Performing for the people.

I think performance is just one of those things that is always organic and energetic. The variety of things that one experiences, whether emotional, mental, physical, or otherwise is quite extensive and interesting. It seems like there is always something to learn about one's self as well as the audience in general... and every audience is different on top of that! Gobs of fun challenges, indeed!

Vicarious living.

Which probably sounds sort of mischievous or dangerous... but the way I am thinking of it is something different altogether. It is the life one experiences in their social networking endeavors. The place that has become more and more emotionally responsible over the years. The place which has literally become the second half of one's normal existence in many cases. I am quite guilty of finding my own residence there in many of the same aspects. Which might not be so bad in some respects but is likely not entirely healthy either. In any case I think I might have a much higher appreciation(or need) for it that I probably should. Just something to think about, I guess.

Black Friday non-madness.

I don't think I was quite aware of the situation I was in at work at this time last year, since I was a relatively new employee at UPS, but I am quite relieved by the lightened workload that my crew switches over to during peak season due to the nature of our work. It is basically the complete opposite of what I have been used to for so many years at all of the retail jobs I have had... which is generally considered the craziest part of the year and a total headache in most normal terms. Despite the fact that I am working on Thanksgiving Day the work will be generally easier and the pay will be greater and it will only stay better until the peak season is over. This is very nice indeed!

Doing the fun things.

The latest video contest looks to be a fun one which shows promise considering the folks I will be collaborating with this time. Good talent with fun attitudes to match. It'll be somewhat difficult working around Thanksgiving Day and all that but I still think we'll be able to pull something sweet off.

Gospel exploration.

I am always touched to hear about the personal interactions my friends have with the spirit. It is even more touching to realize those experiences might be their first such experiences as they are searching for the truth. It is inspiring! Especially to hear the specific language of their soul-searching. It is so humble and pure and uncluttered with the sometimes unnecessary language I am so prone to expressing. I hope to find that part of myself again someday.

Gladitude for gratitude.

I really enjoy every reminder of how grateful I should be for all that I have. I know how far I fall short in almost every way and every step I have taken forward has not been on my own. What a blessing it is to even realize that at all!

New band mates are fun!

I really enjoy the family of our band in general but it is always cool to adopt new folk into the mix and most assuredly so when the new folk are cool, fun people. It looks like it will continue to be a very fun crew moving forward and I hope we are able to really put some energy into making it last. This is one of the greater reasons I am in a band these days. The creative outlet would probably be the other main reason, though, I am sure that is the expected one if anybody knows me to just about any degree.

Small successes still sing sweetly to my soul.

We had a good gig tonight and the audience seemed to enjoy it even! It was pretty small but I think we did our part by having our own fun for sure. The band is meshing well and looks to have good staying power despite the few little hiccups in our performance tonight. I think it's the ability to just play through them that gives me that idea. It's a refreshing sort of thing in its own way.

Feeling a little less my age.

I suppose if I do a little bit more physical activity throughout the week I should expect it to happen. Which is certainly a very nice side effect of doing the things that I actually enjoy. It would also be wise for me to do some things with a little variety, too. Good for the brain and the body. Boom!

Colder days ahead.

The temperature has quickly dropped over the last couple or so days. It really feels like the very middle of winter and it makes the prospect of working outdoors a little more challenging. I'm not really afraid of it, per se, but the work does gain a different perspective because of it. I suppose it becomes more "work"-ish. Ha.

Things aren't so bad after all.

It was really nice to find out I am not as broken as I thought at my physical therapy appointment today. The therapist guy seemed pretty positive that I would be able to get back to a fairly pain-free form of existence if I do the things he prescribes. It seems like it is mostly just a bunch of stretches and stuff that should have the biggest impact. Improving my posture is also important. Now it's on me to do my part and make it all happen!

Challenges among us.

I like the prospect of the unknown future. It is a great collaboration of the unknown possibilities and ongoing outcomes. Combine all of this with the power of learning and it really becomes something magical. Brushstrokes across the unfettered canvas of the mind... tickling the sensations, enriching the colorful dreams, laying lines into the blank, unscripted landscape of potential.

Here comes the penultimate term!

And a good term it shall be! I think the class content should be quite enjoyable and very manageable and light on the stress levels, generally speaking. Sure, they'll have their challenges but it will definitely be quite mitigated by the attitude of near departure. The time is soon at hand and for that I am a happier fellow indeed!

One day power outage.

Can easily turn into a two day journal hiatus. Whoops! How easily we forget the normal things in life. Anyway, I'm glad I remembered to do this the morning after. Too bad I don't have anything significant stirring around in my brain at this time of day. Ha.

Ramping up a little.

Today seemed like a slightly amplified productivity-version of yesterday(that's a clunky mouthful. ha.) I did some more tinkering and sorting/organizing. I even got out of the house for a couple hours which is always good for some positive attitude adjustment. Spending hours on end within the confines of my bedroom is not the healthiest thing I can be doing. Ha.

Strolling through the break at a casual speed.

I know I could have been way more productive today but I feel pretty good about my general laziness anyway. I was a fairly productive tinkerer by getting my room a little more organized with the sound system and whatnot. I sort of skipped my creative opportunities so that's kind of dumb... no worries, though, since I still have lots of days left in this break.

Doing the good things.

It always makes the day much better. Not that I am often engaged in doing the bad things but I am often found doing the non-things... which is almost worse than bad things most of the time. I don't always remember the positive feeling of doing the good thing and therefore overlook it from time to time. The ever persistent learning experience!

Sometimes I think I think more deeply about things than is necessary.

Though it only usually becomes apparent when I am trying to describe something to somebody and they sort of get lost in my description. Some of that might just be my verbose tendencies of explanation but the semi-blank looks where also telling of something other than that. I don't like disconnecting from people in just about any way... I just need to get better at simplifying my initial thoughts about things from time to time. It just makes life easier for sure!

Learning more about myself through the experience of others.

I have heard it said that intelligence is learning how to get through a problem on your own... and that wisdom is learning how to avoid the same problem before it happens because of the example of others who have already dealt with the problem. Sure, wisdom might also be called "knowledge properly applied" but that doesn't really lend insight as to how one might gain it. In any case, I am quite glad to be blessed by the experience of others who are willing to share it!

Healthyish.

So, it seems I am a reasonably healthy fellow. I do still have the results of my blood tests to find out more of the story so I can't say it's all peaches and apples(not sure what that means) but I might be in much better shape than I originally thought otherwise. I guess I may have been a little paranoid about things all these years... or maybe skeptical would be a nicer way to put it. Ha.

So ready to see the doctor!

Tomorrow will be my first appointment in forever and I am quite excited to start on a path to recovering my body's health. I know I don't exactly take the best care of it in the first place but I know there are things that can certainly improve when the usable knowledge is obtained. Fun times for everyone!

The future of media is bright.

And I am glad I have a good foot in the right direction therein. It is quite encouraging to know what great resources are already around you and how much open space is left to be explored regardless. It's also nice that I happen to really enjoy doing it in the first place! Ha.

Emphasis of sound moral principles.

I am thankful for a challenging learning environment. I had a class assignment which forced me to examine the opposing side of a particular political issue which I hold strong feelings about. I found it to be very challenging, somewhat sickening at times, to even read through the literature provided by the opposing view... it seemed so vile and hollow and detrimental. Despite all of this, I believe my studies in this way have been incredibly valuable. And, if anything, they deepened my previous beliefs on the topic and reinforced my commitment to them. The work of a testimony, in a way.

Looking forward to my first doctor's appointment in years.

Today, I was able to set up a doctor's appointment for the first time since I was in high school, now that my insurance has finally kicked in. I want to get a thorough examination of all my physical challenges so I can possibly get some things fixed and I am sure I am way overdue. I am sure there'll be lots to figure out and it only seems like life can get better because of it even if I find out potentially negative news. Knowledge is more powerful than the body!

Life only moves forward.

I had some great reinforcing thoughts today about the importance of not looking back. This totally jives with my other thoughts about the need to not be so hard on myself since it is somewhat enabling in that cause. This doesn't mean that we shouldn't remember the important things of our past which are instructive and motivational, though, and perhaps it simply draws the difference between remembering the past and looking back on it. In any case, it is all very encouraging to me so that's pretty cool.

Going easy on myself.

I think I'm starting to realize the unnecessary challenges I might be bringing upon myself by my somewhat intense self-criticism. I expect a lot of myself, which is a good thing, but I think I tend to do it to a fault. It seems that it often leads me to inaction, paralyzing my efforts to do anything I am not entirely sure will live up to my personal expectations. It can often lead me to be more sad about my failures than I need to be as well. So, I think I need to relax a bit... and not be so hard on myself all the time. Just keep moving forward!

Bumbling through another day.

I have so much to do and so much time to do it. Not a common phrase you hear uttered but it really is true in my case. Not a statement of sarcasm but a realization of how mismanaged my time is. There is so many hours in the day that I spend in complete waste. I could have been SO productive today. Ha. Sheesh. I guess it shows how important sleep and well-being are to motivation.