Compromise.

At what point do each of us decide to loosen up our ground, step back and compromise? It is important to ponder because if we want to truly experience life as a community we have to learn the delicate balance between what we want and working in the world around us. Relationships in all angles from relationships we hold at work, in our friendships, our families, our love life. Successful relationships and interactions require compromise.

So, the question is..at what point do we decide to compromise and how? You can overuse compromise..you can give yourself up too easily and the next thing you know somehow you and your place gets lost in the balance of the interaction. You can under use compromise and have a "My way or the highway" point of view. Feeling like if other's don't match your perspective then too bad, it is not worth it for you to be apart of the interaction. Neither way really leads to success. Neither way gains you fulfillment in your relationships.

For some of you, one avenue is more natural than the other. Mastering the art of the compromise with perfect balance is exactly that. An art. I certainly am still trying to understand it and balance it myself. The common goal is that no matter what the differences are in the relationships that we all have, no matter what perspective we all bring..to celebrate that every one of us has different views, talents and wants. To bring my views and wants while intermixing it with the views and wants of those around me. Striving to create fulfilling interactions and relationships.

Compromise.

Cake.

There are so many flavors out there in the world that surround us. Some flavors appeal to us while others appall us. Our first response is to think that because we like the taste of chocolate and dislike the taste of anchovies that everyone else around us does too. That is a natural human response, we are wired to relate to people using our base of personality first. It is too easy to seek connection with others through our own understandings of ourselves.

As we try to grow and move through the world if we really want to relate to people on a more impactful level, in a way that we can really learn and bond together we need to try to get to know the things about other people that are different from us as well as what is similar. It is too easy to only surround yourself with people who share your same tastes, thinking, views, disposition..I mean it is easier to be friends and lovers with a carbon copy of yourself. However, imagine how much of your world you could expand if you set out to really appreciate the diversity that is out there.

I want to seek out people that like the same flavor of cake as I do as well as people that prefer flavors that I can not imagine enjoying. Not for the sake of expanding my palette to like that flavor or become something else but more so to appreciate where their taste is coming from. I want to relate to people that are similar to me and people who could not be more different. I want to appreciate the differences and the many point of views that surround us that I am missing out on because I am not trying to think in a new way. Imagine the possibilities.

Cake.

Noise.

Sometimes through the hustle and bustle of a day it is hard to find your center.Sometimes it is too easy to tune out the noise and racket of the day in a quest to find your sanity to get through the day.  Every sound, layering upon the other making a symphony that is just a little off key with the other yet also blending in a way that just works. That is most of my days. I find it beautiful. It fuels me even without me realizing it. Noise is beautiful to me. I love being surrounded by life, words, music, movement. I often say that I like peace and quiet, that is also true. However, amongst thinking about it..I spend 80% of my week in a hustle and bustle so the other 20% I tend to recharge and then I find comfort in the beauty of silence. Both are important but today somehow I have a gratitude for the chance to share my world with others and have them share theirs with mine.

What I guess I have come to discover is that there is so much to be said about the honor of sharing your hours and being apart of other's lives. From complete strangers, to close friends to your family. It truly is amazing that we have the ability to share with one another our simple noises.

So today, when you have the chance stop. Stop and observe the simple noises around you and how each person in your view is contributing in creating your personal soundtrack. It is beautiful.

Noise.

Melting

It has been on my mind for quite some time..how we as human beings compartmentalize every part of ourselves into different categories. Working hard not to intermix them or let them merge. We often say "I work hard and then I play hard" or "I am tired, I need coffee"..the last one is actually one I say daily. Why not play at work? If you are tired why not rest? Our bodies, our minds are not compartmentalized but all one being. To be fulfilled and really enjoy our experience in life we must merge and melt our lifestyles into one.

This has been weighing heavily on my mind this year. As I work hard to nourish my body with correct physical fuel, meditate to nourish my body with good energy and thinking I have felt like I can truly appreciate my days. My quest is to really get the most out of my work. I love my work, it is my calling and passion. I am lucky that I can merge my hobby with my career but even with that I could do so much more to really experience it. Love..oh dear, that is a taller order since I only have partial control over this category since it involves a partner but my body, intellect, spirit and heart are all connected in one package. I want to be experienced as one package as well as experience someone else in that same light.  So, I want nothing less than to have that full experience.

All aspects..every single one I want to develop into one experience. I know with everything I have that once you commit to yourself to live wholly and synergistic with your self..melt your body, mind, heart, spirit to all join in each experience you will be full. This is my quest, this is my commitment to myself. This is my commitment to all of you. All of me.

Melted.

Ride

Mortality. It crosses our mind. In fact, it crossed most of our minds even in jest yesterday however we all can not deny the deep down, if even for one moment there was not a bit of thought as to if we were living and taking advantage of the time we have been given. Many of us felt like we would be comfortable with how we were and our lives were in that moment if it were all to end, many of us felt a sense of urgency to go after the things and dreams that we never truly fought for but just let be a glance in our imagination. Many of us felt that we had not indulged enough in life and wanted to do everything we could to taste and experience everything that we had not experienced enough of before. Which category are you?

For me, I have experienced many things. Excess is my middle name so if I went through a phase I went through it hard. I played hard, I loved hard, I lived hard and I even rested hard. Today, I am a comfortable balance between all of those experiences. I fit somewhere between the urgent to the content. So I asked myself, would you be content if the world ended today..and truthfully I think I would. I have lived, loved, made my mark, my days end with a smile. I am content. So, what else is in my heart today now that we all have not expired? That I am content..and that in itself is a gift but there is still so much to build upon.

Each day that I am given a chance to work in the field surrounded by kindred spirits that have become my extended family, learn new things, experience the amazing friends and family in my life, hear a new song, write a new line, breathe a new breath I will be grateful. The objective is to just be grateful for each day and the opportunity to live. Pain, strife, loneliness, joy, love, hope..it is all there to teach us, to mold us into the person that we are today. Thank each day for what if brings you and then do everything you can to bring all you have to that day.

Ride.

Remix

There will always be a song that you have always loved, always will..in fact it is such a part of you and rings so strong to you that when you hear it you come alive. You will always love that song, you will always find it to be your anthem of sorts. This song was once the hottest song on the radio, when you heard it you felt hip and edgy. Now, it is being played on the easy listening station.

Holy crap..has that much time gone by? When did this edgy artist that bothered my parents begin playing on my station? Wait..take it back..I am the one listening to this station right now..when did this become my station? In that moment you realize that your youth is encapsulated in something that will be used for the next Hyundai commercial, sampled by the Black Eyed Peas and well..you don't mind.

That is life in your 30's. I am really beginning to like it a lot as well. The memory of my youth..when I was fun, careless and edgy but now remixed with a more grounded and introspective person. In your 30's you are like a well digitally remastered now re-released to DVD film. Yes, the VHS version of you was pretty amazing but now you can have the best of both ideas.

So what are you remixing, remastering and restoring? Enjoy the process, enjoy the experience because it is going to be amazing this time around.

Remix.

Let Them Eat Cake

The phrase "You can't have your cake and eat it too" has always confused me. I mean, it is cake..it has really only one purpose in life and that is to be eaten. I am not going to spend money and time on a cake and then not eat it. You can only really  eat the cake as well if you have it. That would be a bastard move to have someone else's cake and eat it too, right?

No one ever says that about other items.."You can't have your car and drive it too"..I am just saying, whoever came up with that should not have gotten the acclaim that they got. Now the guy who came up with "Don't worry, be happy" should be happy and feel satisfaction with his bumper sticker and t-shirt empire but not the cake guy.

So really though, don't you ever feel that way though..that you are not allowed to have something you really want and feel free to enjoy it at the same time? We are almost taught that is pretty much shooting the moon or impossible but I disagree. I believe that you can have the things you want and dream about and that when you do get to actualize them that you should dive in and indulge like there is no tomorrow. So what do you have in your life right now that you don't fully enjoy because you feel as though you should not? Today..enjoy it. Stop and spoil yourself in it.

Live your life to find gratitude in the things you have, use them, enjoy them and don't take them for granted. Live your life to acquire the things you want and dream about. I mean, if you are going to acquire and have cake..you should certainly eat it too.

Let them eat cake.