Friday, January 23, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
President Barack Obama
It has been a long time coming... but the day is here. Quite possibly the biggest step toward racial justice- a Black President of the United States of America. A day that many of my elders never dreamed they would see. A day where the World can smile and say, "We are heading in the right direction." YES WE CAN!
We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can withstand the power of millions of voices calling for change. We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics who will only grow louder and more dissonant in the weeks to come.
We've been asked to pause for a reality check. We've been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.
But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope. For when we have faced down impossible odds; when we've been told that we're not ready, or that we shouldn't try, or that we can't, generations of Americans have responded with a simple creed that sums up the spirit of a people.
Yes we can.
It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation.
Yes we can.
It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom through the darkest of nights.
Yes we can.
It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness.
Yes we can.
It was the call of workers who organized; women who reached for the ballot; a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the Promised Land.
Yes we can to justice and equality. Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity. Yes we can heal this nation. Yes we can repair this world.
Yes we can.
We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can withstand the power of millions of voices calling for change. We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics who will only grow louder and more dissonant in the weeks to come.
We've been asked to pause for a reality check. We've been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.
But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope. For when we have faced down impossible odds; when we've been told that we're not ready, or that we shouldn't try, or that we can't, generations of Americans have responded with a simple creed that sums up the spirit of a people.
Yes we can.
It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation.
Yes we can.
It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom through the darkest of nights.
Yes we can.
It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness.
Yes we can.
It was the call of workers who organized; women who reached for the ballot; a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the Promised Land.
Yes we can to justice and equality. Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity. Yes we can heal this nation. Yes we can repair this world.
Yes we can.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Tunnel Vision
I was talking with my good buddy Zac online the other night. Zac, like myself, is 24 and almost 2 years removed from college. We were talking about how this time in our lives is the most ordinary it has ever been. I always imagined myself living the bachelor lifestyle fresh out of school: Single, decent job, fun nights out on the town, and plenty of women. In reality it is more like: struggling to stay afloat, boring nights, very few women, and a job I never particularly saw myself doing.
Maybe part of this lifestyle is product of my surroundings: living at home in beautiful, but small, Traverse City. Don't get me wrong, Traverse City is a great area for a high schooler, someone raising a family, and in the Summer it is a great place for anyone. However, aside from a couple of friends and my family, it is not where I want to be.
I talked before about struggling to set meaningful goals and that struggle has subsided a bit. I know I want to get into PT school but I need to pass a couple of courses and take the GRE before I can do that- which will take about another year. I feel like I am halfway through the proverbial tunnel; I can't really see the beginning of the tunnel where I approached days with little goals and a lackluster attitude and I am nowhere close enough to the end to see even a tiny ray of light. I am in the middle of this tunnel. I have chosen to attack it with a smile and a "make it happen" attitude. Rejuvenated with the start of a new year, a vision, and solid goals.
I would love to go back to college and live that lifestyle again and I would love to be living the token bachelor lifestyle, but I am not. I am where I am and I trust that things are going to work out.
Maybe part of this lifestyle is product of my surroundings: living at home in beautiful, but small, Traverse City. Don't get me wrong, Traverse City is a great area for a high schooler, someone raising a family, and in the Summer it is a great place for anyone. However, aside from a couple of friends and my family, it is not where I want to be.
I talked before about struggling to set meaningful goals and that struggle has subsided a bit. I know I want to get into PT school but I need to pass a couple of courses and take the GRE before I can do that- which will take about another year. I feel like I am halfway through the proverbial tunnel; I can't really see the beginning of the tunnel where I approached days with little goals and a lackluster attitude and I am nowhere close enough to the end to see even a tiny ray of light. I am in the middle of this tunnel. I have chosen to attack it with a smile and a "make it happen" attitude. Rejuvenated with the start of a new year, a vision, and solid goals.
I would love to go back to college and live that lifestyle again and I would love to be living the token bachelor lifestyle, but I am not. I am where I am and I trust that things are going to work out.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Christmas Break
Two weeks ago it was December and I was excited for what was hopefully going to be an exciting break... and it was! Here are some of the highlights of my break...
... I saw several movies, including Seven Pounds (don't see), Marley and Me (please see it!), and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (interesting story, but creepy at the end)
I went ice skating and spent the majority of the day with an old friend...
... finished a good book!
Became overweight, haha...
... said goodbye to a brother and a sister as they left for Seattle (one on Christmas day, one on the 5th)
Celebrated several birthdays...
... drank- a little too much at times
went cross-country skiing...
... went snowshoeing
danced- a lot...
...won a hockey game
Christmas...
...Christmas Party
Played pool...
... spent New Year's in Petoskey
watched a lot of football...
... developed an abnormal sleeping pattern
blew out my right passenger tire...
... went broke buying a new tire
became addicted to Guitar Hero...
These are a few exciting events of an awesome break. I am sure there are several events I left out, but it was fun!
I went to bed last night with an extreme aversion for work. My job does not pay nearly enough and is not fulfilling. However, it is a new year and I have made a few auspicious resolutions:
1. Train and run a 15k (Probably the Cherry Fest race)
2. Make significant progress toward getting into Grad School (find several schools, take the GRE, and do well in my classes)
3. Get back into shape! (This more or less goes with goal number 1).
and currently.... find another (or new) job. Times are tough, and this one ain't paying the bills!
Those are my goals for 2009.
CHEERS.
... I saw several movies, including Seven Pounds (don't see), Marley and Me (please see it!), and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (interesting story, but creepy at the end)
I went ice skating and spent the majority of the day with an old friend...
... finished a good book!
Became overweight, haha...
... said goodbye to a brother and a sister as they left for Seattle (one on Christmas day, one on the 5th)
Celebrated several birthdays...
... drank- a little too much at times
went cross-country skiing...
... went snowshoeing
danced- a lot...
...won a hockey game
Christmas...
...Christmas Party
Played pool...
... spent New Year's in Petoskey
watched a lot of football...
... developed an abnormal sleeping pattern
blew out my right passenger tire...
... went broke buying a new tire
became addicted to Guitar Hero...
These are a few exciting events of an awesome break. I am sure there are several events I left out, but it was fun!
I went to bed last night with an extreme aversion for work. My job does not pay nearly enough and is not fulfilling. However, it is a new year and I have made a few auspicious resolutions:
1. Train and run a 15k (Probably the Cherry Fest race)
2. Make significant progress toward getting into Grad School (find several schools, take the GRE, and do well in my classes)
3. Get back into shape! (This more or less goes with goal number 1).
and currently.... find another (or new) job. Times are tough, and this one ain't paying the bills!
Those are my goals for 2009.
CHEERS.
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