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!

1. 
   

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!

Perspectives And Coming Out Ahead

Yesterday I realized that I had been at Fordham for a month, which to most people would not mean much. But I only lasted a month at Dickinson before returning home. This goes to show how much a different perspective can make. When I went to Dickinson, I was full of anxiety, slightly depressed, and not confident enough in my own self to succeed. As a result, I ended up going home to figure some things out. Life did not make much sense to me and I wasn't sure where I was going to go from there. I always thought I would travel along the typical path of going to college after high school, getting a degree, and then getting a job. With this wrench thrown in my plans, I started to learn more about myself, especially in the past six/seven months. I grew in mind, spirit, and body, which has enabled me to get to where I am now. When I first came to Fordham for orientation, I was nervous. I did not want a repeat of what happened my first attempt at college. There were some nights in the beginning that were hard and I felt like I didn't know what to do. But little by little I started to make friends, get more involved, and now I feel like I am at home here. The change I have gone through in a year and a half amazes me because I never would have thought I could go from such a low point in my life to such a high. When I first got back home from Dickinson, I often laid in my bed thinking that there wasn't anywhere to go with my life. But now I know that it is possible to bounce back from anything. It is all up to you as an individual to make life worth living. Thank you to all my family and friends for sticking by me through the tough times and helping me out. Now I am ready to conquer any challenge ahead of me and am excited to see what is in store. So my friends, here's to life!

November 10th-I'm Back

Sorry I was not able to post last week, the storm known as Sandy had knocked out the power and cable at my house for a week, but luckily my family and I are all safe and we have everything restored. I have not set new goals for myself yet, but I am doing my best to maintain all the good habits I have created for myself. I will have the new goals posted by the end of the week and write a post sometime during the week. I want to  share the importance of letting people know you are grateful to have their love and friendship. We are molded by those who surround us and to quote one of my favorite songs from the hit Broadway show Wicked, "But I know I'm who I am today because I knew you". I encourage everyone to take time out this week to let the people who always support you no matter how idiotic or crazy you may be for always being there. This week's quote is from Victor Hugo-->"No army can withstand the strength of an idea whose time has come" Until next time, here's to life!

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 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 20th-I'll Never Forget

Today I'm going to forgo a post about what I did today. Instead it will be about this past year. It has been one year since I dropped out of Dickinson College and returned home after only a month of being away. I reached the lowest point in my life and I didn't know what to do with myself. Since then, I have worked full time, gone back to school, started writing my blogs, helping train my brothers' soccer teams, and am now at one of the happiest points in my life. For now, the best day ever is still November 2nd, 2010 because I asked Allie out and she said yes, and I scored a goal in my game against Newfield, which we won in overtime. But anyways, I cannot give enough thanks to the people who have supported me all throughout the tough times, even when I tried to push them away. My life in this year has completely changed for the better and I am so grateful to be where I am in my life. I want everyone out there who is struggling through a hard time to know that things do get better. Anything is possible if you let it. There is often a negative stigma that accompanies the idea of self-improvement sites and movies, but they have helped me immensely. You can do anything you want. Here are ten rules of life that I created for myself that help me get through anything:

1. Always say “please” and “thank you” whenever possible

2. Take the opportunity to disconnect from all screens at least once a day

3. Visualize and pray about what you want and are grateful for daily

4. Pay attention to contextà you don’t know every person’s situation

5. Use the Law of Attraction

6. Things will always get better as long as you think they will. If you think they won’t, they won’t

7. Never stop learning things that interest you. You can be as smart as you want to be

8. Appreciate everything you love about life

9. Have faith and be positive

10. Love life

 
Here's to life