Sports and Literature

Today I finished writing a poem, crossing off another item on my list. For some reason, it was not on the one linked in the blog, but I added it and removed the streaming goal because I stopped streaming a lot. The poem is titled "Journey On" and it will be at the end of this post. In other news and activities, I played in a soccer tournament with some friends this past Saturday which was a lot of fun and got me pretty sore for the following days. It was nice to play soccer all day like I used to. I've also downloaded a chess app for my computer to try and improve my game. I learned the basics, such as how each piece can move when I was younger, but am not very good at the game so that is why it is on the list. That just about sums up what I've been up to!

With the wind at my back,

Will

"Journey On"

With the wind at my back,
I will journey on.

Through the mud and rain,
Through all the jurt and all the pain,
For all the ups and downs,
Across the countryside and through the towns,
I will journey on.

It started long ago,
Just a boy with a dream,
To see how far he could go.
He worked hard and paid his dues,
Not caring about what he'd lose,
He just journeyed on.

Along these travels,
Among the many things I learned,
 Is that you never know it all,
And everything is earned,
So I journey on.

Thus the road ahead never ends,
Doing my best to always grow,
With my family by my side,
The passion in my heart never will die,
And I will journey on.

Music and Inspiration!

My inspiration board

I can cross two items off my list! This past Thursday my friend Connor and I saw the Broadway musical Violet starring Sutton Foster and it was the best show that I've seen in a long time. The music was terrific, the script brilliant, and the acting and singing phenomenal. It is about a young woman named Violet (Sutton Foster's character) who is traveling from North Carolina to Oklahoma to see a TV preacher who she believes can heal her scarred face from an accident with an ax when she was younger. The story revolves around her travels on the Greyhound bus and the people she meets along the way. I would highly recommend this show to everyone, but it is only on for a couple more weeks so you would have to go soon. The other thing I did was start my inspiration board to hang in my room. It has my mission statement and things I want to do or get. It is a good way to keep in mind what I am working towards whenever I see it. Hope everyone is enjoying their summer!

With the wind at my back,

Will

So Far...

My summer break is surprisingly coming close to being half way over, if that point has not been reached already. Therefore I thought it would be a good idea to share where I am so far with my goals that I am working on before I head back to school. I have completed two items on my list, learn the Greek alphabet and finish an 1,000 piece puzzle. Even though I mess up occasionally with the Greek and I am certain my pronunciation is off with some, it was mostly a matter of repetition and memorization. As for the puzzle, I had a bit of help but overall it was fun to work on it with family and friends, seeing the picture finally come together (Follow this to find the picture). I am working on the other things on my list as the summer progresses and am looking forward to getting them done. Until next time.

With the wind at my back.

Will Luft

Guess who's back?

Hey guys I'm back to blogging! I originally started this blog to document a 30 day challenge in the fall of 2012. Looking back, it was a great forum to document what I was doing and to share my experience with others. It is almost two years later and up for more things to do and to improve! On the right of the page you can find lists of things I plan to do this summer as well as links to different site helping me on my journey. I am made a Day Zero list of 101 things to do in 1001 days and am using HabitRPG to track some of my habits. I'll keep you updated on what is going on and what I am up to. Hope you all enjoy and play it up!


Will
With the wind at my back

20 Things I Have Learned At 20

Today I reached a milestone in my life: I have lived for two decades. It is my 20th birthday today and I have been blessed to have learned many things in my life from academics to living life. So I thought that I would write down 20 of the lessons that I think are extremely important.

1. Everything is connected in some way. Nothing happens isolated from everything else. It is important to look at more than one aspect to understand the whole picture.
2. Everything happens for a reason. Similar to the first idea, but this is more along the lines of experience. What happens to us in our lives gives us a lesson to learn, whether it is in triumph, defeat, sorrow, or joy. It all culminates in the creation of our individual characters.
3. Words are more powerful than any weapon. Once something has been said it cannot be taken back, which is one of the reasons words are so important. A lie can ruin a career and reputation and sometimes it can be irreversible. We must make sure we are careful when we choose which words to use in  a given situation. You never know what might be repeated or taken in a wrong way.
4. Never stop learning. From the time we are born we begin to learn. There is something that can be learned everyday from a random fact to a new life skill. Constant learning helps keep the mind sharp and who knows when that little piece of knowledge you forgot you had will come in handy.
5. Learn to go with the flow. Sometimes in life we have a certain plan, and when it goes out of whack we freak out. Instead you should just adapt to the situation. The ability to adapt is what has allowed us as a species to evolve to become who we  are today. Just because something does not go as expected, it does not mean it is a disaster.
6. It will all turn out all right. Back when I was depressed, I did not think any good could come out of it. But in the end I am happier than ever and excited to live. When a disaster hits, focusing on the negative will not bring about anything better. In the end everything will be ok.
7. Enjoy time spent alone. People seem to make a huge fuss about spending time with people and always being out. But they forget the wonderful feeling of solitude. It can be hard to think when surrounded by lots of people and being alone gives you the opportunity to do that and recharge your batteries.
8. Think for yourself. If you do not feel like doing something then do not do it. A good idea is not made good by a large number of people doing it. You may have a unique perspective that others do not realize and that can give you an edge in life.
9. Read books. Reading is one of my favorite hobbies and I have learned a lot from the various books I have read. You do not need a class assignment in order to pick up a good book.
10. Eat breakfast. Whenever I skip breakfast, my day is not the same. Breakfast starts your day off with a boost of energy and keeps you from getting too grumpy.
11. Exercise. Whether it be working out, playing a sport for fun, or just taking a walk it is important to exercise. Your body is the only one you have so it is critical that you take good care of it and that means getting a good amount of exercise every week.
12. Enjoy music. Each style of music has its time and place. No genre is better than another and all can be appreciated. Aldous Huxley once said "After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music."
13. Do not sit on the sidelines. Life is meant to be lived, so don't stay at home watching TV or surfing the web. Go out and experience all of the wonderful things life has to offer. Go dancing, see a show, go to a concert. The the number of activities that you can do are endless.
14. Do things you think are fun. Who cares if it doesn't give you anything else. If you enjoy doing it, it is worth the time doing.
15. Keep your brain in shape. Similar to exercise, this is the only mind you have. Do puzzles, learn new words, a new language, anything to stimulate your noggin.
16. Don't just absorb, add. Give something to what you do, don't just take it all in. Participate in dialogues, paint, dance, sing, play. Get active in what you enjoy give back to what brings you joy.
17. Don't listen to what others say about you. What really matters is what you think of yourself. You know what kind of person you are and as long as you stay true to yourself then people will realize who the real you is.
18. Love is more important than anything. As long as love exists, terror and destruction will never prevail. Love is a bond that is stronger than anything else in the world and is one of the keys to happiness. Whether it is love of another person, what you do, or some idea, it is all that matters.
19. Mistakes are okay. Despite what school may tell you, it is okay to make mistakes. It is the best way to learn and it teaches us something new. You should not be penalized for making a mistake, it should be rewarded because it means you are doing something.
20. Be grateful for the little things. Being grateful is the best way to appreciate all the wonderful things you have in life. I try every night to think of at least five things I am thankful for and appreciate are part of my life. There are so many things that people take for granted, realize what you have and be grateful for it.

I've learned a lot in the course of my short life and I hope to learn even more. Here's to life my friends!

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That Time Again!

Hello everybody! It has been a while since I last posted and a lot has happened over the past couple of months. Now the semester is almost over and final papers and tests are coming up. It feels like I started going to classes a month ago and now they are almost finished. I've been in a rut for a while so (through the advice of others) decided to start back up with this blog and my personal development. Its time to put my nose to the grindstone and work hard to make myself better. I've started to work on my Day Zero Project again and trying to create better habits. Life is an adventure and we must take advantage of all the opportunities we have to experience it to the best of our abilities. So for all those who are about finish up with school,  good luck with all your finals and tests and papers. I know how annoying they can be and how tempting it can be to procrastinate, but it has to get done so just start doing it. And the feeling of being done with everything makes all the work worth the effort. Until next time, here's to life!

What To Do?

What should I do? This question is constantly on my mind nowadays. I often wish I could go back to the times where I just lived day by day, not caring about the future. Now that I am nearly halfway done with my undergraduate degree, I have to start trying to figure out what I want to do with my life. And I still have no solid idea. I fly from one possibility to the next, struggling to decide whether I should simply go for a passion regardless of how well it pays or if I should go for a well paying job that would allow me to pursue my interests in whatever free time I have and ensure I have comfortable life. I have looked at a lot of people and it seems that these two models create the best chances for overall happiness, which is what I am striving for. I want to know everything there is to know, see everything there is to see, have a life full of incredible experiences. But the question is how to do it. There is no time like the present to work hard each day to figure myself and my desires out. No matter what I choose to do, I must be sure to go in with my whole heart, giving my 110%. This is key for everybody in life. You will not be successful if you are not totally committed and you will not enjoy it as much. That is one lesson I have learned over my life and a key to happiness. So until next time, here's to life!