Blog Archives
A Super Future
First and foremost, my Captain America had a successful open-heart surgical procedure yesterday and this person is resting comfortably!
One certainty from this experience (though a lengthy recovery awaits) is that, from what I was told, this person was brave throughout the whole process. This individual combined a scary reality with the universe that stars Captain America to remain calm for the major surgery.
Quite a super mindset, wouldn’t you say?
For the foreseeable future, Marvel and DC Comics will be relentlessly writing and producing summer blockbusters that feature its best superheroes. It’s true. Though the most recent “Age of Superhero Movies” started several years ago, the imagination and intriguing dynamics from all of these films is unmistakable. It’s increasingly weaving itself into mainstream culture with t-shirts worn by virtually every type of person these days, more energized conferences, relevancy to real world events and dilemmas, along with the admiration of the cinematic quality from top-shelf directors and cinematographers. Also, note the popularity of The Big Bang Theory.
What does this mean?
In an era where institutions and its leaders are continually (and sadly predictably) letting us down, there is an empty vacuum to be filled for over-arching societal guidance. It’s becoming more and more apparent that characteristics of famed-superheroes are being adopted and relied upon by us to help react to the chaotic events of our personal lives and the world around us. Instead of looking up for leadership, we’re looking next to us at our fellow men, women and children. The varying exercise of the power of the individual in our highly publicized, social media-driven culture is generating a collective pulse of inspiration (remember Batkid?) that all of us can admire and reach to for our own struggles.
Maybe, just maybe, we’re building the foundation for a super population and culture in the 21st century.
“A hero can be anyone. Even a man doing something as simple and reassuring as putting a coat around a young boy’s shoulders to let him know that the world hadn’t ended.”
–Batman
Generation C
Graduation.
Whether it’s from high school or college, it’s an event of celebration, reflection and some lighthearted humor.
Plus, a life lesson or two.
Interestingly, high school graduation feels more like a collective achievement because we all made it to that singular destination (college). Our high school class grew up together, from our first memories at preschool. Regardless of the specific university, we were going to college.
We did it!
Graduating from college is more of an individual achievement because we (more than likely) went to school with people from different towns, states and maybe even countries. Our studies were specialized to our interests. At this point, after walking across the stage with our diploma in-hand, we had to find our specific destination within the gigantic and chaotic thing called “the real world.”
Can I do it?
Six years later, I’ve thought about what I would like to hear if I was just now graduating from college. Or, what I wished I had heard six years ago.
Here it goes, a shortened version anyways.
——————————-
The world we live in is a crazy place. And I mean crazy! Just watch or read the news at any hour of the day and you know what I’m talking about.
“Why have they spent the past 24 hours telling us they haven’t found this plane yet?”
The world is a busy and random place. The people we come across on a daily basis ranges from normal to the absurd, yet everything seems to function as it’s supposed to, like clockwork.
How does all this come together to work?
I guess it’s all just kind of imperfectly perfect.
Anyways…Doctor. Lawyer. Captain of Industry.
These are the sough-after “money” positions. These are the jobs we should pursue, right?
Yes and no.
If it fits for you, then sure, absolutely. If not, find something that fits you better, whether it exists or not.
My sincere advice?
Whatever ranks you decide to join or invent as an entrepreneur, be sure to add your special kind of craziness to the mix, both in and out of the workplace.
What do I mean?
Be crazy nice and always open the door for the person behind you or in front of you.
Be crazy awesome and launch a business that makes dynamite food concoctions (FYI- Voodoo Doughnut in Portland nailed it with their Bacon Maple Bar doughnut!).
Be crazy in love and dedicate yourself to that special someone in your life.
Be crazy creative and market in ways thought to be too “outside the box.”
Be crazy compassionate and volunteer at the local Food Bank in your spare time and connect in ways you never imagined.
Be crazy inspiring and wash the windows at a local hospital in a superhero costume as excited kids watch.
Be crazy dancing guy/girl and make someone laugh on a Wednesday.
Be crazy enough to believe you can bring something to the “real world” that makes it a little better.
In this economy, jobs are few and far between. Past assumptions about living post-college are flying out the window. Will the above result in your dream job? I have no idea, but for this generation, you must be dedicated to thinking that you have the opportunity (and necessity) to bring some positive craziness to a world that’s becoming increasingly crazy and uncertain. If you do, then maybe that one person will take a chance on you for that job you’ve always wanted? Maybe that one person will say “yes” to a date? Maybe that one person will inspire you to do something you’re passionate about, but were too nervous to do before?
Instead of looking for a needle in a haystack, become that needle in a haystack. Be a bright, shining presence who is ready for their shot when the right person looks in your direction.
You’d be crazy not to.
Happy Monday!
It’s time for a remixed beginning to the work week from the guy with the best white man Afro.
Bob Ross, take it away.
Have a Happy Monday with Some Paint (& Happy Clouds & Trees)!
Finding That Killer Instinct
“I got soul, but I’m not a soldier”
The power of the written word as expressed though music is completely unsurprising. Not a new revelation at all, but this obvious observation does not diminish the inspiring and revealing nature of a perfectly-crafted phrase sung for, to and from the heart.
As a talking camel strutting through a busy American office would ask right about now, “guess what day it is?”
Wednesday is the most confusing day of the week. It’s not near the beginning (uggh) or near the end (yay!), but smack down in the middle. Thankfully, that song lyric above is the quintessential answer to this mid-week dilemma. Monday and Tuesday, yes, we are relentless “soldiers” for our jobs and our companies. However, once the first sign of light starts to break on the horizon over that tall stack of papers (literal or figurative), that warm, comforting glow is a guiding force that we again need to embrace our adventurous and random side for the end of the week and of the weekend ahead.
Below is a list of 7 things to do today or this evening as a reminder that “I got soul, but I’m not a soldier.”
Here we go:
- Go to a local farmer’s market and buy food you’ve never cooked before and try your hand at it
- Break out into a dance with a friend/friends on a street or walkway with people around for 10 seconds
- Blast music from your car (sans profanity or vulgar material) with entertaining bravado
- Sit outside on a park bench (weather permitting) and read a good book
- Always, always read and spread the awesomeness of Jimmy’s Daily Planet!!
- Go to a bar in a nice restaurant and secretly pay the tab of a couple in love
- Watch the abridged video below for visual motivation from the killer source of this post
After all, isn’t it about ‘all these things that we’ve done’?
Jimmy's Daily Planet 