AndrewBrunelle.com

Here is something that’s happened to me as of late: I stopped watching television, so my new hobby before bedtime is reading fiction books. I find it is a great exercise in imagination and also puts me in creative mode before bed. When I was a child, in elementary school and middle school, I read every night before going to bed, and I would often stay up later than everyone else, just so I could finish the book or one more chapter. I’m starting to become more into reading now that I no longer watch the tube. The natural consequence of this is after I read and set myself off to bed, my mind is still in creative mode from visualizing the story I was reading minutes earlier. This creative activity in my brain carries into my dreams, and gives me at least two to six dreams I remember each and every night.

When I used to watch television, my mind was just accepting what it saw, and was constantly being pushed to the flight or fight response mechanism from all the changing camera angles and blood/violence I saw on the screen. Now that I have books to read, and the whole experience is going on insde my head, and not through my external senses, it is entirely my creation. I think what all the characters look like and I create the scene by filling in the gaps and it is a wonderful experience. There is nothing to react to, all I need to do is create.

People always compare books to movies. First, the book comes out and it is a national bestseller, so they decide to make it into a movie to make more money. And everyone is always so happy they made it into a movie. Then it rules at the box office, and most of the people that go see the movie never read the book, at least not up until that point. Maybe after seeing the movie, they decide to read the book, but most people say they do not have time. I find that if I read a book after seeing the movie, I am forced to put the characters from the movie, the actors who played the characters, into the novel and it takes away from my imaginative power. I would rather imagine the characters the way I see them, making it a richer experience. If I ever read The Shawshank Redemption, every time the narrator describes a scene, I do not want to be thinking of Morgan Freeman’s voice. That would just place celebrities in a book I am reading to form my own impression about the book.

Even when I do read a book after I see the movie, I still find the book was always better. The book always contained more information, different scenes from the movie, and all of that good stuff, so it is not entirely the same. But the affect it has on my dreams is amazing. If I read the book, I start to have much more vivid dreams. They are so amazing, it is incomprehensible. Better than before. It is a mix of people from my life, and the storylines from some of the books all brought together, and sometimes there are things I never experienced, nor had I ever read these experiences, which is really interesting. I find that no one, or hardly anyone, ever wants to discuss dreams and how they relate to real life. I am one who loves to explore the dimension of dreams and its discontinuity. Its lack of persistence from night to night, from dream to dream. In a given night, I can create as many as six vivid scenes, six amazing dreams that put me in six different states of mind. And they all start off like this is my life, this is what I do, this is what is really happening.

Lucid dreams come few and far between, but I did have one about a week ago. That is something I need to get better at. I believe the key to unlocking that realization is when something happens in the dream that would never happen in real life, or would seldom happen and you would never expect it. Like the time I became lucid recently, I found over eighty dollars on the ground, and I thought to myself, “Hold on a minute, this never really happens, and if it does, I must be dreaming.” So that is how I became lucid. Although I really did not do much in that lucid dream except celebrate that I was lucid, it is something that was an indicator of progress, and the more I read, the closer I feel I am to having richer and possibly more lucid dreams.

The whole fact is that I have taken initiative to strengthen my mind and getting rid of the television was the first step. Now that I allocate the time I used to watch to either reading or writing, imagining instead of passively accepting images in front of me, I am unlocking the creative side of me that was dormant for so many years. Luckily, the first place the creativity struck was in my dream world, the place where I can have the most fun, at least in comparison to everyone else who is sleeping. I intend to read from now on every night. Another thing I added to my routine is going to bed earlier. Instead of staying up watching some sitcom I have already seen ten times anyway, I decide to read for maybe 45 minutes to an hour and then go off into dream land. It is less stimulating and relaxes me into sleep, like a warm bath.

I’ll keep everyone posted on my dream vividity and also come back for some more tips on how to have better dreams in the near future. I look at it this way: If you are asleep, would you rather dream vivid dreams, or essentially do nothing while you sleep? The choice is up to you.

I do not know about you, but I find exercising is a key to radiant health. I run on an exercise bike for most of my exercise as of late. I find that exercising a substantial amount (maybe 30-60 minutes) every day is an activity that nothing can replace. It will bring you greater mental clarity, a better physical condition, more spirituality, and a better outlook on life. It is right up there with laughter as one of the better medicines out there. I just wish doctors would prescribe it more. Getting fit is a personal goal for me. I started this goal in March of last year, so one year in the making so far. I’m down at least ten pounds from previously, and my energy level is substantially higher. My diet has also changed to a plant/fruit/nut-based diet with few grains and meats, and an almost complete exlcusion of dairy. I’m not a big fan of diary anyway, so that is not a big problem.

I can say that I feel lighter. Much lighter. It is easier to move around without this extra weight and harmful products floating around in my body. I feel more mentally sound and can concentrate better. I strive to continue this state of being by upping my exercise regime to include more cardio exercises and possibly some weight training, if I can muster it. I am not looking to be some gigantic guy, just strong enough to get through my workout. “I exercise to get through the workout.”

Currently, I am working on a project that has something to do with improving my writing and also conveying ideas in an articulate yet subtle manner. My first task was to eliminate what they call “passive voice.” That is not an easy task. I am working on it consciously every day I sit down to write, even when I am journaling. Supposedly, and this is from an Enlglish teacher way back in 11th grade, “have + verb = passive voice.” So I “have not done this yet,” would be passive voice.

Another roadblock I am currenlty working to eliminate is contractions. I remember in my first semester of college, I had this professor, well he was not really a professor, more of an assistant director of Residence Life who taught my class called Academy 101. He used to hand back the few papers I wrote for him with the words, “I do not accept contractions.” He took points off for it. It was a subconscious thing for me at that point, writing contractions, and I did not think anything of it when I handed in a paper filled with “I’ms” and “They’res.” I could say I learned my lesson, but it took until now to properly implement it. When I realize that these new techniques will not only help me, but the readers of my blog, it really puts everything full-circle and allows me to keep up this practice of bettering myself and the way I write, just so I can help others do the same. Why stagnate at a perpetual point with no acceleration when you can take the initiative to at least try to get better?

Another occurrence in my life. I am going for a full-out cancellation of watching any television. The last show I watched was last night, a new South Park episode, which I usually find quite entertaining. As of late, their episodes, or at least the last two new ones, were not really funny or entertaining. I may and plan to stop watching that show altogether, and because it is now the only show I watch, it will completely wipe out my television viewership. I used to love television when I was younger. Now I see that no matter what is on the tube, there is something better going on in real life. I used to have this joke I told, “I hate it when I see a movie that was based on a true story. It would have been better if I saw it in real life.” I know it uses passive voice, but that was me before this transition. But it rings true. You are better off experiencing something firsthand than you are experiencing it passively through a piece of “furniture” or “appliance.”

I can say goodbye to contractions and passive voice and bring on a new era of speedy, dilligent writing that gets to the point without extra words to fill the gap. I feel awkward writing like this, as it may take time to adjust. It is an ever-winding process, but it is yet another challenge for me to overcome. I need to start studying other ways to improve the way I communicate. Just recently, maybe five to six months ago, I improved my speech and how clearly I talk and now I even say the whole word, r’s and all. (I come from the Northeast, where “ca” instead of “car” is a given.) That is all for today. Hopefully I can sustain this level of discipline in all of these repsects. It was fun giving birth to this post. Good day.

Give me the strength to accept the things I cannot change. Give me the corage to change the things I do not like. And give me the wisdom to know the difference between the two. I guess that is some prayer from either Christianity or Cahtolicism. It goes something like that. And it is a very powerful quote, as it talks about acceptance vs. denial in a way that I believe we all can relate to.

We all have things in our lives we do not like or wish to change. There are some things we have power to change, while others may or may not be within reach, at least at this point in time. The wisdom to know the difference is a journey in self-exploration. We have to look at ourselves objectively sometimes to see what it is we should change, if anything, as life is an ongoing process of evolution. There are some things you cannot change about yourself or your environment, at least at your state of awareness. There are others you think you cannot change, but could with some hard work and perseverence.

If you are six hundred pounds and do not think you will ever lose the weight, that you just have to accept yourself the way you are, I encourage you to look at all the experiiences you are missing out on because of your large stature. Look at how you have to buy two ariplaine tickets if you would like to fly. Realize that anything is possible. And you may not be able to change the things you want right now, but as life moves on, these things could very well become possible. I have heard the story a thousand times before, “The doctor said I would never walk again. But here I am walking.” Just because the odds are stacked against you, that does not mean you have to succumb to apathy and learned helplessness.

And do not deny what you are getting either. You have to accept the truth in all parts of your life. It is only when we accept the truth that we are able to grow further. It does not make sense to lie to yourself on a consistent basis to hold up this facade that has a very weak foundation to it, eventually crumbling. You lower your awareness when you lie. It is obvious that the last statement is true because you are trying to convince yourself that something you are not experiencing is true. So the first step to acceptance is truth, and the second step to changing or choosing to accept your situation is coming to terms with it, and letting it be a part of you once again.

No matter how bad or good a person you are, self-acceptance and self-worth are to big keys to a fulfilling life. When you fully and unconditionally accept yourself, you become more open to possibilities to improve yourelf. It does sound a bit counter-intuitive, but because you accept yourself no matter what, you are no longer afraid to try the activities you were previously fearful of doing. Unconditional acceptance is the answer, but if something is not the way you wish it to be, go ahead and move towards changing it.

As a personal example, in my life, I no longer find my job interesting or fulfilling. I am so close to muttering the words, “I quit,” but the repercussions from my family may be something like this, “You can’t quit your job until you have another one.” Well, moving towards not having a job is nice, at least for me, as I intend to start a business in the near future, although the full details of that business are not yet on paper. I intend to cut down on my consumption in order to build up money to start this business eventually. The only thing that is really holding me back is the people around me, the people who will tell me that I will probably fail, and that may be true, but the experience will be worth it. I have to learn to let go of outcomes, which I am now practicing and will practice for the remainder of my life. Attachment to anything is the root of all suffering anyway. Make no appointment and you’ll have no disappointments. Lower your expectations, but still do whatever it is you want to do. Accept the outcome, and move on from there. That is all I have to say.

As of late, I have strictly limited my television viewing to no more than a couple of shows per week, much better than previous times in my life. This has turned me onto another activity to fill the gap in my life–reading. I do not know if you all know what reading is, I know it has suffered a steady decline ever since the television came into fruition. Reading requires a longer attention span than television, as the plots are usually much more complex and the characters see some real development. It is an exercise in imagination. I remember what an avid reader I was in elementary school and into my middle school days, and then I just sort of tapered off. I started watching more and more television, mainly Comedy Central and the Fox network. I started shoving books to the side in favor of movies and television shows, and what happened was a stagnation, an atrophy of my imagination. It was like this for five, six years even, without me really noticing how much I lost in that timespan. Television almost became an addiction, but not to the extent that many others suffer with.

If you have ever watched television, and I believe many of you have, there really is not much on to really get interested in. A vast wasteland is what someone put it as. There may be a few shows, a few key shows that are truly interesting and thought-provoking, but otherwise, there is nothing of real substance, nothing really bound in reality, more of a fanstasmal way to live, if that is even a word. The “reality” shows that depict edited reality, which is so far away from reality that they should be called “fantasy shows.” And let us not forget the advertisements, which put most people in a state of desire, wanting all the new products that are advertised on the networks. Breeding a consumerist culture, allowing for mass destruction of our planet and many more. I am not saying that all television is evil, just that the majority of the broadcasts offer hardly anything of substance, are extremely biased, and I am sure you could find other more fulfilling activities to participate in than sitting passively, watching a screen simulate other people doing things you wish you could do.

After a long conversation with myself, I decided it was necessary to remove the television’s influence from my life, except for no more than five hours a week. There are certain shows I find original and creative, and are against the mainstream garbage I often see. Those are the shows I keep on my schedule. I have filled the time I cut out from not watching television with much more meaningful activities, such as reading, writing, and contemplating the meaning of my life and the meaning of all life in the universe. You do not see such activities on television. When you watch television, you surrender control to the network. Whatever is on there, you cannot control. It is almost like hypnosis. I used to feel that I wanted to turn the damn thing off, but I couldn’t. I spent many nights watching Law and Order marathons until I could barely keep my eyes open, wondering why I even cared about what happened to the characters. It wasn’t real. Why did I care?

Finally, I broke away from this sort of behavior, or lack of behavior and decided not to spend a good amount of my life in front of a piece of technology. Although I do use my computer quite a bit, it is more interactive and I am in the driver’s seat. I can choose what it is I want to do here. It is much more empowering than the television. Television is defining our culture through everything it conveys. And it isn’t really the television, but the advertisements and programs on the television. Those are the real culprits. Television can be used to enrich our lives or what it does now, turns us into passive zombies. And they are doing a good job. People are still watching. They want to see who gets kicked off the island on Survivor. They want to see the next episode of Desperate Housewives. And if that is entertaining to you, fine. But if you are only watching it to fill a void in your life, a void that could be filled with much more meaningful activities, then go for it. Do not surrender control of your life to a “box.” You’re worth more than that. You can do better. It is not easy to break the habit, but once you do, you will start finding better ways to occupy your time. Take up a hobby. Join a club. Exercise. There are so many positive things you can put in place of television. Take your pick.

Sometimes I wonder if I will be better off living in the woods. Maybe that is the place for me. In this past year, I have spent more time outdoors and have really listened to the world around me, not the manmade sounds, but the sounds that are provided by nature. It is like a soundtrack from Sounds of the Suburban Forest. Sure, there may be some car noises in the background, but the primary focus in on the chirping birds and the zephyr from the west. (A zephyr, by definition, is a west wind.) I find it very soothing. There is a certain continuity about it, an instinctive look at something that has always been there, at least as long as this planet has harbored life. And I cannot help but think what a short period of time we have been “civilized.” That being our domestication if you would. Our settling into a three bedroom ranch house with a white picket fence and a dog named Fido.

We are not really sure of life before civilization, as no one took the time to write it down in a way we could understand. Sure, cavemen painted on walls, but that doesn’t tell me who invented the wheel. And I am sure no one needed to get a patent for it. I do have this vision of an ancient patent office, Flintstones style. It would be something, wouldn’t it? I also wonder if the people back then kept track of the years, one of them like, “Hey, it’s 4567 B.C. I have this sinking feeling Christ is going to be born in 4567 years. Better keep that day open.” But it amazes me how we have started accelerating to the point of unsustainability. Consuming all of our resources is something that we may not have seen coming, but it is time to start consuming less.

Maybe the woods would be a great place for us to live. I researched Henry David Thoreau and found that he spent about two years in the woods in a small shack. I guess it was the defining moment of his life or something, and it gave him some newfound perspective on life, love, and consumption. I think that if we all pitch in and go back to our roots, we can live in peace once again. We are always fighting over land, resources, or whatever else is this year’s “hot button.” So I guess transcendence of society is something we can all get a part of by spending time in the woods, away from all of this. I don’t know, but ever since reading the book Fight Club, I find it that my responsibility is to do something every day to get away, at least for awhile. If I were to ever take an extended vacation, it would be to a private beach, an undiscovered paradise. Why go to a place where you are trying to relax, but the family or whoever you go with is saying, “Let’s go here, let’s go there, let’s see the [insert tourist attraction here].”

I know that we have evolved in a civilization-type manner much faster than we have evolved biologically and this is something that may or may not cause problems. I am not a scientist nor am I a firm believer in us being “the crown of creation” and that we should “be fruitful and multiply,” as I feel we have done quite enough of that for at least a few generations. It is not something you can deny. Our population will become unsustainable. How many more people can we pack onto this planet? And with the current obesity epidemic at large, that could also produce some interesting problems as well.

I came across a website called the Church of Euthanasia, a great website that has to do with voluntarily lowering the population to a sustainable level. I found the website both humorous and dark, but also mean at times. I am not going to condone anything they have stated, but some of it did make a lot of sense. I feel like if we keep letting the population grow, the woods and all other solitudes will be turned into multiplex cinemas or minimalls, something I could not bear to deal with. I might become the next member of the Church of Euthanasia if that happens on a global level. I pray that this does not happen. But you never know.

In all of this, I find peace in knowing I am conscious enough to realize these problems and that I can take steps, personally, to limit my ecological footprint, and encourage others to do the same. It is our battle to be won. I know we were kind of just thrown into this at birth, as we inherited these problems, from our ancestors. We just bought into this sort of lifestyle, and it can consume us all. I am not saying the complete extinction of humans would be a terribly bad thing, as the remaining ecosystem will still thrive without us. We are not integral to the world, and as a matter of fact, we have done more harm than good, but there still is some good in there. We need to get more of the good out, the helping hands, cleaning up this world, so that way I can buy a small plot of land and move into the woods. Come join me. You’ll enjoy it. I promise.

It happens every once in awhile that we have to “perform” for other people, if you would. We have to be “on.” I often joke with people I know when other people are coming to visit we have not seen in awhile that we’ll have to recharge our batteries in order to be “on” for that occasion. I guess it has to do with uploading your ego or something. Becoming the egoic personality that these people are used to seeing, or at least the egoic personality that you currently use in some situations. I am thinking of storing my ego along with my self-esteem in a wall-safe I am thinking about purchasing, so that when I need it, I know where it will be. It is not like my ego is very strong, it is just a humble sense of an ego, I am not someone who is the leader of the conversation, although it is often a comment I make that will drive the whole conversation. So, I am usually in control of the conversation, although I am not the person who contributes the most. I find it fascinating how so many people are invested in putting out their nuggest of information and not really listening to the rest of the crowd. That is a problem I have addressed within myself, as I have always been more of a listener anyway.

From an early age, I was one to watch. My mother always told me, even as a child, when interacting with other children, I would first watch them, for maybe hours on end, before joining into their reindeer games. I was more observant than I was active. And I still love to watch people. I always get a good read on people just by watching and listening. I don’t even need to utter a word to get a full understanding of most people. I guess you could call this a gift, but I guess I take it for granted. I have never been much of a verbal person, up until a couple of years ago, when I had my brain tumor and I put everything in perspective, but I still do not talk as much as the people around me. I guess this means I do not activate my ego half as much.

The ego is very reactive. It always has to react to the situation at hand. If it doesn’t, then it is almost like it is letting itself down. People always expect your ego to have something to contribute to the conversation, no matter how pointless it may be. Sometimes I wonder why some people put all their energy into somewhat meaningless arguments about which brand of clothes is better or how much hairspray someone is using. To me, and this is just me, I would rather talk about the meaning of life or why society functions the way it does, or how to take down the evil corporations that dehumanize its workers and take over small businesses like a bully in the schoolyard. But that is just me. I like to talk about things that are bigger than just me, bigger than the immediate circumstances that surround me. I like to encite change in the world, not just in someone’s personal regime. I couldn’t care less if someone decides to switch their cell phone number because cell phones are likely to contribute to brain cancer in the long run, so I avoid them at all costs, already having been through that experience.

I have been trying to make sense of this society for way too long, and looking at it through the ego, it makes me feel like I am powerless to change it. Like what can I do, one person, to change the way the world works, with all the greed and corruption, and a host of everything else. But when I turn off my ego-personality, and realize I am connected with everything, then I start to think I can actually change the world, as a collective consciousness, by intending for the world to improve in the ways that I see fit. This sort of feeling allows me to dream big, because since we all are connected, I can bring forth a new change in the world, simply by bringing others on board through the power of inention and through some action as well. I find that turning of the ego and embracing the “we all are one” hypothesis, it empowers me to be able to change the world around me to fit my needs and wants, the way I want the world to be. I haven’t solved any major problems yet, but they are definitely on the horizon. Wish me luck and I wish you all luck as well. More power to the non-egoic personalities. Boy, does that sound awkward or what? It’s okay, it is the idea that counts.

Spending time with nature is one of the best things you can ever do. I can attest to this personally. The unbelievable beauty contained within this world is only seen through a certain lens, and if you are now carrying that lens, I encourage you to go out into nature and get a look at everything you are missing by spending hours a day inside, working at a job, or just spending time inside. One of my favorite things to do is to take an undetermined amount of time and spend it out in the wilderness. Where I am from, there is not much wilderness, so I guess a golf course will have to do. Even so, watching the animals get their food for the upcoming winter, the birds flying about, chirping incessantly, or the wind blowing the trees back and forth, back and forth, until you feel like this is where you are supposed to be, where we were meant to be.

I am a strong believer in coming back to our natural state of being, and I definitely feel that nature has a strong part to play in all of this. It is there from whence we came, and we shall return back to this natural lifestyle with epic proportion, soon enough, as so I hope. I feel that the more time I spend in that sort of area, the more centered I become, the less worried I feel, the more peace I can invite into my life. I feel that humanity, in a sense, has lost touch with our natural roots and are so concerned with technology and deadlines, not to mention fear of nature, that we completely neglect what is out there and focus primarily on what we have created rather than what has always been. To watch a tree, to know that it has grown for twenty, thirty years to get to where it is today, that there are whole networks of animals and insects, and whatever else could be contained inside that tree, living there, instinctively, intuitively, as if it came natural, without any rhyme or reason, except it is the only way for them to survive effectively. There is no logic behind this, it is all instinctive.

This is the concept I am talking about here, our instinct, our intuition, our sense of knowing without having to justify it. Things that just feel right. For the most part, humanity no longer relies on its intuition, except in some very rare circumstances. We have lost trust in our inuitive senses, spending so much time away from nature, and it has denied us a very powerful tool. I find that the more I get in tune with nature, the more I feel trustworthy of my intuition. I think what scares most people about nature is it is not logical in any sense. There is no math equation that can describe nature. And if there is, I don’t want to know what it is.

I know that the way we are currently living, with the destruction of nature, our original home, our overconsumption of resources, our complete disregard for animal rights, and our high stress environment workplaces. That is not a utopia. There is nothing there that even resembles a paradise. We need to get back in touch with our roots, people, and I sure hope that it starts happening fast. We have turned our backs on our place of origin in the pursuit of “progress,” whatever that means, taking more and more natural resources out of the Earth and further depleting the very clean air and water we need to survive. And when you spend time in nature, you will wonder why we allow this outright destruction of such a beautiful thing. It is only because we have lost touch and now this nature has become the enemy. We fear what we do not understand, and until we once again understand nature, we will fear it, and be ready to destroy it. That is all I have to say about that. Good day.

Comedy has a way of finding me time and again. I had gone so long just dwelling on philosophy and spirituality lately that I had almost neglected my comedy career. I’d been so busy with everything else that it kind of went on the back burner. I feel kind of sad about that, but I have gotten back into the groove as of late. Tonight, I rewatched the Comedy Central Special, When the Leaves Blow Away, featuring Steven Wright. It got me back into the mode I needed to be into and I thought of at least five or more new jokes, not to mention the rewording of three to five other jokes to make them much, much funnier. Now I can finally focus on putting together a good set, an amazing set, so that I can go out and perform. I have to scout open mike places down here, as there are very few, as far as I know. This is the South, so I am kind of worried my brand of humor may not stick well with some of these country folks, but you never know.

I guess you could call it bizarre, somewhat intellectual humor with a very concentrated delivery. I am low-key by nature, so I am not a Dane Cook or Lewis Black. I am not an angry person, so I do not express anger in my comedy act. I just have to develop my persona more, to the point that I am exactly what the audience expects. There are so many comedians out there now and there has to be a way to stand out from the rest. I do not want to be the stereotypical comedian, talking about stereotypical things. Like the gym, the bank, their wives/girlfriends. I am not that kind of person. I intend to have much deeper comedy about life itself, about all sorts of topics most others do not cover.

I guess the best thing I can possibly do is be myself. Otherwise, I may get arrested for identity fraud. If I can develop a set, which is the most challenging thing for me at this current moment, then I will be all set. I also have to work with spacing out of the jokes, timing they call it. The most important thing is getting the jokes in some sort of order that is both easy to remember and works well with the audience. I have to also realize that I am not for everyone, some people will dislike my comedy. And I can live with that. I’ve been living with it my whole life.

Even the best comedians of our time are disliked by many. Many people have said they do not like Jerry Seinfeld. Others say they cannot stand Chris Rock. And even though he is popular, I do not like Dane Cook. Just watching him sucks the energy right from my body. No offense, Dane.

One thing I should do is my spare time is create a joke shrine, where an abunance of jokes keep flowing. It will be a nice way to reinforce what I am going for. Anyway, I believe I am back to being funny at least some of the time, depending on your taste in humor. Good night.

Well, if you remember my post on taking a vow of silence, you would not believe what has happened to me. I have been forced into a vow of silence, even though I did not expect to at this time. It is not for spiritual or ethical reasons, the fact of the matter is I have completely lost my voice. Now I’ll get to experience the vow of silence in the way that someone would use a trial size of toothpaste to see if it tastes good. It will most likely last for maybe two to three days, but after I am done this trial-sized vow of silence, I can move forth to see if it is something I would ever do. Silence is golden, at least sometimes.

Well, I’ll let you know how it goes and hopefully I can get rid of this cold/flu/sore throat that has been bugging me for the last week. At least I have my books and websites to keep me occupied, and I may go for a long walk later, I just hope that I don’t see people who might want to strike up a conversation with me, because I simply will not be able to speak. Either way, I guess seeing the positive side in this situation will not hurt. I have the next two days off from any obligations, except maybe one, so this will give me the time to get over this flu and experience silence once again, listen to the birds and the wind, and not be so prone to opening up my mouth. Have a nice day.

Something as of late has provoked me to becoming more organized. I don’t know what it is, but it has reaped some enormous benefits so far and I am looking forward to the culmination of complete organization. I have thrown away quite a bit in the last month or so, things I thought I would need someday, so held onto, and never used. I am still not all the way there, but it is an ongoing process. Eventually, I would like to strip everything down to the bare minimum, with just a couple of extras, like my laptop and a couple of DVDs I actually use. The rest is all going to be either sold, given away, or tossed out, depending on if I can find ways to better dispose of them.

Here is what I have been noticing when it comes to clearing out clutter: You feel better, you are more focused, more relaxed, less agitated about clutter. Clutter can be very distracting, especially when you are trying to do something like write a blog post there is a gigantic mess staring you in the face. I believe the key to organization is giving each and every one of your items a home, a place where they belong, and be sure to keep placing them back in their home after you are done using them. This has two benefits: One is that you will always know where your things are, and two is that those things will not be all over the place, impeding your mood and well-being.

I find getting rid of excess items to be a rewarding process as well. This is especially true if you give those items to others. I remember a saying that goes, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” I agree with that statement to the degree it has worked for me. I am going to start giving away some of the things I do not use regularly because getting rid of them will free up more space for either other things or more oxygen in my room. Oxygen is probably the most precious item for me to have around, so having more room for it is a definite must. The key for me is to figure out which items I will probably never use again, and which ones I will definitely use again. But what is the difference anyway? None of the things I own, besides my laptop, is worth over $100. Every other individual item is worth less than that. So, if I ever need another one of something I have thrown away, I can always get another one, for a nominal fee.

One of my plans is to probably sell some of my DVDs on eBay or sell them to used movie stores. A lot of the movies I have bought seemed like a good idea at the time, but I feel like every time I feel like watching one of them, I say, “Well, it is going to take two hours. Could you possibly put those two hours to better use?” And the answer is usually yes, so I feel like these movies are not really satisfying their space on my desk. The same goes with my bookshelf. Probably more than half the books on there I will never, ever read again, so maybe it is time to make a trip to the library and donate them. I don’t even know why I own books that aren’t something I would use at least once a month, as having them just sit there is a colossal waste of space. All in good time I will bring myself to get rid of the ones that no longer serve me, and if for some reason they do after I get rid of them, I just have to go down to the library and take it out.

It is all a matter of what you need, what you want, and what is just not worth keeping. Then there is a way to systematically organize the things you own into those three categories, trashing the latter and keeping the two first ones, then working on different methods of organizing the things that remain. I think it is a good idea. I have heard that in office buildings, often a person with a messy desk will not get a promotion. The whole thought on that is messy desk, messy life. Your clutter is a representation of who you are, and by clearing it out, you clear out a part of yourself to invite better things to come in its place.

Now where are my keys?