When You Stop Looking Up to Your Father

Thursday Thought
September 8, 2016

How the relationship between my Dad & I changed, without either of us knowing.

Sounds like something shouldn't have surprised you, right? It did when I realized the course we had took and where we were going. If you may remember, I recently wrote about how my Dad is my best friend. That hasn't changed, and I believe this shift into friendship between us was a key factor in the development of our new relationship.

I'll tell you what happened. I stopped looking up to my Dad. I don't admire him any less, or love him any less. I simply stopped looking up to him as a role model. This shift was gradual and probably took about four or five years to complete its transition. We are two very different men. That's what strengthens our friendships, but we are both similar and different in personality traits. 

When I was about 21, when I was in the mountains of Colorado hiking alone where I would occasionally pause to enjoy a nice view, I had an epiphany. I decided I wanted to become my own man, not a product that continually reproduces itself with each generation. We are different in that I'm outgoing, he's not so much, and that's just one of many off the list. Him and I do share a number of great qualities, but not all of them are the same. 

It took some time before my epiphany really took hold and made itself present in my conscious thoughts. He is a great friend and a wonderful mentor, but I have decided to become my own man. I want to have a different career, live out a different social life, and make decisions based on my own opinions and facts. At this point, I no longer look up to him, but rather I would say we sit eye-to-eye and share in each other's own unique opinions and views. This is where our friendship has its roots based, in our ability to revel in each man's abilities and traits and we appreciate how similar we are while also celebrating our differences. Here's to being a proud son of his, and a my own self. 

Investing Advice for a Lifetime

Wednesday Wander
September 7, 2016

Where should you invest?

Here I will tell you about a bit of investment advice that I learned after 20 years of observation and living. It may or may not surprise you if so, it may be so easily realized but poorly executed.

Invest in yourself first before anyone else. 

"What about my friend? My subordinates? My lover? My dog?" 

None of it deserves any time or energy from you before you invest those in yourself. It's all about giving yourself the best chance to succeed before anyone else. You can call it selfishness, but I call it personal heroism. Well... That may be a stretch. Perhaps you'll understand it like it's a rule of evolution, helping someone else get necessities only leaves less for you to succeed at keeping your lineage strong. 

Once you have given yourself ample time, energy, love, and dedication (here is where I recommend the cherry of honesty on top), then you are welcome to take those resources and allocate them to build up another person. In fact, it should a rule of investment that you apply time and energy and love to at least one person in your life. This is a great way to receive dividends and returns on your investments, second only to one in yourself. 

Why do I keep using the word investment? I believe investing in people is a lot like stocks, it bobs and weaves, climbs and dives, zigs and zags. Some days it will end on a record-high and others it may plummet. Even if you take a loss on any given day, it's okay. Selling out at that point will surely result in a major loss for yourself and for others. Just know that when you rise in the morning, you can begin the process again from a new baseline. 

Applying the resources you have, such as love, time, energy, and focus, you can build a wonder this world has never seen. What's the downside? It takes continuous application and spending of these resources to achieve such a status, and there is no "end goal", it may cost more to just maintain than to continually gain. Chase after your dreams, soar into the skies, and become what you want to be most. 

Old Man, New Goals

Tuesday Take
September 6, 2016

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."
- C.S. Lewis -

What's that old phrase?

You can't teach an old dog new tricks. 

That may be correct if only applied to dogs and not to the spirit of the working man. As a working professional, as an ambitious citizen, or as a human with hobbies, you may or may not be striving to achieve new goals or visions. Just as the quote bluntly says, you're never too old. 

Some people cease to study after they each a Bachelor's Degree from college. Some people stop to apply themselves once they get that dream job. Some people settle for the white picket fence.

Here's the recommendation from a professional, go forth and refresh your goals periodically. Continuously challenge yourself and adjust your vision into the future. 

Biggest Lie Told to Millennials

Monday Mountain
9/5/2016

The biggest lie told to millennials?

After some thinking it occurred to me, the young adults in America are lied to throughout their lives. It's something that we are made to believe but very few actually see it come to fruition. What is this lie?

The lie in its basic state: You are special.

You're just like everyone else. Pause for the angry grumbling to quiet down. Okay, I'll admit it you can be special. Simply existing in this society does not grant you a trophy, a paycheck, or any form of pats on the back. It's an atrocity to the world to instill this idea that you deserve anything without having earned it.

Fucking earn it. If you truly believe you're special, then invest in your uniqueness and earn what you believe you deserve. One person may be able to hold you back, but the whole world can't stop you.

Your childhood, my childhood, the American childhood... It's polluted with the ideas we are all special and unique and that we all should receive the ribbon for merely taking part. The process continues with standardized tests, parent-teacher conferences, so on and so-forth. This corruption of you social expectation is like an infection, you can fight it off if you so wish. Once you go off to college, your grades become your own, your actions become your own, and your future truly becomes your own. Own it.

That's how you can combat this lie, by believing in it and making it evolve into a true statement about yourself. By expecting more out of yourself than anyone else, you can then become that something special. The highest of standards should be the ones that you hold yourself to, not the ones the world places on you. Don't accept being told you're special, prove to the world that you're a marvel.