Baseball Is 90% Mental. The Other Half...Is Music

Some very wise words from Yogi Berra as recounted by the Beatles, known around the world for their music, and their love of baseball.

So, I started working again Tuesday for one of my Arabic professors, mainly because it's stuff I've owed him since I stopped working for him last January. Did I mention it's for free? So maybe I shouldn't call it working--I'm just doing some Arabic stuff for a guy. I don't care about the (no) money though. I need something to do because I'm bored out of my mind without school to stress about (who woulda figured, eh? Although I guess if I need something to stress about, I could still stress over dating...naah). Also, it's somewhat of an attempt to refresh my Arabic; my dad told me on graduation day that he's working on a trip for us to Saudi Arabia for two weeks. That would be AWESOME. It's a different dialect than I'm used to (I spent four months in Egypt), and I have to do a LOT more than read and translate Arabic sentences to prepare (the Arabic stuff that I'm doing for a guy), but I'll still go happily. I've been meaning to travel again ever since I got back from Egypt; unfortunately I won't be going back there for some time due to the fact that, through my ceaseless political conversations with the natives, I apparently and unwittingly fomented a revolution. Oops. Wish I could've been there for that.

Saudi Arabia would be cool--not one of the places I thought I'd ever go, and from what I've seen from Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, it's quite unlike Egypt, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't like to go there with my dad. It actually seems cooler than Egypt in some respects, Egypt with its undereducated, underemployed populace, its lack of care or respect for public goods, its counter-factual arguments and beliefs which are all too often overly frustrating to endure. It may sound like I'm picking on Egypt and hate it; these are actually some of its most charming and endearing qualities which you notice when you live there. Anyways, I know nothing about Saudi but that I think the economy is a little bit better.

Other places I've always wanted to go:
India. I feel like I could just get lost there. So many languages, so many cultures, so much space--I would love to just hike around the whole country, staying a week or so in whatever place that catches my eye. (If you want to make my dreams come true, I do accept donations.)

China. Specifically Dimen, Guizhou province. Ever since reading Amy Tan's article "Village on the Edge of Time" in the May 2008 National Geographic, I've longed to see China's numerous but endangered traditional villages, of which Dimen is a great example. Traditional architecture, traditional labor, traditional religion and beliefs--nothing like the mainstream China we hear about in the news, the economic powerhouse that is gradually creeping its way into all corners of the country, choking the life out of the native and ancient customs of its people like kudzu. I want to see these people, their villages, their way of life, before it's too late.

Russia. I don't know where exactly I want to go, and yes I realize the place is kind of huge. I think I just want to visit the place and experience the people and their culture firsthand. They've had such a rough go of it, what with one dictator and horrible experience after another. History has molded the people of Russia into a society not seen anywhere else in the world. And I want to see it.

Mozambique. In 2009, a bunch of scientists playing around with Google Earth discovered a new mountain--even a whole pristine rain forest--right in Mozambique. Immediately upon arrival they found many new bird, butterfly, and reptile species; more are due to be found. Mount Mabu is hailed as "the last untouched place on earth." I sure hope it's not. I've always had a thirst for exploration and discovery, and the such recent revelation of Mount Mabu from right under our noses gives me reason to hope.

Madagascar and its islands. Same reasons as above--the chance for discovery.

Many more...

All in all, life's too short and the world's too big and and you can't do anything these days without loads of money. I hope I get around to seeing even the hundredth part of the places and peoples on my list, but with the violence, wars, and unfriendly policies exhibited by some countries (plus all the time required to make enough money to go in the first place), I have quite the challenge before me.

Again, I accept donations.

It's All in Your Head..

Day Four of finals. After the wonderful one I started my day with at 7:00 am this morning, I only have one more to go. My last econ final EVER. Maybe I'll save it for tomorrow. I know graduation's then, but I have just loved being a college student oh so much, that I think I'll put off the test; that way I can be a student that much longer, and revel in the stresses and inconveniences that are a part of it, at least for one more day. Yeah.

So, I want to talk about my blog title a bit. "Enlightenment Doesn't Mean Eating Fewer Calories"--ingenious, I know. Someone asked me where I got that from, as if I stole it from some low budget movie or a too-long-lived TV show like Smallville (I love you Smallville--season 10, baby!). Nah, I made it up, and I'm pretty proud of it. I think it says a lot of things. Well, maybe only three things.

First..and Second: Today, we (as Western society) put a lot of emphasis on the physical, the superficial, the outward appearance. Some people kill themselves trying to look like the people they see on TV or in magazines. They feel like they can only "fit in" or be "liked" by "others" if they look like what society tells us is glamourous and attractive. This pressure leads many to stress about what they eat, how much, how often, etc. Even I have fallen prey to this, especially in high school; since then I still eat only a huge gust of wind for breakfast on the way to school. Ok poorly placed joke/allusion, but seriously. Who decides how to fit in, or which traits are more likable over others--and who are these "others" that apparently assign us our value of worth? Cutting our calories, watching our weight, checking ourselves in the mirror every five seconds to make sure that one strand of hair is still in place, doesn't make us any smarter/kinder/more respected/happier. What makes us unique and valuable are the varied experiences we've had in life, and how we wisely apply those lessons learned. What makes us more fulfilled is attaining knowledge from any veritable source, and using it to better our situation and that of others. Happiness comes from the wisdom we've internalized, in our hearts, and in our minds. Thus, enlightenment isn't gained through the vain and superficial, through being the most physically attractive. And, enlightenment certainly doesn't refer to becoming lighter in weight through eating only air, popcorn, and other things that weigh .167 grams or less.

Three: I truly respect the examples of great philosophers and practitioners of wisdom who have gone forth before me, like Gandhi, Confucius, and Marcus Aurelius. However, there have been some who think that visual, public actions speak louder than hidden, private examples of integrity. I beg to differ. For example, is one who sits in the public square for weeks, refraining to eat in defiance of his government or some policy, more enlightened than he who obeys the law of his land because he swore to it? Is one who ends his life in flames out of protest, for all to see, greater than he who hides from danger, biding his time and sparing his life until he has strength and numbers enough to rise and fight, losing it if he has to? I mean no disrespect to the many who have done such for just causes; I am merely speaking in general terms about how we interpret "enlightenment," and about what we say constitutes a manifestation of such. Perhaps enlightenment is shown not only in those actions that are plain to the mind--such as a hunger strike or other public forms of self-deprecation--but also in those that are hidden from the eyes, but which are still felt in the heart.


Shout-out to the Faux sisters.

Lazy Monday

Despite the title, I actually have quite a bit to do. I have two more finals to study for (both are econ finals so both are hard), a room to clean, a job to find, law school applications to start, the LSAT to study for, and I should probably go buy some doughnuts. I'm sure I could think of more things, but who couldn't? There's always one more thing to do on the list, something more we need to get done--when do we ever finish everything we need to get done? Are we really expected to just keep going and going and going, mindlessly doing one task after another, without time to recharge? I don't know about you, but I'm no Energizer bunny.

Today, I should have woken up at 7:00 am, gone to the library, and started studying for my finals. Then I could come home later this evening, make some calls about some jobs, clean my room, start my applications...

Instead, I woke up at nine, and just listened to the rain. I love the rain. There's nothing better than waking up to the sound of rain drops tapping at your window. Instantly your bed feels cozier, you feel a little happier, your load feels a little lighter, and life seems a little better. As I lay there, I thought about the previous week--what I accomplished, what I learned, and what I had to show for it. Was I happy about the things I did, and how I used my time? Did I actually live that week, or just pass it by in ceaseless chores? Now, I'm all for hard work, perseverance, and whatever other synonyms for those things there are. However, I'm also for vacations, relaxation, and just taking time out to think. If we don't take time out for ourselves, what do we become? You got it: robots. Robots don't feel, they don't think--they just do. They don't have to take time to recharge because they're constantly plugged into the wall or have some kind of advanced super-powered self-sustaining battery. They don't care about living life, first of all because they can't care about anything, second of all because they're not even alive. They don't need to think about who they are and how they feel or what they need to change to become happier; all they have to do is fulfill their programming, and then get programmed to do something else.

Well, I say, let the robots do the slaving away, working on the assembly line of life of endless chores and thoughtless tasks. Sometimes we have stretches where we need to work and can't take a break for an instant, sure. We as people need to work to progress in life, and to that I say work as hard as you can, do what you need to do, and do it your very best. But what I'm proposing is, through it all, don't forget who you are. You're not a robot. You're a human. And humans, throughout their daily labors, sometimes look up at the bright majestic clouds overhead, or listen to the lofty songs of birds, or watch the wind play in the trees, and feel.