Appreciating the basics

I wanted to jot down a few words about something while emotions and thoughts were still fresh.

For months it's been very difficult dealing with some instabilities at home alone with my father. Empty words day after day, night after night, used as leverage for my help and companionship at times seem to mean nothing in the end. Now, as situations perpetuated by my father complicate themselves, I find myself here staying at my brother house more inspired to achieve my goals and exceed the expectations of my father.

Things have truly been put into perspective during the tougher times. I have never been more appreciative of basic commodities like food, health, and a roof while luxuries suddenly seem so insignificant. Things like a big home with a swimming pool mean absolutely nothing without a loving family and great friends. For some people the only thing that matters is wealth and great riches but I have gone through my fair share of experiences both good and bad to recognize that the things that must be appreciated first are the basics in order to capitalize on the wealth that tomorrow holds. I will stay inspired to achieving 'excellence' even if it means taking a step back to appreciate the simple things in life at the costs of postponing future hopes and dreams.

Beautiful Mistakes

I have found myself struggling in the past to solve the constant puzzles my life has most recently been drowned in. It’s easy for us to think that we are deserving of things as a result of our struggles, but far too often do we use this as an excuse to pass off the blame for our current status. I feel like we are tried and tested with things that don't work out according to plans, especially when we these tests are so serious they force us to reexamine where we stand in life and where we are going. The psychological hardships that we must fight through when we face adversity or change for the worse can be devastating if we let them. These situations impose on our comfort levels and routine state of mind a mandatory shift in perspective which can lead to two outcomes; a selfish unwillingness to adapt to ones situation or an opportunity for further self progression and excellence through misfortune.

The notion that we deserve things for any reason is far too often used as an excuse to complain about what may not be working out in our favor. When we don’t get the raise at work or we get in a fight with a loved one or we get in some trouble it’s easy to think that we are undeserving of these things. We should never have to be put in these positions right… Wrong! This is simply a form of denial of reality which ultimately leads to regression and an unsettled misfortune. I've personally been a victim of this addictive frame of mind which has ultimately taken away precious time in which I could have been devoting to self progression and helping others who are affected by my actions. It is unquestionable that after this form of denial is confronted and dealt with, the problems that we may be burdened with are easier to learn from and avoid in the future.

I feel that regardless of the level or difficulty these situations present to us, the underlying theme of remaining hopeful and progressing remains true. The idea that we should continue to search for hope and optimism from situations that have us at our lowest points in life has been an enigma to me in past because I had always been able to accomplish my goals regardless of complexity. That paradigm seemed short lived. The real world hit me like a ton of bricks when I moved away for college and I was forced to deal with some of the most severe, life-changing issues that I would be challenged with on my 'road to excellence'. My inspiration comes from the drive to minimize the amount of foolish mistakes I make and keep from repeating them. It comes from the power of the human will we must put to work when we're at the rock bottom.

Inspired by Lies...

I have been dwelling on this issue for quite some time because as the November 2008 election draws near and I find myself much more interested in the wonders of politics (ugh). I’ve always been interested in the political process and the corruptions in the system (we all know it’s not perfect). The government can, and will, deliberately have America believing one thing when the premise behind plans are actually something totally different. In the realm of politics this idea has always been around and in some cases is very necessary as citizen’s lives do not need to be complicated with everything that is going on in the world. But i feel that this crucial period in America’s history will be a defining moment in the direction and the level of government distortion. I can only hope and pray that whichever candidate is chosen will be able to lead us away from wasteful earmarks, pork barrel spending, lobbyist and other forms of government self-interest.

This idea of having a corrupt, inadequate government on any level has inspired me to position myself in a way that I can actually make a difference. To get educated and to understand how best to impact the policies that may be affecting me on a regional level at the very least. If politics are not a serious priority for an individual, I feel the next step is simply to stay engaged in the laws and policies of the land so if there are any questions or concerns one will be able to voice an opinion.

While I don’t plan on being on the inside of federal government, I will always stay dedicated to maintaining a full, objective view of politics and continue to question the government. I feel that American politics is rarely blessed with individuals who have not been phased by power and money because these things inevitably play a large role in politics at all levels. So we owe it to ourselves to question the policies of government entities and think as independents. I will also stay inspired to question the information we find in the vast majority of the media. It’s amazing how calculating and divisive some propaganda can be. The context in which information is portrayed to convey a specific message can be so misleading that we take away a completely different message than intended. We see examples of this demonstrated all the time when the media only share small portions of a larger message that will often present misleading information. Freedom of speech has always been on the public’s side. One thing we often fail to use though, is freedom of thought.

Progressing with Politics

It's going to be hard for me not to write on and on for hours about this topic because there's so much I have to say regarding my thoughts on politics. I really could write a novel-sized entry but I'm going to do my best to cut this short and stay focused on the topic of this post which may actually have some people mislead. I'm not going to get into the politics that we see everyday in the media about democrats and republicans. I'm sure I will address that issue at a later date anyway before the date of the election on November 4th. Instead, I wanted to focus on the politics we are more apt to face in our everyday lives like in our careers, our communities and and relationships.

According to the trusty internet source wikipedia, politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions. ... politics has been observed in all human group interactions, including corporate, academic, and religious institutions. Politics consists of "social relations involving authority or power"^[1] and refers to the regulation of a political unit, ^[2] and to the methods and tactics used to formulate and apply policy.^[3]

The main ideas that I got from this excerpt were that politics has been observed in "all human interactions" and that it consist of "social relations involving authority or power". I love that we have the ability to play such significant roles in group, social relationships without having the highest, most powerful position. Granted, one would need to appeal to the group of people he/she is playing politics with, most anyone can be a proponent of political influence based on the approach and execution of their political methods.

For example, a group of random student assigned to a project will go through a phase of assessing each other with underlying political judgments in which case we should have as much control over as possible. It may not always be to our advantage to act like we do in front of our best friends and family if we're attempting to appeal to a different group for any certain reason. There's a time and a place for everything; including politics. One more example. A newcomer to a group of activist in a small town would have the opportunity to strategically play politics to fast track the achievement of his/her goals.

This is not to say we should become chameleons changing every time we create relationships or get involved in any organization, but to reinforce this concept that we already know about and employ in our own lives. Job interviews require it. Business gatherings require it. Family functions may even require it. I have been inspired to stay engaged in the course of my life and the extent of my achievements through being a proponent of progression through a successful understanding of when and where politics should be used day by day. To me, this idea is both challenging, enjoyable and inspiring!

The World Never sleeps. Why should our dreams?

I really wanted to comment on this commercial that I saw a while back because the message that it's sending to its audience is very motivational and truly inspirational. The extent to which these market researchers and advertisers have been able to tap into it's audiences emotions seems uncanny!

This commercial broadcasted throughout millions of televisions has inspired me to continue to reach for my dreams not matter how hard the fight and how long and strenuous the road may be. If I don’t wake up thinking about the most efficient ways I’m going to go about reaching my dreams and my goals I will be doing myself a disservice. Not to mention anyone that I plan on having a positive effect on during my rise to excellence.

One thing I realized about this commercial was the quote, 'the world never sleeps". As a U.S citizen, I may never have to worry about how European or Asian countries effect me in any way, shape or form, but what we should keep in mind as citizens of the world is that you and I are not the only ones struggling for a better tomorrow. As I stated in my first post, the struggles that we face on the road to achieving excellence in its entirety are deeply similar. We all have aspirations and goals and ambitions we are fighting for and the idea of giving up can never be an option. The hopes and dreams in poverty stricken, third world countries are in some sense much more sever than those I seek with all the opportunity I am given. I am in no position to complain or give up. God has blessed.

We too, like the inspirational message in this simple commercial have to work around the clock to turn our dreams into realities. I’m doing my best to turn my dreams into realities even if means taking a humble approach to a broken system or taking the back seat to a corrupt government.

Wealth through a Synoptic Microscope

Wealth: Derives from the old English word "weal", which means "well-being". The term was originally an adjective to describe the possession of great qualities. An individual who is wealthy, affluent, or rich is someone who has accumulated substantial wealth relative to others in their society or reference group.

Wealth is a relative term that has been butchered over past decades since we have grown accustomed to measuring people based on their economic status. These beliefs distract us from achieving a truly healthy and wealthy, balanced lifestyle. Our materialistic culture has been increasingly seductive while overshadowing the alternative cultural ideologies that offer more fulfilling lifestyles for everyone. The popularity of television programs, various genres of music, advertisements, and other forms of connecting with the masses influence our perspective of what is wealth really means. I’ll address this concept in detail in a later post.

I feel this is the absolute wrong way to measure ones wealth because it only leads to the degradation of our personal lifestyle and anyone we may have an affect on. It’s important to understand that the monetary aspect of wealth is only a very small piece of the life’s puzzle regardless of age, lifestyle, or socioeconomic status. A synoptic view of wealth would lead us toward authentic purpose and away from selfish, superficial goals we may seek otherwise.

Another note that should be accounted for is the fact that it is increasingly harder to gain upward economic mobility from the lower and middle social classes. Studies show that the middle class is shrinking and the divide between the rich and poor is becoming more prominent. I say this to stress the fact that the messages of wealth solely as a measure of monetary assets is becoming more threatening to a genuinely, healthy wealthy lifestyle. Once we recognize the differences and the small idiosyncrasies that these messages play in our everyday lives it will be easier for us to focus on the things that will help us foster a more progressive, wealthy lifestyle.

I have been teaching myself to put these things in perspective while I continue on my trek to reach excellence in all aspects of a wealthy lifestyle. I hope this makes sense to any readers but the point I am trying to make is clear. The culture we live in perpetuates regressive conditions like envy, greed, sex and others that are not progressive to the achievement of excellence. We have to stay watchful and be aware not to let our selfish desires lead us away from excellence.

This short video addresses the increase in economic inequality as it relates to politics for those that may be interested. The United States of America has been very sluggish about raising minimum wages and inflation seemed to gain momentum. The weakening of organized labor unions has lessened their influence on large corporations. Education has become an absolute must.

Some of the information was gathered from the following sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_middle_class
http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/poverty.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_middle_class#Middle_class_squeeze