Lack of Clarity

Creating Your Own Utopia

2012-03-13T14:46:00.000-07:00

Stop complaining about living a boring life. Learn a new skill like how to cook, how to juggle, etc. Take up a new hobby like slack lining, rock climbing, or scuba diving. Read a book. Write a story. Go outside and talk to strangers that you pass on the street. Build yourself a coffee table. Draw and paint a picture. Go for a walk. Think of something you used to do as a child but don't do anymore, and do it. Just turn off your TV, throw it out the window (ok maybe not that part), and go do something that's actually worth doing.

Good Times

2012-02-24T19:55:00.001-08:00

last night my buddy Eric M. picked me up around 7 pm. I hadn't seen Eric in quite sometime so it was awesome to finally get to hangout with him. We took off from my house after he picked me up in his company van and we headed to Swansea to finish his nights work moving and stacking 30 packs of beer. This was fine with me because i was aware of this before he picked me up, and I was actually looking forward to doing the work with him. The next few hours was spent doing work. We finished the work and got back to Eric's house around 10 o'clock. We Watched Hot Fuzz, ate some food, and then got to bed around 3 AM. We woke up at 7 AM so that Eric could drop me off at home before heading to work for the morning. So as of now I am quite sleep deprived. Upon finishing this blog post I am going to go lay in bed and drift off into dream land and I am going to cherish it more than i ever have before. I'll write about my experiences in dreamland tomorrow for you, but my guess right now is it'll will probably take place in Victorian England. I say this because lately I've been spending lots of time reading the wonderful Sherlock Holmes novels and short stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. And with that, I bid you farewell readers!

Heart to Heart at Taco Bell

2012-01-27T20:00:00.000-08:00

This week has been a pretty brutal week for me for multiple reasons and it was breaking me down slowly. So today I had plans to hangout with my friend Zack Desroches to get my mind off the chaos and heartbreak of the week and just be happy. The plan was for him to come over and we were gonna watch a Japanese martial arts movie and play some ping pong. These plans were smashed however when I got a call from Zack letting me know that his headlights on his truck weren't working so he didnt feel comfortable driving to my house (it was dark at this point, around 6 o'clock). So I told him that I would drive out to his house to meet up with him. So I took the drive from my house to his house, blinded by headlights of cars in my face, and headlights i could see from cars behind me reflecting off my mirrors. This was what most of my drive consisted of until I turned down a side road in Acushnet that had no street lights and was completely dark. After a couple hundred feet of this, I reach his house safely, pull into his drive way, shut off the engine, and call him. As his phone was ringing he stepped outside of his front door and gave me a strange look, so I proceeded to end the call, and get out of the car.

So after sitting on his couch talking for a little bit, we decided to go to Taco Bell and Walmart, so we got up, walked out to my car, and were heading back to Fairhaven. So we went to taco bell first to eat and talk. The whole drive there and the two hours we spent sitting in the booth eating tacos, we spent talking and venting to each other. It was nice to be able to have someone to talk to because this whole week seems to be one disappointment after the next and I desperately needed someone to talk to. The beginning of the week I started to feel incredibly lonely and just... sad. My sister who is my best friend is off at college so I've gone from spending every day with her to rarely ever seeing her, and my neighbor who's practically my younger brother is always doing homework or at tennis practice so I never see him anymore either and the loneliness just started to sink in. Then a few days after that my plans to go out to lunch with a friend on Friday got cancelled and I was pretty bummed out about that. Then the very next day there was news of a car accident involving three kids from my school, resulting in the death of one of them. That made me feel pretty shitty and the atmosphere of the school wasn't helping. Ive never heard the hallways or cafeteria so quiet before in my life. It was so quiet I could hear kids breathing from half way down the room. Up until this point I was keeping my composure and staying together pretty well, until my friend literally collapsed crying in my arms, and I broke down. That shook me right to my core and left me devastated.

Words can't begin to explain how much I needed tonight, how badly I needed to just go do something that wouldn't depress the shit out of me. I needed a win this week and tonight I got that win. Thank You Zack.

Something Has to Change

2012-01-20T18:14:00.000-08:00

There comes a certain point in everyone's life where they sporadically decide that they need some sort of positive change in their lives. This change can be anything as simple as a haircut, or as "extreme" as trying a couple belongings into a carry on bag and getting up and going to a different country. However small or large these changes are, we all acknowledge that they must be made at one point or another in our lives for the better. This point in my life came over the summer as i was on Art of Manliness and came across an article titled Minimalism Begets Manliness and it became the fuel to my fire of change. This caused me to re evaluate my life and my priorities in life. It caused me to see the negative relationships I kept in my life for no reason. It caused me to declutter my life in multiple aspects. I decided to re-evaluate my values and what brings me happiness in my life. I stopped doing things like playing video games so much, and started spending more time biking, enjoying the beauty of nature, freerunning, living. I started doing things that make ME happy, and I stopped caring about anything else. I pursued MY passions, and I couldn't be happier. Maybe it's time that you make a change?

Summer Time

2012-01-15T18:18:00.000-08:00

Right now it is mid January, and here in Massachusetts, it's freaking cold! right now I am wearing a sweatshirt inside of my home to stay warm. I remember when it was still summer. Riding my bike around town, NOT freezing, the warm weather and cool breezes. I miss the summer, it seems like its been forever since then.... and I want it back. But I know I'm going to have to wait.

A Year Seems So Long

2012-01-15T09:09:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was my grandfather's birthday, so we had him over my house for lunch with us. It was a delicious mean and we had some good conversation while we at, but then we started talking about Scrabble and my grandmother. My grandmother passed away January 18th, 2011. But when we talked about her yesterday we didnt say things like "she used to teach you so much" or anything else in the past tense. We spoke of her as if she was still here, even though its been almost a year since she's been gone.

Thank You

2012-01-03T17:03:00.000-08:00

Its 2012 and SO many people have influenced me to become the person I am today, but there are a select few that I would like to take the time to personally thank for the deep lasting impact that they have had on my life thus far, even though words cannot begin to express my gratitude towards each and every one of them.

First on the list would be My Parents. Without them i would literally be no where. Their constant support I would not have been able to do anything that I do now. It was also their amazing job of raising me that gave me the strong foundation of values and morals I have today. Thank You.

Next up is Zack Desroches. I've known Zack for many years now and I can whole heartedly say that I am more than proud to call him my friend. Zack is not only my friend but he has been someone that I look up to, and come to for guidance. As a friend and a mentor Zack has never let me down in my times of need. He is the person I strive to be like everyday. He has helped me through some extremely tough times, and I know I can talk to him about ANYTHING and everything. His strong faith has caused me to have a little faith of my own. For everything he has done for me and will continue to do, I cannot express my gratitude to him or how much he means to me.

Now we have Amanda Murphy. Anytime I spend with Amanda is time well spent. She never seems to fail at making me laugh and smile whenever I'm with her no matter how crappy things have been going at the time. That alone has helped me more than she will ever know. She is a beautiful person with a big heart. Most importantly... She is genuine. Everything about her is genuine and pure. That's why I love spending time with her, because I can completely be myself around her, which isn't something I can say about most people. She means a lot to me.

Lastly is Ian Francis. Ian was my freshman year biology teacher. This may seem random to add him into this list, but I assure you it is not! Ian was heavily tattooed (many visible) and has stretched earlobes. This was the first real encounter I had with Body Modification. It fascinated me so much how cool looking it was so I went home and did a little research and found one of Ian's tattoos on BME. BME is what opened the "flood gates" for me to the world of Body Modification and all it has to offer. If not for Ian, I may never have developed such a deep interest in Body Modification, which is the career field I intend on pursuing. The funny thing is I'm sure he has NO idea about this. Gratitude and Respect don't even begin to explain how I feel towards Ian.

As 2011 Comes to a Close...

2011-12-31T09:50:00.000-08:00

Today is December 31st, 2011 and this morning when I woke up I took some time to look back upon the year. I looked back at the choices I made and what the outcomes were. I looked at moments of pain and heartbreak. And moments of happiness and joy. I look back at friendships lost, and friendships discovered. I look back at adventures had and dreams lost. I look back and i smile and laugh. 2011 was a good year, and I am hopefully about 2012 being even better.

Fear and New Frontiers

2011-12-22T19:51:00.000-08:00

Today was the last day of school before Christmas Vacation for me. There wasn't much work to do in any of my classes today so I had quite a bit amount of time to kill however I could, and my mind began to wander. It was only a few minutes until I came to the realization that I was halfway through my senior year of high school. Not only is it mind blowing how fast this year has gone by, but how fast high school in general has past. I still remember my freshman year class schedule and all my teachers. Graduating from elementary school was the same way, it was unbelievable how fast the time went by when looking back on it. Which is strange because while it was happening, it seemed to drag on forever, until it was over. Although, I didn't really look back as much as I thought I would on high school so far. Instead, I couldn't stop looking ahead, and thinking about the future. Thinking about ending this journey and starting a new journey, a new experience. I used to think about my future with fear and nervousness.

Now, when I think about my future I'm hopeful. My future is a blank sheet of paper and I'm the author, there's no reason to be afraid. But yet... I still am. I'm scared out of my mind. I'm scared that i might fail. I'm scared of what's gonna happen if i do fail, and what other options i have. The future is scary. Every vacation i get to sleep in late, wake up, and just enjoy freedom and do whatever i want to for the day. But once i graduate high school and my last summer vacation is over, its no longer freedom, I need to find something to do, something constructive to earn money. And that scares me too. I'm not ready to grow up. But time isn't going to slow down for me.

Tragedy is Opportunity

2011-12-10T16:58:00.000-08:00

I find that with an open mind, tragedy can often be turned into opportunity. If you think about it with a positive mentality and truly try your best to make a shitty situation better, you'll see it too. Losing your job can be an opportunity to throw yourself at your childhood dreams, like becoming an author if that's what you've always wanted to do. Or try your hand at becoming a successful chef if that's what you fancy, it's a chance to give your old creams a shot, the ones you "put aside until you had enough money to support yourself" at the job you got with every intention of leaving but never did leave. Losing your home can be the push you've needed to go travel and see the world live you've always wanted to. Open mindedness and positivity can work wonders. Also, being sad and having a bad attitude doesn't help your shitty situation anyways.

Gratitude

2011-12-06T18:45:00.000-08:00

I always try to be appreciative and thankful for everything I have and every opportunity I am given. It's been pretty easy for me to stay this way lately because I go to a public school, and a lot of the kids have to pay for their own lunch, cars, insurance, and various other stuff that I took for granted before attending this school. When you're exposed to things like that it helps to put things into perspective each and everyday.

Meditation and Eating Healthy

2011-11-30T17:14:00.001-08:00

I sit at the far end of my dining room table alone, with the only light illuminating from a wooden Christmas tree decoration with dim lights wrapped around it. The only noise I can hear is the faint sound of the television that my mother is watching a few rooms over from where I am. Aside from these incomprehensible noises I am left with only my thoughts, and the bowl of pasta and vegetables that sits in front of me. This bowl is accompanied by a glass of Kiwi Lemon juice I made a few minutes prior to sitting down. So here I am sitting alone enjoying a healthy meal by myself. This does not happen too often for me, because there are always people at my house causing far too much noise for my liking, so I cherish this moment. Any time I have to meditate and just be left with my thoughts is time well spent. I think it is good for people to take a few minutes every so often to do so. It can help get you’re thoughts collected, cool down, and just generally figure out how to approach things, and it causes people to do something that they don’t usually do... Slow Down. Just slow down.... and Breathe.

Self Realization and Doing the Impossible

2011-11-29T17:07:00.000-08:00

Over the past few weeks I've had highs and lows in my daily life. One low that stands out more so than others is coming to the realization that I am not as flexible as I once was many many years ago, and I've been slacking on stretching each morning. This discouraged me slightly for a short time knowing that it was only hindering me from reaching my ultimate goals regarding my flexibility but those thoughts of discouragement quickly vanished. They vanished when I realized that it's less about the goal that you have in mind and more so about the journey taken to the goal, and striving to improve as a person. Even if you don't necessarily reach your goal, I'm sure you can get something good out of your efforts. It's like... if you get into a fight and lose, at the end of the day you can still look yourself in the mirror knowing that you stood up for what you believed in and didnt but into someone else's bullshit philosophy. So although I am not close to reaching my goal, I'm happy knowing that each day im improving and getting closer to my goal, improving my flexibility, and improving as a person. Striving to be the best i can be, then striving to be more. With that being said I am looking forward to stretching everyday, trying to go for walks/jogs when it's not too terribly cold out (it is current winter here in Massachusetts), possibly doing yoga, and staying active.

Not to jump around on subjects but the other day I had an interesting conversation with a man by the name of Richard Effin' Ivey. Richard is a professional Body Modification Artist. I've been incredibly fascinated by the Body Modification industry for a few years now, ever since my freshman year biology teacher exposed me to it. Since then I've gotten tons of negative reactions from people, and even more so when they find out that I want to do it for a living, I want to be a professional body modification artist. I've been told that its unrealistic or that it's not a real job, or that I'm going to make no money doing it. Constantly faced with discouraging comments from peers and other people that are "involved" in my life. This does not change my views or opinions whatsoever, I still want to become a professional body modification artist and will do everything I possibly can to succeed in doing so. People shouldn't ever let fear stop them from doing something that they want to, no matter how absurd your dreams may seem, you should always try to make them come true. Even if I don't succeed, at least I can say that i gave it my all and that's the reason why i can go to sleep happy every night and you're still complaining about how unhappy you are. I will be happier with my failures than you will ever be with your mediocre version of "success".

Freedoms

2011-11-28T12:42:00.000-08:00

Today was the first day I've driven to school on my own since getting my license. It felt... good, realizing all these new freedoms that come with growing up and being an adult. I'm becoming more... self sufficient. I no longer need to rely on my parents or older friends to take me to the store or to go out bowling or do anything else that involves driving somewhere. It feels good to be given more slack on the leash that is created by our limitations.

Negativity

2011-11-22T14:12:00.000-08:00

I see so many facebook posts that are just filled with general negativity. things like "ugghh awful day, don't talk to me" or "that's it, i give up, im done!" and i never understood why people would say these things. There is always a reason to be positive, one that often makes the reason for being negative seem petty (which it probably is). People always ask me how I stay positive all the time, the answer is simple. Shift focuses, instead of holding onto things that make you angry, sad, or feel like crap, think about things that make you happy. And if you can't do that, find a constructive way to express anger. There are so many more reasons to be happy than to be negative, all you need to do is stop searching for the ladder of the two.

Newport

2011-11-16T16:21:00.001-08:00

Today in school I went on a field trip to IRYS (International Yacht Restoration School) in Newport, Rhode Island with my shop. This was my first time being in Newport so as we drove through the city I was immediately overwhelmed with the sights. Tons of buildings packed together like sardines from street corner to street corner. All of different colors and sizes. Each selling something different, whether it be Newport shirts and memorabilia, chocolates and other candy, glass statues and figurines, or whatever it may have been. Everything was so crammed and crowded, especially with our bus driving down the one way street we were on with cars parked on both sides. Once we had our way down that street and arrived at IRYS we exited the bus, entered the old mill/factory like building, and began our tour. I never realized how fascinating boats are or how much work truly goes into making or restoring one. It was a very interesting visit, and one of the only field trips that held my attention the whole time i was there.

Goals

2011-11-12T18:58:00.000-08:00

Leo wrote a post a while back on Zen Habits titled... "the best goal is no goal" and after reading it multiple times i can say that i completely understand it and why he posted it. i also understand the benefits to be had from taking his advice. But i personally would prefer to give slightly different advice to you. instead of having no goals, have some (achievable) goals but don't let them be your main focus. People put too much stock into goals and have this notion that if they don't achieve their goals, they're failures. This obviously isn't the case. I have goals of eventually paring down my personal possessions to be able to fit everything into a backpack, but is that my main focus of life right now? Hell no it's not! I work towards my goal a little bit everyday and don't worry to much about whether or not i am going to achieve it. I suggest you start doing the same. Don't have no goals, just put less thought and effort into your goals.

Simplify

2011-11-07T13:18:00.000-08:00

Simplify your life. Simplify everything about it. start with small things like limiting the lines you use in emails and other internet chat. Then slowly build up to big things like your personal possessions. Simplifying things cause you to push out what doesn't truly matter, causing you to focus more upon what really does matter. Focusing on what really matters to you will lead to happiness, even if you're hesitant at first. Since I've simplified almost every aspect of my life I've been able to focus more on hobbies i really enjoy, my health and fitness, and my friends.

Halloween

2011-10-29T17:31:00.000-07:00

yesterday i got a text from Zack asking me if I'd like to accompany him and Amanda to the Lakeville Haunted house that night. Normally I'm not too big on these things but seeing as how I would be with them, i graciously accepted the invite. a couple of hours later they arrive in Zack's truck, we print directions on my computer, and then we take off for Lakeville. During the long drive in the dark to Lakeville we listen to.. Hatebreed, Jasta, Emmure, Rise Against, All Shall Perish, and Amon Amarth. Then we arrive after a couple minor setbacks and we enter to get our tickets. Proceeding a few minutes of waiting under a tent, its our groups turn to enter and begin our "journey" if you can call it that. Although not too scary, i was startled several times throughout this maze. Once we finally make our way out, we head over to taco bell to get some gourmet Mexican food before we go back to my house, but due to road construction, we were detoured to Dartmouth so we just went to the taco bell in the mall parking lot. We spent about an hour there between eating, talking, and then talking with Zack's friend Eric who showed up just before we were going to leave haha. It was a pretty kick ass night that i enjoyed thoroughly. That's probably all I will be doing for Halloween though, I'm not much of a "trick-or-treater".

...And Then it Clicked

2011-10-26T17:15:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I was at Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven doing a bit of freerunning/parkour. I had just stepped and jumped off a wall and grabbed the top of it with my right hand. And as I was pulling myself up this wall something clicked in my head. I realized that i wasn't doing this (parkour) so that i could get exercise or to impress people or anything else. I was doing it because I wanted to do it. Parkour is the ultimate freedom, there are no rules or regulations for parkour, you just... move. Move however you want, you can vault over a short ledge or step off it and front flip, the possibilities are endless. Parkour is what true freedom feels like, the ability to do whatever you want, however you want to do it. That is why I do parkour.

Writing about Writers

2011-10-26T16:35:00.000-07:00

im writing this blog post to inform my readers about one of my favorite writers. Nina Yau of Castles in the Air. She writes with such deep passion and intensity, every word has a specific place and function in each sentence. She also writes in such a way that it really lands with the readers which makes it infinitely more enjoyable. I STRONGLY suggest you click that link after her name and take a read through.

Friends

2011-10-06T19:01:00.000-07:00

Today I realized just how important my friends are to me. Don't get me wrong, I've always loved and valued my friends very much but today it really hit me just how much they really mean to me. They are something that I value immensely in life. I don;t know where i would be without their help, guidance, and all around positivity and ability to lift my spirits when I'm down. Many times I've wanted to give up but I have always been pushed to go further by my friends, and for that, I thank them.

Hubbable 2012

2011-09-23T19:16:00.000-07:00

I've just received an invite via Facebook to "The 2012 Hubbable Parkour Jam" in Boss Town Mass. I was in attendance of the very first Hubbable Jam last year in March of 2011 and it was incredible. Seeing 100s (there were about 300 people) all gathered together to do the same thing, move. Everyone there was more than friendly too, and always willing to help another person learn something new and improve as a Freerunner and a person, and that was a beautiful thing. I am looking forward to what this years Hubbable Jam will bring to the table, and what I can bring to the table as well. The date is March 17th, 2011 so until then I will continue training and prospering as an individual.

The Weekend

2011-09-16T16:55:00.000-07:00

The Weekend is something I look forward to always, Monday, Tuesday, Friday and any day in between I am looking forward to Friday at 2:30 when i finally get out of school and have the rest of the day as well as the next two days to myself, to stay up late, sleep in, and then do whatever I please. No schoolwork, no agenda, no schedule, just... freedom. I can watch a movie if I want, or play video games, or go outside and enjoy the fresh air. The possibilities are endless.

Challenging Views

2011-09-14T18:25:00.000-07:00

Many of my.... ideals and morals challenge each other and I'm often left at a fork in the road, metaphorically speaking. once quick example... I do not think abortion is right and do not support it. However, I also do not believe that I should push MY views on things at other people and force them to abide by what I think is right. I can't stand when people try to tell me that my morals are wrong because they don't fit exactly to what that person thinks. Just some food for thought...

Self Improvement.

2011-08-29T19:09:00.001-07:00

I am an individual who is big on self improvement and self strengthening. Almost everything I enjoy has some sort of value to it that aids me in my quest of constant improvement. Two of these things of course being Parkour/ Freerunning and my soon to begin journey in the realm of Body Modification.

People have a pre-conceived notion that parkour is just a bunch of out of control teenagers that recklessly hurl themselves off of buildings, roofs, and anything else they can climb. I believe this notion is caused because there are so many internet videos of kids that see actually parkour practitioners, and then they go out and try it with no previous training and injure themselves. Regardless, what parkour really is is the art of movement. It is often defined as the fastest and most efficient way to get from Point A to Point B using the obstacles around you to improve efficiency and speed. Now I also mentioned Freerunning in the previous paragraph, Freerunning is extremely similar to parkour, the only difference being that instead of going from Point A to Point B as fast as you can, Freerunners will run the same course, and include a bit more “style” (flips, spins, and other tricks) while doing the course. Needless to say this takes an incredible amount of physical strength, dexterity, and other attributes. In addition to improving you physically, it also causes you to become more mentally aware and stronger.

Body Modification is the practice of (electively) altering your body’s physical appearance. Often through tattooing, piercings, branding, scarification, and other forms. Many people find this practice to be gross and “unacceptable” because it is something that they are not used to and they don’t understand it, so they approach it with negativity. I see body modification as many things, an art form that helps others become more comfortable and happy with what they look like, a community of loving and caring people, and a way of strengthening your mind body and soul to help unify them as one. More on that when I make my post about Body Suspensions.

Summer's End

2011-08-25T19:34:00.000-07:00

As I help my sister bring some boxes of various toiletries and other things for college, I realize that summer is ending VERY soon, and i can't help but look back upon the amazing summer I've had this year. This summer was when i adopted the lifestyle of a minimalist, i bought a plant and watched it grow, and many other things. I'll expand on that later though. I did have an incredible summer but part of me is also happy that it is coming to an end.... mostly because summer ending means i get to go back to Baystate Gymnastics every week :D, and also because if it never ended, i would lose sight of its awesomeness.

So one of the things i did this summer was take a road trip down to New Jersey to go to Six Flags with my Sister and Father. Six Flags New Jersey is home of the rollercoaster known as The Kingda Ka, which is the countries tallest and fastest rollercoaster, and it was amazing to say the least. after spending a couple days at Six Flags, we then headed towards Washington, D.C. and stopped at Naked Art Tattoos in Odenton, Maryland to visit my friend Halo Jankowski. After spending some time with Halo, we left to go to our hotel, about an hour and a half away in the heart of downtown D.C. the 3 days spent in Washington D.C. were spent entirely outside, aside from the little sleep that was gotten. From early morning till the wee hours of the night, we walked around the beautiful capital, enjoyed its many museums, and took in all its breath-taking sights. although i enjoyed EVERY moment of it and each museum, monument, memorial, and building two specific places stuck out to me.

The first of the two is The Arlington National Cemetery. Small White Tombstones spanned across the property farther than the eye could see in every direction. The only thing you could do was take it all in without uttering a word or making a sound. A truly incredible and beautiful sight.

The second of these was a specific part of The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, The Hall of Remembrance. walking around the museum is noisy and things catch your eye in ever direction until you enter the Hall of Remembrance, then everything is silent. Completely silent... the walls of the Hall are in the shape of an Octagon with rows of candle against each side of the wall. People may go through and light a candle or two for the victims of the Holocaust. If you ever get a chance to go to Washington, D.C. i would highly recommend that you go and check out these two places, as well as the many other historical beauties that it has to offer!

Temptations, My Trip to SkyZone, and a New Bicycle!

2011-08-24T19:39:00.000-07:00

i am often tempted to write about things that i do in my life, things ranging from a simple walk to Fort Phoenix, to things like taking a road trip up to New Hampshire to spend the day with a couple amazing body modification artists. but i always feel like i will end up taking something boring and mundane and try to make it seem like something far greater than it was. and i guess that in a sense, that is true. but in my eyes, this mundane event isn't boring at all, because i do my best to be happy all the time. so i guess ill now take the time to let you know what ive been doing lately, or since i last posted. ive been trying to ride my bike to fort phoenix everyday, and ive been playing quite a bit of Dirt 3 for the xbox (my gamertag is zxLALLYzx if you want to add me) i also went up to boston to have some fun playing trampoline dodgeball at SkyZone which was awesome! aside from that i havent been doing too much from the usual, paring down my possessions more and more each day, eating, sleeping, and all that fun stuff. Oh! i almost forgot, after talking with my friend Alex Finch, i have found a new bicycle that i will hopefully be purchasing tomorrow which is very exciting, seeing as i have had to use my brothers bike for the past year or so. so thank you alex! :D

Rain and Thunder

2011-08-02T21:14:00.000-07:00

today it began to rain around 6 pm. shortly after there was severe thunder and lightning along with the rain. i decided that i was going to stop what i was doing, sit my the window in my livingroom (which was empty) and watch. i did just that, i spent about 40 minutes sitting on my very comfortable livingroom floor and watched the thunder and lightning accompanied by the sounds of the rain. there were no revelations or moments of realization.... just relaxing and enjoying natures beauty in its purest form. i would suggest doing such things to anyone and everyone. i dont think people take enough time to stop and appreciate nature.

17 Lessons Learned in 17 Years.

2011-07-25T18:04:00.000-07:00

so i was inspired to do this from posts by two different websites i frequent. One being The Minimalists and the other being Zen Habits (which i strongly suggest you check out both) to do a little lessons ive learned in the years ive been living kinda thing. so im gonna give it a shot. even though i am currently only 17, ive learned some pretty important lessons both the hard way, and from watching and observing others. so let us begin!

1.) Take Your Time. there is no need to be in a rush, life is too short to rush. take time and enjoy every moment of it, appreciate the beauty of nature around you, value the time you spend with people that matter to you. there is no need to try to "finish first" life isn't a competition.

2.) Don't be Afraid of What Other People Think. worrying about what others think is just stupid, do what YOU want, what makes YOU happy. dont let people dictate YOUR life, if your having fun, nothing else matters.

3.) Let the People You Love be Aware of That. as previously state, life is too short, so people that truly matter to you, you must constantly show them and remind them.

4.) Hatred is Easy. showing love and compassion is whats really challenging and rewarding, try it more often. you may just find that its a nice change of pace from your normal emotions and much less stressful.

5.) Failure is Always An Option. Failure is the best way to learn something, and will only bring you closer to success. don't let it discourage you from anything.

6.) Expectations Only Lead to Disappointment. its human nature to think about what is yet to come but there is no need to. no one can predict the future, so just live in the moment and enjoy all it has to offer and let go of your unrealistic expectations.

7.) Joy Doesn't Come From Having or Spending Money. some of the greatest joys ive ever experienced were free. dont believe me? simple joys like a hug, or a new friendship are both free and only two examples. and they have brought me more joy than any material possession ever has.

8.) Value What You Have. because you really do never know how much you have until its gone, ALWAYS value everything in your life, because nothing is forever. so dont take anything or anyone for granted.

9.) The Simplest Answer is Usually The Right One. people always seem to think that things need to be elaborate or complex to be correct or what have you, but that is not the case, more often then not the simple answer is the right one.

10.) If You Don't Have Anything Nice to Say, Don't Say Anything at All. i know it sounds cliche but its true, negativity has never benefited anyone or contributed to anything. but also be aware that Constructive Criticism is something completely different.

11.) Never be Afraid To Ask Questions. don't ever be ashamed of not being able to do something or not knowing something. people aren't born knowing everything and its silly to think you would look stupid for wanting to learn something new.

12.) Gratitude Should Always be on Your Agenda. Being thankful for things is one of the simplest ways to improve your life and everything about it. there is no need to lose sight of what is important and how fortunate you are.

13.) School Can't Teach You Everything. some lessons must be learned through experience and failure. School cant teach you love, compassion, or empathy.

14.) Everyone is Different. just because someone doesn't do something the same way as you or show emotions the same way as you doesn't mean that they're way is wrong, learn to understand others, its invaluable.

15.) There is No Time like the Present. the present is all we really have to live in or live for, don't put things off for the future. because odds are, they will never get done. if you want to lose weight, start dieting NOW, start working out NOW, not tomorrow. NOW. live for the moment and only the moment, because in the end, its all that's left.

16.) All Fear is Irrational. don't let fear stop you from doing anything in your life. fear is never explainable, its all mental. you must learn to break those mental barriers or so as not to confine yourself in life.

17.) There is Always Something Else To Learn or Experience. your never done or finished learning or experiencing things until the moment you stop breathing, there is ALWAYS something more, you just have to go out and find it.

Minimalist Desktop

2011-07-23T17:59:00.000-07:00

ive realized that minimalism is not only good for personal possessions but everything like.. your facebook page (or other social networks) your desktop, your relationships, and everything else. so i decided earlier today that i would minimize things on my desktop.it has no shortcuts, only a drop down menu that only shows up when i move the mouse to the very top of the screen. and in the drop down menu is 5 shortcuts. as you can see in the picture below, i used the same desktop background as the one in this post by The Minimalists (http://www.theminimalists.com/minimalist-desktop/ ) this is my desktop....

since this i have set it so that the bottum task bar is hidden until i move my mouse to the bottom of the screen. that way i dont constantly check the time and i can just write....

Untitled

2011-07-01T03:51:00.000-07:00

i was awake to watch the sun set, and watch the sun rise. ive been awake for about 20 hours now and i dont feel the least bit tired. i enjoyed watching the sun rise for the first time in i dont know how long. and as i watched it rise i was able to gather my thoughts. no sudden realizations or crystallizing moments here, just genuine relaxing. it felt good for a change

Nothin' like some 1:30 A.M. blogging

2011-06-29T22:40:00.000-07:00

as i write this blog im eating a brownie. today myself, and my two good friends Amanda Murphy and Zack Desroches baked brownies and had a grand ol' time hanging out :D it was an extremely fun afternoon/night that was spent with people that i genuinely care about so much and love being around. i wish everyday was spent like this but sadly it is not.

im also making great progress on my "7 Skills, 7 Days" callenge. ive learned how to... bake brownies, tie a tie, and juggle. ive also set a goal for myself to strive for in my minimalistic lifestyle. im now attempting to do the 200 things challenge. ill keep you guys posted on how thats going as i make progress.

Good Food, Even Better People.

2011-06-24T21:22:00.000-07:00

so i spent tonight (from 7 til about midnight) with two very good friends of mine, Joe and Zack. this was the first time id seen either of them in quite a while, about a month or 2. We greeted each other with hugs and smiles, spoke for a bit, then we ordered some calzones from Palace Pizza. while we waited for our calzones and while we ate them we sat in my livingroom and just talked. theres nothing like good food over a great conversation with people that are genuinely important to you. as simple or lame as it may seem, it was one of the best times ive had since the art show i went to a while back. when your spending time with people you truly love being around, you dont need to be doing anything "exciting" or "crazy" to enjoy yourself. and after we ate we played some Halo Reach. i had a great night and i am look forward to the next time i see them (:

3 Years Down, 1 To Go

2011-06-17T21:44:00.000-07:00

so June 16th not only marked one of my best friend Zack's birthday but also marked the last day i had of school as a junior. this has been a rough year with some high points and some very low points. but when all is said and done i passed all my classes and i got shit done! (with a little push occasionally) and im just glad its over. so that means just one more wretched year of frustration, bullshit, and pain. haha then its onto greener pastures. my friend Justin Sheaffer once told me "life is best lived when you dont have an agenda" at first, i didnt know what he meant by this, so next time we spoke a few days later, i asked him to explain it to me. he explained how high school is one large agenda, with the school work, curriculum in general, homework, extra curriculars, and everything else. it all made sense after this explaination and i realized, hes absolutely right. just put some thought into it and you'll see, hes right! as he always is. Justin, from the days i was watching videos of him admiring him, to now when i speak with him from time to time via facebook, has always inspired me on so many different levels. i think his philosophies are ones that are simple yet eloquent. so i guess id like to dedicate this post to justin for his inspiration and constant search for self improvement that causes me to do the very same. THANKS JUSTIN! :D

Pint Sized Paintings

2011-06-17T19:36:00.000-07:00

so last weekend i went to an art show called Pint Sized Paintings at Off The Map Tattoo in Easthampton, MA. i had an INCREDIBLE time. when i got to Off The Map and walked in i was imediately greated with friendly hellos and smiles by people who i have never met before. i then was met at eye line by these INCREDIBLE 2' by 3' painted canvases. hundreds of them. it was a great experience. i love art, and i love meeting people that share common interests with me, so the whole thing was so great for me. im really glad i went and i love the new friends i made that night (:

Inspiration

2011-04-25T13:51:00.001-07:00

so i was recently asked who has inspired me the most throughout my life. i put much thought into this question because many people have inspired me in one way or another. and after quite a bit of thought i had my answer. Mike Vallely. i know it sounds cliche but i mean, he has been inspiring me since i was a little kid. ive always loved and respected what he does on and off the skateboard. on the board he takes an individualistic and completely creative approach to his style of skating that’s both simplistic but technical. ive realized that not only does he talk about being unique and an individual but he lives what he preaches. He also stands up for what he believes in and he stands firm, no matter what the possible outcome is. if something isn’t right then he’s going to make it right, and ive always had a tremendous amount of respect for him for that among many other things.

The Hubbable Jam

2011-04-25T13:50:00.000-07:00

was amazing, words just cant describe how much of a great time i had there. i met so many cool people that were all so friendly, as well as caught up with some old friends from the Art of Motion. the relationships developed and rediscovered that day were all so great. Everyone had such a positive attitude and was quick to help others that were struggling with anything, which is something you don't see too often now a days which i thought was such a beautiful thing, seeing the freerunning/parkour community come together and just have fun. that's what life is all about, meeting new people and enjoying yourself. There were all kinds of people with different skill levels there which made it more enjoyable, knowing that there were people on the same level as you. so id have to say it was an overall amazing time, i just wish it didnt have to end!