Relocation – Inner Happiness

Moving to a new place is not an easy decision, and more so when moving to another state. I know from experience, as I have done this four times already. Each time I moved it was a restart, refresh, and regroup.  I’m a very shy person when it comes to meeting new people, especially in crowds. Either way, it’s a start from  scratch, and we have to find an inner happiness.

What do I mean by “inner happiness?” I mean being happy with your situation regardless of external circumstances. The famous quote, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are,” rings true in every aspect of life. Whether it be a new job, new house, new city, and even new friends, we must learn to find joy. It’s easy to focus on the things we don’t have, and the things we wish we had. I’ve been guilty of this, though I strive to be content with all I have. I am truly a blessed man, and my family is a prime example of God’s provision. Though I have little ones at home, I’m not able to get out as much, but I’ve learned to be happy with the little things in life.

Happiness should come from within, and not based on external forces. I was always doing something before kids, and I was able to get out more. After being in a new state, almost a year now, I’ve found happiness in other things – my kids. My kids bring me more joy than anything I’ve ever participated in or accomplished. My wife is a rock star, and she is the epitome of a “help mate.” I say all these things to encourage you to find joy in the little things in life. Life will take you down many paths, and you may not have the time or energy to pursue a goal right now. However, time is precious, and the joy that lasts is the joy we should hold onto. Be encouraged to take time, and show your loved ones you care. The camera will be there tomorrow, and your guitar will need tuning again another day.

Be not observers of the world, but players in the show. Be active and engage in conversations with others. Learn from one another, share your knowledge, and skills with others. Never stop pursuing your dream. Live. Laugh. Love. Rock on. Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.

This Mountain

Say to this mountain, be lifted up and thrown into the sea. Not tossed about the waves like a ship with no sails, gasping for air under the currents. This mountain you call your home is wretched and torn. The windows are bolted yet the door is open. The flood is rushing across your valleys. The walls are closing under the pressure of a mighty force. This mountain, which refuses to sink, will be consumed by the light of the sun. All who can see will behold its destruction and its former stronghold. As it crumbles into the depths of the ocean, no remorse is given, no moments of silence. A back is turned to the sea, and we will walk away. Not one, but many prints in the sand.

My Flickr Page

My Flickr Page

I take some pictures on the side, besides the many I take of my kids. If you have a minute, go check them out.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallerus/

Paralysis of Analysis

Ever aspire to get something done, but you were stuck in the Planning phase for so long, nothing ever got done. That’s been the story of my life for a while. I over-think, over-analyze, under-analyze, get distracted, and just plain over-whelmed by the amount of projects I have on my future to-do list. I am the king of half complete jobs and failed attempts at ill-gotten gains. I think the real paralysis, at least for me, comes when I keep the focus on myself rather than others.

Have you found yourself not completing something, or not getting what you want, only to realize your motives weren’t in the right place? I know I sure have. It’s not wrong to want something you probably don’t need, but it is wrong if that want over-shadows the needs/obligations around you. Those “needs” should be met first. I’ve always lived by the principle that God will supply my needs, and He sure has, more than I deserved. I have numerous examples of how my needs have been supplied, so why should I get discouraged by the things I don’t have? Again, here we see the motivations may not be in the right place.

Over-thinking can get you into trouble with deadlines, just take my entire college career as an example. I over-thought big projects and small papers, but wound up with great work at the very last minute. I didn’t get nearly as much done, and I didn’t live to my true potential. I heard a comic describe the difference between a man’s brain and a women’s brain. In men’s brains, there are many boxes, and each box contains a topic of subject of focus(i.e. sports, tools, schoolwork, cars, yardwork). The same goes for women. In a man’s brain, we are only capable of opening one box at a time, it’s just how we’re wired. In women’s brains they can multiple boxes open at one time, and not skip a beat. This one box idea with men, drives women nuts, but it’s the sad truth. 

I think about that story, and realize I can’t possibly get ten things done in one day, but I can get one. I hope you all realize your true potential in whatever you do. I hope your goals and motivations are just, and your frustrations are met with patience and success. Don’t over-analyze and stall out in the middle of the race, as it’s far from over. God Bless.

Get out, and Learn

If you are too busy to learn something, you are too busy to become great at it. Never let your schedule dictate your level of expertise. Don’t think your YouTube videos will make you great either. Never turn down classroom instruction, and never assume your self-taught experience is “good enough.” Lastly, Good Enough, only lasts until you realize it isn’t, Good Enough. 

Procrastination

Procrastination is not a good thing, but I can’t say it’s “never” a good thing. Although many minds are different and thought processes are faster with some than others, sometimes we just need to get out all the “junk” ahead of time. I have come to a very strong realization, my best stuff comes to me when the time is running out. Don’t ask me how or why, but I can say it’s not because I choose to do things at the last minute. Sure you will hear, procrastination will screw you in the end. I can agree with this statement on many levels, but it’s not always a detriment to wait it out. The only things I have really missed out on are events with friends, sleep, and sanity; all of which I finally retrieved weeks afterwards. To recap, keep doing what works best for you, or what keeps your job. For those who like to work in a 48 hour time slot, there is an iPhone App called “Tomorrow,” or “Do it Tomorrow.” It’s a simple note-taker scheduler where you can easily put things off until tomorrow. Great for taking notes, and for sub-consciously giving yourself an extra day to do something.

Too Much Caffeine

Good morning, been driving for about 4.5 hours now. Took the first leg and four hours and 2 energy drinks later, I’m too awake to sleep. (sorry for the run on sentence) I think truck stops and travel stations (I.e Sheetz, Pilot, Valero) make a killing of us caffeine addicts. Every time I hit one up, it’s always two for $4. Now I can’t see how that’s a “deal.” I mean you need to pound one and start the other quick to even have two cold drinks. I always need one to start and one halfway through, then I’m set. Back to my point about truck stops and caffeine. I personally love both and I just can’t resist stopping at a truck stop and getting some tasty, disgusting (for what it does to my insides) convenient store food. Likewise, I feel a need to buy energy drinks every chance I get. So these long road trips and canned “promised” energy will be the standard in my car. I just regret it every morning when I’m so juiced my eyes can’t shut!

Being a Dad

Being a new Dad there is so much you learn right off the bat. You never know what to expect when your boy/girl is born, but we try to prepare by reading magazines, books, blogs, etc. The crazy thing is, you forget most if not all once they are in your arms. It’s crazy, but I think we all have a inner instinct to know what to do when we bring our baby home. I’ve found myself being more alert to my son’s whines and grunts. (My boy is a grunter in his sleep.) I think it’s the love we have for our children and the blessing from God that gives us the alertness to the needs our kids have. Some would say, it comes with the job, but it really is a lifestyle. Once a parent always a parent. You’ll learn more in the first few weeks than you ever thought possible, and we never stop learning. So keep up the good work parents, and keep loving your kids. There’s so much more where that came from.

You Simply Cannot Make Mistakes

I heard this quoted from Pastor Lon Solomon who was also quoting a song in one of his, Not a Sermon, Just a Thought radio messages. It rings true in our daily professional careers, and never more than this morning. I had a call with a potential new team lead, and I was 45 minutes late! Although, he was very understanding and played it off well, it doesn’t look good at all. After three years of working in this professional fast-paced business of government contracting, you really can’t make mistakes like this. Reputation is all you really have when you don’t have the technical expertise to sell yourself onto another project, and at any moment, it can be tarnished. The saying, “Time is Money,” is true on almost every level. If you’re getting paid to do a job, or taking time away from that job, you’re either gaining or losing something. Nobody wants to be on the latter end of losing $$. In the print industry they put it this way, “You’re only as good as your last design.”  With that said, keep up the good work.

First Time Dad

Those who know me, know that my wife and I are expecting our first child in June. Having only been married for about 8 months now, you could say life has been one big exciting event after another these passed few years. While I could easily reflect on probably one of the best years of my life, 2009, I’d like to share some of my thoughts on being this year so far.
It’s easy to be scared with your first kid, and here I sound like someone who’s been there before. Seriously though, it’s hard to fully comprehend the fact there is a little baby boy swimming around in my wife’s belly, and that he will be born in a few months. I remember seeing the sonogram for the first time and having this surreal moment of excitement and expectancy. It was like I wanted the little guy to be born and in my arms already. I wasn’t one who wished boy over girl, but for the baby to be healthy. We found out we’re having a little boy, and needless to say, I’m a bit excited! Every Dr.’s visit I hear his little heart beat, beating at 200 bpm, it’s truly amazing to think that’s perfectly healthy. My wife gets to see him poking on top of her belly, and she feels him moving around a lot. I seem to miss those little pokes a lot, but when I felt that little guy “kick” my hand for the first time, it was just awesome. It felt like a little high-five from my first born, and I just remembered how blessed I really am.
It’s not going to be easy being a Father, and nobody ever said it was. Thank God! I don’t know the first thing about it, but I do know that God never gives you more than you can handle. It will be an adventure that’s for sure. How fitting, since “The Adventure” by Angels & Airwaves was one of the songs played at my wedding. Just keep this in mind: Life really comes at you fast, and like Ferris Bueller said, “If you blink, you might miss it!”