I haven't blogged since I got married.
(nearly 3 months)
I haven't really written since I got engaged.
(nearly 9 months)
I've learned a lot recently
And
life changes are abounding.
To not write would be vacant.
Not expressing would seem incomplete.
So,
I'd like to share the biggest concept I'm experiencing.
------------------------------
Money is the biggest sticking point for American Marriages.
Debt, salary, spending.
So much to fight about.
Sonja and I are rather transparent with our finances.
We recently opened some accounts, closed some others,
And positioned ourselves for financial success.
Through the process, Sonja's debit cards were canceled (ha!)
Not on purpose,
One is in the mail. (calm down feminist)
Not having a debit card is frustrating.
Handing out cash gets old.
Our current position is less than ideal.
------------------------------
We have the world's smallest dishwasher.
4 plates wide.
It is a puzzle to maximize the capacity.
One that can be frustrating.
Even hurtful.
Constant rearranging is necessary.
I like it loaded a certain way, Sonja doesn't care.
It doesn't matter,
It's only a dishwasher.
------------------------------
Oftentimes for dinner, we make a large dish
(enchiladas, chicken pot pie, pasta)
to have leftovers for lunches throughout the week.
But I like the food we make.
And I eat a lot of it.
And then I eat out for lunch. (confession, sorry Sonja).
My self control has added 3-10 pounds to my frame.
------------------------------
I've learned a lot from daily experiences like these.
To be patient.
To be selfless.
To be self-controlled.
Fruit of the spirit kind of lessons.
Healthy marriage leans into God stuff like that.
I've really loved the things I'm being taught.
The last three months formed me into a better man.
I know I'm not done figuring out the whole husband role.
I'll experience plenty more frustrating, maddening moments.
I'll commit plenty more mind-blowing, moronic mistakes.
I'll be annoyed, selfish, and resentful.
And I'm sure those lessons will teach me well.
Because the biggest thing I've learned through all life's experiences
is not patience
is not sacrifice
is not self control.
It is to learn.
Showing posts with label Thinking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thinking. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Monday, November 28, 2011
Thoughts from Kerouac
"I believed in a good home, in sane and sound living, in good food, good times, work, faith and hope. I have always believed in these things. It was with some amazement that I realized I was one of the few people in the world who really believed in these things without going around making a dull middleclass philosophy out of it." -Jack Kerouac, On the Road.
There haven't been many Kerouac quotes that I've connected with while reading his classic, On the Road.
But this one hits home.
Describing his attempt to relocate his family and settle in after years of "madness,"
Kerouac tugs at the heart of a growing problem:
The American dream as the middleclass fatality.
Trying as capitalists, countless work, toil and labor to become mundane and meaningless,
Living dreary and desperate lives in search of prosperity while inhabiting poverty.
The middleclass struggles to accumulate karma,
As though they live for reincarnation, dying daily for the upper class.
And when the few move castes, they find nothing but dullness.
That is, death.
This philosophy is what Kerouac avoided and one I want to remain absent.
Because when I tell stories as an old man,
I want them to be about what I did, not what I have.
And I want to be like the Jazz players Kerouac describes,
Arousing an audience, going, going, going, exciting with every note, until I no longer have breath.
There haven't been many Kerouac quotes that I've connected with while reading his classic, On the Road.
But this one hits home.
Describing his attempt to relocate his family and settle in after years of "madness,"
Kerouac tugs at the heart of a growing problem:
The American dream as the middleclass fatality.
Trying as capitalists, countless work, toil and labor to become mundane and meaningless,
Living dreary and desperate lives in search of prosperity while inhabiting poverty.
The middleclass struggles to accumulate karma,
As though they live for reincarnation, dying daily for the upper class.
And when the few move castes, they find nothing but dullness.
That is, death.
This philosophy is what Kerouac avoided and one I want to remain absent.
Because when I tell stories as an old man,
I want them to be about what I did, not what I have.
And I want to be like the Jazz players Kerouac describes,
Arousing an audience, going, going, going, exciting with every note, until I no longer have breath.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Transcendentalism
I have been reading "Where I Lived and What i Lived For" by Henry David Thoreau.
While reading Thoreau, all i want to do is move into the woods,
Chop down some trees and build my own house,
Not buying the land or getting permits or filing any papers.
Why?
Simplicity.
And Escape.
Christmas is fast approaching,
And with it comes the fashionable fads,
New programs, diets, desires, and beliefs,
Expectations, inventions, gifts, and clutter.
And distractions.
As a Christian, it is necessary to identify the intentions of Christmas.
But, it is just as necessary to notice the reality of it.
And here is where i like what Thoreau, and others of the Transcendental movement say about
Truth, reality, and our place among the two.
In an essay, Ralph Waldo Emerson writes:
"So shall we come to look at the world with new eyes. It shall answer the endless inquiry of the intellect, — What is truth? and of the affections, — What is good? by yielding itself passive to the educated Will. ... Build, therefore, your own world. As fast as you conform your life to the pure idea in your mind, that will unfold its great proportions. A correspondent revolution in things will attend the influx of the spirit."
The desert of life proves an eternal thirst for its inhabitants.
And so we drink the next remedy for our dry pallet.
Whether poison or pleasing, our tongue turns to sand.
Emerson (and others) thus suggest that we look at truths and reality as an overarching theme
And stand firm in our convictions. A sort of pseudo post-modernism.
But instead of finding truth in experience,
One finds it in thought.
However, i recognize the dangers:
How can there be truth in what we think?
How can one reality "transcend" all personal thought?
How can idealism be attached firmly in the natural realm?
But i am struck by this question:
Do these dangers outweigh the imminent threat poised by an acceptance of the newest experience, trend, or affection?
As Americans, we are told to buy, spend, consume, or else fall behind.
But, the simplicity of a consistent culture is a new temptation.
The simplicity of things being and not changing.
And so, when i read about Thoreau and his wooded escape in Massachusetts, i envy his experience
Because he is free from the bondage of culture.
He has escaped the slavery of consumerism, materialism, and the next "best thing."
The burden of "brand new" removed,
His escape to nature proved to produce
not only great literature, but great thinking as well.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Discipleship from Democracy
"The people always will what is good, but by themselves they do not always discern it.
The general will is always rightful, but the judgment which guides it is not always enlightened.
It must be brought to see things as they are,and sometimes as they should be seen;
It must be shown the good path which it is seeking, and secured against seduction by the desires of the individuals;
it must be given a sense of situation and season,
so as to weigh immediate and tangible advantages against distant and hidden evils.
Individuals see the good and reject it; the public desires the good but does not see it.
Both equally need guidance.
Individuals must be obliged to subordinate their will to their reason;
the public must be taught to recognize what it desires."
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The Social Contract
I believe the church has always and will continue to exist as a monarchy.
Yet aren't Rousseau's words against the French Monarchy an accurate portrayal of life in the church?
"Individuals see the good and reject it."
This is humanity's theme.
Paul's outcry.
Identification with morality without obedience to it.
And so we combine our efforts to fulfill the good (Israel, the church, etc.).
And we desire morality.
"The public desires the good but does not see it."
This is the church's identity.
The anthem of western religion.
The church without vision.
Stagnation.
And we are trapped in an enigma:
A morality with no people fails.
A people with no direction fails morality.
And morality with direction is disputed.
America.
The general will is always rightful, but the judgment which guides it is not always enlightened.
It must be brought to see things as they are,and sometimes as they should be seen;
It must be shown the good path which it is seeking, and secured against seduction by the desires of the individuals;
it must be given a sense of situation and season,
so as to weigh immediate and tangible advantages against distant and hidden evils.
Individuals see the good and reject it; the public desires the good but does not see it.
Both equally need guidance.
Individuals must be obliged to subordinate their will to their reason;
the public must be taught to recognize what it desires."
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The Social Contract
I believe the church has always and will continue to exist as a monarchy.
Yet aren't Rousseau's words against the French Monarchy an accurate portrayal of life in the church?
"Individuals see the good and reject it."
This is humanity's theme.
Paul's outcry.
Identification with morality without obedience to it.
And so we combine our efforts to fulfill the good (Israel, the church, etc.).
And we desire morality.
"The public desires the good but does not see it."
This is the church's identity.
The anthem of western religion.
The church without vision.
Stagnation.
And we are trapped in an enigma:
A morality with no people fails.
A people with no direction fails morality.
And morality with direction is disputed.
America.
Monday, July 26, 2010
"Crazy Love" Review
So, i have been reading "War and Peace" all summer.
But i had to take a break from it.
Because it is long.
And
Because it is difficult.
But i did not want to take a break from reading.
So, i picked up Francis Chan's "Crazy Love."
Here are my thoughts on the book:
It was fine.
Let me qualify that by saying this:
Love is an old topic written about by everyone.
And so, Francis Chan had nothing new to say:
Love must be experiential, not educational.
This is not a new revelation.
Culture has picked up on that truth.
So that qualifies me to say this.
The read was fine.
After reading the book, these were my thoughts:
Love is not Crazy, it is simply Love.
You cannot take a break from experiencing it.
Even if it is difficult
And
Even if is long
But you have to let it break you.
So, "Crazy Love" might take me all summer.
But i had to take a break from it.
Because it is long.
And
Because it is difficult.
But i did not want to take a break from reading.
So, i picked up Francis Chan's "Crazy Love."
Here are my thoughts on the book:
It was fine.
Let me qualify that by saying this:
Love is an old topic written about by everyone.
And so, Francis Chan had nothing new to say:
Love must be experiential, not educational.
This is not a new revelation.
Culture has picked up on that truth.
So that qualifies me to say this.
The read was fine.
After reading the book, these were my thoughts:
Love is not Crazy, it is simply Love.
You cannot take a break from experiencing it.
Even if it is difficult
And
Even if is long
But you have to let it break you.
So, "Crazy Love" might take me all summer.
Monday, December 21, 2009
The Issue of Environment
Environment, or Inherited?
I choose environment. (Choose or Chose?)
Environment dictates behavior.
Simply look at the floater friend who has no home.
or the trend follower
or the phenomenon of the mob mentality
or athletic events, plays, and dances.
Environment is the rudder to behavior, directing action to reflect the surrounding sea.
It can make you look like an incapable idiot, or a sophisticated savant.
And i refuse to acknowledge ADD or serotonin or the hypothalamus as the route of cultural issues.
So, i am at P
anera because of my inability to function in the comfort of my house.
And for that, i blame environment.
I blame the fact that i have had a TV in my room since 14.
I blame the fact that i have not had a TV in my room since 2006.
And i blame the fact that i am home on Christmas Break.
Which brings me to Panera, residing in the aura of coffee and seniors stuck in a routine.
Environment may direct behavior.
But i can choose (choose or chose? ugh, i hate that word)
my surroundings.
I choose environment. (Choose or Chose?)
Environment dictates behavior.
Simply look at the floater friend who has no home.
or the trend follower
or the phenomenon of the mob mentality
or athletic events, plays, and dances.
Environment is the rudder to behavior, directing action to reflect the surrounding sea.
It can make you look like an incapable idiot, or a sophisticated savant.
And i refuse to acknowledge ADD or serotonin or the hypothalamus as the route of cultural issues.
So, i am at P
anera because of my inability to function in the comfort of my house.And for that, i blame environment.
I blame the fact that i have had a TV in my room since 14.
I blame the fact that i have not had a TV in my room since 2006.
And i blame the fact that i am home on Christmas Break.
Which brings me to Panera, residing in the aura of coffee and seniors stuck in a routine.
Environment may direct behavior.
But i can choose (choose or chose? ugh, i hate that word)
my surroundings.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
No Place Like Home
I never really liked the Wizard of Oz. And i never knew it was a musical til lately. And i always got scared from those creepy monkeys. But Dorothy makes this statement:
There is no place like home.
Actually, there are plenty of places like home.
Example: the dorm, church, Joplin, Starbucks, a soccer field, a bathroom, a restaurant, a friend's house.
There are a lot of places like home. And each place remarkably reminds me of a different dimension of home.
The comfort of Starbucks, the community of the dorm, the familiarity of Joplin, there is a part of Home everywhere.
There are a lot of places that resemble home.
But don't be fooled. There is only one home.
There may be a lot of posers, but the real deal is only in one place.
No matter how familiar you feel, or the company you are with, or the similarity of the town,
it doesn't compare to your roots.
Home is a simple crossword puzzle and knowing the TV channels. Home is the sounds of the door and the smell of a meal. Home is the warmth of a bed and the voices of family.
Home is the intangibles that just aren't the same anywhere else.
And its good to be home.
There is no place like home.
Actually, there are plenty of places like home.
Example: the dorm, church, Joplin, Starbucks, a soccer field, a bathroom, a restaurant, a friend's house.
There are a lot of places like home. And each place remarkably reminds me of a different dimension of home.
The comfort of Starbucks, the community of the dorm, the familiarity of Joplin, there is a part of Home everywhere.
There are a lot of places that resemble home.
But don't be fooled. There is only one home.
There may be a lot of posers, but the real deal is only in one place.
No matter how familiar you feel, or the company you are with, or the similarity of the town,
it doesn't compare to your roots.
Home is a simple crossword puzzle and knowing the TV channels. Home is the sounds of the door and the smell of a meal. Home is the warmth of a bed and the voices of family.
Home is the intangibles that just aren't the same anywhere else.
And its good to be home.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Doing it All
So i have been slacking on posting in October. But that is because it was October, and for some reason every professor thinks that it would be a great idea to have every big assignment due in October. But now it is November and the end is in sight.
Its amazing how one little line on a piece of paper can dominate your life for 3 days straight.
Or how 12 full pages can dominate your life for a night.
Or how a paragraph on a page can dominate your life.
Life has been insane lately.
Break-neck speed, everyday.
I feel bad for my roommate (who never sees me),
my girlfriend (who rarely sees me),
and anyone else who would like a fair does of my cheesy personality.
But, i came to Ozark for a reason. And as bad as it sounds, it was not to make friends (awesome) or to get a girlfriend (bonus) or to live with someone cool (he is). I arrived in Joplin in order to prepare for life.
But thankfully, i find myself doing all of these things. And thus the delicate balance begins.
I've tried to make a certain phrase a part of my life this last semester:
"Do a lot, but don't be busy."
This is my last year in college. And i want it to be a good one, not a wasted one.
So that means doing a lot of things, activities, outings, etc. (difficult for me as an introvert).
But it also means not doing so much that i forget about all the things i am doing.
So, as i embark into November, every instinct screams go, go, go.
But my personality pleas stay, stay, stay.
And a question moves to the front of my mind:
How do i do A LOT, but not be busy?
The answer rests in the fulcrum.
Its amazing how one little line on a piece of paper can dominate your life for 3 days straight.
Or how 12 full pages can dominate your life for a night.
Or how a paragraph on a page can dominate your life.
Life has been insane lately.
Break-neck speed, everyday.
I feel bad for my roommate (who never sees me),
my girlfriend (who rarely sees me),
and anyone else who would like a fair does of my cheesy personality.
But, i came to Ozark for a reason. And as bad as it sounds, it was not to make friends (awesome) or to get a girlfriend (bonus) or to live with someone cool (he is). I arrived in Joplin in order to prepare for life.
But thankfully, i find myself doing all of these things. And thus the delicate balance begins.
I've tried to make a certain phrase a part of my life this last semester:
"Do a lot, but don't be busy."
This is my last year in college. And i want it to be a good one, not a wasted one.
So that means doing a lot of things, activities, outings, etc. (difficult for me as an introvert).
But it also means not doing so much that i forget about all the things i am doing.
So, as i embark into November, every instinct screams go, go, go.
But my personality pleas stay, stay, stay.
And a question moves to the front of my mind:
How do i do A LOT, but not be busy?
The answer rests in the fulcrum.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
A Simple Joy
Habits are my favorite.
They often get a bad wrap because of the finger-nail biters, the thumb-suckers, the addicts, and the coaches.
However, for me to live a balanced life, i must be a person of habit. I discovered that in the last three weeks.
But I may take habits to an extreme. Let me explain: each of my days is planned out. until December.
Now there is some flexibility in my days in case a tragedy happens, or something comes up. But the day to day living is done. Planned. Expected. Routine. Some may say, boring, but i say prepared.
i LOVE habits.
And so, when my planning, when my habit, when my routine gets stirred up, i don't respond well. My entire life gets thrown off track because i rely on my habits (this is biblical, i think). This happened only 2 weeks into my school year rhythm when Columbia Traders decided to stay open late on Monday Nights to show Monday Night Football. You can imagine the ripple this caused in my life. I think this information corresponded with my (suspected) contraction of the swine flu (see earlier post). That's how poorly i deal with change. I got sick. physically. and literally.
And Mondays were the worst days to take away. I would have preferred any other day than Monday.
Mondays are/were my "personal" days. My "me-time." My be selfish so that you can give the rest of the week, day. Mondays usually consist of a great breakfast, crossing things off my to-do list, and a night cap of Starbucks doing some preferred reading and self-inspection. A take care of myself day.
When people ask to hang out on Mondays, i respond with busy-ness.
In reality, Mondays are about personal business.
To put it frankly, Mondays were the days i looked forward to.
But sadly, these activities were deferred by football. Upsetting, even though i like football.
(I like routines more than football? yes.)
And since my schedule shakeup, i have been nostalgic about my formerly Me-Mondays, remembering how they energized me for the week.
Which leads me to the title of this blog.
A Simple Joy.
I left early from work on Monday.
I didn't know what to do...
(because the extra time wasn't part of my new schedule),
so i did what i used to do...
I grabbed a book, headed to Starbucks, and did some self-inspection.
Isn't it funny how a simple Monday can prepare you for the week.
And how being sent home can be a good thing,
And how a routine can mean so much more:
I feel energized.
I feel healthy
I feel in rhythm.
This is going to be a good week.
I love routines.
They often get a bad wrap because of the finger-nail biters, the thumb-suckers, the addicts, and the coaches.
However, for me to live a balanced life, i must be a person of habit. I discovered that in the last three weeks.
But I may take habits to an extreme. Let me explain: each of my days is planned out. until December.
Now there is some flexibility in my days in case a tragedy happens, or something comes up. But the day to day living is done. Planned. Expected. Routine. Some may say, boring, but i say prepared.
i LOVE habits.
And so, when my planning, when my habit, when my routine gets stirred up, i don't respond well. My entire life gets thrown off track because i rely on my habits (this is biblical, i think). This happened only 2 weeks into my school year rhythm when Columbia Traders decided to stay open late on Monday Nights to show Monday Night Football. You can imagine the ripple this caused in my life. I think this information corresponded with my (suspected) contraction of the swine flu (see earlier post). That's how poorly i deal with change. I got sick. physically. and literally.
And Mondays were the worst days to take away. I would have preferred any other day than Monday.
Mondays are/were my "personal" days. My "me-time." My be selfish so that you can give the rest of the week, day. Mondays usually consist of a great breakfast, crossing things off my to-do list, and a night cap of Starbucks doing some preferred reading and self-inspection. A take care of myself day.
When people ask to hang out on Mondays, i respond with busy-ness.
In reality, Mondays are about personal business.
To put it frankly, Mondays were the days i looked forward to.
But sadly, these activities were deferred by football. Upsetting, even though i like football.
(I like routines more than football? yes.)
And since my schedule shakeup, i have been nostalgic about my formerly Me-Mondays, remembering how they energized me for the week.
Which leads me to the title of this blog.
A Simple Joy.
I left early from work on Monday.
I didn't know what to do...
(because the extra time wasn't part of my new schedule),
so i did what i used to do...
I grabbed a book, headed to Starbucks, and did some self-inspection.
Isn't it funny how a simple Monday can prepare you for the week.
And how being sent home can be a good thing,
And how a routine can mean so much more:
I feel energized.
I feel healthy
I feel in rhythm.
This is going to be a good week.
I love routines.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Seemingly Pointless
This blog is simply because i told Sonja i was going to blog about it.
Please don't misunderstand this as a bash against Sonja, because it's not.
So, enjoy this ridiculousness and ignore the fact that Sonja is providing the action...
The other day, me and Sonja went to a wedding. Apparently, there are an abnormal amount of weddings to attend at Ozark because that is what people do when they get bored. Get married. Just kidding.
The wedding was a long time coming and it was great. (Congrats Lauren and Patrick).
But, anyway.
We were in route to our final destination (not the movie) when, while traveling, Sonja broke out the finger nail polish.
I had at least 2 issues with this:
1. It smells. And we were in a car. RULE: All scents should be avoided in an air tight automobile, including but not limited to the following: flatulence, perfume/Axe body spray, chopping onions, and finger nail polish.
2. It was raining outside. Therefore, rolling down the window (which isn't enjoyable at 75 mph anyway) was not
an option.
Now, I'm sure at that time i accumulated way more than 2 reasons why this was unacceptable behavior. However, that is unimportant to this story.
Oh, you thought my story was about Sonja putting finger nail polish on in the car? Ok, it kind of was, but it gets better. Next comes the part that i have the more serious problem with, because the stench eventually resided.
You see, Sonja did not just put any kind of finger nail polish on.
No, no, no. She used a very specific kind of polish.
Clear polish to be exact.
She painted her nails in a closed-off car.
with transparent polish.
Could this not wait? Was that clear coating crucial to the appearance of the outfit or something?
Am i the only one who thinks that is crazy?! Clear finger nail polish?! What's the point?
(And I'm not trying to be mean to Sonja, because her nails always look super nice.)
This is why i think that all products should be marketed to women.
Clear finger nail polish can be categorized alongside jewelry, flowers, and anything on sale--
--All things that make women happy but really serve no point in function and practicality.
Maybe i am unable to move across my male-oriented, pragmatic way of thinking to how a female functions and views the world. Either way, for the absurd amount of women that read my blog, clear finger nail polish is dumb.
Don't waste your money. Guys don't notice that your nails are glazed over.
If you want your nails to be shiny, put some glitter on them or something.
But don't buy clear finger nail polish.
Or if you can't escape the American trap of consumerism because you NEED that nail polish,
apply it in an open, breathable area where the stench gets lost with the pollen.
Please don't misunderstand this as a bash against Sonja, because it's not.
So, enjoy this ridiculousness and ignore the fact that Sonja is providing the action...
The other day, me and Sonja went to a wedding. Apparently, there are an abnormal amount of weddings to attend at Ozark because that is what people do when they get bored. Get married. Just kidding.
The wedding was a long time coming and it was great. (Congrats Lauren and Patrick).
But, anyway.
We were in route to our final destination (not the movie) when, while traveling, Sonja broke out the finger nail polish.
I had at least 2 issues with this:
1. It smells. And we were in a car. RULE: All scents should be avoided in an air tight automobile, including but not limited to the following: flatulence, perfume/Axe body spray, chopping onions, and finger nail polish.
2. It was raining outside. Therefore, rolling down the window (which isn't enjoyable at 75 mph anyway) was not
an option.
Now, I'm sure at that time i accumulated way more than 2 reasons why this was unacceptable behavior. However, that is unimportant to this story.
Oh, you thought my story was about Sonja putting finger nail polish on in the car? Ok, it kind of was, but it gets better. Next comes the part that i have the more serious problem with, because the stench eventually resided.
You see, Sonja did not just put any kind of finger nail polish on.
No, no, no. She used a very specific kind of polish.
Clear polish to be exact.
She painted her nails in a closed-off car.
with transparent polish.
Could this not wait? Was that clear coating crucial to the appearance of the outfit or something?
Am i the only one who thinks that is crazy?! Clear finger nail polish?! What's the point?
(And I'm not trying to be mean to Sonja, because her nails always look super nice.)
This is why i think that all products should be marketed to women.
Clear finger nail polish can be categorized alongside jewelry, flowers, and anything on sale--
--All things that make women happy but really serve no point in function and practicality.
Maybe i am unable to move across my male-oriented, pragmatic way of thinking to how a female functions and views the world. Either way, for the absurd amount of women that read my blog, clear finger nail polish is dumb.
Don't waste your money. Guys don't notice that your nails are glazed over.
If you want your nails to be shiny, put some glitter on them or something.
But don't buy clear finger nail polish.
Or if you can't escape the American trap of consumerism because you NEED that nail polish,
apply it in an open, breathable area where the stench gets lost with the pollen.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Legs Tell Stories
Legs tell your stories.
They really do. From dragging stumps courtesy of daily exhaustion, to the peppy lunged steps that recount a great nights rest. From the slightly embarrassing tan lines, to the ghostly embraced whiteness. From the bubbled red bug bites, to the slightest and severe scars. Our legs tell stores better than any other body part.
Legs are the history book of our bodies. They remember what makes them hurt, when they feel like they were floating, when they screamed out for pain, and when laughter was unavoidable. Our legs, tell our stories.
Every boy has the childhood scar resulting from a death defying bike jump over a can of soda off the rickety home-made ramp constructed from left-over fence posts in your best friend's driveway. Every girl has scars from a gravel burn which occurred in 2nd grade playing tag with the boy they liked on the play ground during recess. Our legs really tell our stories.
And right now, this is the story that my legs are telling: Soccer season is here.
I am worn out.
My legs are one their knees begging this to stop. Luckily, tomorrow is an off day for soccer.
But despite the story my legs are telling, i am really looking forward to this season. It should be competitive and fun. I am wondering what story my legs will tell after their soccer playing days are over...
They really do. From dragging stumps courtesy of daily exhaustion, to the peppy lunged steps that recount a great nights rest. From the slightly embarrassing tan lines, to the ghostly embraced whiteness. From the bubbled red bug bites, to the slightest and severe scars. Our legs tell stores better than any other body part.
Legs are the history book of our bodies. They remember what makes them hurt, when they feel like they were floating, when they screamed out for pain, and when laughter was unavoidable. Our legs, tell our stories.
Every boy has the childhood scar resulting from a death defying bike jump over a can of soda off the rickety home-made ramp constructed from left-over fence posts in your best friend's driveway. Every girl has scars from a gravel burn which occurred in 2nd grade playing tag with the boy they liked on the play ground during recess. Our legs really tell our stories.
And right now, this is the story that my legs are telling: Soccer season is here.
I am worn out.
My legs are one their knees begging this to stop. Luckily, tomorrow is an off day for soccer.
But despite the story my legs are telling, i am really looking forward to this season. It should be competitive and fun. I am wondering what story my legs will tell after their soccer playing days are over...
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Driving in Silence
Driving in silence.
Have you ever tried it?
It's a weird thing really. But it is something i have forcefully fallen for. Actually, i don't think i would have ever started driving in silence if it were not for my "clunker" that the government wants to "give me cash for."
If you are unfamiliar with my so called car, let me describe:
First, it was bought at a police auction.
Next, it is from the year 1993. I was 5 1/2 when my car was first purchased.
It is a 2 door, Jeep Cherokee Sport, minus 4-wheel drive, built for my inner 16 year old girl ready to cruise.
Also, the exterior paint is starting to match the interior roof. Neither is a good mark.
Finally, the radio only receives one station in medium-large sized cities.
All of that to arrive at this: when i drive on the highway it is either CD or nothing.
So lately, for lack of new CD's, i have been going with nothing.
(Confession: my first experience was not due to lack of new CD's, but lack of CD's in general because i left them in my sister's car.)
Anyway, back on topic. Silence is an awkward thing. It genuinely makes me uncomfortable. It gets even stranger when you look at the car next to you and there is a 43 year old man with a white beard belting out Living on a Prayer as he cruises down the turnpike in his Geo Prism. 'Nuff Said.
But minus the solidarity of my SUV, i find it is near impossible to find silence today.
That's ok, because i can only spend a certain amount of time isolated from intrusive noise.
Its often a relief to know that there will be something filling my ears other than the sound of my own voice.
But a lack of silence makes us dumb people.
Silence is the foundation for becoming smart.
I find it sad that a significant amount of good ideas are formed either in the shower or in some other bathroom fixture. However, this is where silence is found in our culture.
Therefore, practice good hygiene, and trounce yourself in daily silence.
Although i find silence a much needed commodity,
I am not such an extremist to boycott radio, TV, or other white noise.
So i will continue to listen to the radio, CD's, and my Ipod while i drive.
But i will also continue to drive in silence periodically for this simple reason:
To avoid Living on a Prayer and driving a Geo Prism.
Have you ever tried it?
It's a weird thing really. But it is something i have forcefully fallen for. Actually, i don't think i would have ever started driving in silence if it were not for my "clunker" that the government wants to "give me cash for."
If you are unfamiliar with my so called car, let me describe:
First, it was bought at a police auction.
Next, it is from the year 1993. I was 5 1/2 when my car was first purchased.
It is a 2 door, Jeep Cherokee Sport, minus 4-wheel drive, built for my inner 16 year old girl ready to cruise.
Also, the exterior paint is starting to match the interior roof. Neither is a good mark.
Finally, the radio only receives one station in medium-large sized cities.
All of that to arrive at this: when i drive on the highway it is either CD or nothing.
So lately, for lack of new CD's, i have been going with nothing.
(Confession: my first experience was not due to lack of new CD's, but lack of CD's in general because i left them in my sister's car.)
Anyway, back on topic. Silence is an awkward thing. It genuinely makes me uncomfortable. It gets even stranger when you look at the car next to you and there is a 43 year old man with a white beard belting out Living on a Prayer as he cruises down the turnpike in his Geo Prism. 'Nuff Said.
But minus the solidarity of my SUV, i find it is near impossible to find silence today.
That's ok, because i can only spend a certain amount of time isolated from intrusive noise.
Its often a relief to know that there will be something filling my ears other than the sound of my own voice.
But a lack of silence makes us dumb people.
Silence is the foundation for becoming smart.
I find it sad that a significant amount of good ideas are formed either in the shower or in some other bathroom fixture. However, this is where silence is found in our culture.
Therefore, practice good hygiene, and trounce yourself in daily silence.
Although i find silence a much needed commodity,
I am not such an extremist to boycott radio, TV, or other white noise.
So i will continue to listen to the radio, CD's, and my Ipod while i drive.
But i will also continue to drive in silence periodically for this simple reason:
To avoid Living on a Prayer and driving a Geo Prism.
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