I think I connect with more people as a dysfunctional but hopeful illiterate, than as a business man. I’ve been locked away for what seems years using a language that’s foreign to most of my friends and family. It’s very isolating. And although, under the big umbrella of arming myself to bring more creativity into my work life, I’ve written less than I hoped.  Perhaps the most important aspect of writing for personal development (or sanity in my case) I forgot that it also provides something essential to any social interaction- interesting narrative and points of discussion, you know the real human story- the crazy emotive juxtaposition between what we do and why we do it. I miss those conversations.

I’m certain that a majority of subjects that float around in my conversations these days are about as interesting as talking about the nuts and bolts of sink fixtures and plumbing parts. The potentially receptive audience is limited to say the least. I sound much like Charlie Brown’s teacher-the muted brass squawks of the mundane yada yada variety. While I’m happy with the direction of my work- the isolating side-effects of being out of balance and business gibberish have become incredibly apparent. Anyway- on with it, bottom line- I’ve got a social glue shortage and I need to make up for it.

Do we dare outshine the world?
The mediocre only comforted by numbers, en masse and entirety.
Bright lights are snuffed quickly, given in and given up to surroundings.
The crowds will scream to pile on, fall in, get on track; demanding complacency.

Many years building walls and machines, scraping the knees crawling forward with these ideas and dreams.
Every turn of the screw unravels the seams- a balance required between succumbing to madness and surrendering to prescription and methodology.

Under the metal and wires, beyond policy and stratagem,
The blueprints that tame the hand- forcing lines, angles  and octagons,
Where once curves bent, and sketch, scribble and stacked layer of mark defined the scene;
Beneath doc piles that pummel the poetry, muffle the humanity;
Draft upon draft, scratched on the walls and every scrap, the words, the mind of a man-reduced to graffiti

Shouting “Onward!”
Marching orders that sore the throat -leaving little whispers and echoes of adjective history and passion.
You can enslave yourself in obsession building for freedom,  and lock yourself away hiding in the paperwork,
You can build great halls, conquer mountains and raise robot armies, but tis the voice and warmth of the man that makes them glow, makes them great, draws others under one roof.

Kingdoms are not forged with only stone and gold, nor great minds alone.
Tis the pouring of  the whole self, the emptying of the cup that makes room for others.
The passion, vices, virtues of a man, his many failures,  few successes,
The efforts and emotions expressed and intuited,
The growing sense of humility-shared, that brings connection.
The understanding of interdependence,
The spark of light and knowledge that gathers, empowers and reminds us:
The greatest things we build, we build together.

In the name of pride and selfishness, I am often stricken to slave away in folly so that ultimately I can say, “Look what I have built.” Call it bootstrapper’s hubris, where you fail to admit your appreciation for the extended, social safety net that even the most successful people count on- The one that’s built with the compassion of others, that cannot be bought or mechanized. The humble and plain truth is simply that it is the atoms of influence and inspiration, the molecules of guidance, mentoring, study, help and support of many great people and works that allow for anything great to come forth onto page, place and pavement.

I suppose the greatest thing we can do- to enrich ourselves, is to enrich others and to build better glue to see what comes of it. We’re all in the glue business; making it, sharing it, using it. And we could all do well to build better bonds with those around us than that of  knock off post-it notes. In this day and age the most original thing we can do is reformulate the cognitive  and social elements; to filter for greatness and empowerment; to project positively, the stickiest surface we can imagine.

Thank God for the Fall, cold whether reminds us, or me at least, of the warmth of others.

Reflecting on the year,  I seem to be quite good at setting up these epic jokes, year long efforts of working so hard to build something empowering  and forgetting to add  the most basic and essential ingredients. The ability to laugh at myself, is perhaps the greatest ability I will ever possess.

Sincerely optimistic

-Me

A kiss can inspire. A kiss can awaken. A kiss can make fire & burn in hearts taken. A million more, and more still after. Make them rich. Make them bold. Make them reach. Make them last, keep and hold. Keep them secret. Keep them coming. Give them early & freely & cheaply & hardly. Melt me down. Each one a jewel filling my crown. Each one momentus and savored. Each one coveted, lustful & flavored. Treasured offerings, dares and ideas. Brave gales filling my sails w/ joy & pride- keep me facing the world & keep me alive.

Before the web and Twitter, there were Post-Its. The portable and versatile messaging system of yesteryear. Post-its are the original micro-blogging platform. Everyone loves a classic, and I think these guys qualify. I still use them to decorate my monitor, make lists, (flip-books anyone?), take notes, motivate myself,… and just scribble on. They have yet to be replaced by some fancy tech tool and I love them for what they are; the vibrant colored decks paper of little, seemingly insignificant size that allows you to express yourself freely without the pressure of the dimensions of a full document, and if need be, you can crumple them up and discard them guilt free. I ♥ Post-Its.

Sometimes I feel that I don’t drink as often as I ought to for a man my age, but then it could just be a wicked case of the Fridays talking. I’m sure I’ll find many occasions to make it up somewhere down the road.

Today I got a call from REI, they lost my new  mountain bike tire and wouldn’t be able to get a replacement in for a week. I explained to the REI bike-master employee, that I use my bike to commute downtown and had planned a few rides with friends this week. He mentioned that they have a better one in stock and that because it was their error, they’d cover the difference in cost. This was one of those serendipitous draws from the Community Chest deck. I get a lot of guff about shopping at REI and spending money on gear but these are the moments that warrant every penny of the experience. This phone call could have gone south and I would be bike-less for another week or shelling out more dough for a better tire. Customer Service is worth paying for especially when you are dealing with things and systems that are vital to your lifestyle.

These moments happen all the time. You’re stuck on the line waiting for a stranger to stop beating around the bush, drop the bad news and get to the point, but instead, a surprise twist and accommodation. The person admits their mistake and gives you a bargain.We tend do define our experience in the losses and under-celebrate the gains. Too often we count the potholes and puddles we drive through and  fall in, forgetting the $20 bills found under bar-stools, and all the times we didn’t get speeding tickets.  If you learn to appreciate the little victories life will bring you more of them. It’s important to make decisions that put you in an environment where can thrive. There are opportunities everywhere but not in proportionate amounts. Whether you’re shopping for a new jacket or a job, to increase your odds of  a serendipitous event, I recommend going to places with great customer service. They attract people who prefer accommodating conversations over hostile negotiation. Places that encourage their employees to share stories and get to know their customers, attract people with similar, open mindsets. I’m not that materialistic. I shop for the experience, adventure and opportunity. You never know who you will meet or where it will take you, but when you have a decent starting point, it’s more likely bound to be somewhere good.

Shameless Praise and Personal Testimony of My 6 Years With REI

As you might know, I’m a bit of an REI fanboy. There are four main reasons. I am an outdoor nut. I prefer educational environments. I like making my choices easier by limiting options to the top quality products, and I love sharing stories.

As an REI member, you also get a 10% dividend from all of your purchases each year and you can return any purchase for the lifetime of the product without a crazy hassle. They believe in the quality of their products this much. I haven’t returned anything that I can recall but that will change sometime I’m sure. I’m about to put a new Osprey rucksack through its paces in Denali National Park, and hopefully it will perform well.

After watching a Man Vs. Wild marathon, I noticed in his later seasons, one thing he always relies on is his para-cord. I’ve seen some para-cord bracelets on the web and thought it would be an awesome/ man-crafting experience and a cool thing to do with my girlfriend as we prep for a  Denali backpacking trip. She is far craftier than I, and quickly outdid me by making herself a belt using this technique.

I’ve seen many websites for survival bracelets that leave out the pesky details. I am also not a fan of paying for instructions that leave out important details; Instructables guides- I’m talking about you, especially when there are free and better videos on the web. To give them credit- here is the instructables link to a paracord bracelet with side buckle. Here is a link to some of the best Instructable guides Torrent file- Why? Because they stole the information from the web anyway! Please don’t click the link if you don’t know what a torrent file is. On with the post.

I like the looks of bracelets found on the survival straps website and wanted to mimic them. If you want to spend $22, you can purchase one well made paracord survival strap from their website. I found I could make better straps and take personal pride in my work and for the same price, make several bracelets for friends and relatives. I plan on making quite a few of these and carrying them with me, if for nothing else than to use for barter and trade with fellow travelers and passers by.

Materials

Clasps

1/4″ Stainless Steel Marine Grade Shackle-$2.50 Home Depot This is used as the clasp or fastener. You can also purchase small plastic buckles on Ebay but I prefer something stronger with more utility.

You can also use these Nite Ize S-Biner Size #0 Clips that come in a package of 2 at REI for $1.49 Here is a link

*Note- if you use the S-Biner- be sure to cut off the tooth in the gate, so you can easily take on and off the bracelet.

Cord

Paracord 550 military spec. You only need 12-24 feet of this depending on the type of bracelet and the size. You can purchase it in many colors for $4.39 per 50 feet from this Ebay seller

Scissors- or a knife- I bought some scissors from Dollar Tree that did the job, and guess how much they cost?

Fireplace Lighter- for melting and fusing cord. You’ll see youtube videos of guys using Zippos but I find it easier to work with these and I am less likely to burn the rest of the cord.

A quarter

Tweezers/toothpick/paper clip- come in handy at the final stages.

You can buy also buy one from survival straps or other websites for $22- or make one for $3.00-$6.00 and have plenty of cord left over to make more for family and friends.

Here are some video tutorials

My variations:

I used a clasp and at the end of the knot- I wove a little excess back through the knot work- about 3 notches from the last knot and then fused the ends with the lighter. This ensures that the bracelet won’t fall apart until I need to use it.

*When tucking the excess back into the knot, t after weaving it back through the 3rd to the last knot, cut any excess and bend the bracelet, burn the edges and use a quarter to flatten them against the bracelet. This will ensure that you have a secure bracelet that is comfortable to wear.

Cobra Knot

Awesome Video of how a father used the bracelet technique to send money to his son who was on deployment. What an awesome dad!

Dear Monday, today, you were the pebbles on the runway that kept me from taking off. I’m sorry but I’m moving on. Tuesday and I have real chemistry, big plans and great expectations. Tuesday is not like you. Tuesday has an entire life ahead and doesn’t rudely interrupt my weekends. Tuesday is fun to say, like humming a favorite tune. I’m sorry Monday but there other days in the week with much more to offer.

Goodbye,

Nicholas

I like to be aware of the possibilities, the dangers, and then decide to face a challenge anyway. There is a bravery in facing the unknown, but if you are unaware of the danger, you are aloof, stupid, not brave. Traveling to Alaska will be perilous and fraught with danger. We might get eaten by bears, lose our luggage, get mugged, drown in a river, be attacked by a moose, a pack of wolves, or perhaps be mauled a disgruntled wolverine. I get upset with my “Adventurous” friends who do not prepare by considering these possibilities simply because to do so invokes fear. Avoiding these thoughts is somewhat cowardly. To cultivate bravery requires thinking about the worst case scenario fears and deciding how you plan to face them. Bravery isn’t for everyone, and many fools claim it but few live it.

People may think “Why would I want to think about things that scare me?”  I would answer only that to do so with a constructive mind will prepare you for those moments and help you respond effectively if they ever come to pass. Your fate is almost certain if you are frozen in fear when that nightmare scenario becomes a reality. This does not mean having a negative mindset and running around with a fear mongering attitude. Being brave involves considering as much as you can whilst still wearing a smile. After all, some things you truly must face in the moment.

To those who travel with me, be warned. All my trips are BYOB. I don’t like traveling with people who don’t prepare or can’t face a problem with a smile and adventurous attitude. Don’t worry. I promise, that in return for my hard ass attitude on this issue, I will deliver ten fold on comedic mishaps at my expense. You can always be sure that on any adventure with me, there will be plenty things to laugh about.

Cheers!
-Nicholas

We love to tell stories about old bulls and young studs that perpetuate our denial about the facts of life. For those uninitiated, the story of the two bulls goes something like this:

Once upon a time, there were two bulls; one old and one young,  standing atop a hill looking down at a herd of cattle in the valley below. The young bull says to the old, ” I bet we could run down there and we could grab one of those heifers!”

The older bull simply replied, “Why don’t we walk down and get them all.”

This is a classic story about the virtues of patience and wisdom and the folly of impulsiveness and naivety. It has always been a double dose of morality, reminding us to cultivate wisdom and patience and to respect the elderly who often embody these virtues. This has been a go to story of my father during my childhood. Yet I’ve noticed a shift in the narrative. Many stories like these have been twisted and watered down as they are re-told, replacing the word, experience with age and emphasizing the authority of the elderly without merit. This subtle little tweak reveals major implications about our society, specifically, how lazy and fearful of death we have become.

By sucking out the virtues and morals,these stories serve memento morti in denial. The focus on establishing the authority of age, without virtuous merit in an attempt to dominate youth, reflects a fear of the natural fact that we will all one day be worm food. Contrary to popular belief, wisdom is not guaranteed nor synonymous with age. It is possible to be both old, naive, inexperienced or even stupid. Although, if you manage to be both old and stupid, you’ve certainly survived the odds and that is an accomplishment on to itself. The fear of death is so strong that it outweighs our sense of responsibility, virtue and legacy to younger generations.

As we grow older, we find stories like that of  The Two Bulls, comforting, and we should, especially if we have taken the time to cultivate such virtues. As much as we all relish the ideas of  a cosmic scale of seniority and balance, inherent wisdom as our rings and wrinkles grow, the truth is that there will always be a younger, braver, bolder, smarter upstart following our trail. I see it in every 10 year old computer programmer and fifth grade spelling be champion; the obnoxious reminders of our own fading born on dates, stamped in our psyche. The images that echo a sentiment of our parents: one day, we too, will feel obsolete. And when we may take solace in our ability to recognize and laugh at the mistakes of youth and naivety. We can waste away drying up in bitterness at the notion of being replaced by younger stock or find inspiration to live like fools and take risks in the name of play at every twist and turn.

To everyone older than the 5th grade boy and girl wonders, FEAR NOT! There will always be somebody on some tropical island, with far more wrinkles than you, a better  body, a better tan, sporting Ray-Bans while windsurfing (and cutting young people off at a jaw dropping speed of 5 miles per hour), reminding you of the fun you could be having and a life to look forward to. It is better to be jealous of those older adventurers who are still drawing out the very marrow of life; the tall leafy bunch, still blooming ahead, than to be bitter with those sprouting behind you. Those ahead, at least provide you with the opportunity to do the same and challenge you to do more.

To everyone older than me, please go out, invest in some Ray Bans, tanning oil, a gym membership and some wind-surfing lessons and then lead and live by example for the rest of us. Send me photos. And, in your most dispassionate and apathetic moments, don’t hesitate to spend some time with youngsters strung-out on life and sugar. You’ll reconnect with fun and stupidity, and guilt yourself into doing more. Obnoxious reminders of mortality are blessings in disguise. One generation does not make the other insignificant, each merely provides a little contrast and depth to life.Young upstarts will never know the world as you did and will work for an education/access to your tanning oil, gym and wind surfing gear.

See. I bet you thought this was going somewhere else entirely. Young is a state of mind and constant state of play. Now please lend me your glasses and wind surfing gear or put a dollar in the jar:P

I am that I am, and that I’m not,
For what you have given me,
who you were when I knew you then, who you are, as I know you now,
everything I remember, and everything else I left behind or forgot.
And I am made more,
as I choose to be
I’d have no choice at all
if I was not.