Easy Sociality

I used to be shy. Really, utterly, shy. I was afraid of what people would think of me. I wanted to be cool. I wanted to be accepted by some kind of social subset group of people that would wear neon bracelets and get backstage at MTV, or play lacrosse.

Then, at some point in college, I realized it didn't matter what you wanted to become. No one cares about what you want to become. They only care about who you are. Furthermore, once I stopped caring about how many friends I had, wanted, or needed...I flourished.

I love people. I love hearing their stories. I see the value in everyone. Perhaps that is how I went from having nothing to do on the weekends to literally always enjoying a new adventure with a new amigo. I stopped wishing my freckles would melt into a tan and started asking people questions about their lives. Occasionally I would toss in a witty joke or two. Finally, the stone to the soup of friendship...loyalty. Once you're my friend you will always be my friend unless you do something hedonistic to truly offend me.

Now don't get me wrong. This is not to say that I can be friends with everyone. I tend to steer clear of flakes (even though sometimes I fall into that category), and drug addicts. But for the most part I like you. I want to know about you. And if you meet me, my beginning remarks might even be the simple question: what's your story?

Night Hours

The post below was originally written at night at a bus stop in Denver, CO in September 2009...



I am a night person. I workout at night. I hangout at night. I do most of my eating at night. I would venture to say that if I believed in reincarnation I was most likely a bat. Except I would've smelt much better.

I certainly think we are a night generation. Movies are held at night. There are nightclubs. And mothers say "night night" to their children. You never hear them say "morning morning". They must say night twice because it's more important.

Life Gives You Limes

It's been a while since I've posted about my life on here. Mostly because I was busy living it. If you're reading this then chances are you're doing either one of two things in your life...

1. Living it.

2. Eating snacks, watching re-runs of Saved by the Bell, and skimming my blog.

Either way, I'd like to touch upon a cool principle I stumbled across while trying to tread the waters of my life since I graduated college.

MAKE A GOAL

What's a goal? It's that net that Ghana scored in twice to win the World Cup, right? ...wrong. It's something you need to do in order to showcase your true abilities to yourself. And man, I have sure showcased. A year ago I was working about 40 hours a week in fast food. I had no car and I lived with my parents. I was overweight, underpaid, and frankly all my friends were out west and I was lonely. A reminder, that was one year ago. Over the course of the last year I worked my way up to a promotion at said job. Realized I didn't want to run a restaurant and found a fantastic desk job that I enjoy. I also got a part-time gig doing what I love which is television. Additionally, I lost 50 pounds and bought a shiny red car that I'm afraid to drive for fear that some redneck with spill their Budwiser on it.

You see, achieving your goals isn't rocket science. It's not even physical science, earth science, or any other science you didn't want to take in High School. It's just a mixture of faith, planning, and good hard work. I personally believe that the God I believe in had a very big impact. However, God doesn't help those who don't help themselves...unless of course they're helpless. So I ask that you discontinue your discourse of whining and get out there and work towards what you want. Then, when all is said and done, make sure you're very grateful for the accomplishments you've received.

And don't forget. We don't all want the same thing. So don't assume that Joe Bob on Sycamore Ave. took the last good job, car, house, or soulmate in the area. You still have a fighting chance, without even fighting.