I've come to terms with the fact that the workload in people's lives sometimes does not allot you a time slot. It's a conundrum you have to expect so as not to unfairly hold others in content for simply living their busy lives. It also helps your own psyche in the ability and confidence to make plans. Does not spending time mean you value a relationship less? Not necessarily. There comes the magic word: intent.
What do you want out of your relationships?
Platonic or intimate, it's a common saying that the effort you put in towards something translates to reward in some capacity; you get what you give. Dedication to a craft yields success in that particular skill set. Investment into a significant other flourishes into a prosperous relationship. But is it practical to ask for the attention to be prioritized to you specifically in given scenarios? Obviously there is an existing hierarchy that prioritizes elements higher or lower than others; where the importance lies most is up for debate. I can't sit here and tell you the list goes family, friends, coworkers, acquaintances, social workers, and strangers, especially when that's not even the order I would put those in personally. Just as unique as the individual, the sentimental values of our interactions vary. It's akin to cutting in line for an attraction people have camped out for days to be at. Would that really be fair to ask for exclusivity?
But you can always play devil's advocate.
What happens when you meet that person who completely and entirely shakes the foundation of how you live every day life? One who, without influence, transfixes and captivates your eye towards them? I'm sure we can think of at least one person that if fate had not ordained you with, life suddenly becomes a completely alternate reality apart from what we know in comparison. We are fortunate as social beings to have the chance to meet many influential individuals, of whom we may not know end up signifying landmark developments in our timeline. I talked last week about staying observant of the masses that pour through the gaping funnel into our lives and of the vitality in being able to pinpoint these varieties of people. Although the night sky twinkles with billions of stars (many of which are invisible), there is still one that shines brighter than the others. In darkness, there is light to salvage us from what we thought was once unknown. A beacon of dependence, guidance, and reliability. Yet, even though the brightest, this star can still coexist with all of the other stars in the galaxy. The harmony of the universe is not disturbed by the birth of a brighter star. The canvas of sky still paints a beautiful picture, so why not apply the same logic to our sphere of influence? No star is less important than the other. Why overshadow one star's beauty from another? In fact, when put together, those stars can form something even more beautiful than meets the eye.
Find a star that completes your constellation.
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Then
Make sure you reach out to the ones you love.
People en masse are a revolving door into the upstate hotel that is our own lives. We will see hundreds of thousands of different human beings in our lifetime, several thousand of which we will make any sort of contact with. Even smaller yet, we maybe only have around 50 to 100 people in our lives that we considered loved ones. Of course, such a subjective term like 'loved ones' can reach the standards of many more, but I personally consider those close to me as family, close friends, some coworkers, and possibly some mentors along the way. As we grow older, it seems that the population influx of new companions tends to be very low. At that point, we're set with just about every person that would hold a significant place in our lives. This is not only a reminder to our elders to cherish those loved ones we have presently, but also to the younger generations such as mine to really value the relationships and bonds we have formed so early on in our lifespan. Just one year makes such a difference, let alone 5 or 50 or what have you. It's a reality of the changing environments and rapidly evolving world around us:
People come and go.
You never know when the last day you speak to somebody will be. What that conversation will be like. What the cause of this separation will be. Who would be the one left in confusion or anger or grief. I have lost contact with loved ones many times for one reason or another. Those I once called best friends are all but begotten, living on through memory be it positive or negative. Others live in spiritual memory, having passed on to the afterlife. It's this period of bereavement that pays the highest price on our emotions. Although rather taboo in our culture, death is a concept that we rarely seem to factor in our lives. In personal experience, it seems as if any conversation about death spurs worry in others for me, like it's a morbid fascination. The fact of the matter is: death is incredibly real. And it can happen indiscriminately. At times it seems like there can be more questions than there are answers. But is it worth the time worrying what could have been instead of the life that once was? Death is no time for such existential quandaries; instead it is a circumstance of progression from that point. Instead of, "Why is this happening to me?", it aides to focus on, "How will this affect my vision for my own life looking forward?"
But hindsight is always 20/20.
Why do we tend to take for granted the time we have with each other right now? It's an incredibly fair assumption to believe that those we are surrounded by will still be here when we wake up in the morning. It's not necessarily natural to expect an untimely death, or to foresee an argument gone awry. Our minds have difficulty charting personal growth and change from the outside looking in. I don't think I've changed a lot since 8th grade, but anybody who has known me since 8th grade knows good and well that I am nothing like back then. It's absurd to even compare the two. Since then, I have experienced radical events both awe-inspiring and cataclysmic alike. Never could I have predicted the situations I find myself in today. Even so, things don't feel all that different. That lack of difference I feel is what allows us to take advantage of our situations presently. A stasis of satisfaction, solidarity that the ones we love will surround us and join us along forever in the journey that is our lives.
Most times it doesn't work that way.
So...what am I even trying to say? Just take time to appreciate your life right now. Anything could happen in the course of a night to throttle you into a position you never anticipated. Do me a favor, go grab your phone or get on Facebook or something and tell your parents you love them, tell a friend you appreciate their support through the years, thank a teacher for inspiring you to want to be a better person. Don't wait until then, do it now. Life experiences have taught me never to expect a 'then'. By the time it comes, your window of opportunity may have already shut. There are opportunities left on the table we all wish we could have again, but these instances lessen drastically when your lens shifts focus to what culminates in your life today. While the past is important in sculpting the persona we embody, it makes no sense to long for the egg you ate yesterday when the carton still has 11 eggs. Recognize the past in preparation for the future.
Every day is a gift. Cherish it like one.
People en masse are a revolving door into the upstate hotel that is our own lives. We will see hundreds of thousands of different human beings in our lifetime, several thousand of which we will make any sort of contact with. Even smaller yet, we maybe only have around 50 to 100 people in our lives that we considered loved ones. Of course, such a subjective term like 'loved ones' can reach the standards of many more, but I personally consider those close to me as family, close friends, some coworkers, and possibly some mentors along the way. As we grow older, it seems that the population influx of new companions tends to be very low. At that point, we're set with just about every person that would hold a significant place in our lives. This is not only a reminder to our elders to cherish those loved ones we have presently, but also to the younger generations such as mine to really value the relationships and bonds we have formed so early on in our lifespan. Just one year makes such a difference, let alone 5 or 50 or what have you. It's a reality of the changing environments and rapidly evolving world around us:
People come and go.
You never know when the last day you speak to somebody will be. What that conversation will be like. What the cause of this separation will be. Who would be the one left in confusion or anger or grief. I have lost contact with loved ones many times for one reason or another. Those I once called best friends are all but begotten, living on through memory be it positive or negative. Others live in spiritual memory, having passed on to the afterlife. It's this period of bereavement that pays the highest price on our emotions. Although rather taboo in our culture, death is a concept that we rarely seem to factor in our lives. In personal experience, it seems as if any conversation about death spurs worry in others for me, like it's a morbid fascination. The fact of the matter is: death is incredibly real. And it can happen indiscriminately. At times it seems like there can be more questions than there are answers. But is it worth the time worrying what could have been instead of the life that once was? Death is no time for such existential quandaries; instead it is a circumstance of progression from that point. Instead of, "Why is this happening to me?", it aides to focus on, "How will this affect my vision for my own life looking forward?"
But hindsight is always 20/20.
Why do we tend to take for granted the time we have with each other right now? It's an incredibly fair assumption to believe that those we are surrounded by will still be here when we wake up in the morning. It's not necessarily natural to expect an untimely death, or to foresee an argument gone awry. Our minds have difficulty charting personal growth and change from the outside looking in. I don't think I've changed a lot since 8th grade, but anybody who has known me since 8th grade knows good and well that I am nothing like back then. It's absurd to even compare the two. Since then, I have experienced radical events both awe-inspiring and cataclysmic alike. Never could I have predicted the situations I find myself in today. Even so, things don't feel all that different. That lack of difference I feel is what allows us to take advantage of our situations presently. A stasis of satisfaction, solidarity that the ones we love will surround us and join us along forever in the journey that is our lives.
Most times it doesn't work that way.
So...what am I even trying to say? Just take time to appreciate your life right now. Anything could happen in the course of a night to throttle you into a position you never anticipated. Do me a favor, go grab your phone or get on Facebook or something and tell your parents you love them, tell a friend you appreciate their support through the years, thank a teacher for inspiring you to want to be a better person. Don't wait until then, do it now. Life experiences have taught me never to expect a 'then'. By the time it comes, your window of opportunity may have already shut. There are opportunities left on the table we all wish we could have again, but these instances lessen drastically when your lens shifts focus to what culminates in your life today. While the past is important in sculpting the persona we embody, it makes no sense to long for the egg you ate yesterday when the carton still has 11 eggs. Recognize the past in preparation for the future.
Every day is a gift. Cherish it like one.
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