The Social Revolution – I Share Because I Care

Here’s a thought for you. What is the greatest computer? Mac? PC? How about the huge mainframe computers they have at NASA? NO.

You see, up here in our heads, this is the greatest computer.

How about our eyes? But do you know what you are seeing? I mean really seeing?

Every second, every single second your eyes take in 72 gigabytes of information. The world’s greatest camera. Now is that not incredible? A computer and a camera.

And this date, this code, is up here, behind the firewall of our personality.

86 billion neurons evolved to understand, to translate, to give us our vision of the world around us. The mountains, rivers, great savannahs, every animal in their incredible shapes and sizes, Friends, family, lovers, the people around you now, everything and everyone that you’ve ever met at all. They are all here. They are all stories. Memories. Charged with emotion. Your happiness, sadness, joy, frustration, your loves, your loves lost. And these collection of stories makes YOU. An ongoing project that only comes to an end when you die.

Your memories are your life.

Above all, we have a genetic imperative, a unique desire to share. What makes us human, our sense of self, and our ability to share who we are. Our greatest gift.

Let’s rewind a little.

Cave paintings. First we paint to say “I was here”. Then we paint to say “why we are here”– to pass our knowledge, experience, to build on what we know. For this is evolution. Sharing for survival. We share more and more.

Now, we share our friends. We share our favorite on Youtube. We share our locations. We share our internet photos…maybe sometimes a bit more after a few drinks…

Everytime we share we are reflecting our personality, our selves..

But this is normal. Innovation changes again. Always. 20,000 years ago. 1000. 10 years. Tomorrow. It doesnt matter. Interference is a good thing. Whether it be a smile, or a tattoo, the phone in your pocket. Disruption in innovation of all sorts creates rifts. And makes possible only imaginable leaps forward in technology and communication.

Today, we see a world on fire. On fire with data. With information. But, there’s a revolution around the corner. Nothing less than the total translation of our human emotions. These urges into information. Pure communication.

I believe we are at the frontier. Ahead lies the internet of YOU. An internet of pure emotion. Genuine connection. To finally take us beyond a cave painting.

This is not science fiction.

Doctors can talk to people in comas. You can control a toy with your mind. This is NOW. A world of shared emotion. Where the greatest experiences are magnified. A million. A billion times.

Can you imagine love? Now can you imagine a love that is billion times more powerful? And empathy. True feeling.

A new future. A world that we will create, where the borders of language will be gone. Imagine what we will be able to achieve.

Remember me.
Remember where you were.
The next generation of social media is coming.

For tomorrow, is the future we all share.

—

A friend shared this video with me and I felt compelled to watch it over and over again.

Yes, I even took 10 minutes to type up the transcript…

Take a moment and think to yourself “Why do you share?”

I share to declare. My passions, my interests, my goals, my hobbies, my love and acknowledgement, my appreciation for people and what they mean to me. When I declare it, it becomes more real.
I share to pass on knowledge. Life hacks. Youtube How To videos. Life lessons gained from experience.
I share to describe experiences. I want other people to see, feel, think, touch, to be present to the idea that there is more “out there” and that we aren’t confined in a bubble.
I share for human connection. Who are we without language? Who are we without our word? Without integrity or authenticity? Or self expression?

If you internalize your feelings…if you don’t bother asking for something or standing for what you believe in, because of fear of “rejection, looking bad, guilt, shame“, you are never going to live the life that you love or love the life that you live.

So I’m making a stand to share my experiences, my mind, my feelings, my knowledge, my skills, my passion, myself.

…Because I believe in humanity and strive for genuine connection.

I share because I care.

“Come on make me feel alive”

This mix is incredible. I must have listened to this on repeat at work 4 times today. I’m thinking about going home to turn the lights off and just dance by myself to this.

I looked up the lyrics to every track to really feel it and be present. Enjoy.

ALIVE- KREWELLA

Let’s make this fleeting moment last forever
So, tell me what you’re waiting for?
I’m gonna keep it frozen here forever,

All alone, just the beat inside my soul
Take me home, where my dreams are made of gold
In the zone where the beat is un-controlled.
I know what it feels like
Come on make me feel alive

CRAVE YOU- Flight Facilities

Why can’t you want me like the other boys do?
They stare at me while I stare at you

It’s true, I crave you
It’s true, I crave you

THE GREAT DIVIDE- VELVETINE

Pull me in tonight and stay forever
I wanna know the secrets of your heart
Let’s begin tonight
It’s now or never
Love won’t happen til you try to cross the Great Divide

In 4 the Kill Pon De Skream – Skream

We can fight our desires*
But when we start making fires
We get ever so hot
Whether we like it or not
They say we can love who we trust
But what is love without lust?
Two hearts with accurate devotions
And what are feelings without emotions?

I’m going in for the kill
I’m doing it for a thrill
Oh I’m hoping you’ll understand
And not let go of my hand

Starlight – Flux Pavilion

We could be starlights
When the world won’t turn for no one
Circle the spotlights
When you ain’t got nothing to prove

Must be the Love – Arty, BT & Nadia Alive

When you know you’ve found the one to keep
Oh, we wonder how we did not see
Our eyes open when we find the love
And we heal

Choose Me II – Xilent

Choose me
Choose me
Choose me

Raise Your Weapon – Deadmau5

Rippin’ my heart was so easy, so easy, launch your assault now, take it easy. Raise your weapon, raise your weapon, one word and it’s over. rippin’ through like a missile, rippin’ through my heart, rob me of this love. Raise your weapon, raise your weapon… And it’s over.

Eyes on Fire  – Blue Foundation

I’ll seek you out
Flay you alive
One more word and you won’t survive
And I’m not scared
Of your stolen power
See right through you any hour

Letters from the Sky – Civil Twilight

One of these days the sky’s gonna break
And everything will escape and I’ll know
One of these days the mountains
Are gonna fall into the sea and they’ll know

That you and I were made for this
I was made to taste your kiss
We were made to never fall away
Never fall away

Solar Sailer – Daft Punk

If I could find a place, a place where we could follow to take us underground.
The bitterness you taste, the medicines we swallow, that lay our bodies down.

Let it be – Blackmill

They both see the traps
No fool, Oh oh
They won’t go back
No fool, Oh oh
They’ve got a mind track
No fool, Oh oh
It’s all a mystery
Let it come and let it be

One Minute  – Krewella

Stay here, see me come undone Set free my soul and turn me on Lay me down and stop the time So long now leave the world behind
We got one minute, you know there’s no other Its too late we’re in it, you’re blowing my cover Take me to heaven and back in a second Light up this fire before you come rushing
We got one minute you know there’s no other Its too late we’re in it, you’re blowing my cover Take me to heaven and back in a second Light up this fire before you come rushing

Trap for me – Deadmau5 ft. Kaskade

Another night out, another dancefloor
Another night out, another dancefloor
Another night out, another dancefloor
(Move for you)
Another night out, another dancefloor

Here we go, another night out
Waited all week just to get out
Where do we come from, do I know your name?
Doesn’t really matter, in this life we’re all the same

Rise & Fall (feat Krewella) – Adventure Club

One breath in this moment
We’ll stay ’till we’re chosen, and throught it all
With our eyes wide open
We’ll fight ’til we’re broken
We rise and fall

Latch (feat. Sam Smith) – Disclosure

Now I got you in my space
I won’t let go of you (never)
Got you shackled in my embrace
I’m latching on to you (never)

I’m so encaptured, got me wrapped up in your touch (never)
Feel so enamored, hold me tight within your clutch (never)
How do you do it, you got me losing every breath (never)
What did you give me to make my heart beat out my chest (never)

So Beautiful (Candyland remix) – Parker Ighile

Come and love it right knowing I’ll be waiting
Need you bad for more than I can take it
When I’ll be in the truck you’re the girl that I’ll miss Ooh come and love me baby ’cause I don’t need nothing

Scared to love but now we are kissing
But I gonna treat you really different
On time you know it I love it when we kick in
Another girl that is just looking like her mother
You better talk her in it’s going on tonight
I will give what I gave no other
‘Cause this ain’t love if we can’t love for life
Come and make love in the dark
Could you light up my life
You are so beautiful come and make love in the dark
Could you light up my life
You are so beautiful to me you are so beautiful to me
You are so beautiful to me you are so beautiful to me
You are …

Baby Come Back – Kill Paris

Tear Your Soul – Muffler

Loveline – The Brookes Brothers

Dreaming  – Rameses B

Turn the lights off
In this bedroom
For tonight I will be dreaming of you
It’s the one thing
I can rely on
When everything else is so confused

I’m not leaving
Not now that you’re here with me
Don’t wake me up [3x]

I may be dreaming
But what I felt for you is real
Don’t wake me up [3x]

Lullabies  – Yuna

Forever in my mind only you
the pieces in my life go away with you
Forever in my mind only you
the pieces in my life run away with you

Cracks – Freestylers feat. Belle Humble

Leave the past behind
Just walk away
When it’s over
And my heart breaks
And the cracks begin to show…

15 Breathe Me  – Sia

Be my friend
Hold me, wrap me up
Unfold me
I am small and needy
Warm me up
And breathe me

You – Enigma Dubz

I’m on one – DJ Khaled ft. Drake, Lil Wayne

All I care about is money and the city that I’m from
I’ma sip until I feel it, I’ma smoke it till it’s done
And I don’t really give a f-ck, and my excuse is that I’m young
And I’m only getting older so somebody shoulda told ya

I’m on one
Yeah, f-ck it, I’m on one
Yeah, I said I’m on one
F-ck it, I’m on one

Hanging On – Ellie Goulding ft. Tinie Tempah

You know we can get away
Because I’m calling your name
Every day I feel this pain
But you just turn and walk away

I just can’t keep hanging on, to you and me
I just don’t know what is wrong, with you and me

Touch me and then turn away
And put your hands into the flame
Tell me if you feel this pain
Cause I don’t want to be a ball and chain, nooo

I.D. – Protohype

Magnetic Eyes ft. Baby Blue (TC remix) – Matrix & Futurebound

(you lift me out, you lift me out
you lift me out, you lift me out)
magnetic eyes..
there’s no going back you’ve pulled me in to the night…
Magnetic Eyes…
closer till our broken hearts collide…
Can’t Control Myself  – Krewella

I can’t control myself
(oh oh oh ah ah oh)
Can’t can’t can’t control myself.

Lessons Learned

I’m at a point in my life where all the fortune cookie sayings, as clichéd as they may sound, have hit me in a way where I’m nodding vigorously and all I want to do is live, breathe, and feel. Feel all sorts of emotion so that I can practice redirecting my insecurities of self-doubt, shame, frustration into something positive. To fail and get up after a failure is beginning to look a lot more enticing than just settling for something “stable”.

…Because, when you settle for something less, you get less than what you settled for…

I came up with this saying to try to sum up how I feel about this matter

“Life is like riding a bicycle; that once we learn how to balance, we never forget. Although we might, every so often, still fall off.  The easiest way to fall over is when we stop moving so just move, one little step at a time.

My sister had just recently attended the Educo Seminar in the Bahamas. Her company sponsored her to go on this 2 week “life transformation” class so she could bring back some takeaways to share. A free 2 week trip to the Bahamas? MAN, what an opportunity right?

Opportunities like this shouldn’t be viewed as “random”. As outlandish as it sounds, I believe when you pour energy into something, the world has a way of presenting you with these thin sliver bits of opportunity. You just really have to go for it…with an open mind and positive thinking. That part is entirely up to you.

I view my sister as a happy medium. I have spent enough time with her to be influenced by her emotions and see how she carries herself. When she smiles, you smile. When she’s upset, you get upset, and wonder how in the world can I make her smile again. I learn from her by example and have always as a little kid sister aspired to have that sort of infectious charisma. I’m pretty positive that growing up I was a tool and tried too hard “to fit in.” I’ve learned…and am continuing to learn…to “just do me” Nothing else really matters because in the end nobody really cares what you do.

These are the lessons I’ve learned in the past year.

Living life in a blur is not living.

I’ve always been the type of person to try to do everything all at once. To cram every sort of activity in one day. I would literally bike from one end of Manhattan to another and time myself during the process as a personal challenge. Clap yourself on the back and feel a sense of acknowledgement. I just biked a 4.45 min/mile. NOBODY CARES. I’d feel a sense of triumph for “exploring” NYC despite the fact that I never stopped to smell the roses at a park or stopped to chat with the local street performer and thank him for his time.

I think I realized this when I got hit by a taxi recently. Haste makes waste. Life isn’t a competition even if its with yourself. Personal development and achieving goals is one thing..but is shaving one minute off your daily commute really going to make a difference?

SO…take it from me…once in a while, just stop whatever you’re doing and think of where you are at this present moment. When you are rushing to catch the train and have spilled coffee all over your pants in the process of running across the train tracks…just stop. Catch the next one and fix yourself. This again happened to me a couple of days ago. I took the bus instead and it all worked out.

Oh, and if a street performer/artist makes you stop in your tracks, even for 30 seconds (big deal in NYC), you owe him a dollar. Or at least a thank you.

We’re all Connected. Empathy > Apathy

During one of my philosophical conversations with a fellow couchsurfer, we touched upon human emotion and the difference between “people who do good” and people who are evil” The Swede said empathy. Apathy or ignorance are reasons why there is so much hate in the world. It makes sense right? If a mass murderer couldn’t relate to human emotion, how are they to understand that the significance of a bomb and what it could mean to a family, a community, a town, a state, a country. It’s empathy or the feeling of human connection that enables people to have a stronger connection to themselves and the world around them.

Small example: Being ignorant is equivalent to someone thinking that throwing one piece of trash out into the streets wouldn’t make a difference. Tragedy of the commons dude. We’re all connected. This is my park just as much as it’s yours…and this squirrels…and this wandering toddler who will probably pick up your dog’s shit and play with it (I would have as a kid..).

Another thing. If someone chooses to be vegetarian, respect their decision. Instead of saying “why”, ask yourself “why not”

Learn to respect and empathize with peoples beliefs.

Which leads me to…

How to Build Rapport with People

I’m an extrovert. I used to shout at introverts and say things like “You’re going home already? We just got here!” Read this Thought Catalog article about things you should stop saying to introverts.

It used to frustrate me. Knowing that people have the power to live such astonishing lives if they just got up from their couch and left their apartment. But preaching and or blackout yelling at them in the bar to “live a little and take a shot” isn’t the right approach I’ve come to realize…

To build rapport, you need to again empathize. Build trust and create an atmosphere in which people feel free to respond freely. By allowing yourself to be a nonjudging/open-minded individual, you are allowing someone to feel comfortable in their own skin.

Try mirroring someone to build rapport with someone more quickly. If you meet someone who is shy, match their shy state and then move them towards a more excited state. Use gestures, eye contact, tempo of speech, posture. If they follow you into this new position, you know they are in a state where they are comfortable to respond to you. It’s at this point when you can try to influence someone’s decisions.

Also, replace “But” with “And.” The word “But” can destroy any sort of rapport. When you use “and” it implies you have acknowledged what they have said but you have a few insights they might be interested to hear as well. Again, empathize. You’ll get farther along that way. Nobody likes to get preached to.

—

I’m going to stop here for today.

This is my attempt to share the power of influence and how to build “rapport” with the people around you. After all, you are the product of your environment. We live in a world where we engage with so many people around us. Coworkers, family, friends, neighbors, your barista…By living a more powerful life, one in which you can fully control, start by controlling your emotions by stopping/being present with yourself and then focusing on how to channel your energy onto others.

For my next braindump “these are my life lessons take it or leave it”, I’d like to look into representational systems and how to read people through understanding if someone is more visual, auditory, or kinesthetic. You can do this easily by seeing how they shift their eyes when you’re talking to someone. My sister taught me about this…

Practice this exercise! Ask someone how their weekend went or better yet how their last date went. When they are speaking, focus on how they shift their eyes.

Visual people shift their eyes up.  They are more visually expressive and might start their response by talking about the atmosphere of where the date was “the restaurant had really great décor! We totes have to go next time!” Visual people speak faster and generally maintain more eye contact.

Kinesthetic people talk more about emotions. They remember an action or feeling and might say something like “Well, he was nice but I felt like he just didn’t listen at all to what I was saying…” They tend to speak more slowly and/or repeat themselves. They look down much more when speaking.

If their eyes shift left to right, they are most likely doubting something or are insecure…or maybe embellishing/lying.

These all seem like generalizations I know but hey you can’t deny that  the eyes are the windows to the soul.

It was brought to my attention by my sister that I’m more kinesthetic. I talk slow and look down as I’m feeling a lot of pent up emotion towards a significant event. I also tend to avoid eye contact when it comes to a conversation or anything that involves intimacy. Haha. Well at least I’m cognizant of it! Acceptance and acknowledgement is the first step…

TL: DR

By identifying these different representational systems, it would be easier to understand people and better guide them into a positive state of mind. When you are around positive people, you in turn will be a more positive person. Energy flows where attention goes.

PEACE OUT.

–          Always learning, living, loving          

<3. TIFFLIN 3> — haha it’s a butt on an ice cream cone

Burn-out Phase

I’ve been nonstop in my hustle since my last post about moments of influence that keep me moving.

I look like I haven’t slept for more than 4 hours in the past few days. My brain feels like scrambled eggs. My eyebags are getting darker. I still have acne on my chin. My mind is never in the right place..ESPECIALLY when I’m in front of a computer. I have 20 tabs open right now and can’t focus on one task at a time. My heart is beating so fast. I’m not on any drugs if thats what you’re thinking. I’m beginning to feel cough sick so I’m taking Dayquil/EmergenC to prevent sickness before I leave for California/Coachella this weekend.

I realize when I’m with my friends, I talk nonsensically about nothing/everything all at once. it’s like regurgitation of the mouth.

You: “How was your weekend?”My mind processes this: “3 frenchies . maple syrup..Thai dinner..La Caverna..5 AM..$ pizza..longboard..zombies…williamsburg…bazaar..free food…bridge..Frenchies/swede..13th step..$ pizza..5 AM…Day trip with Swede..Unisphere..Met Stadium..Flushing…Jackson Heights…5Pointz ..the boil..crawfish..street chair..what was the question?”
What I end up saying: “uhhhhh” weird smile on my face.
I just end up mumbling..and saying stupid shit. People either think i’m stoned because I talk too slow (cause: sleep deprivation) or that I’m high on crack (most likely just ran/biked and you’re experiencing aftermath of biker high)

Anyway great weekend.

Highlights:Walking around Queens Zoo seeing kids run around picking up Easter eggs
Me: “Babies. Toddlers. Describe in one word. Go.”
Swede: “Drunk midgets”
We see a kid skating belly down on skateboard pass by…”yes…yes..”

—

tonight is the last night i have until i set a new challenge for myself..still figuring that one out. after i complete my post 6 PM wunwun task, im going straight home to clean my room/declutter my life. Watch Walking Dead..greet a new AirBnb guest…and pass the eff out.

Moments of Influence

Moments of Influence/Grandeur/AHA/Epiphany

It could be anything…a picture, a phrase, a song, a personal story.

It doesn’t have to be a cliched saying (although most of the times it is). Its just something that intersects beautifully with whatever situation/obstacle/challenge you are facing at that present time. You suddenly breathe a sigh of relief like your not in this alone…meanwhile you are shaking your head vigorously in excitement because that moment/factor of influence is all you needed to give you that extra push for you to carry on. It’s uplifting.

–

My Influencers:

Instagram

Currently @Mankofit- One of my favorite people to follow on instagram. This chick averages 5 figure+ likes. Completely wowed by her workout ethic. She posted a personal story about motivation and how it keeps her doing what she does and loves everyday.

Its following users and fitness enthusiasts like her that keep me pushing to complete my Spartan WOD’s. You can subscribe here – http://www.spartanrace.com/wod/

Yesterday was a toughie. Especially after a weekend of eating greasy food/beer in Colorado with my sister, it was hard to motivate myself to complete 3/28 Spartan WOD (Run 27 minutes…interval sprint/jog). But then I see a pic of this chick doing crazy things like climbing 100 flights of stairs in 20 minutes, i can’t help but feel inspired!

So I pushed myself to get out of my cubicle, bike 3 blocks to the gym, and run 4 miles on the treadmill. I felt so much better after. Especially since I gained 1.6 pounds since my last Thursday weigh-in. Oh WeightWatchers Meetings..the things you do to my mental mind. #Rollercoaster.

Hustlin: 4 miles – 36 min

—

SOULcycle

Back in February, via Airbnb, I hosted an LA yogi who came to NYC for the SOULcycle training program. Through spending a weekend under his lifestyle influences, I found the beautiful balance of hot yoga and spinning…mixed in with healthy smoothie recipes and ShakeShack/beer-dance till 2 AM nights. Yes, its all about that balance.

I’ve also met 2 other instructors in the program and through these 3 superstars combined, I feel like a new and improved person. I’ve hit up 4 (free) Community rides that they’ve instructed so far and have found a point of epiphany in every single class. All it takes is one phrase like “you can find family wherever you are” or “this is just the beginning” ..”tomorrow could be a total surprise..but today is here and its beautiful” -its soulful and poignant and although it might not make the perfect sense out of context…right then and there when i’m pouring sweat straightup strugglin and beating off thoughts that I’m not good enough/can’t compare to all these SOULcycle cult/beautiful fit people….i suddenly get an extra spurt of energy and power from their words/choice of empowering music and I just keep spinning

I love these crazy cardio parties. It’s like a freakin rave. It’s not a competition. Its never judging. Everyone’s waving their towels in the air, hollering, having a great time, and encouraging each other to dance/spin/move. No need to compare yourself to anyone there…just compare yourself to where you were yesterday and how far you’ve come.

If anyone wants to hit up a free community class, let me know. Do it for the journey.

Music

Currently: Ben Howard- Keep your Head Up

Watch it. Listen to the lyrics. It’s powerful stuff. After a long day at work, all I need is this music on my bike ride home and I’m as happy as a clam.

Music has the power to transform your emotions. Dancing has the power to let your emotions translate to actual expression.

Goal: Dance twice a week. Just put on your favorite jams and rock out in your room. Like Hannah from Girls.

—

Foreigners/Travelers/Couchsurfers

So on Wednesday (3/27) after a grueling SOULcycle class at 2:00 AND Bootcamp class at 7:00, all I really wanted to do was go home and crash/smoke a sheesh/clean my room. But I get a text from Gary (CouchSurfing) around 8 PM. It’s written in chinese..asking if i wanted to meet up for dinner/drinks. Ohh man.

A month ago, I agreed to host Gary because he was from Taiwan Kaoshung (where my grandmas from!) but he ended up getting a place in White Plains instead. Since its  my resolution to keep promises/meet somebody new everyday, I rushed home from bootcamp, showered, and met him at Saints Alp for bubble tea (i know..how fitting..).

His english is as bad as my chinese, so the conversations we had were pretty limited. I had to give him respect points for going out on his own. For not listening to his friend’s ridicule “you’re english sucks..you don’t know anyone…what are you going to do in NYC by yourself?” and just traveling for the sake of experiencing something new/seek inspiration.

Gary is a student studying civil engineering and is here to gain new perspective. He reminded me of the ant from A Bug’s Life. The part of the movie when he goes and travels into a big city to meet “strangers” in hopes to better his town. At one point,  i just nodded in bemusement when he described the history/architecture of Grand Central to me in chinese. I had absolutely no clue what he was saying, but could tell he was passionate. Thumbs up.

What I got out of this encounter: I need to work on my Chinese. I need to travel back to Taiwan. I need to get outside of my comfort zone. As much as I push my body to reach new heights, I’d like to learn something new and stimulate my mind

—

Inspiring Feats of Performance Motivated by Love

Strongest Dad in the World by Rick Reilly

Eighty-five times he’s pushed his disabled son, Rick, 26.2 miles in marathons. Eight times he’s not only pushed him 26.2 miles in a wheelchair but also towed him 2.4 miles in a dinghy while swimming and pedaled him 112 miles in a seat on the handlebars – all in the same day.

Read more here:

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TL:DR : SEEK INSPIRATION WHEREVER YOU ARE. JUST EMBRACE IT. KEEP MOVING.

—

Weekly Challenge:  Declutter Life/Clean Room

Progress: Tackled one corner of my room. cleaned out my shoe buckets. Donating 5 pairs. Swept my room floor. Small steps.

There’s a reason why I made this a “weekly” challenge and not a “daily”…badabooom

—

PS: this weekend is going to be a blur: i probably won’t post until Monday….

i have a total of 4 Guests..maybe 5..from Couchsurfing. 3 Frenchies, 1 or 2 Swedes crashing in my living room. Yes i overbooked. It’s going to be awesome.

Hustle: “Do it For the Story”

Hustle:
According to Urban:

Anythin you need to do to make money..be it sellin cars, drugs, ya body. If you makin money, you hustlin.

According to Merriam:

a : to obtain by energetic activity <hustle up new customers>. b : to sell something to or obtain something from by energetic and especially underhanded activity …

My definition:
To move forward with energy and swag, not necessarily in an attempt to make money, but to do anything to get closer to what you want to get with the intention of achieving a sense of thrill/adventure/peace of mind/an interesting story.

The end “destination” isn’t the reward, its more the act oft embarking on this “journey”  and facing all the obstacles that finally got you there.

—

I bring up the term “Hustle” because I realize that it pretty summed up my Tuesday (4/26) and I intend on using the this word more often in my “About me”

I meet someone new everyday. And when that dreadful question “What do you do?” comes up, I try my hardest to fight back that initial dread that creeps up at the slightest mention about work/my career. Unless I’m working in a circus, I’m not going to be particularly enthused to tell people I work a 9-6 job staring at dual monitors everyday.  It’s a good stable job at a very reputable company that more than pays for my standard of living. I just can’t light up talking about it. Why? Because its corporate. Same shit. Different day.

Plus, I just would prefer to not talk about work past 6 PM when I’ve clocked out. Some people could talk about work 24/7…complaints, bureaucratic drama, promotions, raises, working after hours, the “i am going to quit…interview somewhere else” bullshit.   I don’t know why anybody would bring work talk into their “social time”. Anyway, that’s their prerogative, not mine.

So I’m just going to rephrase the “What do you do” question to “What do you like to do”

Here’s what I’ve come up with:

“i hustle for a living” ..”im a bike messenger that hustles during her lunch hour doing odd jobs while working a 9-6 desk job” “i’m a yogi and fitness enthusiast that works out hard at the gym to hustle back  home to make a smoothie, chug a beer, or smoke a sheesh”..”im a dancing machine that hustles (and shuffles) until 2 AM at least 2 times a week to keep my muscles limber and my body/mind free of judgement” ..”i’m a Airbnb/Couchsurfing host who finds time to hustle around her work/fitness/sleeping schedule to show foreigners what NYC nightlife is about”..”im a hustla ..immma immaa hustler”

I also strive to be a “Bad Bitch”

#Recognize.

My Tuesday 3/26
9:00-9: 15- Bike to work.
Hustlin = after 5 hours of sleep, light cardio gave me some endorphins to push through and catch up on Friday/Monday emails. My solution for sleep deprivation = keep moving
12-12:30- WunWun – Delivery task =  Pick up keys, drop them off half a mile away.  Total time: 30 minutes.
Hustlin = $10 with 10 min good cardio bike time. I love being a bike messenger.
2-2:30- Met Couchsurfer and Emily for lunch.
Hustlin = Great prelim “Nice to meet you before you sleep on my couch” convo with a Swede with funny accent/wordly perspective
6:30- 7 – Bike home from work
Hustlin = Mindless bike ride, brain dump after exhausted day at work. Period of reflection over how to spend rest of day.
7-8- Spontaneous decision to flip ASOT ticket/compromised to meet Craigslister at Battery Park. Opted to run instead of bike.
Hustlin = 6 miles running cardio time, took in scenery around Southstreet, Water Street, FIDI, sold my ASOT afterparty tickets for double the price purchased. WOOOT
8-9  – Whole Foods Supermarket
Hustlin = Good deals for protein bars. 5 for $5. Low Fat Greek Yogurt. Kale. Spirulina. Strawberries. Chicken Broth. Quinoa
9-12 – Smoking hookah/drinking beer back at the apartment with Swedes/Em
12-2- Dance like nobody is watching at Sapphire Lounge with Swedes/Em
Hustlin = 3,000 fuelpoints in 2 hours. Solidified friendship bond with Swedes who have funny dance moves. Hung with my 33 and 37 yr old queer dance friends who look like they are 25. They are my role models.

Memorable quotes of the day:
“I’d say you’ve got too much swag,” “seems like this is a bachelor pad” “Do it for the story” “Home is whenever I’m with you” “Home is where your heart is”

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Weekly Challenge: Declutter my life/Clean my room

Progress to date: I took my clothes to the cleaners. That’s a start…

Feeling Inspired

I’ve been feeling really inspired these past few months. Inspiration leads to reflection. Reflection is best expressed through words. I’m not the best at articulating my thoughts in person..but i’d like to be better at it. Anyway, blogging..this might be a temporary thing so don’t get too excited. Post 6 hr flight from Colorado, I’m feeling a mix between delusional and inspired now. Here’s to letting the stream of consciousness take its course…

I take a lot of pictures. It is a way for me to transcribe my experiences into proof or acknowledgment that I’m alive…that I’m grabbing life by its horns and hopefully influencing those around me in a positive way.

My goal is simply this: To exhaust myself in the glorious pursuit of life.

When I die (probably in a tragic accident doing something that I love..i.e. biking in the city) I want to leave a digital trail behind for my loved ones to know that I’ve lived a fulfilling life…that i’m trying and will continue to improve myself everyday..physically and mentally.

Although there are times that my “quirky” lifestyle may seem “unsustainable” and unfit “for a real person” (these are actual real quotes from my friends who only mean the best…), I want them to understand that right now I have certain priorities and values that have are shaping me to become the person that I am. If you’re thinking that I’m going to put myself in awkward situations in order to get a good story out of it, you’re right. This is going to be my rendition of living a life like Hannah Horvath from Girls. Deal with it.

I wake up every morning in excitement for what the day brings. I learn from my past mistakes. I continue on making mistakes. I live and I laugh.

My feelings are always changing. In any case, I’m on the road to self improvement and I’m still figuring myself out. Writing all of this down will give me a greater sense of accountability.

So aside from leaving a digital trail behind for my 90 yr old self to look back on how I’ve lived my 20’s (I can already picture myself reeling in tears, laughter, shame, embarrassment. I also wanted this to be a channel for me to encourage others to “Live your Life.”…gosh, not in a YOLO (i knew you were thinking it!) way but in a more philosophical…success doesn’t always equate to happiness so stop bitching about work and just live in the present sense. I’ll practice what I preach.

to give my ramblings a bit more structure, I’m going to end/begin every blog with a quote

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3.26.13

“the things you own end up owning you” – Tyler Durden Fight Club

You won’t find happiness or the meaning of your life in the shopping mall or in the click of a mouse. Like in Fight Club, Tyer shows Jack that aquiring more and more stuff is a meaningless pursuit devoid of purpose and fulfillment.

“You’re not your job. You’re not how much money you have in the bank. You’re not the car you drive. You’re not the contents of your wallet. You’re not your fucking khakis. You’re the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world.”

The rise of consumerism has us chasing fancy cars and luxury materialistic things, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don’t need. And then throwing it all a way once something new has come along…

This quote or sentiment was inspired by my talk with a guy named Mike..a good friend of this “homeless” chick, Raina, I met last Thursday..(reminder to dedicate a post about her).  Anyway, Mike is awesome. He’s always around St. Marks walking laps due to his OCD so chances are you may have seen him before.

Week 1 Challenge: 

Buy shit you need not what you want. Clean your room. Get rid of your crap that you don’t use. Give it to the homeless or to your friends 

There you go, I’ve typed it out. Meaning I’m held accountable.

Challenge accepted.

and so it begins.