Operation Thank You

Three posts in one month, holy crap! I'm on fire!!!  What is one of the things we're told to do when we are a child whenever someone does something for you.  Say "Thank You", and sadly when you grow up you lose that mindset, but why and how can we fix it.  I don't know why, but I have an idea how to fix it.  Say thank you for every little thing you can.  To every person you can!!!  Why not, it takes 5 seconds, and only a little bit longer if you explain it.  But I have a feeling that might be hard to say thank you to every person every day, so I offer you up an alternative challenge.  First you'll need a few things:  one an open mind, a notebook, a pen, honesty, and love in your heart when saying those two words.  Your goal is when you wake up is to write three things you are thankful for in your notebook.  But that is not all you are to say Thank You to at least ten people in a day, and write down their reaction.  It could be the barista at your local Dutch Bros, it could be your teacher, it could be your parents, friends, coworkers, anyone!  But you must say thank you to at least ten people, and write down what you said and their reaction.  And then before you go to bed, I want you to write down three things you were thankful for that day.  Do this for two weeks and see how you and others around you have changed.  You will be surprised what two little words actually mean to someone.
    So I'll start off right now, Thank You from the bottom of my heart for reading this and listening to me.  It means a lot to me, and it is what gets me through the day knowing that people are reading what I wrote and enjoying it.  Thank You for the kind comments from the best sister in the world, my bro Oz (yeah I used the word), Briana (who my children still call princess), Elma (the only person I know who does a better Nicki Minaj then the actual one.  And Thank You for all they have told me it has touched you, and look forward to reading each post, that is what keeps me writing them, because as long as people are reading it, I promise from the bottom of my heart that I will always write it, from the fullness of my heart.

Superheros!

For those who know me the only thing I love more than both my families and friends, is comic books and Super-heros!  I have more shirts with superheros on them, then I do regular shirts, but there's a reason for that.  They inspire me to be who I am today, and all my friends and family help me become more and more like one each day without even knowing it.  We all have hidden super powers, and we just need help bringing them out.  I'm not talking about trying to find a radioactive spider to bite you, thinking your an alien from a doomed planet, or finding a ring and chanting an oath, I'm talking about the gifts we were given and using them to their full potential.  I've been asked by a few people why I do what I do, work at the Cheese, help people with their life problems, be nice to everyone, and try to inspire a good vibe where ever I go, and the reason is simple, it's my super power.  If I didn't work at the Cheese there is no way in hell I would meet some of the coolest people who drive me to be a better person each day.  I didn't help people with their life problems, then the shit I have faced in life so far would of been for nothing.  Being nice is a hell of lot easier than being a dick!!  And inspiring a good vibe is simple, if you have love in your heart wherever you go, it will make the destination a hell of lot easier to go to, and get through!!  So I've been given the power of inspiration, so I choose to help!

I felt like this for a few days straight, stuff being piled on top of me, and on top of me, I felt like I had to hold them up, because that's what I do.  But after a while your knees buckle and you feel like giving up, and just to let it all crash on you and just give up, but then I had four moments happen to me to make me truly appreciate all the bad things and why they are there.  First, things first I'm not going to dwell on the bad, because there's no point, it's in the past and there's nothing to do about it.  So I'm instead going to focus on the moments.  First moment was on Friday when I got to go out with my wife, because we don't get to see each other much with her schooling which she dives head first into, and her grades show for it.  I truly love and appreciate her, and going out with her just reminded me how much I miss her, and not to take little moments like that granted.  

     The second moment came when I called an old employee up on her birthday and gave her my special patented Birthday song.  And she was super excited to hear it and truly appreciated it. It got me thinking about all the cool people I know and have gotten to know from working at the Cheese!!!  And I thank you from the bottom of my heart to letting me to get to know each and everyone of you!

    The third moment came on Monday when another epic Monday chapter was closed.  It was JP's last night at the Cheese, and well the rule is, what happens on Mondays at the Cheese stays in the Cheese!!  Let's just say I'm honored to call Jessica not only my cousin, but also a very good friend.

   The fourth moment was winning the GMK contest, and winning just by speaking the truth about love.  How if you let it can be the most awesome weapon in the world, if you fully believe and grasp the concept!

So in closing, bad stuff happens for a reason, to make you fully appreciate and embrace the good stuff that will eventually come along.  It might be today, tomorrow, or the next but trust me it will come if you fully believe it, and have love in your heart.  And never forget stop being a superhero, and always share your powers you were given, because they only get stronger the more you use them!

Dreams!!!

First off this picture makes no sense, but I've always had a dream about how would it be possible for a T-Rex to play the guitar, and how epic it would be if he actually succeeded in doing so!!  Which brings me to this revelation, Dreams are meant to come true!!!  If they don't what is the point of dreaming.  I'm not talking about you going to school naked (or that have have happened to some, and for that I'm sorry), or nightmares (anything involving a clown for me!!), I'm talking about life's dreams and goals we strive for.  Everything in this world has started as a dream, and that just furthers my point.  Every building you see, every celebrity you see on TV, every athlete you cheer, and even you started as a dream.  And that proves dreams are meant to come true!!!

   Project Awesome to me is about making my dreams come true, for myself and others.  I had no idea what I had started would catch on so fast by a bunch of people, and I am truly humbled knowing I'm help making a difference in peoples lives.  My Project Awesome is coming along well, but not as fast as I would like it.  I hit the gym like I said I would, I've been reading a lot more, and I've had a drastic attitude adjustment throughout life. I haven't been writing a lot, but I have been dishing out advice left and right, and listening, so in a way it's like writing without writing it down. So that leaves Japanese to relearn (the plan is this summer after scouts), and making one of my talked about projects a reality.  Which is coming along a lot faster than I ever thought it would, which makes me think maybe this is the project I was born to make into a reality, and that's the real reason I never finished any of the hundreds I have started.  Every thing in life happens for a reason, and you don't really start to see that until you just sit back and let life happen.  

    I've talked to a few people on Facebook who have started as dreamers and everyday they make their dream come true.  These two people I would swear if I didn't know I was myself would think they are two different parts of my body that somehow got separated and started roaming the earth.  Kyle Stevens of Kirby Krackle (an AMAZING BAND, check them out if you haven't), and GMK (another AMAZING ARTIST!) are the nerd side of me, and the philosophical life coach of me.  They both started with just a dream, and everyday are making their dream happen, and at the same time never forgetting where they came from and still talk to the fans, and help them inspire to make their dreams into a reality.  And they both inspire me to never forget about your friends, family, and coworkers who have been there for everything, and the ones who will still be there when it's all said and done, whether it be making your dream a reality, or trying something else entirely different.  So I thank them, and I thank you!!!  

    There's two very important things to take away from this : 1, Is stop living the dream, and start making it a reality!!!  Because the sooner you do that your one step closer to making your dream come true!!!  2. And second, never forget to dream, and to dream big!!! Cause everything around us started as a dream, and who says your dream wasn't meant to become a reality!!!

Untitled Soundtrack Part 1

I'm going to try something new here and if people like it I'll keep it around.  My goal is to pick a music album once a month and review it.  It might be an old album, might be a new one, might be one coming out soon (fingers crossed), or it might be one that someone suggests to me.  We'll never know.  

Through life we all have a soundtrack in our head about certain moments in life that always bring up memories or situation where you would like to hear this music being played.  This album I'm telling you about brings up both in me.  Bit's with Bytes (link is at the bottom) by 8 Bit Weapon (AMAZING NAME), takes me back to me as a kid sitting playing my NES everyday without a care in the world, but also makes me think of current situations too, and that is a great thing.  I'm going to do track by track breakdown and this album has 18 awesome tracks!

1- Bit's With Bytes- Is the Title track and from the get go it tells how this album will be.  Full of retro video game sounds and music, and if your a nerd like me it get's you pumped to take on the world.  Just closing my eyes I can picture myself running through a space ship blasting aliens left and right, trying to save the martian princess.  Which in itself is a metaphor for life in which we are always working towards a goal whether it be blasting aliens to get to a princess, or going to school to find a better job, or just working on becoming a better person.  It just gets you pumped to take on the day.

2- Galactic Invasion- Here's a song that reminds me of all the hum drum in life that must get done.  Laundry, dishes, cooking, work, traffic, etc...  But their essential things in life and it's a great song to just put that music too.  

3- Apple Core II- Is too short.  It gets you from the get go and has you just going along with it, but then it just ends.  It reminds me of that little jolt of energy you get from coffee or energy drinks, wishing it would last longer to help you get through the day.

4- The Art of Video Games Anthem- This track I listened to a few times over and over, and one thing always kept popping into my head. Working out and exercising.  Which is extremely strange for a chiptune song, but the buildup reminds me of your warm up set, the middle part is the heavy lifting, and the end is the cool down.  Strange I know, but that's how I see it!

5- Miami Dub Bounce- Here's a song I can relate to because all I can picture while listening to it is trying so hard to do something and failing each time.  But never ever giving up.  You even hear the little Mario Bros fireballs in the background, which makes me picture myself in white overalls shooting fire at all of life's problems and beating each one.

6- We Fight for the Users- All I picture is hanging out with my friends and chilling and doing stupid, stupid stuff and just having an awesome time without a care in the world.

7- Drive Grinder- Is another daily grind song that just motivates you to get through the necessary parts in life to get to the really good parts.  

8- Escape From Xenon- Reminds me of tough times in life where it seems all is doomed but you keep pushing through harder, and harder and you'll come out on the other side.  Hopefully a better and stronger person in the long run.

9- Goodbye Chochise- The only way I can summarize this song is it sounds like sweet sweet victory in life.  When you have completed all of what you wanted for a certain task, a milestone if you may!! When life is fully and undefineably AWESOME!!!!

Part 2 will be here tomorrow!

http://8bitweapon.bandcamp.com/album/bits-with-byte

Project Awesome

I know I said I would post something weekly on this blog, but life happened.  But now its back and it's not going anywhere.  I am determined to make 2012 the year of awesomeness in every fricking aspect of my life.  From being a better husband, a better dad, a better friend, a better manager, a better person, and a better person to myself.  It seems like a pretty tall bill to fill, in fact it's F*ing huge.  But I've learned anything can be done when you take one step at a time, in fact if you break up the word "impossible", you get Im Possible!  Last year I started putting down the building blocks for becoming a better person, and took mini baby steps into becoming that person, but this year  I will become the person I know I was meant to be.  The best possible Me I can be!

    I have posted about Project Awesome on Facebook for the last week, and a few people have asked me what it is.  The fact is I'm Project Awesome, you're Project Awesome. we all are Project Awesome.  But unlike last year I'm going to work my ass off to actually make it happen.  Project Awesome is becoming a better person than you are now, but not the best, because then the only way you can go is down, and no matter what anyone tells you there is always something to improve, that is what makes us human and keeps us growing.  My Project Awesome is seven parts: Become healthier by eating healthy and taking care of my body better, working out more regularly (and sticking to it), finishing the numerous projects I have started throughout the years, being more positive to myself and others, and choosing three healthy activities I love doing and doing them all on a daily basis for at least thirty minutes.  I chose reading, writing, and re-learning Japanese (thanks Elma), and I'm doing these things for me, which in the long run will help others around me.  Therefore fully rounding out a better me.

    So here's my challenge to you, join your own Project Awesome or we can join forces to help influence and coach ourselves and others on.  I've learned throughout the years, I'm usually the guy people lean on for advice or a crying shoulder, and in the past I never take that same shoulder back to repay the favor.  I bottle it up which isn't healthy, and actually reverses any positive advancements one has made towards their goals.  So I'm also going to work on the two way communication, not just the one way because I've learned last year there are a lot of people I can trust and am lucky to have them in my life.  So take this journey with me and challenge yourself to become a more AWESOME YOU!!! Because remember I'm POSSIBLE!!!!!

Ask yourself the right questions!

My whole life I have looked at other people wondering why them.  What makes them so special?  Why are they rich, famous, successful, and etc.  But it finally occurred to me that I was asking the wrong question.  Its the wrong question because the answer wouldn't benefit me at all.  In fact the actual answer more than likely would make me more upset.  Instead from now on I will ask myself the hardest question and answer myself honestly.  "Why me, and Why not me?"!  And instead of getting defensive about other people it will let me look at myself to the core and see my strengths, and my faults.  I'm not rich because I work at the Cheese, and I'm fine with that.  I'm not famous (well not yet) due to the fact I'm shy around people I have no idea who they are (outside of work).  And successful I'm working on that a daily basis.  So that's a work in progress.  Life is a work in progress though, and we only get better at life through living, and being honest with yourself.  So if you want that new promotion, or be famous, rich or etc, you must apply yourself and see what you are doing right, and also equally as important what you are doing wrong.  And fix the wrong things, or even better convert them into strengths.  One of the hardest things to do in life is to apologize and admit your in wrong and at fault.  It's even harder when your the one lying to yourself, but that means when the truth finally comes out and your honest with yourself it will be beyond rewarding!