My bad. My resolution to blog more regularly unfortunately has been placed on the back burner. By far this has been my busiest semester, but as a whole I’m more content and self-aware than I have been in a while. Between my capstone course working on a campaign for Pajama Program, doing media outreach for Long Island Children’s Museum, interning with Independent Film Channel, getting my fill of post Cold War Eastern European and Russian Cinema and Literature, developing PRestige Agency, delivering epic (if I do say so myself) speeches in Public Speaking, working on an independent study about the strategic thinking of Google for New Media, having adventures in NYC and spending quality time with my best friends – life is pretty good.
Everything seems to be coming together almost too beautifully – maybe I finally realized in my head I need to enjoy the time I have now, because nothing is constant. Life is going to change once Graduation Day approaches. Tonight I spent time with one of my best friends Maggie talking about how we were freshmen year and how everyone we knew has changed so. Tables were turned slightly in that while I talked about my fears of the unknown, she talked about how one has to look forward to the future with excitement. Every situation one finds themselves in is always subjective and in “the eye of the beholder.” One’s perspective is the overall deciding factor on whether one is having a favorable or unfavorable experience. It’s not worth wasting energy being negative – you miss out on seizing opportunities.
So if you are going to take anything away from this unexpected bit of optimism from yours truly (not that I am a Negative Nancy by nature – I’m truly a relatively positive person – but I do run the risk of having moments of cynicism – doesn’t everyone?) here is advice:
– Time and energy spent being stressed and sad is time and energy wasted – there must be something else you can use that energy constructively on.
– Stop drinking coffee after noon, it is not an “elixir of life”, it’s a death sentence that leads to stress. I speak from experience, my name is Reb and I am a recovering caffeine addict.
– If there is something you seek, something you must accomplish, take it upon yourself to figure out the right answer. No one is going to deliver all of life’s answers on a platter.
– Acknowledge what you have, stop thinking about what you have left to acquire. Figure out what it is that makes you unique and an asset and own it. Never be ashamed of how you are.
– My mother (who you can call for now Barbara, my friends can call her “Mommy Carlson”) once used this metaphor on me and it has helped me more than I expected. Imagine that you have a pitcher full of water and a table of glasses before you. You can only filled so many glasses with so much amount of water. Would you rather have many glasses barely filled, or a select few filled to the brim? This is how you should look at the projects you invest yourself in. Never stretch yourself too thin.
– Get your just rewards. If you feel you aren’t getting the recognition you deserve, get it or let it go. Demand the attention you deserve.
– It’s worth spending time finding the things that inspire you and ignite your creativity. On better days I am able to start my day “combing through” the Internet looking through my Tumblr, RSS feeds, the news, etc. to find something interest and innovating that I can think about throughout the day. Today’s great find courtesy of Kickstarter was a couple of rough sketches by The Museum Proper of their plans to create a 12-foot tall puppet.
I have a long night of homework and tasks ahead, and then it’s back to the grind in the morning. However, instead of looking upon it in contempt, I have to admit it’s become characteristic of me to always be busy, always be thinking, always taking part.
My Name Is Reb 