In 1913 Russian composer Igor Stravinsky created and produced a ballet called “The Rite of Spring”and the piece was so controversial that it sparked riots and outrage from the audience. The reason for the tension was not due to any lyrics that were spoken or sang, the dancers were fully clothed so that was not an issue either. the reason that it was such a controversial piece was due to the radical nature of the tempo of the music as well as the complete abandonment of the traditional forms of dance of the time period. The fact that this was such a riotous occasion actually caused me to reflect quite a bit on where we are as a society. As I sat there thinking about the events as they transpired I couldn’t help but think about what a cultured and civilized occasion the ballet is. It is something deemed by many in society to be an educational, uplifting and generally wholesome experience, a far cry from the cinema and entertainment of today. How then have we developed as a society since 1913? May I be so bold as to proclaim that in a sense we have actually degraded as a society to such a level that we ought be ashamed? We are in a position that in today’s age we care more about the latest celebrity scandal than we do the advancements being made in art, music, science or anything else of actual intellectual value. Now please don’t misunderstand, I enjoy the odd pulp novel and movie just as much as the next person but I realized today that I know more about some celebrities than i do several of the people I work with on a daily basis. What have we become as a society when we care more about who is sleeping with who or what the latest reality tv show is, instead of trying to grow ourselves in a more positive, intellectual way? That being said I make it my goal (or resolution you may say) to spend 2013 with less time in front of the TV and more time reading, listening to wholesome music and educating myself and I encourage you to do the same. May you have a prosperous new year dear reader.

Since I have been writing this blog, admittedly sporadically, what I wanted it to be and be for has changed and it is time for it to make another shift. While doing some reflecting late last night I came to the conclusion that I am the only thing in my way of achieving my dreams. I know, that’s kind of a simple conclusion that I should have reached a while ago, but allow me to explain. For quite some time now my amazing wife and I have dreamed of, upon retirement, starting a Christmas tree farm. For us, we would plan our lives accordingly so that it wasn’t out of necessity of income, but simply a way to keep our minds and bodies active, as well as bring joy to those who seek it during the holiday season. Several days ago however, while talking about what we wanted in a home when we do decide to actually purchase one, the realization struck us; why not do it now? There was absolutely no reason that we could think of that we couldn’t (since it was part of the plan anyway) purchase 4-5 acres of land and build a house, and then use that land to start learning about what is our retirement dream. That brought about in our minds a complete paradigm shift that caused me to reflect on my goals and what I wanted to accomplish. Now understand, I LOVE what I do for a career, It has a very bright outlook income-wise, I’m close with those I work with etc… but I also realized that there was nothing stopping me from starting a business of my own. I have been thinking for quite some time now about applying my writing abilities towards an online venture of some sort, but I was never actually serious about it. Well dear reader I am now, this blog will still contain my thoughts as I need to express them but I will also be using this as a platform to launch my online persona, so to speak. So with that I will close with this simple question, what is stopping YOU from achieving your desires? Reflect upon yourself and what you are doing in your life to reach your goals, s there anything you could be doing differently? As someone who is very close to me s very fond of saying, “how bad do you want it?”

There are many levels of needs and wants in one’s life. Everything from a passing fancy to a true, deep seeded desire all the way to a basic necessity. In that spectrum of needs vs wants where do our true desires lie? What in this life, aside from basic needs, do we require to live and function? Each of us has (or should have) dreams. Those, at least semi-firm goals in our lives that we would like to work toward and hopefully achieve someday. To have these goals is what makes us human. It is what separates us from those in the animal kingdom. But… through the striving and the fighting to achieve those dreams it is also vital that we, from time to time take a moment to reflect on that which we have in the present. We must realize that we are blessed in a multitude of ways and to do this, to make this realization, will not only help instill gratitude in our hearts but will also further propel us towards our true desires. So stop for just a moment dear reader and may you step outside your box of day to day activities and reflect on that which you DO have instead of focusing on that which you do not. Only by doing this will you be able to truly achieve that which your heart desires.

Last night I watched a very interesting movie about the blessing of human connection and what happens when that connection is lost. It did cause me to reflect on my interactions that occur on a daily basis and it caused me to wonder if I appreciate what I have. I am blessed to have a wonderful family and not a lot, but a few close friends and for me that is more than enough, however I do have several family members who choose to keep themselves at a distance. It made me wonder what could cause a person to desire that separation, to long for loneliness one could say…. I am not sure, I myself have always been a social person, I do believe that it in part has to do with my environment and how I was raised of course! But I think that there is more to it than that. I believe that it is a conscious effort that must be made, we have to try each and every day. Some days may be easier, others harder but it is always an effort that must be made. I believe and perhaps not all will agree with me, that the connections we make are a large part of the beauty of this life, for those of you who perhaps desire that distance I give you a challenge to take a step, however small, to reach out. I’m not saying go to the mall and introduce yourself to a random stranger but perhaps pick up the phone, talk to a sibling or cousin who you haven’t spoken with in forever. You may well find that spark that you didn’t know was missing from your life.

I have been on a break for the last few months and to any of my readers, I am sorry but i have been needing to take care of a few things. Now that that is over with I am back and ready to resume my position as head opinion-giver and general observer of the beauty that is the human condition. I have noticed in the last few months as summer has been preparing to overtake us that things do seem brighter and more beautiful than they were some months ago. Although illnesses and injuries have come and gone it is now time to notice the gifts that are given to us on this amazing blue orb we call home. So as the sun rises early and sets late let us take heed and enjoy every minute of it, before we know it the cold weather will be approaching and we will be caught heading back to our hiding places once again.