In search of Greatness

Well, I was at the Death Cab for Cutie concert last night and this thought came to me, I'd had it before but never so well articulated and defined. Watching Ben Gibbard play the crap out of "Soul Meets Body" really moved something in me. Its a great song, but that's unrelated. It just hit me, what does it feel like to stand there on a stage, playing this song you created, to all these people? All these people who paid to see you, who want to hear this music that you created? I mean before he came along, none of this existed! He made this all up, out of nothing, and its changed people's lives. That's big. That's huge. His creativity, has changed people's lives. His music has surpassed him, when he's gone, when the music doesn't get played, those lives will still never be the same. I guess that's what I want, I just never really saw it before. I want to change people's lives. I want them to remember me, and what I did, and be able to say "my life won't ever be the same again". That's greatness.

... and out come the douchebags!

Ok so its warming up outside. I understand that. Actually I really enjoy it. But seriously, that's no excuse. Guys should not wear flip flops. Ever. If you're not at the beach, wearing flip flops should not cross your mind. If you're at the beach, its regular man sandals or nothing. Girls you're all fine, you can wear flip flops all you want and it won't bother me a bit. But guys don't. You look so ridiculous, holy crap. No, I don't believe you're a surfer, or any other crap you think you're pulling off. We live in Minnesota, I can't think of a state that is farther from an ocean. Sorry, you're just not fooling anyone. Sandals=acceptable, flip flops=douche! Its very simple. I'll say it again: sandals=acceptable, flip flops=douche! I guess if you want to look like a douche, then by all means go for it, that's probably why you're wearing that Hollister shirt too. Just recognize that by choosing to dress like a huge douchebag, you are choosing to throw away all self respect.

p.s. if you don't understand the title reference, I'll forgive you this time:

http://www.rancidrancid.com/music/1995_andoutcomethewolves.htm

Money!

I've never had much of it. I guess that's a pretty common belief, since everyone always wants more. But I like it. I've learned to embrace it. Some parts of it really suck, hell I've never had cable tv ever. But it also has definite advantages. I work for what I have, so I don't buy things that don't mean something to me, and I keep those things in good working order. Case in point, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (by Robert Pirsig). This is an amazing book. While it has nothing to do with money at all, in embodies two of the most important things I've learned from being poor: mechanical aptitude, and critical thinking. Fixing things by necessity teaches you more about them than you could ever imagine knowing. It's very difficult to explain this phenomon, so go outside and take apart you bike, down to the frame, put it back together, make it work, and then try to tell me you didn't learn anything. Understanding mechanics gives you a great appreciation for the unseen workings of seemingly simple designs, and I don't think you have to be Freud to see how that applies to many, many different areas. The other thing that I have grown to appreciate is thinking for thinking's sake. I don't have much, so isn't it natural to question how I got what I have? Now I don't mean physical objects, but connections, opportunities, talents. Why did I get this? Pity? Did I actually deserve this? Am I the person who could make the best use of this? Now that I have it, aren't I obliged to use it to its fullest potential? I think about those things all the time! It gets tiring. But, if I need to really think about something, I know how I think. I know how to process things, I know what makes sense to me and what doesn't. While I am still constantly questioning myself and everything around me, I also feel like I know myself in a way that is very unusual, at least in this day and age. So, stop for a minute, and think. Really think. And if you manage not to drive yourself crazy, I think you'll be pleased with what you find.