I am now laying in bed, both exhausted and content. I have spent the last 8 hours in waves of varying intensity and dreary lulls. My mind is adapting to the likelihood of rotating schedules. I am on a 1530 to 2400 schedule -- next week I am on 0700 to 1530. There is a wealth of knowledge to understand and I now realize very clearly how poor I am at book study -- and how quickly and naturally actual practice empowers my learning.
It's been too much of a challenge to maintain a strict vegetarian diet without my own means of transport and so much particular law to keep in mind, so for the time being, I am with the flow. It's baffling how communal living leads to alcoholism; it takes a great strength of character and power of will to avoid it, of which, I am grasping the reins of.
I have solace in that I really do enjoy this profession and from anecdotal experiences, shared by all of the instructors that I will have time for my own pursuits along with the financial success this occupation brings -- provided I can stick it out for the few years necessary to "check out" as a Certified Professional Controller or CPC as is the coined term.
With some financial freedom, I've been able to Sky Dive (which is a "high" so great that I recommend it to everyone.), visit some wineries with both interesting stories and processes, and again, as in college share stories with people of many backgrounds and levels of experience.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Why Are We Here? (Or more specifically, what am I doing here?)
"You're a strange animal, David Wu."
Someone said it once and I'm reminded of it every now and again.
I like it.
I am! My personal philosophy revolves around the adage, "For the sake of experience," and I believe that we all live a truly Fractal Life. I've always been a little different, a little unique, does this seem a little narcissistic? Perhaps a little bit, but not in excess, and it is in my humble opinion that this (moderation) is a good way to live a life! (It works well for me at least.)
In moderation, not too much of this, not too much of that-perhaps a little dabble of Goldilocks intertwined in that immensely inconceivable sub-conscious as monsieur Janet might say. I have become somewhat of a Jack-of-all-trades and unfortunately, a master of none, but in my opinion, sometimes better than a master of one.
Of my experiences, it's hard to say what influences the most, everything carries its weight and we as humans try so hard to quantify and simplify and reduce and refine everything so that we can understand it in concrete terms. When it comes down to it, life just isn't that easy. I can't put myself on a scale of fear and love, or simply say this is the best or that is the best. Who is right and who is wrong? These are all definitions that we place on it! But if you must have some understanding, some keynotes that have influenced me (that I can think of off the top of my head and are at all times transient) are:
In literature form: Ender's Game, Siddhartha, The Tao of Pooh, Square Foot Gardening, The Art of War, Conversations with God, The Rules of Being Human, Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, 25 Constructions of Reality(Random Facts About Yourself).
In Experiences: Working as a Lifeguard, Teaching People of all ages how to Swim, Washing Dishes as a job, College, general contracting work, Hiking, Classic Guitar, Kendo, The Hostel in the Forest, Photography, Traveling.
~ Just so you have an idea of where I come from.
Of course, it's understood that this is only a fraction of understanding the fractal function that is me as a person. We as humans are far more complex, with our immensely powerful brains, whose higher functions have the ability to process information we're not even consciously aware we're processing! So really, every experience has some effect.
Random:
Oh yeah, by the way? If you're curious about that whole Nature Vs. Nurture thing. The answer is Both.
The Chicken and the Egg? It depends on how you look at it. Technically, eggs have always been around since there was life. Chickens have been a recent evolution.
But on the other hand, both are terms that we as human beings have defined into the English words, "Chicken," and "Egg." So if you look at it that way, who coined which phrase first?
Continuing:
This blogging thing is somewhat new to me and yet not so. I've held various blogs that I could not, "for the life of me" (whatever that means) keep up with in the past, due to lack of focus and perhaps inspiration. It wasn't important to me and I had no reason why I was doing it.
For me, now? I want transparency. It's something I hope for with this whole bailout business, and i've come to realize that it is something that I want for myself also. I want to be able to share, and I want for anybody who's interested to share with me and to be able to access who I am.
My theme? I read all sorts of blogs from photography, gardening, and frugality, but at the moment, how do I constrain myself to just one? I am all of those things and at the moment, don't find myself with the knowledge, inspiration or motivation to upkeep a blog on every subject. (I can barely maintain one!) I'm not here to share my knowledge on a particular subject-I'm here to share my my soul as a human being and to contribute to the online community formerly known as the "Information Super Highway."
Disclaimer:
I could post about anything, ANY subject at all and the beauty of Google and Blogger is that all I have to do is label those thought-shares correctly and it will appropriate to the channels, like water.
Welcome, and thank you for joining me on this venture,
-Dave
Someone said it once and I'm reminded of it every now and again.
I like it.
I am! My personal philosophy revolves around the adage, "For the sake of experience," and I believe that we all live a truly Fractal Life. I've always been a little different, a little unique, does this seem a little narcissistic? Perhaps a little bit, but not in excess, and it is in my humble opinion that this (moderation) is a good way to live a life! (It works well for me at least.)
In moderation, not too much of this, not too much of that-perhaps a little dabble of Goldilocks intertwined in that immensely inconceivable sub-conscious as monsieur Janet might say. I have become somewhat of a Jack-of-all-trades and unfortunately, a master of none, but in my opinion, sometimes better than a master of one.
Of my experiences, it's hard to say what influences the most, everything carries its weight and we as humans try so hard to quantify and simplify and reduce and refine everything so that we can understand it in concrete terms. When it comes down to it, life just isn't that easy. I can't put myself on a scale of fear and love, or simply say this is the best or that is the best. Who is right and who is wrong? These are all definitions that we place on it! But if you must have some understanding, some keynotes that have influenced me (that I can think of off the top of my head and are at all times transient) are:
In literature form: Ender's Game, Siddhartha, The Tao of Pooh, Square Foot Gardening, The Art of War, Conversations with God, The Rules of Being Human, Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, 25 Constructions of Reality(Random Facts About Yourself).
In Experiences: Working as a Lifeguard, Teaching People of all ages how to Swim, Washing Dishes as a job, College, general contracting work, Hiking, Classic Guitar, Kendo, The Hostel in the Forest, Photography, Traveling.
~ Just so you have an idea of where I come from.
Of course, it's understood that this is only a fraction of understanding the fractal function that is me as a person. We as humans are far more complex, with our immensely powerful brains, whose higher functions have the ability to process information we're not even consciously aware we're processing! So really, every experience has some effect.
Random:
Oh yeah, by the way? If you're curious about that whole Nature Vs. Nurture thing. The answer is Both.
The Chicken and the Egg? It depends on how you look at it. Technically, eggs have always been around since there was life. Chickens have been a recent evolution.
But on the other hand, both are terms that we as human beings have defined into the English words, "Chicken," and "Egg." So if you look at it that way, who coined which phrase first?
Continuing:
This blogging thing is somewhat new to me and yet not so. I've held various blogs that I could not, "for the life of me" (whatever that means) keep up with in the past, due to lack of focus and perhaps inspiration. It wasn't important to me and I had no reason why I was doing it.
For me, now? I want transparency. It's something I hope for with this whole bailout business, and i've come to realize that it is something that I want for myself also. I want to be able to share, and I want for anybody who's interested to share with me and to be able to access who I am.
My theme? I read all sorts of blogs from photography, gardening, and frugality, but at the moment, how do I constrain myself to just one? I am all of those things and at the moment, don't find myself with the knowledge, inspiration or motivation to upkeep a blog on every subject. (I can barely maintain one!) I'm not here to share my knowledge on a particular subject-I'm here to share my my soul as a human being and to contribute to the online community formerly known as the "Information Super Highway."
Disclaimer:
I could post about anything, ANY subject at all and the beauty of Google and Blogger is that all I have to do is label those thought-shares correctly and it will appropriate to the channels, like water.
Welcome, and thank you for joining me on this venture,
-Dave
Thursday, March 5, 2009
A Reflective Medium
Hello again!
You come to see me often,
and I enjoy experiencing you.
But-- you're not really here to see me, are you?
What's with that look on your face?
I think your face is leaking!
You have an interesting way of saying hello.
Express yourself how you would,
I am here for this, you can be you,
Furl your brow, wriggle your nose, show me your pearlies,
You know who I am,
Be angry, be peaceful, be eloquent,
Be lethargic, enchanting,
Show me your sin and your virtue.
I will show you the truth,
I am your mirror.
You come to see me often,
and I enjoy experiencing you.
But-- you're not really here to see me, are you?
What's with that look on your face?
I think your face is leaking!
You have an interesting way of saying hello.
Express yourself how you would,
I am here for this, you can be you,
Furl your brow, wriggle your nose, show me your pearlies,
You know who I am,
Be angry, be peaceful, be eloquent,
Be lethargic, enchanting,
Show me your sin and your virtue.
I will show you the truth,
I am your mirror.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Movement is Medicine
We had good weather today, there were remnants of snow and ice left on the ground from our most recent climate and it left parts of the ground slippery. The air was crisp from the cool weather and we moved forward into the valley. Walking and breathing in this fresh air was invigorating. I could feel my heart beating, my blood coursing through my veins and my body being nourished by the fresh movement.
The mind became clear.
I have legs, I should use them more often.
The mind became clear.
I have legs, I should use them more often.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Sharing from my Notepad
I only vaguely remember what it was that spurred this-a combination of negatively spiraling emotional state and members of my travel group, who in the beginning were Gung ho! about trying everything, but when exposed, shut themselves out completely...
When I was in China on my summer abroad several months ago, I kept a notepad on my person. I was just skimming through it when I came across this that I wrote:
"Many Americans, in this "modern" society stuck on their "American" way. What does this mean? Feign open-minded independence while fostering ignorance? It is possible to see those who are well traveled and those who choose to remain ever vigilant in their own beliefs. For what reason? "My way or the highway!" This, the idea behind the crusade, this narrow methodology in order to spread a culture without embracing the majesty that is already there.
The poor natives, forced to endure a completely different way of being completely inundated into this compulsory paradigm.
It is good to see those that are willing to open their hearts and minds to all different flavors."
When I was in China on my summer abroad several months ago, I kept a notepad on my person. I was just skimming through it when I came across this that I wrote:
"Many Americans, in this "modern" society stuck on their "American" way. What does this mean? Feign open-minded independence while fostering ignorance? It is possible to see those who are well traveled and those who choose to remain ever vigilant in their own beliefs. For what reason? "My way or the highway!" This, the idea behind the crusade, this narrow methodology in order to spread a culture without embracing the majesty that is already there.
The poor natives, forced to endure a completely different way of being completely inundated into this compulsory paradigm.
It is good to see those that are willing to open their hearts and minds to all different flavors."
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