Dream Job?

It's funny how we sometimes get into the mindset that there's a dream job out there. We dream of a job where it doesn't even feel like work because we love it so much. That, or it has great ideals or perks like a chance to make a difference or simply to make a lot of money, upward mobility, etc.

Lately, I've come to the realization that such a job really exists. I realize that every job has its ups and downs. Every job has its triumphs and frustrations. For some reason, it seems like we always focus on the bad because it seems to be that one obstacle that blocks us from having it "just perfect".

I guess I'm making it a point to be thankful for what I have. Work, is simply a means to survive.

Air Force? Hmmmmm.....

Should I have joined the Air Force instead? Looking back, I had my chance and came close to signing my autograph on that dotted line. However, I didn't and decided to go somewhere else. These days, I look back, wondering if I should have worn blue instead. Oh well...

Music and Mood

It's no secret that music effects mood.

I'll listen to happy giddy music, and I feel like going about the day happy and carefree. In fact, I feel like talking a walk in the park in a sunny day.

If I listen to really aggressive music, I feel like room-clearing a house with a .45 in my hand. It tends to give me an intense focus -- tunnel-vision, if you will.

Lately, my music that I listen to has been Japanese pop music. Yes, J-pop tends to put me in a good mood and makes me rather productive. There's some really good stuff out there, like Bonnie Pink and the Indigo. What really helps is that I don't understand a lick of what they are singing about. To me, its like instrumental soundtrack music. If this stuff were sung in english, I'd probably feel inclined to try to follow the words and the next thing you know, I'm distracted from what I need to do.

On that same token it's also why I may listen to movie soundtrack music too. If your life was a movie, then surely there's a soundtrack to it. =)

Reflections on Growing (and blogging)

After a long hiatus of not blogging, naturally, I would have a lot of thoughts cooped up in my head just waiting to come out. Now, often times, I need a little goading for me to actually get the ball rolling (thanks, Dardy et al). I've decided to first talk about blogging itself and how I've changed over the years.

Ever since, college I had the perception that I have not changed since then. Not much, anyway. However, I've identified what had marked time with my change, and it's been writing on my web log.

Thinking back to my really old site where I would just FTP an HTML page, it dawned on me one day: OMG!!! DID I REALLY THINK LIKE THAT?? Yeah, now that I think about it, some of the stuff I wrote on there was rather naive. Some of this stuff, I think was rather embarrassing. Whatever the case, I have indeed changed a lot in the last 9 years. Time to blog on...

Effort (and nothing but)

I remember it well and yet I'd forgotten...

I'd wake up to the sound of my alarm clock radio at about 6am. I'd get up and go downstairs to lace up my running shoes and go for a run. Nothing too far, just anywhere from 1-2 miles. Then, I'd go home to shower and eat a breakfast.

I'd get to school before the first bell. After 6 periods, with a break and a lunch worked in there, I'd hit the courts around 3pm with the team. Donning tennis shoes and wielding strung graphite, we would work on anything from drills, serves, and anything else that came up. Once practice was over, I'd go home to to lift weights or skip rope.

Once dinner came around, I'd eat like a vacuum cleaner. I'd even go for a second bowl of rice to chase it all down. Then its off to homework until about 11pm. Then, I'd do plyometrics or some abs. Then I'd go downstairs to to eat my 4th meal of the day: a toasted bagel with cream cheese followed by a glass of milk. Then I'd go to sleep to start this process all over again.

One of my life's lessons was learned here in high school. Effort can whatever shortcoming you might have had in the beginning. You may have "natural talent" or you may not. Whatever the case, its really the work you put into it that helps you surpass obstacles.

Somehow, I lost some of this ethic in college and in the working world. How this came to pass, I'm not even sure. Its funny how times like these can really make you you think about it.

I need to get back there somehow.