Admit it: Right now, most likly, you're reading this instead of doing homework, studying, writing, ect. Procrastination is a plague which has infected the entire human race. Hell, right now as I type this I'm putting off Religion essays and a Spanish powerpoint. Why do we put stuff off? Why do we wait?
It's obviously bad for us: Less sleep, more temporary cramming, lower grades (usually)... Homework is BORING. That's the simple truth of it. We have "better things" to do. It all comes down to personal preferance. I'd much rather write this blog post than 5 essays about Dorothy Day (With all due respect to her). You'd much rather read this blog post than read your next chapter in Bio. Otherwise, you wouldn't be reading it and I wouldn't be writing it.
Eventually you hit the point where you realize that you really are screwed and should probobly work. THEN you look over at your clock and discover that it's 2 AM. You rush to finish everything and eventually go to sleep. But... if you had done it all in the first place, would all this have happened? If I didn't watch that hour of Family Guy, I'd be getting at least an extra hour of sleep. Which I need.
The other night I was doing my math and bio homework. Which was, without a doubt, boring. But... I was able to stay focused. I had no clue why. There were only 2 things which diverted my attention: An infrequent IM, or changing the song I was listening to. That had tohave been the reason I could stay focused!
If we sit silently staring at the same word document for 15 minutes, we will go insane. The lack of new and interesting stimuli very well may kill us. But throw a pair of headphones into the equation and we have enough to work with. Once again, as I write this, I have my headphones on. It really works!
Sometimes audio stimulation may be a bit too distracting, so be a bit careful. But for the most part, I don't even focus on the music. I honestly can't tell you the last line Tay Zonday just sang to me (Besides "Chocolate Rain"). The key is to listen to the music, but pat attention to your work. It's even easier if you're listening to non-vocal music.
Yes. I just said it. Random trippy techno rave music may be productive to your homework. Try it. Tomorrow night when you're doing your math homework:
http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/147188
It very well may help. Now, if you excuse me, it's 11:15 PM and I still have 5 Religion essays to write.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Personal Flaws
Personal flaws: Everybody has them. Nobody is perfect. And you know this just as well as I do. If you disagree with me and think you're perfect... then that's one of your flaws! People always say "The sooner you find your problem, the sooner you can fix it." Or can you?
I think. This is the root of most of my problems. I think too far ahead, try to plan things out, screw up, and feel worse than I did in the begining. I used to do high jump in track. If I stood up to the line, ran, and jumped without thinking, I'd make it over. Every time. But I couldn't! Thoughts would just pop into my head: "Remember to arch my back..." "Don't let my hand hit the bar..." "Did I measure my steps right?" By this time I've already screwed up my jump. Sometimes, I get so caught up in thinking that I can't act in time and loose my oppertunity. This is why I have an unimpressive love resumae. I don't want it this way. I want to change.
I can't share. I just can't. I relly don't know why... What's mine is just mine. I don't like it this way. If anybody has ever come into my room, I'll flip out if they touch anything. Consider yourself lucky if you've ever borrowed my laptop charger. I'm willing to admit I've been reduced to tears over the fact that I can't share. (Long story for another time) I KNOW that I have a problem... but I can't fix it! Knowing doesn't help; It hurts. Alot.
And that's good. The more it hurts, the more motivation you'll have to stop the pain. Once you have enough motivation... you'll stop! But the question is, where is that line? How much pain must you go throuhg in oder to try and fix your problems? By that time, will it be too late? If so then you're back where you started, except you're a quivering mess.
We're not perfect, so some of our flaws can never be fixed. We have to learn to live with them. Sometimes I try to put myself into a spot where I can't think ahead. I ask if somebody wants a cookie. But they're still there... deep down I'm a selfish asshole who over analyzes. I just don't want the rest of the world to think that I am. I try to be better in othe areas: If somebody asks for help with something, I'll help. I try not to directly insult people. I try to listen to everyone's oppinions. But for some reason negative traits always outweigh the positive ones.
Oh well.
I think. This is the root of most of my problems. I think too far ahead, try to plan things out, screw up, and feel worse than I did in the begining. I used to do high jump in track. If I stood up to the line, ran, and jumped without thinking, I'd make it over. Every time. But I couldn't! Thoughts would just pop into my head: "Remember to arch my back..." "Don't let my hand hit the bar..." "Did I measure my steps right?" By this time I've already screwed up my jump. Sometimes, I get so caught up in thinking that I can't act in time and loose my oppertunity. This is why I have an unimpressive love resumae. I don't want it this way. I want to change.
I can't share. I just can't. I relly don't know why... What's mine is just mine. I don't like it this way. If anybody has ever come into my room, I'll flip out if they touch anything. Consider yourself lucky if you've ever borrowed my laptop charger. I'm willing to admit I've been reduced to tears over the fact that I can't share. (Long story for another time) I KNOW that I have a problem... but I can't fix it! Knowing doesn't help; It hurts. Alot.
And that's good. The more it hurts, the more motivation you'll have to stop the pain. Once you have enough motivation... you'll stop! But the question is, where is that line? How much pain must you go throuhg in oder to try and fix your problems? By that time, will it be too late? If so then you're back where you started, except you're a quivering mess.
We're not perfect, so some of our flaws can never be fixed. We have to learn to live with them. Sometimes I try to put myself into a spot where I can't think ahead. I ask if somebody wants a cookie. But they're still there... deep down I'm a selfish asshole who over analyzes. I just don't want the rest of the world to think that I am. I try to be better in othe areas: If somebody asks for help with something, I'll help. I try not to directly insult people. I try to listen to everyone's oppinions. But for some reason negative traits always outweigh the positive ones.
Oh well.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
There are Other People Out There
I was sitting on the bus, listening to music, looking out the window. Not unusual for me. Then I looked out, and into a not-too-fancy italian resturant. At a table, I saw too people: A father and daughter. (I want you to now that this is all written based on what I think, and how I interperate things. I have no evidence that they're even related.) They were talking, passionatly, about something. They were a fair distance away from me, but I could see them clearly. Then it occured to me (when I thought this), they couldn't see me.
They didn't even know that I existed. And they probobly never will. They had their own story, own background, own path. And mine has nothing to do with it. This isn't the first time I've pondered about this: For years I would look out the car and think "that guy has his own world, seperate from mine." I never put the pieces together quite like I do now though.
There was an abcence of a motherly figure at the resturant. Could that have been what they were talking about? Is she gone forever, or visiting her own mother out of state? Could they have been divorced? Is that why the father seemed to be having a difficult time getting through to her daughter? And most importantly: Will I ever know?
I've concluded this: We all have our own little worlds. You reading this now, that means that I've entered your world and can never get out. But don't let that freak you out... there are billions of people you'll never SEE, let alone talk to. Like the two. They had their own problems, and I have mine. Right then and there, if I could I would have torn that barrier down and tried to help them. Maybe I wasn't meant to be a part of their world. But they've become a part of mine... they just don't know it.
Don't be afraid to break down the barrier.
They didn't even know that I existed. And they probobly never will. They had their own story, own background, own path. And mine has nothing to do with it. This isn't the first time I've pondered about this: For years I would look out the car and think "that guy has his own world, seperate from mine." I never put the pieces together quite like I do now though.
There was an abcence of a motherly figure at the resturant. Could that have been what they were talking about? Is she gone forever, or visiting her own mother out of state? Could they have been divorced? Is that why the father seemed to be having a difficult time getting through to her daughter? And most importantly: Will I ever know?
I've concluded this: We all have our own little worlds. You reading this now, that means that I've entered your world and can never get out. But don't let that freak you out... there are billions of people you'll never SEE, let alone talk to. Like the two. They had their own problems, and I have mine. Right then and there, if I could I would have torn that barrier down and tried to help them. Maybe I wasn't meant to be a part of their world. But they've become a part of mine... they just don't know it.
Don't be afraid to break down the barrier.
Monotony
Play this song in the background:
http://dan-russell-pinson.com/blog/media/1995/04/01/Monotony.mp3
mo·not·o·ny (m-ntn-)
n. pl. mo·not·o·nies
1. Uniformity or lack of variation in pitch, intonation, or inflection.
2. Tedious sameness or repetitiousness: the monotony of daily routine.
Wake up. Do stuff. Go back to sleep. In simplest terms, chances are this is how your life runs. Right? But... what exactly is that "stuff"? You took a test. You broke up with your girl/boy friend. You ate breakfast. You lived today. You lived yesterday. And most likely, you'll live tomorrow. Good for you.
Now tell me: what did you do last thursday? Can't remember? Huh. Can remember? Well, what about two Thursdays ago? Three? Most likely you won't remember. I don't. and maybe that's not what matters. What if somebody else remembers what you did last Thursday? You could have lent them three bucks for something, or knocked them down on the way to your next class.
What if nobody remembers? Well, that doesn't mean you didn't do something to someone that matters. That three bucks could have went to a project that stopped your friend from failing out of school. It could have went to a homeless guy who actually used it to turn his life around. It could have been the 3 dollar donation that finally helped fund the cure for Cancer. But what if it didn't? Here I'll pose my question:
If you live today and go to sleep tonight, but you didn't do anything that will have a lasting affect on your life or someone else's life, than what was the point of living today?
If you didn't do anything worthwhile last thursday... then would removing it from the past do anything? Change anything? If not... then isn't it a waste of a day?You could have done something... But you didn't. We get caught in a cycle. An endless rythm of days and weeks that will dissapear once the sun rises the next day.
Monotony
After all, isn't that what it really is? Tedious sameness. The monotony of a daily routine. Is that what you really want? You honestly only live once. Do you want to spend it doing the same boring thing every day? You're freakin' trapped! Were we humans made to sit by and watch the events of the universe unfold? Or are we supposed get up and do something?
What can you do? Wake up in the morning and think "What can I do today that will matter?" Throughout the day think "If I did this, could it help?" go to sleep thinking "Was today worth it?"
Why the hell am I even typing this? Lobster Claws. That's right.
http://interactionartist.com/classic/gameloader.php?GAME_NAME=LobsterClaws
Watch it. Responsibility: Those who are free are to cut everyone else out as well. The weak ignore: The confused ponder: The strong act. I'm trying to be strong. If you've made it this far, you probobly are too. Now act.
Break out of your own Monotony. It's not too late.
http://dan-russell-pinson.com/blog/media/1995/04/01/Monotony.mp3
mo·not·o·ny (m-ntn-)
n. pl. mo·not·o·nies
1. Uniformity or lack of variation in pitch, intonation, or inflection.
2. Tedious sameness or repetitiousness: the monotony of daily routine.
Wake up. Do stuff. Go back to sleep. In simplest terms, chances are this is how your life runs. Right? But... what exactly is that "stuff"? You took a test. You broke up with your girl/boy friend. You ate breakfast. You lived today. You lived yesterday. And most likely, you'll live tomorrow. Good for you.
Now tell me: what did you do last thursday? Can't remember? Huh. Can remember? Well, what about two Thursdays ago? Three? Most likely you won't remember. I don't. and maybe that's not what matters. What if somebody else remembers what you did last Thursday? You could have lent them three bucks for something, or knocked them down on the way to your next class.
What if nobody remembers? Well, that doesn't mean you didn't do something to someone that matters. That three bucks could have went to a project that stopped your friend from failing out of school. It could have went to a homeless guy who actually used it to turn his life around. It could have been the 3 dollar donation that finally helped fund the cure for Cancer. But what if it didn't? Here I'll pose my question:
If you live today and go to sleep tonight, but you didn't do anything that will have a lasting affect on your life or someone else's life, than what was the point of living today?
If you didn't do anything worthwhile last thursday... then would removing it from the past do anything? Change anything? If not... then isn't it a waste of a day?You could have done something... But you didn't. We get caught in a cycle. An endless rythm of days and weeks that will dissapear once the sun rises the next day.
Monotony
After all, isn't that what it really is? Tedious sameness. The monotony of a daily routine. Is that what you really want? You honestly only live once. Do you want to spend it doing the same boring thing every day? You're freakin' trapped! Were we humans made to sit by and watch the events of the universe unfold? Or are we supposed get up and do something?
What can you do? Wake up in the morning and think "What can I do today that will matter?" Throughout the day think "If I did this, could it help?" go to sleep thinking "Was today worth it?"
Why the hell am I even typing this? Lobster Claws. That's right.
http://interactionartist.com/classic/gameloader.php?GAME_NAME=LobsterClaws
Watch it. Responsibility: Those who are free are to cut everyone else out as well. The weak ignore: The confused ponder: The strong act. I'm trying to be strong. If you've made it this far, you probobly are too. Now act.
Break out of your own Monotony. It's not too late.
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