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Don't get me wrong though, as I do truly love the things that I am learning throughout my grad program. I don't think I've ever spent quite as much time evaluating my own leadership philosophy or what different identities intersect to form the person who is me. Work is fantastic as well, as I've rejoined a company that I absolutely love. I have not only been able to experience and create magic again, but also have been able to incorporate the concepts learned in my grad program to help students with the difficulties they may face, difficulties that I myself experienced when I was in their shoes. It's certainly rewarding emotionally knowing that I am going into a job that I love working on projects that incorporate content that I am passionate about. The main concern is that doing this for an extended period of time now sans break has caused me to begin to burn out and lose some of the passion and vigor I once felt.
I guess at the end of the day I just need to keep my head up and eyes forward. The end of the road is within sight, so I just need to keep powering through it.
Labels: attitude, burnt out, busy, challenge, daily grind, experience, feeling, grad school, Life, life change, mental, mindset, perserverance, Reflection, ups and downs
Be careful who you put your trust in, you never know who is going to turn their back on you when you need them most.
I wrote that as part of a post on January 9th, 2009 regarding the fragility of trust. I don't remember the context of the post but the lesson in it still rings as true as ever to me, especially in light of some recent events in my life.
I also wrote a couple reflections on Life and Love, and I think the primary message that can be pulled from that have to do with everyday optimism. Though the tone and mood of the poetry in both reflections are different, it's abundantly clear that the lesson to be learned is that regardless of the circumstance you should be optimistic and happy with whatever you do. As I stated in my reflection on life:
Drink in the moment,
For you will never know when the stream will run dry.
Building on the fragility of life and the optimistic attitude I feel is important to adopt, I believe that there are certain aspects of daily living that are often overlooked.
Being grateful is never out of style, and the value of a simple "thank you" is severely underrated.
I can't agree with what I wrote there anymore. People often dismiss saying "thank you" as something trivial or as a social obligation as dictated by manners; what they fail to realize is the intrinsic value of that small phrase. By saying that to someone you are recognizing their actions and showing that you appreciate what they do, and it's amazing how much a little recognition can change someone's day for the better.
Life rewards us for our effort, and although it might not become apparent immediately, it will be there.
That one phrase there helps me get through every single day of my life. I often over-analyze scenarios that I am presented with or actions that I have taken and can really come down hard on myself. It's having enough confidence that my actions are for the best and will eventually be beneficial to be or others in the future is what motivates me to keep going.
Learn to communicate with others not only through words, but through actions, and never be afraid to ask a friend for help because communication is the life blood of teamwork, and without it everything would just crumble [...] No matter who you are, what your story is, or what your heritage is like, learn to be accepting of others and welcome them with an open hand, because an open hand is easier to work with than a closed fist.Wow. This is pretty self-explanatory and has probably been one of the most beneficial lessons I'd ever learned.
Know your bounds and continue to push them. Stagnancy and laziness are the plague of our society, so it is up to us to invoke the change we wish to see.
As obvious as it sounds, a desire for self-betterment is crucial to not only success but to the evolution of our identity as a person. Without it we might as well be a gear in the system: always moving but remaining in the same place. we have to continue to push ourselves not only to grow as individuals but to see that positive change that we desire for the world. Which leads me to my next point...
Change isn't something we should always fear. Change is something we should accept with open arms.
The world is always changing, for better or worse. And our fear of stagnancy often causes us to avoid action in order to maintain what we are familiar with; humans are creatures of habit and it certainly is hard to take that first leap into the unknown. But why? What is so scary about change? Instead of looking at what can go wrong or what you won't like with something new, envision the seemingly limitless potential for a positive outcome. There are so many "what if's" we think of, so instead of focusing on the negative just try and look at the positives instead.
It really is amazing how easy it is to regress to a state in the past that you don't particularly like, but it's not always easy to recognize that you are actually regressing. That is why it's absolutely crucial in the ever evolving concept of who you are that you take a moment to sit down and reflect upon the past, because frankly you might just stumble upon something that you might have forgotten.
Without reflection, we go blindly on our way, creating more unintended consequences, and failing to achieve anything useful. - Margaret J. Wheatley
Labels: advice, Appreciation, attitude, contemplating, experience, future, general, gratitude, growing up, growth, happiness, Life, life change, opportunity, philosophy, realization, Reflection, wisdom
That being said, I plan on making an effort to chronicle my adventures and intellectual (or maybe not so intellectual) musings along the way. I've also developed a passion for photography so I'll also do my best to include photos from the journey. I've recently realized that though photography and spoken word poetry are great ways for me to express myself there is no real outlet like writing. Well, here's to a new adventure and the stories that will come with it!
The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. - Lao Tzu
Labels: beginning, BK, challenge, change, choices, college, cool, dream, enjoyment, experience, future, general, Life, life change, reality
Sometimes it feels like I'm in a movie theater watching my life play out in front of me on the big screen, never knowing what comes next. Not shockingly, I've been told by numerous people that with the amount of drama, hilarity, and straight up weird things that happen in my life that it should be a movie. I'd like to call it a romantic comedy, except there's a bit missing in the romance department. Moving right along...
I've noticed that killing with kindness doesn't always work, and that having a laid-back attitude where I don't care what the public perception of me is proves to be surprisingly difficult to maintain when those around you choose to clash with you. It's a challenge, no doubt, but I feel it is one that is completely worth the struggle. Yet I'm surprised that when others ask for that advice they seem reluctant to accept the medicine they just asked for. Why is that? Perhaps it has something to do with hearing an ugly truth that they don't want to hear. Perhaps it's because they just wanted some ambient noise so they could try and solve their own problems. It's all irrelevant when you realize that the advice I offer is something that can only be understood once one has undergone many of life's growing pains that I have. I guess the long and short of it is, with age comes wisdom.
Now I am by no means old, and I am by no means omniscient, but I do feel at times that I am an old soul of my generation. I say that simply because I have become a journeyman of sorts in terms of my work and the diverse experiences that comes with it. I have been thrust into a position where personal growth and maturation are topics frequently referenced at all of my work locations, where communication and conflict resolution are staples of dialogue, and where leadership becomes something that I implement in my daily life. I don't mean to boast in the slightest, I just wish to offer some perspective into where I come from as a person, and why I adapt the philosophy that I do. If you choose to follow something similar to me, by all means come knock on my door, let's have a chat, and I'd be more than glad to have a conversation to you. But there is one thing that I insist you do not do.
Don't come to me asking for advice that will change your life, because only you have the power to do so.
Labels: advice, attitude, challenge, change, diversity, experience, growing old, growing up, kindness, leadership, Life, life change, Movie, perception, philosophy, problem, self, truth, work
The reality is this: there isn't anything new. Graduation just means I have a piece of paper now that says I passed my classes. This internship is just another stepping stone on my way to hopefully success. My friends are the people who have been there for me throughout the good times and the bad times in college. Nothing has really changed, except my outlook on the world.
Before I was naive and over-zealous, now I'm more realistic but just as ambitious. I don't make impulsive decisions as much as I used to, I have learned how to better manage my finances and most of all, I've learned how to handle myself around other people (sorta, I'm still a bit awkward).
I guess what I'm getting at is this: The only difference you will notice once you graduate is that your mindset going into college is completely different than it is coming out. That, and the extra little bit of money in your pocket.
Labels: future, graduation, growth, maturity, mindset, money, new, past, present
I've come to the realization that I've been pretty damn negative for a good portion of my life. I'm a skeptic, I'm a cynic, and I'm a pessimist. This is hopefully going to change soon.
I've made the decision to head in a different direction in my life. I understand that some of the shit I've gone through absolutely sucks, but now realize that it pales in comparison to some of the other stuff that happens in the world. I'm actually really lucky to be sitting where I'm sitting right now. I want to believe in humanity now, even though the things I see on a daily basis try and sway me otherwise. I want so desperately to start seeing the good in people, and I want to believe that it's something genuine, not just an act. I just really wish that people were honest enough to not abuse my trust.
I've decided not to dwell on stupid shit anymore. Holding grudges is like letting people live in my head rent free. Well, I'm posting those eviction notices because I'm reteaching myself how to forgive. No more of this childish bullshit, I'm going to let bygones be bygones and just leave the water to flow under the bridge. The past is the past; I can learn from it, but I can't change it. I can, however, change the future by using what I've learned.
And lastly, I've been trying to be more appreciative of the things in my life. I know I've talked about being appreciative in previous posts, but I haven't really taken it to heart as seriously as I am now. I don't know what will happen in the future, so I need to appreciate the moment I'm living in now instead of worrying about what comes next. I need to appreciate my ability to speak my mind, my ability to make my own decisions, or even just my ability to feed myself.
Change isn't something we should always fear. Change is something we should accept with open arms. I'm embracing all of these new ideals and values, and I'm hoping you all can embrace them too. This world needs more humanity, so let's take that first step.
Labels: Appreciation, faith, forgiveness, fortunate, future, humanity, life change, past, present, Trust
Never forget that no matter how dark your day may seem, or how terrible things are going... there's always someone out there less fortunate than you are.
Labels: fortunate, gracious, grass, gratitude, greener, Life, lucky, respect
I am currently a graduate student studying education and will update my thoughts and experiences here periodically. Though the content of my blog may not always be the most intellectually stimulating, I believe that there is always a lesson to be learned from my posts, even if it's just a nonsensical story. I find poetry in ordinary life experiences and capture what memories I can through my camera's lens. At the end of the day I'm just another regular guy who needs to write his thoughts somewhere, and I hope you get some enjoyment out of my musings.
All of the best,
BK
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Burnt Out
Revisiting the Past
Another Journey
The Story Thus Far
The New Road
Starting Fresh
Always Greener
January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010 August 2010 November 2010 February 2011 May 2011 October 2011 January 2012 March 2012 September 2013 September 2014