"Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven to the soul."
Music has power. Nowadays kids are growing up listening to Justin Bieber, Britney Spears, Pink, Kanye West, Cee Lo Green, and the Pussy Cat Dolls. I weep for the fact that as we get older, good music has died, and will never be appreciated or revived. I have an eclectic taste in music my friends, I listen to anything from hip-hop to classic rock. However, there is only one genre of music that truly heals the heart and the soul, and that is classical music. I won't speak for long tonight, but I wanted to express how I feel when I listen to the right classical song. Music of the 21st century has no heart, it has no soul and therefore when you listen to it you can dance along to its catchy beat or sing along to the words, but in the end you can never emotionally connect to it. When in recent history have you seen a crowd brought to its feet by a Jay Z concert because they had no choice but to stand up and applaud, for he had truly struck their heart strings (pun intended)? The answer is never. Sure people have given the Jonas Brothers or Miley Cyrus standing ovations, but that was because they were already standing! Or because they were famous.
Back when classical writers such as Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Handel, or Tchiakovsky were performing their pieces, people didn't just stand up because they had to. They were moved, the music truly moved them. When Handel performed his famous Hallelujah Chorus for the King of England, the King was so moved by the music he stood up, and the rest of the room stood up with him, signifying the awesome power that was found in the piece. Classical music isn't performed with the mind, or the hands, or the arms... No. It is performed with the heart, with the soul, and that becomes obvious when the music is played for thousands of people. When I was listening to some of my favorite songs on Youtube, I noticed that a Justin Bieber song had over 8 million views. I was disgusted, proving my point that people don't know good music anymore. But then I looked up Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, and saw that there were over 30 million views. Now that's emotional power you can't buy.
So tonight, I invite you to go into your rooms. Turn off your lights, pull down your curtains or drapes and lie on your bed. Put on Boccherini's Minuet, Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, Mozart's Requiem, Rossini's The Barber of Seville, or my personal favorite Tchiakovsky's 1812 Overture: Finale. Let the music flow over you and your troubles or stresses will soon follow. Appreciate the art of classical music my friends, and you may have just found yourself a new way of relieving stress, in a very calming but entertaining way.
Goodnight, and happy listening.
- G.S Moredock
Friday, January 28, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
When I Grow Up...
We all remember this question in grade school, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" That question evolved as we got older into, "Who do you look up to" or "Who is your hero?" We've dished out answers of noble men and women out of history: Martin Luther King Jr, Susan B Anthony, Ghandi, Rosa Parks, etc. We all quote them on our Facebook statuses, we write papers on them in school, and we take their teachings to heart as we go about our lives. The point I'm trying to make is that we could list a multitude of men and women who we look up to, but out of those people we list, how many have had a profound impact on us personally? How many of those men and women do we know well enough to where we can say they have truly made us who we are as human beings today? I'm gonna go ahead and answer that question for you and say none.
I don't know what it was about tonight that made me think of this, but I could also argue against myself and say that this topic is long past due for me. We write so many papers and quote so many sayings from famous people in history, but do you ever see a Facebook status update with a profound life-changing quote from a parent? I'd love to say that I am a grown man, being 21 almost 22 I'd like to think that I know a thing or two about life. But as hard as it is to say this, I still consider myself a child in so many ways. I may stand at a staggering 6'10 and look the part of an adult, but there are so many lessons that I still have to learn it makes my head spin. Basically what it boils down to, is that there is one person in my life that has always been there for me. A constant, unwavering role model that I look up to, and if I become half the man that he is I would consider my life well lived. That man is my father.
Now don't get all up in arms just because I left my mother out of that equation. My mother is the most important woman in my life, and will always hold a place in my heart that no one will ever be able to replace. She gives me unconditional love everyday, steers me in the right direction, and will always have my back even when I have turned it on her. But I just wanted to take a couple of minutes to talk about my father, who in every aspect of the word has been my hero, and the best role model a lost son could ever ask for.
It can't be easy being a father to a son who has aspirations to be a European basketball star, who is so sporadic with what he wants to do with his life that he has literally has a new career idea every other day, and who can't keep his bank account in the black for the life of him. And yet he is still there. I can remember all the wonderful things about my father dating back to when I was just a little boy. You may insert a joke here about how I was never little, but it's true, I once wore children's clothes. I remember all of the sayings and mannerisms that he did and still does to this day, calling me "sport" or "son" or the all-famous "get your head out." I went through the stupid phase of thinking that my parents knew nothing, and that they were stupid, old, and knew nothing of what I was going through. I remember on so many nights I would be angry at him over being to stern on a punishment, and when I heard him coming up the stairs to kiss me goodnight I would quickly shut my eyes and pretend I was asleep. He still would come in, and I can feel the prickly sensation of his cookie-duster of a mustache on my forehead when he would kiss me and whisper, "Goodnight Graham, I love you." I never said anything back...
I can remember like it was yesterday, getting home from school and watching cartoons on the couch and hearing the garage door open. My father would walk in the door and my mother would be waiting for him, to give him a big hug and a kiss and ask how his day was. The way my father looked at my mother, the way he still looks at her to this day... that is the way I want to look at my wife. So full of love, happiness, and content. Countless times he would come over to me to give me a hug and a kiss to ask how my day was, but because I was mad at him for some silly reason I would ignore him, run upstairs to my room to play with my action figures that he so generously bought me with his hard-earned money. I wish I could go back to those moments and give him that warm hug and a kiss he deserved.
My father is the hardest working man I know, he has always put his family's needs before his own and the amount of respect I have for him is so deeply rooted in me that it would be impossible to take out of me. What makes me the most upset is my Junior year of high school my father got an amazing job offer up in Washington. We had to move to Seattle in order to take it, and I was taken away from all my friends. I hated it. I hated the school, I didn't meet anyone that I felt comfortable hanging out with, and most of all I missed my friends. So, I asked to move back to Oregon for my Senior year of high school. My parents said ok, but my father had to stay in Washington to work while my mother so graciously moved back to Oregon with me. My father separated from his wife, the woman he had spent so many years with before I even came into the picture, just so that his youngest son could go back to Oregon with his friends. He lived in Seattle, alone, going to work every day with no one waiting for him at home to give him a hug and a kiss and to ask him how his day ways. He would come visit on weekends, but you have to realize that was a 3 hour drive both ways from Seattle to Portland, and so sometimes he couldn't make it. I was so entrenched with my social activities that when he did take the time to visit I never spent it home with him. I was always out, and when he would ask me to stay home and spend time with the family I got angry, and upset, and said hurtful things that to this day haunt me. I said terrible things to a man who sacrificed so much to make sure that I was happy. What a great son I am...
I'll always remember the moment I saw my father truly cry. It was at his father's funeral. When my father went up to the podium to speak, tears streamed down his face as he told stories and memories of his father. Seeing those tears made me realize the significant role a father plays in a son's life. My father's emotion made me see clearly the effect that my grandfather had on him, and the great amount of respect, admiration, and love my father had for his dad.
So if you ever ask the question, "Who do you want to be when you grow up Graham" the answer is and forever will be my father. I know I don't say thank you enough, I know I still butt heads with him, and I know that he gets angry and frustrated with me because of some of the things I do, but at the end of every conversation or argument we have ever had, my dad has always said, "the reason why you tick me off is because I love you so much, and I only want what's best for you." Dad, you have always given me the opportunities in life that help me get one-step up on the competition, and sadly I admit that I haven't capitalized on all of those opportunities. But whenever I find myself alone, in the dark, lost with the idea of what my next move will be, I can close my eyes and feel your mustache on my forehead saying, "I love you Graham."
To parents everywhere, I salute you in the impossible job of dealing with difficult children like me. It is true what they say, that parenting is the hardest job in the world. Good thing for me is that if parenting was a corporation, my dad would be CEO.
Sitting a little teary eyed at the foot of my bed, this is G.S Moredock wishing you a good night.
I don't know what it was about tonight that made me think of this, but I could also argue against myself and say that this topic is long past due for me. We write so many papers and quote so many sayings from famous people in history, but do you ever see a Facebook status update with a profound life-changing quote from a parent? I'd love to say that I am a grown man, being 21 almost 22 I'd like to think that I know a thing or two about life. But as hard as it is to say this, I still consider myself a child in so many ways. I may stand at a staggering 6'10 and look the part of an adult, but there are so many lessons that I still have to learn it makes my head spin. Basically what it boils down to, is that there is one person in my life that has always been there for me. A constant, unwavering role model that I look up to, and if I become half the man that he is I would consider my life well lived. That man is my father.
Now don't get all up in arms just because I left my mother out of that equation. My mother is the most important woman in my life, and will always hold a place in my heart that no one will ever be able to replace. She gives me unconditional love everyday, steers me in the right direction, and will always have my back even when I have turned it on her. But I just wanted to take a couple of minutes to talk about my father, who in every aspect of the word has been my hero, and the best role model a lost son could ever ask for.
It can't be easy being a father to a son who has aspirations to be a European basketball star, who is so sporadic with what he wants to do with his life that he has literally has a new career idea every other day, and who can't keep his bank account in the black for the life of him. And yet he is still there. I can remember all the wonderful things about my father dating back to when I was just a little boy. You may insert a joke here about how I was never little, but it's true, I once wore children's clothes. I remember all of the sayings and mannerisms that he did and still does to this day, calling me "sport" or "son" or the all-famous "get your head out." I went through the stupid phase of thinking that my parents knew nothing, and that they were stupid, old, and knew nothing of what I was going through. I remember on so many nights I would be angry at him over being to stern on a punishment, and when I heard him coming up the stairs to kiss me goodnight I would quickly shut my eyes and pretend I was asleep. He still would come in, and I can feel the prickly sensation of his cookie-duster of a mustache on my forehead when he would kiss me and whisper, "Goodnight Graham, I love you." I never said anything back...
I can remember like it was yesterday, getting home from school and watching cartoons on the couch and hearing the garage door open. My father would walk in the door and my mother would be waiting for him, to give him a big hug and a kiss and ask how his day was. The way my father looked at my mother, the way he still looks at her to this day... that is the way I want to look at my wife. So full of love, happiness, and content. Countless times he would come over to me to give me a hug and a kiss to ask how my day was, but because I was mad at him for some silly reason I would ignore him, run upstairs to my room to play with my action figures that he so generously bought me with his hard-earned money. I wish I could go back to those moments and give him that warm hug and a kiss he deserved.
My father is the hardest working man I know, he has always put his family's needs before his own and the amount of respect I have for him is so deeply rooted in me that it would be impossible to take out of me. What makes me the most upset is my Junior year of high school my father got an amazing job offer up in Washington. We had to move to Seattle in order to take it, and I was taken away from all my friends. I hated it. I hated the school, I didn't meet anyone that I felt comfortable hanging out with, and most of all I missed my friends. So, I asked to move back to Oregon for my Senior year of high school. My parents said ok, but my father had to stay in Washington to work while my mother so graciously moved back to Oregon with me. My father separated from his wife, the woman he had spent so many years with before I even came into the picture, just so that his youngest son could go back to Oregon with his friends. He lived in Seattle, alone, going to work every day with no one waiting for him at home to give him a hug and a kiss and to ask him how his day ways. He would come visit on weekends, but you have to realize that was a 3 hour drive both ways from Seattle to Portland, and so sometimes he couldn't make it. I was so entrenched with my social activities that when he did take the time to visit I never spent it home with him. I was always out, and when he would ask me to stay home and spend time with the family I got angry, and upset, and said hurtful things that to this day haunt me. I said terrible things to a man who sacrificed so much to make sure that I was happy. What a great son I am...
I'll always remember the moment I saw my father truly cry. It was at his father's funeral. When my father went up to the podium to speak, tears streamed down his face as he told stories and memories of his father. Seeing those tears made me realize the significant role a father plays in a son's life. My father's emotion made me see clearly the effect that my grandfather had on him, and the great amount of respect, admiration, and love my father had for his dad.
So if you ever ask the question, "Who do you want to be when you grow up Graham" the answer is and forever will be my father. I know I don't say thank you enough, I know I still butt heads with him, and I know that he gets angry and frustrated with me because of some of the things I do, but at the end of every conversation or argument we have ever had, my dad has always said, "the reason why you tick me off is because I love you so much, and I only want what's best for you." Dad, you have always given me the opportunities in life that help me get one-step up on the competition, and sadly I admit that I haven't capitalized on all of those opportunities. But whenever I find myself alone, in the dark, lost with the idea of what my next move will be, I can close my eyes and feel your mustache on my forehead saying, "I love you Graham."
To parents everywhere, I salute you in the impossible job of dealing with difficult children like me. It is true what they say, that parenting is the hardest job in the world. Good thing for me is that if parenting was a corporation, my dad would be CEO.
Sitting a little teary eyed at the foot of my bed, this is G.S Moredock wishing you a good night.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
"You Were Born An Original, Don't Die A Copy"
When my father put this quote on my Facebook wall Monday morning it struck a chord with me. Growing up I wanted to be a part of the "in" crowd. I'm sure we all did. But what I think we sometimes forget is that we are all individuals, born with a different genetic code and there is no one else on this earth that is the same as we are. That's the beauty of being a human being, we are all individuals. We are born into this world as a blank slate, ready to be molded into what we will do in this life and what we will be remembered for. Why strive to be something that someone else has already done? Don't you remember when you were young and said to yourself, I want to be the first person to cure cancer or I want to be the first female president of the United States or even I want to be the first astronaut to step foot on the moons of Jupiter. What happened to all of those aspirations people? We stopped dreaming, and fell into the same lull millions of people have fallen into. We get caught up in the capitalistic rat race of "More Money = More Power" and we have lost sight of what truly makes us so special, the ability to do whatever we set our minds to.
I don't mean to sound like I'm tooting my own horn here, but if there is one thing I can look back on in my life I can say that I have taken risks. I have never done what anyone else thought would be best for me, I have followed my own heart, and that has led me to many happy experiences as well as unhappy ones. But I always have believed in the saying of "No Risk, No Reward." I covered my bases with what I was interested in as a child. I played piano, I tried violin, I sang, I did theater, I played sports, I wrote, and I tried to hang out with as many different people as I could so that I would never be limited to one group of friends for the rest of my life. I have met so many wonderful people along the way that I can truly say that I am blessed with warm feeling of friendship and family, immediate or not. I have encountered many "parent's away from home" as well as brothers and sisters that are not blood related to me, and I know that wherever my travels take me, I have those select people that are always looking out for me. That feeling of mutual love is a wonderful thing, and paired with the unconditional love that I receive from my parents and brother is the best thing a man could ask for.
So let me ask you this: When you sit and reflect on your life up to date, have you done what you have wanted to do? Or have you fallen into the lull that I have talked about and decided to become a suit-wearing drone looking for a steady job and paycheck. Do what makes you happy, never do something just because of the money. If you are not happy with what you are doing, change it, or else you will fall into a lifetime of remember whens and what ifs. YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THE WAY YOUR LIFE IS HEADED. It's a beautiful thing isn't it? Before I leave you tonight, I want to say thank you to all of the wonderful people in my life, because without hesitation I can say that every single one of you is not a copy, but a beautiful individual that brings something special and unique to the table, and I thoroughly enjoy hearing from each and every one of you. I leave you with this inspirational poem that fits in perfectly with my topic tonight. John Mason was right, "You were born an original. Don't die a copy."
This is G.S Moredock signing off.
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever Gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced or cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
"Invictus"
I don't mean to sound like I'm tooting my own horn here, but if there is one thing I can look back on in my life I can say that I have taken risks. I have never done what anyone else thought would be best for me, I have followed my own heart, and that has led me to many happy experiences as well as unhappy ones. But I always have believed in the saying of "No Risk, No Reward." I covered my bases with what I was interested in as a child. I played piano, I tried violin, I sang, I did theater, I played sports, I wrote, and I tried to hang out with as many different people as I could so that I would never be limited to one group of friends for the rest of my life. I have met so many wonderful people along the way that I can truly say that I am blessed with warm feeling of friendship and family, immediate or not. I have encountered many "parent's away from home" as well as brothers and sisters that are not blood related to me, and I know that wherever my travels take me, I have those select people that are always looking out for me. That feeling of mutual love is a wonderful thing, and paired with the unconditional love that I receive from my parents and brother is the best thing a man could ask for.
So let me ask you this: When you sit and reflect on your life up to date, have you done what you have wanted to do? Or have you fallen into the lull that I have talked about and decided to become a suit-wearing drone looking for a steady job and paycheck. Do what makes you happy, never do something just because of the money. If you are not happy with what you are doing, change it, or else you will fall into a lifetime of remember whens and what ifs. YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THE WAY YOUR LIFE IS HEADED. It's a beautiful thing isn't it? Before I leave you tonight, I want to say thank you to all of the wonderful people in my life, because without hesitation I can say that every single one of you is not a copy, but a beautiful individual that brings something special and unique to the table, and I thoroughly enjoy hearing from each and every one of you. I leave you with this inspirational poem that fits in perfectly with my topic tonight. John Mason was right, "You were born an original. Don't die a copy."
This is G.S Moredock signing off.
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever Gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced or cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
"Invictus"
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Letter To A Higher Power
To whom it may concern,
I don't know who you are, I don't know what you look like, yet sometimes I find myself talking to you when I am alone at night. I wouldn't necessarily say that I believe in a one "God." The thought of one man creating a universe so vast and intricate does not fall into my realm of reality. But, there are so many things in this life that happen and we find ourselves unable to explain why they happened. Some call them miracles, and those same people call those acts an "act of God." I disagree. I say human beings perform miracles everyday. Now you may disagree with me because your definition of a miracle is one that is miraculous, unexplainable, and divine. I believe that even the littlest of acts can be defined as a miracle.
In 1998 my family and I were on our way to Bend, OR for a skiing trip. Driving over the Santiam Pass we hit a patch of black ice and flipped our car over in a ditch. Not a single member of my family was seriously injured. When we safely exited our car we had cars pull over and help us out. Out of those vehicles came 3 doctors and 1 nurse. And the last car to pull over, the most important, was an old family friend that knew my parents. They were kind enough to pull over and drive my brother and I home to Lake Oswego. I will always remember that evening not because of the accident, but because of the events that transpired afterward. I call that a miracle.
People underestimate the power of human interaction. One of my favorite quotes is from a poem written by Marianne Williamson. It reads as follows, "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be?"
I believe that I am in control of my own destiny, that what I do in this life directly correlates with how I will finish it. There is no pre-determined road set out for me, that I have the power to do whatever it is I want to do until I find true happiness and am happy to accept that my life path is accomplished. But, I do believe that you, whoever you are, holds all of my loved ones in a very special place. When they pass on, I don't necessarily believe in a heaven but I have to believe they go on to a better place, where they are no longer in pain and they are happy. I believe they look down upon me and give me strength when I need it most, and comfort in times of grief and self-doubt. But like I said at the beginning of this letter, when I am at a crossroads in my life where I find that no human soul can give me the guidance I need, I drop to my knees, fold my hands together, and pray to whoever may be bigger than I for help.
I've met people who go to Church strictly because they are told to by their parents or others. I've met people who go to Church because they feel the need to be accepted by God and to do right by him. I do believe in some church preachings and I do believe there are good messages being sent to its congregations, but as I look back in history some of this Earth's darkest times were wars based on religion and which God was right. I believe in self-acceptance, self-understanding, and self-awareness. There are too many religions in the world for one of them to be right.
So to wrap this up, I write this letter to you, in hopes that you understand where I'm coming from. I believe that if you treat people with respect, love your parents, always be willing to learn from other people, be humble, and give credit where it is due, when I pass on from this life I will find myself in whatever I believe is "Heaven." Maybe set an example for those who will come after me, but that's something that I still and always will have to work on.
To those I have loved who have passed on, know that I love you. You love me, and I will see you soon, in this life of the next.
Sincerely Yours,
Graham Moredock
I don't know who you are, I don't know what you look like, yet sometimes I find myself talking to you when I am alone at night. I wouldn't necessarily say that I believe in a one "God." The thought of one man creating a universe so vast and intricate does not fall into my realm of reality. But, there are so many things in this life that happen and we find ourselves unable to explain why they happened. Some call them miracles, and those same people call those acts an "act of God." I disagree. I say human beings perform miracles everyday. Now you may disagree with me because your definition of a miracle is one that is miraculous, unexplainable, and divine. I believe that even the littlest of acts can be defined as a miracle.
In 1998 my family and I were on our way to Bend, OR for a skiing trip. Driving over the Santiam Pass we hit a patch of black ice and flipped our car over in a ditch. Not a single member of my family was seriously injured. When we safely exited our car we had cars pull over and help us out. Out of those vehicles came 3 doctors and 1 nurse. And the last car to pull over, the most important, was an old family friend that knew my parents. They were kind enough to pull over and drive my brother and I home to Lake Oswego. I will always remember that evening not because of the accident, but because of the events that transpired afterward. I call that a miracle.
People underestimate the power of human interaction. One of my favorite quotes is from a poem written by Marianne Williamson. It reads as follows, "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be?"
I believe that I am in control of my own destiny, that what I do in this life directly correlates with how I will finish it. There is no pre-determined road set out for me, that I have the power to do whatever it is I want to do until I find true happiness and am happy to accept that my life path is accomplished. But, I do believe that you, whoever you are, holds all of my loved ones in a very special place. When they pass on, I don't necessarily believe in a heaven but I have to believe they go on to a better place, where they are no longer in pain and they are happy. I believe they look down upon me and give me strength when I need it most, and comfort in times of grief and self-doubt. But like I said at the beginning of this letter, when I am at a crossroads in my life where I find that no human soul can give me the guidance I need, I drop to my knees, fold my hands together, and pray to whoever may be bigger than I for help.
I've met people who go to Church strictly because they are told to by their parents or others. I've met people who go to Church because they feel the need to be accepted by God and to do right by him. I do believe in some church preachings and I do believe there are good messages being sent to its congregations, but as I look back in history some of this Earth's darkest times were wars based on religion and which God was right. I believe in self-acceptance, self-understanding, and self-awareness. There are too many religions in the world for one of them to be right.
So to wrap this up, I write this letter to you, in hopes that you understand where I'm coming from. I believe that if you treat people with respect, love your parents, always be willing to learn from other people, be humble, and give credit where it is due, when I pass on from this life I will find myself in whatever I believe is "Heaven." Maybe set an example for those who will come after me, but that's something that I still and always will have to work on.
To those I have loved who have passed on, know that I love you. You love me, and I will see you soon, in this life of the next.
Sincerely Yours,
Graham Moredock
Saturday, January 22, 2011
All The Cool Kids Are Doing It...
I really hope I'm not turning into that pompous asshole that believes his views and opinions of the world are so important that all must read his blog in order to be sufficiently educated in the ways of what is moral and wholesome. But, I find myself sitting here on a cool San Diego morning typing away hoping sharing my thoughts with the digital world will help ease my sleeping troubles. No ladies and gentlemen I have not been up all night, but today is the day that I have decided it would be wise to get my daily workout in early. Trying to wake up at 6am after falling asleep at 4am is not the easiest thing to do, but I guess I have the rest of the day to squeeze in a quick power nap.
I left my TV on again. Waking up to Sportscenter isn't the worst way to start off you day I guess; keeps me focused on what my ultimate goal is as a basketball player. Seeing how these athletes look physically makes me look at my small Buddha belly and cringe. Gotta lay off the sweets there Graham, those washboard abs won't form on their own. I have cut out soda, candy, and fast food completely out of my diet. Cold turkey. Not an easy thing to do for a guy who used to eat out at least once a day in Eugene. Losing weight is one of the most popular New Year's resolutions across the world, if not the most popular. Since coming down to San Diego I started at 265lbs and have leaned down to an acceptable 240lbs. However, acceptable doesn't cut it in the world of professional sport. Hence the drastic diet change and ramped up exercise routine. I'm starting to get used to it, but when working out feels like a chore I find it hard to motivate myself to get out of the house and go to the gym. But I don't want to ramble on about basketball, seeing that my blog is called "Away From The Hardwood" you'd think I'd talk about anything BUT basketball. So, moving on...
I had an interesting conversation with a close friend early this morning. Relationship troubles. Seeing that I am a psychology major I eat this stuff up. My father was a psychiatrist, specializing in family and marital counseling. I guess I got my good ears from him. It's so interesting to hear about people and their outlook on things, especially those closest to their hearts. You can really tell a lot about a person by listening to how they view certain situations they find themselves in. As my mother always said, "It's easier to focus on the negatives than it is the positives Graham." Isn't that the truth. We go through our lives meeting so many different people and we are complimented left and right. You are such a good listener. Why are you so kind-hearted? I wish there were more people like you. You are one of the best friends I have. And yet, at the first criticism we get we throw up our guard and pretend like the world is crashing down around us. We all dream of world peace, the end of the world hunger, and the end of war, but we don't do the small things everyday that can help change our environment around us. The power of positivity is a real thing people. When people complain about relationship issues, they tend to over exaggerate. "My boyfriend NEVER listens to me." "My girlfriend never let's me do anything anymore." Really? Never is a pretty strong word, and when you look back on it are you sure you aren't just bitter about the fact that you tried calling your boyfriend at 2am in the morning and he didn't pick up? Or the fact you had to tell the guys you couldn't watch the game tonight because you were going to dinner with your girlfriend which you had planned 2 weeks ago? I will never be convinced otherwise that human beings love to complain. If things are going well, we will always find something to complain about so that we can bitch and moan to someone and feel listened to. Which boils down to the main point of my first post of the year. Listen to people. People want to be heard, they want to be able to reach out to someone in a time of need or just at anytime during the day and they want someone to look them straight in the eyes and not say a word, just listen to what the other person has to say. There is power in listening skills. Listening is the foundation for great communication between partners. I have found myself in situations where I have had to watch parents talk to one another, boyfriends and girlfriends talk to each other, and friends talk to each other. As the 3rd wheel in that situation, I have the ability to sit and watch. So many times during arguments both parties do not listen to one another. One has it in their mind that their opinion must be heard and is the right one. The other has it in their mind that their opinion is right and there is no other alternative. Compromise? Out of the question. Bicker, bicker, bicker, bicker... and someone ends up on the couch, in the doghouse. It's silly!
Before I start to make my delicious breakfast and head off to the gym, I want to say this. Take time out of your day to strike up a conversation with someone. Ask them how their day went. What they are looking forward to in the near future. What do they want to accomplish in the next 5 years? Just ask a question, and see where it takes you. Listen to one another, and the barrier known as "lack of communication" will come crashing down like the walls at Jericho. Just call me Joshua.
This is G.S Moredock, signing out.
I left my TV on again. Waking up to Sportscenter isn't the worst way to start off you day I guess; keeps me focused on what my ultimate goal is as a basketball player. Seeing how these athletes look physically makes me look at my small Buddha belly and cringe. Gotta lay off the sweets there Graham, those washboard abs won't form on their own. I have cut out soda, candy, and fast food completely out of my diet. Cold turkey. Not an easy thing to do for a guy who used to eat out at least once a day in Eugene. Losing weight is one of the most popular New Year's resolutions across the world, if not the most popular. Since coming down to San Diego I started at 265lbs and have leaned down to an acceptable 240lbs. However, acceptable doesn't cut it in the world of professional sport. Hence the drastic diet change and ramped up exercise routine. I'm starting to get used to it, but when working out feels like a chore I find it hard to motivate myself to get out of the house and go to the gym. But I don't want to ramble on about basketball, seeing that my blog is called "Away From The Hardwood" you'd think I'd talk about anything BUT basketball. So, moving on...
I had an interesting conversation with a close friend early this morning. Relationship troubles. Seeing that I am a psychology major I eat this stuff up. My father was a psychiatrist, specializing in family and marital counseling. I guess I got my good ears from him. It's so interesting to hear about people and their outlook on things, especially those closest to their hearts. You can really tell a lot about a person by listening to how they view certain situations they find themselves in. As my mother always said, "It's easier to focus on the negatives than it is the positives Graham." Isn't that the truth. We go through our lives meeting so many different people and we are complimented left and right. You are such a good listener. Why are you so kind-hearted? I wish there were more people like you. You are one of the best friends I have. And yet, at the first criticism we get we throw up our guard and pretend like the world is crashing down around us. We all dream of world peace, the end of the world hunger, and the end of war, but we don't do the small things everyday that can help change our environment around us. The power of positivity is a real thing people. When people complain about relationship issues, they tend to over exaggerate. "My boyfriend NEVER listens to me." "My girlfriend never let's me do anything anymore." Really? Never is a pretty strong word, and when you look back on it are you sure you aren't just bitter about the fact that you tried calling your boyfriend at 2am in the morning and he didn't pick up? Or the fact you had to tell the guys you couldn't watch the game tonight because you were going to dinner with your girlfriend which you had planned 2 weeks ago? I will never be convinced otherwise that human beings love to complain. If things are going well, we will always find something to complain about so that we can bitch and moan to someone and feel listened to. Which boils down to the main point of my first post of the year. Listen to people. People want to be heard, they want to be able to reach out to someone in a time of need or just at anytime during the day and they want someone to look them straight in the eyes and not say a word, just listen to what the other person has to say. There is power in listening skills. Listening is the foundation for great communication between partners. I have found myself in situations where I have had to watch parents talk to one another, boyfriends and girlfriends talk to each other, and friends talk to each other. As the 3rd wheel in that situation, I have the ability to sit and watch. So many times during arguments both parties do not listen to one another. One has it in their mind that their opinion must be heard and is the right one. The other has it in their mind that their opinion is right and there is no other alternative. Compromise? Out of the question. Bicker, bicker, bicker, bicker... and someone ends up on the couch, in the doghouse. It's silly!
Before I start to make my delicious breakfast and head off to the gym, I want to say this. Take time out of your day to strike up a conversation with someone. Ask them how their day went. What they are looking forward to in the near future. What do they want to accomplish in the next 5 years? Just ask a question, and see where it takes you. Listen to one another, and the barrier known as "lack of communication" will come crashing down like the walls at Jericho. Just call me Joshua.
This is G.S Moredock, signing out.
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