As probably none of you have noticed, I have been incognito from social media for a few weeks now. Basically, I've been making some changes to my life and didn't want to say anything or have alot of contact until after the changes are complete. I'm not a huge fan of putting out information in pieces without a frame of reference until I know what has happened and so I can give the full story (unlike alot of the media out there).
So for the news. I am officially moving back to Columbus!!! I left my job at Critchfield here in Wooster a few weeks ago (bad fit and did not like dealing with death on a daily basis) and accepted a position at the Columbus Bar Association as an Ethics Paralegal. It's been a topsy turvy few weeks but I do want to say thank you to my friends and family that hooked me up with this job and supported me through a rather weird period. I'm not usually one to make a rash decision and leave my main money supply but this was a decision that I made after alot of thought and it has worked out. I start on Monday (I know!) and will hopefully be officially moving soon after. Columbusites...I'm back and ready for more fun :).
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Naming Rights
This is a topic that I thought about awhile back and while I've talked to a few people about this, but I'd like to get a bit more feedback on if I'm making a simple concept too complex, or if I'm on to something I can can be called "El Philosopher" and be spoken about in the same vein as Aristotle and The Situation...
Why do we feel the need to name and give personalities to everything? I understand that certain names (people, cities) allow us to differentiate easily between people and places. However, we seem to name everything and more importantly, give everything human characteristics. For example, cars. We give all of our cars names (Larae is still my favorite, though she died in the end) when all it really is is manufactured pieces of metal put together in order to allow us to go from point A to point B much quicker than walking. Why do we feel the need to name the car?
Example number 2, animals and more importantly, the personalities that we give them through movies. When I mention a rabbit, what do you think of? Instead of viewing the animal that provides warmth giving fur and life giving meat, you think of Thumper, a friend to deer and an all around adorable spazoid. I firmly believe that while the Disney movies are very cute and entertaining, they have created the rise to environmentalists and animal lovers and have given them a foothold due to our automatic picturing of Thumper when someone mentions eating rabbit. Come on, how many times have people said that they don't like hunting because they think it's "cruel to kill Bambi"? This is due to our conditioning from a young age that deer have personalities and when we kill a deer, it's like killing a human being.
So my hypothesis. Humans have a necessity to control everything around them. This lends itself both to the dangerous and the safe. While it allows us to deal with our fears (fear is nothing but the unknown, isn't it always scarier when you don't know what's after you or when they're going to strike than when you know how and when they're going to strike?) it also cripples us. We view certain assets as having human emotions and human personalities when science shows us, they don't. There's no discussion there. It's important to keep things in perspective when dealing with real life situations.
Whelp, am I crazy?
Why do we feel the need to name and give personalities to everything? I understand that certain names (people, cities) allow us to differentiate easily between people and places. However, we seem to name everything and more importantly, give everything human characteristics. For example, cars. We give all of our cars names (Larae is still my favorite, though she died in the end) when all it really is is manufactured pieces of metal put together in order to allow us to go from point A to point B much quicker than walking. Why do we feel the need to name the car?
Example number 2, animals and more importantly, the personalities that we give them through movies. When I mention a rabbit, what do you think of? Instead of viewing the animal that provides warmth giving fur and life giving meat, you think of Thumper, a friend to deer and an all around adorable spazoid. I firmly believe that while the Disney movies are very cute and entertaining, they have created the rise to environmentalists and animal lovers and have given them a foothold due to our automatic picturing of Thumper when someone mentions eating rabbit. Come on, how many times have people said that they don't like hunting because they think it's "cruel to kill Bambi"? This is due to our conditioning from a young age that deer have personalities and when we kill a deer, it's like killing a human being.
So my hypothesis. Humans have a necessity to control everything around them. This lends itself both to the dangerous and the safe. While it allows us to deal with our fears (fear is nothing but the unknown, isn't it always scarier when you don't know what's after you or when they're going to strike than when you know how and when they're going to strike?) it also cripples us. We view certain assets as having human emotions and human personalities when science shows us, they don't. There's no discussion there. It's important to keep things in perspective when dealing with real life situations.
Whelp, am I crazy?
Monday, May 21, 2012
The Reason Anybody does Anything
I always thought growing up that by the age of 28 I'd be settled in. Working a job that I loved, raising a family, living in a house that I owned and just generally being on the road to being old. Funny thing, life didn't turn out like that. I'm on my second career, looking at some fun debt and living with my brother in an apartment with my lil brother in the town I grew up in/never thought I'd be back in.
And frankly, I wouldn't change a thing.
Sure there are regrets and more specifically things I would have done a bit differently, but all in all, these experiences have made me into what I am today. And I kinda like who I am.
For those that don't know, I'm seriously considering/placing myself on a track for law school. Yes, if you're keeping track at home that will be college, paralegal school and law school all within 6 years of graduating college. Why? Well, I guess because the reason anybody does anything...because they can :).
Life is about experiences. Sure, fiscal responsibility is important, but when you're laying on your deathbed what's going to cross your mind? Your IRA or your experiences? I've been given the opportunity and ability to jump around. Don't get me wrong, I have a love for the law and going to law school would not only open up the ability to be me on boss/make extra cash/get into politics (whoooole nother post, I hate the gladhanding that goes into politics and the complexity when it really should be so simple, but again...whoooole nother post) but one of the other reasons I want to go to law school is for the basic reason of because I can. How many people in life get this chance and even if I fail (it's entirely possible, I tend to fail quite a bit...I call it being human) I can still say I tried. Should be a heckuva ride.
This post isn't all about me though (granted, it's my blog so I'm gonna bring myself up every now and again, and because I'm awesome) it's about the rest of you that I know struggle with not being in a career, making 6 figures and being "settled in". Just with the single situation, instead of looking at what you don't have, take a look at what you do have. You have the ability to experiment and figure out who "you" are without having to worry about wife/kids. Do you think I'd even consider changing from a career that I enjoy and make a living off of if I had a family to take care of? Heeeeeeck no. That would be like picking a whole bouquet of oopsy daisies! :). Enjoy your freedom and be happy with what you have. Life's too short to whine and complain about what you don't have.
And frankly, I wouldn't change a thing.
Sure there are regrets and more specifically things I would have done a bit differently, but all in all, these experiences have made me into what I am today. And I kinda like who I am.
For those that don't know, I'm seriously considering/placing myself on a track for law school. Yes, if you're keeping track at home that will be college, paralegal school and law school all within 6 years of graduating college. Why? Well, I guess because the reason anybody does anything...because they can :).
Life is about experiences. Sure, fiscal responsibility is important, but when you're laying on your deathbed what's going to cross your mind? Your IRA or your experiences? I've been given the opportunity and ability to jump around. Don't get me wrong, I have a love for the law and going to law school would not only open up the ability to be me on boss/make extra cash/get into politics (whoooole nother post, I hate the gladhanding that goes into politics and the complexity when it really should be so simple, but again...whoooole nother post) but one of the other reasons I want to go to law school is for the basic reason of because I can. How many people in life get this chance and even if I fail (it's entirely possible, I tend to fail quite a bit...I call it being human) I can still say I tried. Should be a heckuva ride.
This post isn't all about me though (granted, it's my blog so I'm gonna bring myself up every now and again, and because I'm awesome) it's about the rest of you that I know struggle with not being in a career, making 6 figures and being "settled in". Just with the single situation, instead of looking at what you don't have, take a look at what you do have. You have the ability to experiment and figure out who "you" are without having to worry about wife/kids. Do you think I'd even consider changing from a career that I enjoy and make a living off of if I had a family to take care of? Heeeeeeck no. That would be like picking a whole bouquet of oopsy daisies! :). Enjoy your freedom and be happy with what you have. Life's too short to whine and complain about what you don't have.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Singleness and the Common Man
Happy Friday!!
This coming Memorial Day weekend I have the distinct honor and pleasure to be joining five married couples (and one other single person...for a day) on a trip to Lake Cumberland, KY. Now I've known all of these folks for 10 years (yes, we are THAT old) so it's not a big deal but it's very interesting how people view singleness, marriage and what your relationship status says about you.
The college I graduated from and the church in general seems to preach that there is something wrong with you if you aren't with someone. They spell out life as grow up, go to college, meet your mate, get married right after college, find a job, start popping out babies and your life will be fulfilling through your family. And you know what, they're right...for some people. Families are an incredible thing (we all come from a mommy and a daddy, add you and you have a family, that's your "duh" fact for the day) but I'm slowly discovering it's not the end all be all. I'm not saying I don't love my family because you know I do. What I'm saying is that family is only a part of life. Just like sex is only part of a relationship. It is not meant to define your entire life.
Churches enjoy teaching the Creation story where God points out that it isn't good for man to be alone. It teaches Song of Solomon and gives relationship advice like it's going out of style. But I can count on one finger the number of times I've heard about that the Apostle Paul was single for his entire life. He even extolled his readers (I don't remember where and research just ain't happenin on a Friday night) to stay single if they can so that they can be free to do God's work (not Terrelle Pryor's God's work, actual God's work).
I guess what I'm trying to say is single friends...be happy in your singleness. There's nothing wrong with you. There's no reason to lose confidence because your friends are getting married and you aren't. Enjoy your freedom and use it wisely. I'll be the first to admit that I sometimes get sad and lonely and wonder why it's just lil ol me...it's only human. But then I remember, my calling isn't lesser or wrong, it's just different and that's nothing to be ashamed of.
(My writing needs work, that's why I'm doing this...shaddup)
This coming Memorial Day weekend I have the distinct honor and pleasure to be joining five married couples (and one other single person...for a day) on a trip to Lake Cumberland, KY. Now I've known all of these folks for 10 years (yes, we are THAT old) so it's not a big deal but it's very interesting how people view singleness, marriage and what your relationship status says about you.
The college I graduated from and the church in general seems to preach that there is something wrong with you if you aren't with someone. They spell out life as grow up, go to college, meet your mate, get married right after college, find a job, start popping out babies and your life will be fulfilling through your family. And you know what, they're right...for some people. Families are an incredible thing (we all come from a mommy and a daddy, add you and you have a family, that's your "duh" fact for the day) but I'm slowly discovering it's not the end all be all. I'm not saying I don't love my family because you know I do. What I'm saying is that family is only a part of life. Just like sex is only part of a relationship. It is not meant to define your entire life.
Churches enjoy teaching the Creation story where God points out that it isn't good for man to be alone. It teaches Song of Solomon and gives relationship advice like it's going out of style. But I can count on one finger the number of times I've heard about that the Apostle Paul was single for his entire life. He even extolled his readers (I don't remember where and research just ain't happenin on a Friday night) to stay single if they can so that they can be free to do God's work (not Terrelle Pryor's God's work, actual God's work).
I guess what I'm trying to say is single friends...be happy in your singleness. There's nothing wrong with you. There's no reason to lose confidence because your friends are getting married and you aren't. Enjoy your freedom and use it wisely. I'll be the first to admit that I sometimes get sad and lonely and wonder why it's just lil ol me...it's only human. But then I remember, my calling isn't lesser or wrong, it's just different and that's nothing to be ashamed of.
(My writing needs work, that's why I'm doing this...shaddup)
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
The Purpose
People blog for many different reasons. Whether it's to get their ideas out there, get their opinions available in front of the millions that use the interwebs, or just to kill time and talk about their day, there can be no doubt anymore that blogging is a very normal part of life. I've always been into writing, from doing Sportscenter updates and sports shows in college to writing an article for Columbus Alive (I know, I was published!! They changed a "darn" to a "damn" though and my mom yelled at me for swearing in the paper) to writing songs and HILARIOUS (ish) Facebook posts. I've always enjoyed writing.
The purpose of this blog is two-fold. One is as an outlet while the other is as an instrument for discussion. Many of you know that I'm a rather private person and don't say a whole lot unless it's an attempt at humour or general conversation. I've always felt more comfortable writing out thoughts and feelings so I have the opportunity to get across what I want to say as opposed to saying something and having it come out wrong with no chance to correct what was said. I've got some (what I consider) interesting questions and thoughts about life in general for future posts and I want to use this to get that info on paper (internets, our generation's paper) and see what y'all think about it.
Finally, I want to use this blog to live-blog awesome awards shows. I don't know why I enjoy it so much, I just do. Don't you judge me.
I swear future posts will be more riveting, I just thought a good place to start was to set a base and offer an explanation for what this is all about. Any topics and debates that you think would be interesting/want covered by all means let me know and it'll get covered (unless it's dumb, then you'll be awarded no points, and may God have mercy on your soul). Thanks all and I hope you enjoy!
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