Wednesday, October 28, 2009

SOD: Overcoming Sickness and Exhaustion

I sit here at my computer, in bed, while my roommate sleeps in his bed on the opposite side of the room. My tired eyes argue for some rest after catching up on hours of reading, but all my mind can do is think back to all the others who put my petty tiredness to shame, making me re-evaluate my self-pity.

A lot of people tell me my generation has it the hardest. We live in the most dangerous times, with the highest responsibility, and most competitive markets to date. Global warming; overpopulation; oil crisis; war; recession; job outsourcing.

And they tell us we don't get enough time to enjoy life. Perhaps, but enjoying life won't necessarily get us out of this mythical bind. Ignoring it all, I get down my words and form ideas, not trying to figure out how to fix anything, or if anything needs to be fixed, but doing what I enjoy.

On the days I complain of too much work, or a lack of sleep, I try to remember what it's like to be sick and have to work . Not necessarily required to, per se, but rather committed to doing my work and then catching up on my sleep. Getting to the level of life threatening sickness while maintaining and leading a brigade of poorly-trained soldiers? Unfathomable. But if that's been done I can certainly get by on a little less sleep and a little more work.

There were many instances where Andrew Jackson was tested by difficult obstacles. Some of the most intense tests came well before he became president.

After taking a shot to the shoulder during a quarrel with subordinate Thomas Benton, Jackson suffered a fractured shoulder and almost fatal amounts of blood loss. With these wounds healing during a stay in the hospital Jackson began planning a retaliatory attack against the Creek Indians of what is now Alabama. A few weeks prior to being shot, the Creek Nation, aided by Great Britain, rebelled against encroaching American colonists. Once Jackson received news of this attack he promised vengeance for those who lost their lives.

With victory in the Creek Wars Jackson planned to continue his conquests even in the face of short supplies and little-to-no-food. And when his troops, working on expired contracts, tried to abandon Jackson he picked up his musket and threatened the lives of these men. Throughout all of these complaints Jackson kept quiet his suffering that resulted from dysentery, not to mention the starvation he dealt with alongside his troops.

It's not the body telling you you can't, it's the mind telling you you can.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

SOD: Hunter S. Thompson

Often times we take for granted the idea of muscle memory, but for those of us trying to pick up an instrument we get a harsh reminder of how valuable it can be.

Right now I'm learning guitar and it has become a part of my routine to do finger workouts, not matter how bland, over and over to get the memory of how it feels for my fingers to move quickly up and down the neck.

Hunter S. Thompson took the idea of muscle memory to an extreme when trying to master the craft of writing. It is said that he would spend hours upon hours re-typing his favorite legendary book: The Great Gatsby. Why? So he could feel what it felt like to create a masterpiece. Many of these copied carbon prints are probably still floating around out there today.

It's hard to say now whether he would say it helped, but we do know Dr. Gonzo eventually became the great writer he aimed to become, even if he never actually mastered the beast of literature.

Signs of Dedication

Sometimes people make huge sacrifices to achieve something they have a passion for. In some of these cases we are led to question a person's sanity after seeing what they have been through to accomplish a goal. And, of course, some people actually are insane.

Personally, seeing what other people have done in order to get where they want to be serves as inspiration to me. It reminds me that no matter how hard something seems, there is someone out there who has overcome something more difficult, that there is always something more I can be doing to get where I want. It also creates concrete images as to what it took to become an accomplished (insert achievement here).

A lot of people think they know what it takes to do something great, but few actually know. I am sure I will never actually reach this realm, but that doesn't mean I can't try to do something I'm proud of, or that I cant try pursuing what I have a passion for. And this is where I got the idea to record signs of dedication--from a simple interest in knowing exactly what some people have done in attempt to reach a point they are wholly proud of.

Also, this does not mean I will stop posting stories--I am working on a lot of creative things right now and will post them when I get a chance. And, on the same note, please feel free to comment on anything you hate, disagree with, like, or whatever it may be. All feedback is welcome.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Re-vamp

Here's the deal: I'm getting rid of all of the bullshit on here by the end of the week.

Repeat: sayonara to all the bullshit.

Thanks.