Take Life Slow

goal

n.

1. The purpose toward which an endeavor is directed; an objective.

We are constantly setting goals in life wether we realize it or not. We say things like "I'd like to go on vacation to San Diego next month." Going to San Diego, laying on the beach, soaking up some rays, that is your objective.

Goals can be good or bad. All depending on what you value in life and what your trying to achieve.

Healthy goal example - "I'd like to gain five pounds of muscle over the next two weeks."
Unhealthy goal example - "I can't wait to get so high on crack tonight"

It is important that we set goals in our life and are continually striving to reach our personal goals.

What we need to avoid is a sense of goal infatuation. How many times have you said something like "I can't wait to graduate"? While this may seem harmless, in reality your wishing your time away. We need to be sensitive to the fact that this life is short. We need to cherish all of the time we have instead of focusing so much on a goal that we lose track of time.

This is a constant problem in my life.

I go to work five days a week. I go to school five days a week. I have become to busy that if I don't keep track of my life, it will pass without any recollection of where the time has gone. I don't want to wake up one day when I'm old and gray (there are two ways to spell grey) and say "Where did the time go?"

Do some thing memorable everyday. This thirty day challenge is doing it for me.

Writing a post every day is helping to keep my life in perspective. It's helping me to live my life day by day, instead of living for a goal and doing my best to speed up its achievement.

So go ahead, set goals for yourself, but don't forget that the coolest part of any achievement is the journey and adventure that you had along the way.

Leave a comment!

Peace One Day

I have recently become infatuated with TED videos. TED is nonprofit organization that focuses on spreading ideas. They hold conferences every year in several locations across the world and have speakers who specialize in awesome things come and talk about their ideas.

If you want to check out TED go to: http://www.ted.com/

Check out some videos.
You will learn something, I promise.

Today I was browsing through some of the "TED talks" videos and came across what seemed like a generic hippie, world peace video, and to my surprise, it was just another hippie, peace video, but it had some serious direction and some insanely ambitious people behind it so I'd like to share it.

If you want to check out the video I'm referring to, you can click this link
http://www.ted.com/talks/jeremy_gilley_one_day_of_peace.html

The video is seventeen minutes long so I really don't expect anyone to watch it all but the basic premise is that this man, Jeremy Gilley has worked his ass off to convince the whole world to cease fire for one day every 21st of September.

-In 2001 the idea was proposed to the United Nations general assembly and unanimously accepted.

While it was a great accomplishment, officially adding an international cease fire day to the calender, not everyone respects such dates. Underground forces are now Gilley's target. He aims to receive backing from rebel forces such as ELN and the Taliban.

-Immediately after a trip to Afghanistan, Gilley's received a letter from the Taliban, informing him that they intend to comply.

As a result of this small window of opportunity, 1.6 million children were vaccinated against polio that year on the 21st. of september.

I'm not much of a world peace nut, but I can recognize a good cause when I see one and I understand that in order for this cause to be successful it must be recognized universally.

So I have done my duty of sharing with you.
Go tell someone about it!

About 50 people will read this today.
If you everyone tells one other person, this idea will spread like a wildfire.

Now go watch some TED talks.
They will blow your mind!!

Leave a Comment!
Tell me which one you watched and I'll take a look!

I love College

I actually enjoy going to my classes. It was a rare occurrence when I would wake up in the morning and be excited to go to one of my high school classes. Even though I'm only taking the required prerequisite classes, I wake up in the morning excited to go. I yearn to share my opinion, to learn from my professors, and from my peers.

Is it the same at a University?

It has been explained to me that professors at universities are not just professors, they are researchers. Their primary function is to conduct their research. At the community college (as lame as it sounds) my professors only teach. They come to work every day with the sole purpose of furthering my education. I'm receiving one on one time that I can't imagine is possible at a university. At least not in undergrad work. I understand that as classes become more specialized, they tend to be smaller.

Everyone tells me that Community College is like HighSchool 2.0

I really don't understand how they have come to that conclusion. What freedoms were they looking for in a college experience that they aren't receiving? Is it desirable to get lost in a crowd?

From what I have observed and experienced at the community college the differences between high school and community college are astronomical. Students are actually there to learn, professors actually treat you like an adult, the course load is challenging, and the resources are profound. The amount of free (technically inclusive) help provided is amazing.

I have almost 2 more years until I will be able to go out and experience Arizona State University. So I don't have much knowledge as to the day to day dynamics but I'm its way better, but if community college is what we are stuck with, then why not look at the positives involved with our situation.

This was not hating on ASU. I intend to go to ASU after my general credits are taken care of.
This was only to silence the people that hate on community college just because of the name.

This mainly applies to kids who go to community.

Anyone want to explain to me why ASU is better than Chandler/Gilbert?
Please include facts and support to your argument.

My general argument is this:

Attending community college for the first two years will save me over twelve thousand dollars, therefore it is a better option.

Leave a Comment 
Tell me why I'm wrong!

When I'm dead (If This Was My Last Blog Post)

If I died today.


What would I be leaving behind? What would I regret?
Is there anything I would have wished I could have experienced?

Death is a gloomy subject. This post isn't meant to be.

I want my headstone to read:

Tyler Morian
"He left nothing behind"
1992-2092

I want to welcome death with open arms. I don't want any unfinished business. I don't want unspoken secrets, or any lingering regrets. I want that moment when my whole life flashes before my eyes to filled with joy. This life is shorter than we realize. The older I get, my more apparent it becomes that before I know it, days will fade in to weeks, weeks will fade in to months, months in to years, and soon it will all be gone.

But this isn't supposed to be a sad post!

So what I'd like to talk about is what I hope to accomplish before my day of indefinite departure and why they are important to me.

Find success - I have no idea what I want to do with my life. As of now I'm just living my life 110% and waiting to see what presents its self to me, but whatever I end up doing as a career, my only hope is that I can find a way to master it and continually push myself to greatness.

Experience the World - Living in the U.S. is like living in a bubble...from what I hear. I want to experience the world first hand. I want to see crisis first hand and help to serve those who are in need.

Raise a Family - This is probably every young man's dream. I want to teach them how to throw a baseball, learn patience as they learn how to drive, and eventually either walk her down the aisle, or shake his hand as he tells me that he has found the one and has asked her to marry him.

Build Relationships - I want to love and befriend as many people as I can before I go. Everyone has something to teach me and I want to learn it all.

Build Wisdom - I want to learn everything that this world has to teach me, in order to grow and mature as a person, and be able to communicate this knowledge down to others.

I'm sure as I grow older this list will change. It's probably the most vague bucket list anyone has ever written. Maybe I'll even write a formal bucket list in the future. If I can manage the things on this list, I think I'll be in good shape.

I'm going to try to spice it up for tomorrow's post. I need to take a break from such serious topics.
Anyone have any ideas for a good, opinionated list that I could create for tomorrow?

Maybe music.

Leave a comment!!

I'm a failure

I've failed you, and I've failed myself. I knew this day would come. I went all day without posting. I knew that at some point in my thirty day adventure I would slip up. Yesterday was a busy day I will admit but I still feel like I have broken my streak and therefore have no more purpose as a blogger.

Is this defeat?
Should I just give up now?

I think not. I think I should follow through with this. Follow through is one of my biggest downfalls. My mind is constantly streaming good ideas that I swiftly put in to action but am usually quick to get bored with and eventually totally forget about. I was once told by someone with a similar personality, that she likes to refer to it as being a "fixator." I think of wonderful ideas and at a moments notice can be totally dedicated to it, but within days, sometimes weeks if it's super cool, will be totally bored with it.

This applies to several things

Workout plans
Sports
Vehicles
Self help techniques
Women
Future purchases

I find something that at the time seems like the best thing for me, and infatuate myself with it and within a short time lose all interest. Most of the time these things would be really great if I could really make them a part of my daily life instead of just a temporary thing. If I could follow through with a few of these things, instead of spreading myself out unevenly over many things, I could really better myself.

My new approach to solving this fixation problem is this thirty day method. I came across this thirty day program while browsing the web and was pretty impressed. If you'd like to see the video I found you can check out this link

http://www.ted.com/talks/matt_cutts_try_something_new_for_30_days.html

The basic idea is that thirty days is a perfect amount of time to either, create a good habit, or subtract a bad one. So take something small that you've always wanted to do, and do it for thirty days. If you dedicate to it, you will find your self doing it naturally and really enjoy it.

My goal has been to post every day for thirty days. Wether it be quality material or it be my personal ramblings. This is only my tenth post and I can tell you that I have never enjoyed writing this much. I no longer associate writing with negativity and am more confident with my words and organizing thoughts on paper. Even though I missed yesterdays post, I don't think the best recovery method would be to quit entirely. Deep down I think I am just trying to prove to myself that I can follow through with something. Hopefully this one will stick.

Anyone have a good topic for me?
Anyone else suck at follow through?

Family Matters

I live my life in a bit of a bubble.
I overprotect myself from any discomfort that friendships and relationships might cause.
I have always been quick to end any relationship.
I undervalue friendship.

This is a current problem. Not one that I can reflect on and be happy that I've solved. For some reason, unbeknownst to me, I have always been more comfortable severing ties with someone, than actually solving the issues between us.

In some ways, this may be a good quality to have, but in most ways I see it as a hinderance to true happiness.

I have for a long time relied on a personal motto -
"We are young, if your relationship with someone else is bringing you more pain than pleasure, do not try to salvage it, dismiss it."

I have been saying this to myself, and to others as far back as I can remember. It's only recently that I've begun to question it. Maybe its a part of growing up. I'm finding myself caring more for others. Mostly my family and very close friends.

I grew up without much family. I think that contributes to my lack of motivation in interpersonal relationships. I had my brothers, but they were all busy living their own lives. I had my aunts, but at times, they seem less united than my brothers. If I were to hold a family reunion, it would consist of less than fifteen people. Either because they would not come, or because they also undervalue our relationships. Through everything, I have had my mother. She has been the only constant family but she couldn't care less about her relationships with others. It clearly rubbed off on me.

How do you solve a problem like this?
How do you change your entire outlook on friendship, relationships, and family?

I think the core of the issue here is that I'm afraid to put myself out there. I am afraid to risk the chance of loss and would rather preemptively protect myself.

As I grow older I see the importance of family. Not just my blood relatives, but the people that have been there along the way. I really feel like having been around through the whole experience of my niece and nephew growing up has changed my perspective on things. I love those kids with everything I am and always want to be there for them. I think it is this love that has brought this revelation.

I have identified the problem. Now it's time to fix it.

"God Damn Phonies"

Anyone read The Catcher in the Rye? Most people either love it or hate it.

The book follows a short portion of a sixteen year old boy named Holden Caulfield's life. Holden is a perfect example of an antihero, people can either totally relate to him, or think he's just a big baby. He walks through life with a terrible attitude towards the people around him, thinks everyone is out to get him, and is always lonely. He constantly calls everyone "phony" because he thinks that everyone is out to get him, or only interested in themselves.

The first time I read it, I loved it. I read the whole book comparing myself to Holden and constantly feeling like he was just like myself. Not that I have a poor attitude towards other people, but I often find myself a little bit down on the inside and felt like Holden was that part of me.

After processing the book, and talking to one of my teachers about some of the symbolism involved and some of the deeper meanings, I realized that this book was written to relate to me, at that perfect age and maturity. During our teenage years, it is easy to feel like we are alone. We have parents, we have our friends, but we never feel like anyone truly understands us. I know my early teenage years were plagued with loneliness. Not because I had any special issues, or because I am chronically depressed, but because of my age. I now see that almost every teenager feels like this. It is normal to feel sad sometimes when your a teenager. With puberty taking hold, our bodies are changing so fast that, at times our emotions can be simply erratic.

When I read the book now, I identify Holden as that sad, immature, antihero. I see that he only feels that way because of his age, not because he has a magical perspective on life that applies to so many. Reading the book helped me to identify these faults in my own personality. I see that while most people really are only out to benefit themselves, that, that is OK. It is just as self-centered to think that everyone else is out to harm you.

I think every teen should read The Catcher in the Rye. Not because they have to, to pass some class, but because, for some, it can be a great tool for self improvement.

Anyone else read the book?
Anyone else feel this way?


Know of any serious phonies?
Talk shit about them in the comments.
They will probably never see it.