Progress is one of the rarest things in life to witness. If you are lucky you can even live through it. However, many of us spend countless hours and days wishing to see progress in people, places, and situations that just simply seem destined not to. Recently, I was among the few lucky people who habitate this planet, and was able to witness such a euphoric phenomenon.
I have a very close friend who I think very highly of. For as long as I've known him, he has always been known as the funny guy, and nice/proper/good guy. He was always the one to open the door for someone, or to be a VERY polite gentleman when dealing with a lady. He always treated women with way too much respect, and put them on pedestals that reached the stratosphere. The ladies have always perceived him to be "cute" and "such a good person to talk to". It actually grossed me out. Now, I'll be the first to admit, I don't demand attention from the ladies with my looks or style, and I have also been a little guilty of being some of the adjectives aforementioned. However, it was a sense of politeness he had, that I never saw duplicated. The worst part, is that every time he said something funny, and made people laugh you knew he was holding back from saying something that would make people ecstatic.
Then today, it happened. He got on the phone with a girl and was a complete jerk, and funny at the same time. I mean if I was the girl I would think this guy is an asshole, but he's pretty right and funny too. The thing with funny people, is that they're usually right about what they're saying. It was transformation before my own eyes, and ears. I was ecstatic and excited that this happened. He was as he describes it "loose". A state of mind, I highly recommend.
Life is short, what do you have to lose. Be like Petey Greene, and speak your mind. If an ex-con can inspire millions, just imagine what you can do by speaking what's on your mind, and not giving a fuck about what people think. I admit, this is easier said than done. But courage is a commodity reserved for the few.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Perspective
Many people gain perspectives from different experiences, and methods. I gained my most important perspective in a rather unique way. That would be the perspective of what I'm doing with my life.
In a somewhat dimly lit Italian restaurant thru eyes hiding behind a thick set of spectacles I gained perspective. Intense eyes magnified by the thickness of the spectacles were looking at me and challenging me. They belonged to one of my cousins for whom I have the utmost respect. We were generously sipping, consuming, embracing, and enjoying rather tasty and expensive Italian wine. After about the third bottle the discussions elevated to a new level of passion (As with anything else Italians do, their wines tend to generate a lot of passion as well). We discussed everything from where my cousin would move, to what he wanted to do with his life now that his medical training was coming to an end, and what would make him happy. Married, with three beautiful daughters, and owner to countless numbers of hours spent helping others, I felt my cousin had earned the right to take a moment back at this important fork he had arrived at in his life before embarking down a chosen path.
While most of the discussions were about him, and what he was doing, I managed to find time to self reflect in the middle of all this. "For future generations to come" were the words he uttered which sent my mind into a whirlwind of thoughts, flashes, and ideas. Those were the words he chose to describe how well his family would be taken care of (financially) from his hard work, and the fruits of his labor. Unfortunately, those same exact words made me realize that I probably wasn't in a shape to take care of myself (let alone my future children), and he was worrying about his future generations. In this smorgasbord of thoughts I realized that what I was doing with my time was far less valuable than what my cousin was doing with his time. We were both happy, but what we were contributing to society was vastly different.
Its sad but true, that the way other people live their lives to do what gives them happiness does have an affect on us. Maybe I'm getting older, maybe I'm starting do give a damn about things but the feeling I had in the pit of my stomach in that particular moment managed to stay with me until today. In recent years I've grown much fonder of things like music, books, and people who have made accomplishments. I guess in that moment I realized that I was living a life that completely satisfied my more stupid inhibitions, and pretty much ignored the interests of my higher conscious. Its not necessarily a bad thing, but I guess all people at some point have to come to this realization and make a decision. We have to either choose to realize this and satisfy our higher callings, or choose to ignore them. Although there is no incorrect answer, one decision will make more of a difference in the world than the other.
Up to this point I've randomly attended museums or read books and used it as an excuse to think I'm doing good. But when you see someone who is living a life of satisfying a higher calling it really gives you a good idea of where you are. Hopefully someone can read this, and understand that they too will have to make this decision of satisfying the higher calling or ignore it. Whatever you choose, I hope its something you can look back on many years from now and be proud.
In a somewhat dimly lit Italian restaurant thru eyes hiding behind a thick set of spectacles I gained perspective. Intense eyes magnified by the thickness of the spectacles were looking at me and challenging me. They belonged to one of my cousins for whom I have the utmost respect. We were generously sipping, consuming, embracing, and enjoying rather tasty and expensive Italian wine. After about the third bottle the discussions elevated to a new level of passion (As with anything else Italians do, their wines tend to generate a lot of passion as well). We discussed everything from where my cousin would move, to what he wanted to do with his life now that his medical training was coming to an end, and what would make him happy. Married, with three beautiful daughters, and owner to countless numbers of hours spent helping others, I felt my cousin had earned the right to take a moment back at this important fork he had arrived at in his life before embarking down a chosen path.
While most of the discussions were about him, and what he was doing, I managed to find time to self reflect in the middle of all this. "For future generations to come" were the words he uttered which sent my mind into a whirlwind of thoughts, flashes, and ideas. Those were the words he chose to describe how well his family would be taken care of (financially) from his hard work, and the fruits of his labor. Unfortunately, those same exact words made me realize that I probably wasn't in a shape to take care of myself (let alone my future children), and he was worrying about his future generations. In this smorgasbord of thoughts I realized that what I was doing with my time was far less valuable than what my cousin was doing with his time. We were both happy, but what we were contributing to society was vastly different.
Its sad but true, that the way other people live their lives to do what gives them happiness does have an affect on us. Maybe I'm getting older, maybe I'm starting do give a damn about things but the feeling I had in the pit of my stomach in that particular moment managed to stay with me until today. In recent years I've grown much fonder of things like music, books, and people who have made accomplishments. I guess in that moment I realized that I was living a life that completely satisfied my more stupid inhibitions, and pretty much ignored the interests of my higher conscious. Its not necessarily a bad thing, but I guess all people at some point have to come to this realization and make a decision. We have to either choose to realize this and satisfy our higher callings, or choose to ignore them. Although there is no incorrect answer, one decision will make more of a difference in the world than the other.
Up to this point I've randomly attended museums or read books and used it as an excuse to think I'm doing good. But when you see someone who is living a life of satisfying a higher calling it really gives you a good idea of where you are. Hopefully someone can read this, and understand that they too will have to make this decision of satisfying the higher calling or ignore it. Whatever you choose, I hope its something you can look back on many years from now and be proud.
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