This video is long. I’m sorry about that, but you should watch it. It happens to focus on classic music, but it really applies to every piece of media. Books, music, movies, etc.
Sit back and let your mind get blown by the genius of this man.
Category: Life
(An on-going project to discover truth in and about ourselves. See the others here)
Day 08 → Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like shit.
I moved from a private Christian school to public school in 8th grade. I left all my friends behind, and set out into the “real world.” I knew several people, those who had also gone to the private school, but left much earlier than I did. But little did I know that these were not, at all, the same people.
I hung out with them, because I thought I knew them, but really, I was just a piece of scenery. Someone to crack jokes about who wouldn’t fight back because he didn’t know anyone else. Was always left out of group events, never invited out.
I thought it must have been because I was fat. Or because I was, in some other way, offensive. But I have since realized that the problem was not with me. The problem was that they were all jerks. It’s unfortunate that it took me close to 3 years of feelings like shit to figure that out.
When I got to college, I had learned this important lesson. I refused to be tread upon. I refused to be the butt of the jokes. I refused to be treated like an outsider. I found good friends, and these have lasted past college, though we a scattered across the country. So they may have been jerks in high school, but at least they taught me that I deserve better.
After taking a few days off blogging to spend time with family and friends, it’s back to it. I hope you all had an excellent Christmas! (This post is inspired by Reverb10)
December 27 – Ordinary Joy
Our most profound joy is often experienced during ordinary moments. What was one of your most joyful ordinary moments this year?
I am the kind of person who is pretty quick to to take the everyday for granted. I get caught up in the monotony and the banal, and I tend to miss the real grace and joy that’s hidden beneath all that repetition.
But sometimes the best things in life are really the stuff we do every day. I get up early. I shower, eat some breakfast, and catch up on blogs and news while I watch something on Netflix. I’ll do this until it’s time to get ready and go to work.
It may not sound like a lot of fun, but I find that it really gets my day started off right. I feel awake an d refreshed, and not so groggy when I leave for work. It gives me food for thought, and it generally just makes me happy.
Maybe it’s lame and maybe it’s the same every morning, but it makes me happy, and it makes the long day at work a little more bearable.
(This post is inspired by Reverb10.)
December 21 – Future Self. Imagine yourself five years from now. What advice would you give your current self for the year ahead?
Past self, don’t sweat the small stuff. These are minor inconveniences, and you won’t even remember them next week, much less in the next year. Don’t fool yourself, into thinking that you aren’t talented or smart. You are. Just remember that not everyone makes good choices, and while you might work hard, they probably won’t work hard for you, too. Hold out for something good.
Don’t forget that sometimes things don’t work out. I know it sounds silly, but you have a lot of plans for 2011. And you will not fulfill the all. But you will at least try, and that’s a good deal better than just giving up before you start. Remember not to worry so much about how it would be to fail that you don’t ever start. Failure is better than a failure to act.
This is a year of growth, of maturation, of experience. Cherish it, and live it with relish. You won’t get another chance at it, so make the best of it you possibly can.
Oh, and most importantly: don’t take yourself, your job, your life too seriously. Sometimes, you’ve just got to step back and have a laugh at the ridiculousness of it all.