October 4th-Day 4

Its Thursday so that means there is only one day left in the school/work week. You gotta push to the end everyday to be the best you can be. Today I started reading Drew Brees' memoir Coming Back Stronger. I usually don't like when people write an autobiography while they are young, but this book is incredible. Brees isn't just an incredible quarterback. He is a terrific man in every sense of the word. He works as hard as he can, he volunteers around New Orleans, he is a great father and husband, and is devoted to God. I highly recommend reading this book, it is an inspiration to anyone who picks it up. I was able to wake up early this morning to get my run in as I hoped. Hopefully I will keep being able to get up early and get a head start everyday. I practiced my handstand, moonwalk, some magic tricks and learned a new trick for winning a beer (even though I don't drink). My shading is improving and I will keep working at it as long as I can. I tried to start composing the song today, but I couldn't think of a good melody to start it off. I'm sure it will come to me I just have to keep at it. I am using my old Spanish textbook to refresh my memory of the language and it is helping me a lot. Today I'm writing about Taylor Cocciolone, who I got close to during my sophmore/his senior year of high school. We had a bunch of fun during Tour Choir in the bass section and during Les Miserables and Cabaret. I will always remember having the huge box of goldfish in the dressing room and when someone shouted when he did the Nazi salute during the show. Taylor was another who showed me the ropes of being an older guy in choir and the shows and it is great knowing him. Until tomorrow, here's to life!

"You build walls and boundaries when you give into your mind. Fear nothing and take control of who you are and who you are meant to be" -Joel Brown

Become Great

October 3rd-Days 2 & 3

That is what has been occupying my mind the past couple of days. Ancient symbols, mythologies, religions, you name it. All because of a book. I am so grateful that it is possible to have books so easily available to read. I like books even more than TV or movies because they exercise the imagination. You get to decide the exact setting, looks of the characters, and everything that happens. Granted the author leads you in a certain direction, a lot is left up to the reader. I have read four 300+ page books in the past four days. There is a fifth in the series which I need to acquire so I can read it...but that is a challenge for tomorrow. I left a note somewhere in my house for someone to find as a surprise. I worked out again today, but it wasn't when I wanted. I want to start waking up earlier and get more stuff done in the morning before school. I'm still practicing gliding/moonwalking and it is coming along nicely I think. I'm practicing a shading technique called hatching and cross-hatching for my artistic skill set which has gotten a lot better in the past month. I haven't bitten my nails yet, though I have caught myself about to do it. I know I can break the habit with practice. My party trick that I am practicing is learning about the symbols, signs, etc which permeate all aspects of life. I am practicing my languages and improving (I hope). Today I'm writing about Leo Scalisi. We became friends in middle school and have been friends ever since. He is dedicated to his music (he raps) and to his friends. I'll always remember the times we have had during choir joking around. Leo is an inspiration because he is following his dream and everyone should do the same. I've had too many great times with him to pick out my favorite. Leo dresses like the fly guy that he is and he gave me the sickest hat ever. Good luck to him and his art. Until tomorrow, here's to life

"You build walls and boundaries when you give into your mind. Fear nothing and take control of who you are and who you are meant to be." -Joel Brown

Here's a link to that poem I wrote:
Become Great

Hope you enjoy!

September 30th-Day 30 & Final Recap

1. Talk to a stranger everyday
2. Read two or more chapters of a book each day
3. By the end of the month, 50 consecutive push-ups
4. Take a picture each day
5. Write in a journal everyday
6. Get rid of one thing each day
7. Make someone feel good everyday
8. Learn how to draw a face
9. Master 5 card tricks
10. Practice a random skill each day (e.g. juggling, coin tricks, pen tricks, etc.)

It is officially the last day of September so it is time to look back at my progress over the course of this month. Goal 1: Talk to a stranger every day...this was the hardest goal for me since my friends would consider me socially awkward with first encounters. I didn't do this everyday like I hoped I would, but I have been doing more as the month progressed and am getting more comfortable doing so. Goal 2: Read two or more chapters of a book each day...this was one of my favorite goals because I love to read. I finished two novels, read numerous short stories, and a bunch of articles online. Goal 3: 50 consecutive push-ups...this is something that I have always wanted to be able to do and I finally did it today. Right when I woke up I knocked them all out and felt a surge of energy once I completed them. I am proud of myself for being able to do this for the first time in my life. Goal 4: Take a picture each day...this was one of the easier goals that I set for myself and usually was able to do it. What I would like to improve on is taking more diverse pictures instead of waiting until the day is nearly over to do it. Goal 5: Write in a journal everyday...I enjoyed doing this because I will be able to look back and see how I was feeling throughout the month. Also I can use the journal to work out any ideas that may be in my head. I have started to expand on this by carrying a marble notebook with me to write down things at random points during the day. Goal 6: Get rid of one thing each day...this was easier at first because I was able to discard things which I didn't use/need. But towards the end of the month it became more difficult because I had less things to choose from. I saved the biggest for last and am getting rid of my printer which doesn't work anymore (it stopped working this past week) and is just taking up space. Goal 7: Make someone feel good everyday...this was my favorite goal. I loved to write about my friends and felt even better when I saw a reply of gratitude. It is an incredible feeling that I want to continually experience. Goal 8: Learn how to draw a face...this was challenging for me. I never really saw myself as an artist but I got better the more I practiced. The picture above is something I drew this morning and was based off a picture of myself...lets just say I still have room for improvement. I am happy that my ability has gotten much better than it originally was. Goal 9: Master five card tricks...this ended up being one of the easier goals on the list and I plan to continue practicing and learning more in the future. I think it is neat to be able to find a person's card in a deck of 52. Goal 10: Practice a random skill each day...over the course of this month I have been able to learn a bunch of cool tricks. I know some simple coin magic, I taught myself a simple cup and balls routine, I can juggle three balls with two hands or two balls with one hand, and finally my penmanship with my right hand has improved since I started practicing. I also wrote a poem. I never thought I would do that when it isn't a class assignment. So that has been the month of September and tomorrow brings a new month and new challenges. So for a final time this month, here's to life!

September 29th-Day 29

Today is the second to last day of September...I can't believe this month is just about over now. The picture above is a face that I drew today with one of the best noses I have ever done. I'll draw another face tomorrow and post that as well as a finale of that challenge. I was able to get a lot of things done today and feel really good. I exercised, practiced my magic, and got rid of a book that I don't plan on reading anytime soon. It is amazing to look back and think about everything I have done in this past month. It feels tremendous to have accomplished so much. Today I'm writing about John Martin. He was the choir president my freshman year of high school and he is one of the nicest people I know. John is incredibly friendly and is passionate about social issues. I admire his bubbly personality and his ability to easily have a conversation with people. I will always remember John as the priest in Les Miserables from my freshman/his senior year. Until tomorrow, here's to life

September 27th-Days 24, 25, 26, and 27

http://photoblog.nbcnews.com/_news/2011/08/24/7455589-libyan-rebel-pledges-to-give-gadhafi-hat-to-his-father

I want to make sure people know that I did not take this epic picture which is one of my new favorite photographs of all time, thus becoming my wallpaper. But its been a few days since I last posted anything here but I've had good reasons...Monday night I was playing soccer and had an essay to write, and the other days I was just kind of lazy...at least I am back tonight. I've talked to more strangers in these past few days than I have probably in this entire month. I complimented random people, went to an business seminar type thing, and just asked questions of people. It is interesting to hear what people have to say. I started to read The Time Machine by H. G. Wells and it is fascinating. I like it more than both The Sun Also Rises and  Hard Times. Unfortunately I am going to have to take a break from it and start looking over Hard Times again for class...but thats what I have to do to succeed. I keep exercising with my 50 push-up goal in mind and I will do it on Sunday. My writing ability with my right hand is improving and I keep practicing simple coin tricks and a cup and balls trick. I can now say I have mastered five different card tricks with some other fun things with cards as well. My drawings of faces are getting better, I just need to practice shading in order to create depth and shapes of the nose, eyes, and jaw. Today I am going to write about James Hawkins, a man who helped me make one of the best decisions of my life. When I was only a freshman in high school, I wasn't sure whether or not I was going to try out for Tour Choir (Northport's select choir) because I was in Boy Scouts at the time. During the annual choir walk-around, I was sitting around people listening to them since I was shy and didn't say much. When I was asked whether or not I would try out I replied "I wasn't sure" and James told me that it is worth it. And boy was he right. He took me under his wing and helped me throughout the year, and was also influential in getting me to try out for Les Miserables. He is deeply passionate about what he does and will never give up on his team (Proof-->he is a Mets fan). My favorite memory that I have with him is during one of the show rehearsals, we ripped the brim off one of my hats and the next day James gave me his Houston Astros hat, which I still wear on occasion. I don't know what my life would be like if he hadn't been there to convince me to try out for Tour Choir and it was one of the best influenced decisions I have ever made. Until tomorrow, here's to life

September 19th-Day 19

This picture is of the vision board that I have been working on. On it are physical things I want to have, people who inspire me, and my bucket list. This past month has changed my life and I want to inspire others to change for the better. I know it sounds crazy but it is all in the attitude. I never thought I could just be more of a positive person, but here I am and it feels great. Today I'm writing about someone who I didn't know particularly well in high school, but I admire him all the same. Nick Bruno is the most talented photographer I have ever met or seen pictures from. And what is amazing is that he isn't just great at photography. He is a truly skilled sculptor and artist in every sense of the word. He has found his niche and I am always astounded when I look at what he has done. Here is a link to his website and I highly recommend checking out some of his work: Nicolas Bruno Photography. Today school resumed and classes were enjoyable and made me think about free speech (more on that will come in my other blog). For my random skill today, I choose to practice a new coin trick as well as practicing writing with my right hand. Tomorrow it will be time to learn a new card trick to add to my growing collection which is better than I thought it would be. Instead of drawing a face today, I practiced drawing random items around the house trying to get better at making things look realistic. Today was fantastic and I hope everyone has a great day tomorrow. So until then, here's to life

September 10-Days 9 & 10

Once again, I just really wanted to go to bed last night. But that didn't keep me from working on my goals. These past two days have been very successful in terms of the 10 goals I am focusing on. I drew half of a face that looks pretty decent yesterday, but when I tried to do a whole face today, the results didn't quite come out as nicely. This is a picture of an artsy craft I made the other day by melting crayons on a piece of wood and taping off the areas for the mouth and eyes. I have nearly mastered a third card trick already, so at this rate I might be able to have more than five in my repertoire. For my random skill these past two days, I have continued my practice of the piano. I am teaching myself to be able to play chords along with songs for now. I can almost play Apologize by OneRepublic which is one of my favorite songs. And even more good news: I finally finished reading Hard Times. It was an interesting book, but definitely not one of my favorites. I'm excited to return to reading things that I prefer. Today my person of interest is Maria Garvey, who is one of the sweetest, and most talented people I have the pleasure to know. Maria is a phenomenal dancer and singer who I'm sure will make it far on the stage or screen. I cannot ever remember her being mean to anyone which I admire and she can by hysterically funny and make anyone laugh. I want to wish her the best of luck in college this year and to have a great time. Until tomorrow, here's to life