Thoughts.

2012-01-19T23:44:00.002-05:00

It's become so apparent that man has been conditioned to prevent ourselves from achieving what we truly want. As children we are told that anything is possible, but as time grows so do invented obstacles in our way. It is an endless and crippling contradiction that we have invented and lost control of. The world should not run on money, but on love.

2011-04-25T19:32:00.001-04:00

http://918.tumblr.com/

Sounds of Tonight

2011-04-19T20:58:00.002-04:00

Re: Stacks
Animal Arithmetic (Acoustic)
Weather Of A Killing Kind
Tornado (Acoustic)
Staralfur (Acoustic)
Hengilas
Mary Queen of Arkansas (Live in Buffalo)
Thunder Road (Hammersmith)
For You (Hammersmith)

Into Day

2011-03-27T18:31:00.002-04:00

Into Day

This is a collection of instrumental songs I created and recorded on two days in 2011. 918 and Sun Temple were recorded on January 21st. Window, Open, and Un were recorded on March 27th. The songs were made using my yamaha keyboard, fender stratocaster, and various effect pedals. When I made Window I had been working on some acoustic songs and my recording software was not working properly so I sat down at the keyboard in front of my window and played some things to calm down. That turned into making some interesting sounds by plugging the keys into my pedalboard. On Open, I was trying to copy the ethereal sounds that are so present in music by Sigur Ros and the song 23 Go In To End by John Frusciante. The inspiration behind 918 was a mixture of the ambient sounds that my friend Marre creates, and the reversed guitar sounds that John Frusciante often uses. When I took a break for lunch I heard some beats in my head, really basic bass lines and drums and that led to the basic track for Un, which I just improvised over with my strat through a wah pedal. When recording Sun Temple, I tuned my guitar to an obscure tuning that I don't remember now but was inspired by both The Tallest Man On Earth's tunings and Rodrigo y Gabriela's style of playing. I'm really proud of these songs and I hope you enjoy listening to them and maybe connect to something you hear or experience while doing so.

2011-03-13T20:30:00.001-04:00

I’m singin’ with you
Singing in silence
Let’s sing into the years, like one
Singing in tune, together
A sound for no one
Let’s sing in tune, but now
It’s home

2011-02-07T18:30:00.000-05:00

To be a musician is to create sounds that you love.

2011-02-06T15:33:00.010-05:00

One More For the Loved Ones

2011-02-02T11:38:00.002-05:00

Miss the times when time was free
Miss the sun but it don't miss me

2011-01-19T21:43:00.002-05:00

Finally, the winter's here
the sparrow has found it's wings
And I've been searching quite a while
for the same thing
I think winter should come and go
Like a passing wind
Or a summer snow
The grass is better green than gray
Summer sounds are ones we like to make

So lay your body on the ground
See the clouds are holding us down
I wonder what they think about
Floating over sharp edged mountaintops

Ambition has been broken into parts
Signs that once said stop now
are telling us to start
And here I am just all alone
I'm tired of walking around
just like I'm told

So lay your body on the ground
See the clouds are holding us down
I wonder what they talk about
as they watch all of us
As they watch all of us
As they watch all of us...

Shine on Me

2010-11-27T02:47:00.003-05:00

Movement is inevitable. The best thing we as intelligent human beings can do is to realize and live off of that fact, and devote out lives to change and advancement.

If the ocean stopped moving, we'd be able to see right through to the other side of the world, and no one would ever have to leave their homes to see what was out there beyond their yard.

2010-11-26T00:05:00.003-05:00

Everything I know has been born out of imagination or love.

Kids on the Run

2010-11-21T12:26:00.002-05:00

Let's let our love set the sky on fire and drive into the smoke.

2010-10-29T20:21:00.001-04:00

Lua

2010-10-17T17:20:00.003-04:00

Today I went to the sea
I stretched my hands out far
To reach across the waves
I felt but a whisper
To tell me there were hands
Reaching across for me

Swimming

2010-08-28T00:51:00.003-04:00

Maybe nothing is meant to be fully understood, just interpreted and then passed on, in order for someone else to form their own opinion on it. Maybe that's how ideas are formed, and change comes about, and the world keeps turning.

The Last Season

2010-08-18T11:34:00.003-04:00

Things change. People change. The Seasons change. And nothing we can ever do will change that.

Distant Future, Come to Me

2010-07-29T21:10:00.002-04:00

There's a girl from a faraway land/ We've never met but I long to hold her hand/ Tell her my secrets and hear all her fears/ Understand life and love all from her words in my ears/ Distant future, come to me/Deliver everything I've always wished for you to be.

Pursuit of Happiness

2010-07-21T01:57:00.005-04:00

I don't think we'll ever be fully satisfied with our current situation, because achieving happiness is always half the pleasure. Once we are at a point of comfort and content, we immediately look to the next level of happiness to strive for, and it seems that there is a never ending cycle of working towards something better.

Faith Will Be Rewarded

2010-07-18T23:31:00.003-04:00

The people in which happiness comes easily aren't experiencing true happiness, only a mirage of temporary content.

I Don't Know the Real From What I Thought I Saw

2010-07-15T11:33:00.001-04:00

Wisdom grows at night. I love finding people that are shockingly similar to me.

In Days

2010-07-14T23:43:00.006-04:00

Don't be passive of minute occurrences in everyday life, rather treat each moment of joy or contentment as it's own Mini Epic.

I Feel Love

2010-07-11T02:03:00.002-04:00

For John Frusciante. For friends that are close to me. And for the music that comes from the energies of the universe and enters our dimensions so smoothly it is like it was boiling up in our bodies all our lives, waiting to be released.

Act

2010-07-10T15:27:00.002-04:00

Hesitation only leads to missed opportunities.

Weight

2010-07-10T00:40:00.003-04:00

I guess we won't know what we are until we can see ourselves clearly. There's something to be said for people who can take into account not only their flaws, but their most appealing traits in a fair balance of confidence and modesty.

Here's Looking At You, Kid

2010-07-08T10:11:00.002-04:00

It's the summer of slang!

Begin, Evolve.

2010-07-08T00:14:00.004-04:00

It's as good a time as any to start taking your own advice.

2010-07-07T11:32:00.003-04:00

We sing with our heroes, 33 rounds a minute...

Here to There

2010-07-06T14:44:00.003-04:00

Love will shorten the divide between differences and distances.

Forever, Art.

2010-06-23T00:43:00.002-04:00

There's an interesting though that goes like this- Every single person has a different perspective of what they see and hear. So the Earth actually consists of billions of different worlds, all customary to the specific perspective of a said individual. It's amazing to think that the air we feel and the trees and sky we see actually exist in billions of different dimensions and worlds, all depending on who perceives it. This idea allows for infinite possibilities of exploration, art, and beauty.

2010-06-16T14:59:00.002-04:00

Wiser words have never been spoken on parenting- "You give them the best, because the world is going to take care of the rest."

JOR,

2010-06-09T20:53:00.002-04:00

whom I love and need.

JOR.

Heaven is a Time.

2010-05-30T01:17:00.000-04:00

Where you stand will remain as unknown as a secluded island until you explore it inside your mind.

Love's Not Time's Fool

2010-05-30T01:12:00.003-04:00

And it should not be cast aimlessly, however should not be disregarded or ignored when born out of sudden glances or brief encounters.

Orwell

2010-05-30T01:03:00.004-04:00

Question what is real, for the illusion that is presented to us may not always be the truth that is intended for us. So for what cost do we uncover truth, in camaraderie, love? In what time will it be acceptable to speak what our minds conceive as truth, to those whom it applies? To count truth in my friendships is to understand myself, and until then I may remain without a companion.

LOHAD

2010-05-06T22:27:00.003-04:00

There's nothing in the world that can duplicate the feeling that I get from Bruce Springsteen's music.

Grab your ticket and your suitcase
Thunder's rolling down the tracks
You don't know where you're goin'
But you know you won't be back
Darlin' if you're weary
Lay your head upon my chest
We'll take what we can carry
And we'll leave the rest

Big Wheels rolling through fields
Where sunlight streams
Meet me in a land of hope and dreams

I will provide for you
And I'll stand by your side
You'll need a good companion for
This part of the ride
Leave behind your sorrows
Let this day be the last
Tomorrow there'll be sunshine
And all this darkness past

Big wheels roll through fields
Where sunlight streams
Meet me in a land of hope and dreams

This train
Carries saints and sinners
This train
Carries losers and winners
This Train
Carries whores and gamblers
This Train
Carries lost souls
This Train
Dreams will not be thwarted
This Train
Faith will be rewarded
This Train
Hear the steel wheels singin'
This Train
Bells of freedom ringin'
This Train
Carries broken-hearted
This Train
Thieves and sweet souls departed
This Train
Carries fools and kings
This Train
All aboard

This Train
Dreams will not be thwarted
This Train
Faith will be rewarded
This Train
Hear the steel wheels singin'
This Train
Bells of freedom ringin'

--------------------------------
This reminds me of what's important in life.

Beauty

2010-04-15T23:01:00.002-04:00

There's a certain skill to be acquired in order to also acquire happiness. The ability to find beauty and art in the things around you is absolutely necessary for an existence of peace and ultimate happiness. Time and time again, in myself and in others around me, there are examples of unhappiness. It is far too easy to confuse contentment with happiness, because it is easy to slip into a feeling of helplessness in situations that are less than satisfactory. There are so many people who live comfortably in lives and situations from day to day that are nothing near what they would call true happiness. A lot of the time, accepting your unhappiness or discomfort with your life and being able to look past the parts that leave you less than satisfied can be a big part of disillusioning what real happiness is. It is certainley a positive trait to be able to look past negativity in your life, but it doesn't seem to be enough to simply cover up too much of the things that will ultimately lead to more loneliness and deconstruction. The biggest thing is to be able to balance looking past negativity while at the same time moving forward towards a lifestyle of both inner peace and beauty in the things around you. One of the keys is to accept change, and embrace beauty that is sometimes harder to identify than the stereotypical and materialistic ways society tempts us. Please do not ever hesitate to try and understand others, or foreign situations and art, because the greatest beauty comes from unexpected change and creations.

You Come And Go Like A Pop Song

2010-01-28T00:17:00.007-05:00

Recommended Music: 'You Come And Go Like A Pop Song'
By: The Bicycle Thief

http://www.amazon.com/You-Come-Like-Pop-Song/dp/B00001SICO/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1264655963&sr=8-5

The Empyrean

2010-01-20T16:52:00.002-05:00

Today is January 20th, 2010, the one year anniversary of John Frusciante's album 'The Empyrean'. Since that day last year, our world has seen many consistences, as well as drastic changes. We have seen a historic presidential inauguration, advances in technology, and been introduced to great new artists. We have also dealt with less appealing news, including major disasters, economic downfalls, and recently, the news that Mr. Frusciante himself has quit his band the Red Hot Chili Peppers for the second time. However, one thing has remained very constant throughout this past year, and that is the album itself.

The Empyrean was recorded over a two year period, and every song reflects the amount of time and effort put into them. The album as a whole is built around a concept, that of the highest point of heaven, or the "Empyrean". The character travels throughout his life and experiences ups and lows, which are displayed beautifully through the songs. As all of Mr. Frusciante's work is, The Empyrean is a deeply personal look into the life and mind of Frusciante, and his musical talent. It is widely agreed upon that The Empyrean features some of the best vocal work on any of Frusciante's 10 studio albums, as well as great amount of work done on mixing and mastering the album and a stellar display of synthesizer and modular effects. If his work in the Chili Peppers is any indication of Frusciante's mastering of the guitar, then The Empyrean is as clear an example of his skills as an electronic musician as well. John applies modular synth effects on the guitars, vocals, even drums, to create a very wide open and spacy feel to the album, while still holding onto the feeling of something that is personal and small enough to be played amongst a few friends. Upon the release of the album, Mr. Frusciante was quoted as saying the album is best fi to be played in the "dark, at full volume". He goes on to explain that he mostly creates music that he would want to listen to himself, or play amongst friends late at night. By experience, I have found this to be incredibly true, and from a technical and a spiritual standpoint, his statement makes total sense. The recording was done in Frusciante's home, and there are many instruments, voices, and effects that were recorded at a lower volume than usual. The mastering of the album is rather quiet in comparison to a typical rock album, and that is because when turned up loud, one can hear the details of exactly what the song was intended to sound like when written and recorded. It is truly breathtaking to experience this album in a relaxed state of mind, and at full volume. The songs are nothing short of as close to perfection as music comes, and the beauty of certain verses will reinstate the belief that Mr. Frusciante has truly earned his right as one of the most talented song writer, musician, singer, producer, and human beings in our lifetime.

Dream

2010-01-13T23:07:00.002-05:00

Until you feel hope, your faith is blind. And until you dream, hope is impossible.

Loss

2009-12-14T14:29:00.002-05:00

Change comes with loss, but likewise, loss does not always come from change. People and things are lost every day, and people and things change every day. We cannot view loss as a permanent change, because there are very few things in this world that are final, and there are very few things that always stay the same. I rarely write about something specific on here, usually I try to keep the message as general as possible, so that it will apply to as many readers as possible. Today I want to briefly say that it is believed John Frusciante has left the Red Hot Chili Peppers, a major loss and change to music fans, especially fans of the band and of John himself. Mr. Frusciante has done something extraordinary with his life, and that is create some of the most personal and emotional music from any artist I have ever seen, as well as master the guitar as not only an instrument, but an extension of his body. His work in the Chili Peppers can only be seen as ground breaking and visionary, for he has taken his instrument and transformed it into a machine that produces sounds of warmth, love, pain, hope, joy, exuberance, energy, and inspiration, and wails of loneliness, passion, and distress. Frusciante's solo works only dig deeper into his personal life, while hovering over our heads like a dream we'll never be able to understand. He has created songs with synthesizers, drums, effect pedals, string quartets, vocal group, rap artists, and others with just an acoustic guitar. His versatility as a solo artist can only be described as impressively massive, and his songs drip with emotion and passion, and a love for music that is greater than almost any other artist I know of. John's absence from the Chili Pepper's is more bitter because in recent news it has been revealed that John feels as though he does not need to release any more solo music, rather he will create it solely for the love of creating it, and will not feel the need to release it to the public. For me, the only way that the news of John's leave from the band would be comforted would be to know I would hear solo music from him in the near future. For now, and until there is an official announcement, I can only say that I wish John and the Band the best of luck in whatever they may pursue, and to always continue to create the music that has touched so many lives.

Embark, Experience, Live.

2009-12-12T01:44:00.002-05:00

If you aren't a dreamer, then you must be nothing. Find that place you want to go, the place that exists right outside of your comfort zone, right over the wall in front of you. If you live by the rules set by others, then you are setting yourself up for failure. There is not greater failure than to settle for anything that doesn't exist in the deepest of your dreams. Stay in your comfort zone until you can't stand it anymore, when your dreams have been completed in your mind, and you have made a future for yourself. Then embark, experience, and live.

Music PSA

2009-12-01T22:56:00.002-05:00

Never stop discovering new music. Go buy an album, download a record, or write a song. Find, create, and digest NEW music daily. This has been a public service announcement sponsored by common sense.

Hope for the Hopeless

2009-11-24T01:54:00.004-05:00

Be happy. Please, do not ever hesitate or sacrifice anything for happiness. In the end, we will end up alone. It is not worth the loneliness in our present lives to pass up and abandon chances or risks.

Emerging from the Early Hours

2009-11-24T01:35:00.003-05:00

There is pleasure in the careless mind and body, but at the end of the day, we must be able to understand that a higher goal and purpose is necessary. It is not enough to rely on our careless spirit, though it can be appealing and addictive for a while. Develop a world for yourself, a life, and a love. Do not forget what you imagine, for it is truly the only important goal to achieve. Find an idol, an object, a place, and a sound that you can always rely on. Use it, depend on it, because if your catalyst for a better life is a good one, it will never misguide you.

A PSA to All

2009-11-17T21:13:00.002-05:00

Is there ever a time in which it is not in our own best interest to make whatever we are doing the most fulfilling experience of our lives? Is there ever a good time to settle for something that we find undesirable, something we find to be boring or uninspiring? I am constantly told what to do, and because of it, when I am rarely asked what I want to, I am often left speechless or confused. We are raised to be obedient to those superior to us, and yet often, those people are anything but superior. We are taught to listen and not speak our true minds, to stay quiet and polite, and live in the shadows. There is nothing more detrimental to the mind and spirit than to quietly follow the rules set for us from generations before us. We need now more than ever to listen solely to our own spirits, other than the voices of those who have gained these positions of self proclaimed superiority. I cannot urge you enough to understand that what people say should have no effect on you other than motivation to further express your own individuality.

Free Verse

2009-11-01T01:46:00.000-04:00

Inside Of Dark and Light Pushing Out To Recognize It's Isolation And Joy With No Clear Future But That Hope And Wild Dream Of A World Unknown To Exist Thus Willing The Creation Of A World All Your Own Sharing With The One That Can Love You And Be Loved By You. Sound And Music And Love And Peace And Feeling Will Always Control And Empower. The Inside Will Be The Only One To Tell You Who You Are And Where You Will Go. The Outside Will Question You But Not Be Able To Understand Your Drive Desire Love Or Dream Enough To Stop You. Please Go On For You For Me For Life. There Will Always Be A Day To Remind Of What You Cannot Do Or Achieve But For Every Day Of Which Let There Be Days To Speak Of Love And Admiration And Respect And Beauty And Sound And Feeling And Expression And Music And Truth.

A Short Word on Music

2009-10-30T13:32:00.003-04:00

Today I sat in class and heard Tom Wait's "Whistle Down the Wind" so clearly in my head it was as if I were listening to the song through speakers in the room. Sometimes the power and beauty of music can totally surprise me, despite the extensive time and effort I have spent studying it. It continues to amaze me that music can have such a profound effect on our lives, controlling situations, moods, or even actions. I could not wait to leave my classroom and let the actual song play to me, and it was a familiar urge to wish I could sit alone for hours and immerse myself in the beauty of songs and music. I couldn't let a feeling like this pass without posting some sort of emotion that was triggered inside of me, and I guess that emotion was the purest sense of innocence, beauty, and love.

Bruce Springsteen Appreciation Pt. 1

2009-10-23T19:02:00.003-04:00

Bruce Springsteen has done something extraordinary, something that he has only done, no one else. He has taken words and notes and his imagination to create the most cinematic and biographical music anyone has ever written. The characters that were first introduced in his first albums, and even before, are still being used today, as well as the themes and morals. Bruce Springsteen writes music for himself, as an outlet of expression and freedom, but he is also writing these songs for us. What he has done for his fans is something that can hardly be fathomed. I could write that he is the most hard working and respected man in music, but it would be a biased opinion, so I will simply write that he should be, by all counts. What I would specifically like to focus on is the songwriting done by Mr. Springsteen in the years between 1969 and 1973. He wrote based on stories that he came up with, stories based on his life, or other people's lives that he found significant. He created characters that did the things we could only dream of, but instead of making us jealous, he made us want to go out and do them to. His songs were loose and full of words, saying a simple idea through an entire verse. It can be argued that less is more, but in some cases more can be more meaningful. In songwriting, it can done either way, the simplistic approach or the descriptive. Springsteen has done both in his career, but in these early years, he took a Dylan-esque approach, and told us what he wanted to say, only hidden in stories of phantoms, lovers, and rebels. The music that was being made did not have expectations, many of the songs were written well before he was signed by Columbia Records in 1973. The songs of this time didn't have to live up to any standards, or impress anyone yet. Springsteen was writing to tell stories, through music, and that is exactly why the songs are widely considered among fans as some of the most brilliant work he has done. He wrote verses upon verses, often with no chorus, and performed up to 7 minute songs with only his acooustic guitar and his voice. Songs like Prodigal Son, Zero and Blind Terry, Song to Orphans, Growin' Up, Thundercrack, even Thunder Road are so vividly real to us, we can place ourselves in the place of these characters, these situations, and feel exactly what Bruce is feeling. He didn't hold anything back, still doesn't, and he is not afraid in the least to express his fears, desires, and hopes. He sings of faith, redemption, and finding a better place, a promised land. He writes of places we have never been, people we have never met, and things we only dream of doing. Any somehow, everything always seems familiar, like something we have experienced before, or might dream of doing. It is truly a beautiful and brilliant talent to be able to touch on such a personal level, the hopes and dreams of thousands upon thousands of people, and remain very true to your own self.

So Thank you, Bruce Springsteen, for allowing us to experience faith, love, dreams, redemption, and the feeling of a better day, just right around the corner.

Knowledge

2009-10-19T16:33:00.004-04:00

I am sitting in my dorm room, looking out the window at a sunny and seasonably warm day. I sit here and once again experience one of the strongest emotions I have ever felt in my life, and one that continues to reoccur, and will continue until the vision is being played in front of my very eyes, instead of inside my head. The West has beckoned me before, and twice in my life I have answered, traveling to both the San Diego and Los Angeles areas in 2001, and San Francisco in 2004 with my family. In those years, I did not experience any unusual urge to visit the West, but in the past year, and especially in the past few months, there has been a consistent calling for me to experience traveling and perhaps living in the Western United States, and enjoying my life as it were meant to be, not tied into society as a student, or having to be taught unnecessary things, such as complex mathematics, or the science and anatomy of ancient species. These things that I deem unnecessary to learn certainly only apply to myself, as I am sure such topics greatly intrigue some people, and there is not harm to that. But for my own well being, and my own personal fulfillment, I can only envision myself learning from life's own experiences, those found in travel, adventure, risk, and days that hold the joy of not knowing what the next day will bring. I cannot learn what I need to know from the schooling I am receiving, such knowledge will not benefit me. However, I will stay here to fulfill the desires and needs of others, and earn a meaningless degree that simply says I have managed to tolerate the ridiculous method of standardized testing and formal schooling. I believe that I am not the one who needs to learn from them, rather they must learn from people like myself, who have realized that true and worthy knowledge comes solely from experiences and life itself, not organized classes with biased approaches and dictatorially run lessons. There is nothing to be learned from this method, at least not for myself, and yet I will continue to sit in the rooms and listen to the people who are superior to myself only because they have completed more years of schooling than I have. I will continue to stay at college and learn only outside of my classroom, and expect little knowledge to come from the curriculum they present. But I will continue to travel to the West in my mind, and teach myself through books, music, art, and imagination that I find interesting, because the only way to learn is to gain interest in the topic at hand, and there is no plausible way to force interest onto someone who cannot come across it naturally.

Relocation

2009-10-18T00:36:00.006-04:00

I have decided to create a separate blog for my on going story I am writing, as to create space for this existing blog, which I plan to start writing for again. You can now see the entire story, and see updated chapters as they are written here: http://dlemirestory.blogspot.com/

Seek Older Posts!

2009-10-14T19:11:00.003-04:00

What is blind faith, and can it be the death of us?

I encourage anyone who reads these posts to click "Older Posts" at the bottom of the page, I still believe strongly in the passages I wrote from the beginning.

There is nothing that can explain the mind, but there is music to express it through.

Peace

2009-06-02T22:07:00.001-04:00

There is happiness to be found both in the personal confinement of the soul, as well as the boisterous and free spirited heart. The most genuine happiness is not to be completely found in only one aspect of the soul, but a connection between the mind and body.

Promote

2009-05-28T13:46:00.003-04:00

I would really appreciate it if anyone would be so kind to check out my Music page on Myspace, and leave me any feedback as to what you think. Thank You!

http://www.myspace.com/dlemire

Loneliness and Learning

2009-05-07T22:02:00.001-04:00

We are brought up to think that being alone, or being lonely, is wrong. We are pampered and comforted at the slightest sign of rejection or disappointment, and are taught that we should always be friendly and welcoming to new people. This is very true, because in the past couple days I have gotten to know a couple people that are the most interesting and amazing people in my life. And everyone has something to hide, a side of themselves that is slightly more obscure or creative side that they feel would not be as socially acceptable as they would like. And getting to know certain people and these sides of them can be incredibly rewarding.

However, we have never been taught that spending time alone and maybe even being lonely can be equally rewarding to yourself. You learn more about yourself by spending time alone than almost anything. And to write this is not to say that everyone should just isolate themselves immediately, but as I have written before, we all will suffer at some point on our lives. And at this point, we will learn more about our true beings than ever before. For someone who has never experienced loneliness to read this, a likely reaction would be to say that I am only writing this because I have no friends, or I want to convince other people to be lonely with me or something. I am not looking for any type of acknowledgment at all for this, and I also do not think that I have gone through my period of suffering, therefore I am only speaking of what I believe to be true.

You do not have to leave society to spend time alone, but at some point you will be alone, lonely, or scared. And you will learn something about yourself that will amaze you.

Hope

2009-04-25T22:41:00.002-04:00

The world needs to understand the power and importance of love, music, and what our words can do. When we begin to no longer take these things for granted, and learn how to actually listen to our soul's intentions, we will be at peace not only with each other, but with ourselves.

Credibility and Inspiration

2009-03-16T15:07:00.004-04:00

I want to talk about credibility, as well as address some of the people who have criticized some of my statements about the influence certain people can have on you, notably idols in the form of "celebrities". The things I have written here, especially the past few posts, were written with the intent to share some of the ideals I try to live by, hopefully inspiring the (few) people who read this blog to better their own lives, or at least learn a successful way to deal with stress or anger. However, the way I write could be perceived as putting myself on a "high horse", or implying that my way of thinking is right, and what I say should be followed. This is not my intent at all, and i stress that this is understood, because I am in no way trying to promote my way of thinking or living, or tell someone what to do. I am simply writing thoughts that I have, things that may possibly help others, if they choose to read and accept it. I do not want people to read this as a self help column, or a blog that is boasting my own persona. I try to be as modest as I can be, and I realize that true humility and modesty are hard to achieve, especially when talking about yourself. So, in saying that, I would also like to talk about credibility, and the actual affect of what I write.

It is not uncommon to gain inspiration from a celebrity, commonly a musician, actor, or athlete. This is usually only because these people are quoted by the media, and their words and philosophies reach far more people than say, something a teenager says in a class discussion. The question I ask myself is though, do we listen to what the celebrity says because of their credibility versus the ordinary high school student? And if so, how has this credibility been achieved? I know some very intelligent people who's ideals are brilliantly conceived, and certainly as interesting as anything a movie star could say. However, the difference is, that these young people, who are not known by the world, or even by people outside their own town, are unheard voices. And yet their ideas may coincide, or something that the young, unknown person says may outweigh the celebrity's in terms of intelligence or intellectuality. I'm saying that something that a person says that I may find interesting or thought provoking, with good chance others may find it that way too, will often go unheard to people who may very well need those exact words to help them in their own personal struggle.

The idea is, that there is inspiration to be found from anyone around you, celebrity or not. I am not saying to completely disregard what your idols say, and only listen to your friends. However, I think a lot of people go by what their idols say, and only that, while ignoring what may possibly be a more interesting or helpful topic brought up by one of their friends. We need to constantly keep our eyes open for inspiration from any source possible, whether it be a celebrity, or someone who lives next door to us. The question you should ask yourself however, is if you are following this advice because it comes from a celebrity who has achieved social credibility, or from someone who has truly gained your personal respect. Personally, my greatest source of inspiration has come from two people, both celebrities, who have certainly achieved social credibility, for many reasons. I cannot stress enough though, that the reason I am so affected by these people, and am constantly inspired and amazed by them, is not because they have achieved "greatness" in society's view, or because they are portrayed as positive, inspirational people. I have truly been affected by them, and their social status has never once came into play when I have been inspired by something they say or do. And while they have been the most inspirational factors in my life, that is not to say I have not found appreciation and inspiration by people close to me, or things that are in my own life. I have definitely been inspired by people around me, that I know personally, and I find inspiration in many things, not only "celebrities" that I do not know personally. Hopefully this is clear, and it is not perceived that I live in a fantasy world where I only act on the decisions made by my "celebrity" idols. I act on what I personally feel is right, or what I personally feel is what i want to do. The person that I am has been affected by these two people the most, among other things, but ultimately, the way I think and act is because I strive on acting for myself, and not others. I try harder than anything else to be my own person, and not someone who is affected negatively by those around me. And again, I am not trying to promote myself in any way, or imply that I am better or live above than anyone else.

I do not know exactly how people take what I write, or if they agree/disagree with it. I would like to think that is has helped someone, but I simply write to better express myself, because at least knowing my words are out there, gives some satisfaction to knowing I may be helping someone. No one will ever be able to express their true being to someone else through words, but I would like people to know that I have more depth than what is often perceived.

Infinity, and Change

2009-03-10T22:11:00.003-04:00

Infinity is one the most complex theories known to me, and most likely mankind. Most of us can somewhat understand the vastness of infinity, and that it can not be measured in any form. However, whichever way we perceive it, there is never any end, and this is at least more comprehensible to us. The idea is, that there is nearly nothing in this world that can withstand the power of time. And time, as we understand it, will go on for infinity. I am not stating that nothing is infinite, because true love, not infatuation, or lust, but love in it's truest form, will never be able to die. It may be forgotten, or ignored, but the love that was made will always exist, even if it is in a form or dimension that people do
not understand. I can not think of another thing that will exist forever, because love comes in so many different forms, if I did think of another infinite concept, it would most likely be a variation of love, and not it's own unique concept. This post is not about love though, because regardless of the amounts of times I have tried to write about it, I have never been able to accurately describe it. Love exists in the 4th dimension, and no words can describe it.

This post is about change, and to better understand the importance of it, as well as appreciate it, the concept of infinity must be clear (In my opinion).

The average human life lasts about 85 to 90 years. And as I already discussed the inconceivable concept of infinity, a period of 85 years is the exact opposite, it is too small to even describe. In theory, our lives are specks of dust on a giant earth, not saying we are unimportant, just that in time, we are insignificant. And so the things that society has told us to be stressful or annoying are even smaller in comparison to our individual lives, which is again in comparison to infinity. It is not bizarre to think of a problem in our lives as compared to the history of the universe, or the future of it. It is simply a way of coping with things that come up in our lives. Of course, when an event happens in our life that bothers us, we are instinctively going to feel emotion towards it, often negatively. And at that moment, it is the most important thing to us, the thing that bothers us the most, and the thing that will continue to bother us until we find
a solution to our so called "problem". I think that sub consciously in every human being, we understand that the event that is the cause for our discomfort of anger at that exact moment, is not actually of the greatest importance. This is not to say that for anything that happens to you, you should automatically just brush it aside and not deal with it. This mindset will undoubtedly cause you even more problems. What I am trying to say is that when you are dealing with whatever has happened to you, take it is stride with the greater picture of tour entire life. I can assure that most things that take place in your life that have caused you anger or jealousy, did not affect your life one month in the future; of even one week.

So, when something does change, take it as a step towards bettering yourself instead of a negative action on someone else. Friends will undoubtedly change amongst you, people will change, you will lose, fail, and feel defeated and alone. Especially through your stage of suffering will things change, and these changes may be the most important of all. Find something to believe in, whether it be music, art, books, someone you admire, any sort of catalyst that will help you become a better person. This is not telling you to copy whatever inspires you, but use your inspiration to learn, grow, and ultimately improve your state of mind. It is so unbelievably unhealthy to walk around with negative thoughts in your head, because pretty soon, you are not only negatively affecting yourself, but those around you. The truest test of maturity, and a strong personal sense of being, is being able to control your own behavior, and that means understanding that there are things that will happen to you that just do not matter to you; or at least should not matter to you. I will never be able to tell you how to live your life, and I do not wish to do that, but if what I write helps someone become less lonely, or discover themselves in a new way, then that is truly an honor.

Truth, The 4th Dimension, and Happiness

2009-03-03T23:39:00.003-05:00

I have been wanting to write something here for some time now that would accurately express my views on a number of topics, things that I have never really been able to say in words. I have begun to believe more and more in the 4th dimension, the one that purely exists through energies, and feelings. And the more I begin to understand it and believe in its existence, the more my thoughts are processed in that form. So writing posts has become more and more difficult, as my thoughts can no longer be expressed into words as clearly. But I feel that any effort at all is worth it, because I know some people very close to me that I want to help, and I want them to use these words to benefit their own lives. Ultimately, I want them to believe in the 4th dimension and understand these feelings, because when you do, it is far easier to control your energy for positive outcomes.

I do not really want to drift into a self help column, or a message to the teenagers of America, but I feel that the most important message, which is also the most over used, and stereotypical, is to be as true to yourself as possible. However, even if one completely understands this, and begins to believe that they can change, from being self absorbed (negatively), and so easily influenced by negative "peer pressure", it may be useless. Most of the people I see and interact with on a daily basis are already so lost and confused that staying true to their own selves seems impossible. Why? because they do not know themselves anymore. As soon as you go against your will, or true desire, to satisfy someone else, you lose integrity, and self awareness. It is almost addicting however, because your self control diminishes each time you "give in" to something against your will. From then on, you begin to act differently on a normal basis, in order to be accepted by people who are already troubled. And as your self control and awareness and respect decreases, so does your ability to identify your true being.

So simply telling someone to be true to themselves may no longer be a positive statement, because their true selves may already be lost or hidden. I should not say lost, because you can never lose your true sense of morality, and the instinct to know what is right, or at least feel what is right. it takes a great deal of maturity, self control, and awareness to be able to realize that you are in fact an individual. I have seen countless people claim that they act the way they act because they actually like it, not because they are trying to fit in. I believe that the percentage of people who actually act like this on their own account, with absolutely no pressure at all, is the lowest number in the world. Everyone, by instinct, likes to have fun, and not feel stressed or pressure. However, the way that this "fun" is now achieved almost completely eliminates the meaning of the word. It is now a game of who can be better than the other, instead of respecting each other as human beings. I will admit that truly stepping outside of the society 'circle', while somehow keeping a foot in to observe, is the hardest thing anyone can do. We must back up for some time, in order to see from an outsiders point of view, just how bizarre and confusing our society is. However, we cannot completely isolate from human contact, because we learn solely from watching others make the mistakes we are trying to avoid. So yes, mistakes are unavoidable, but so is the fact that there is always a higher ground, and a better way of life.

I cannot tell you how to become a better person, it is only something that you can learn and discover on your own. Because in reality, becoming a 'better person', means something different for each and every one of us. The purest way to discovering yourself, in my opinion, is that of discovering the 4th dimension. Because it is everywhere, not just in music, as I have gone into detail with before. It is a dimension solely made up if feeling, and energy, and when you are able to understand the very energy that has created you, then you will be able to understand your own self. And when you understand your own self, then you are very easily allowed to excel in life, and truly be happy.

Goals, and Avoiding Constant Lines

2009-02-18T23:42:00.004-05:00

One of the ways I view life, and it is certainly only one of many, is that without a solid goal, or at least a higher point that is accessible in some way, your life will undoubtedly be stuck. I wrote about suffering in the last entry, and I expressed with vigor that that it will happen, and must happen. However, the cause of it was not directly said, and I think that ignoring, or failing to establish a goal is the ultimate path to self destruction. The positive thing is that everyone has a had goals before, no matter the size, importance, or outcome. Because anything ever achieved started as a goal, even if it was conceived sub consciously, or seconds before achievement. As small as every inhaled breath began as a goal, because our brains plan out that we will have to take a new breath every second or so to stay alive. We don't think about it, or even worry about it, but every breath, action, and word we speak was born as a goal. When you think about goals this way, in the most minute fashion possible, then the object of succeeding suddenly becomes much closer to grasp. People constantly tell themselves that in order to be successful, they will have to conform to previously set social norms, such as education, income, marriage, children, and an independent lifestyle in which you are able to support yourself financially and sometimes, emotionally. This is not to say that these things are not worth achieving, in many circumstances, they are the ultimate goal for a person. But they should never be considered the only options.

As I am sure I have expressed in many ways before, ever single person is different. And yet, the majority of people believe that they must behave like those around them, in order to present themselves as orderly, or socially acceptable. That being said, we can now see our goals in two ways- (1) as unique to our own personality, and achievable only through actions defined by our true intentions and not influenced by negative surroundings, and (2) that we break down these goals into the most minute ways possible. To spend every day dreaming of being in a different place, or acting in a completely different way, is a waste of time and energy. It is nearly impossible to achieve any life long dream in the course of a day. So why should you feel like a failure at the end of a day if you are still in the same position that you started the day in? It is only common knowledge that you will not become something in a day, and that is precisely why we need to break down our goals into realistic options for ourselves, things that are easily achievable, but also lead to the ultimate point.

The only logical way for me to explain it, and to apply it to every day life, is to think of your life as a single straight line, which begins at a point "A", and ends at a point "B". The point "A" is your birth, and the point "B" is your death, whether that death be one that occurs physically, or in your soul. (This may become confusing depending on your belief in the afterlife. Your physical death is the one when your body fails to work, and you are pronounced medically "deceased". For some, life ends here, for both body and soul, but for others, the soul is thrust into an "afterlife" in which the soul lives eternally. So your line either stops at your physical death, or extends eternally, with your soul.) When you are born, you have no other action other than the instinct to stay alive. Your line is flat, with no accomplishment other than staying alive, which later in life, may actually be the goal for some. As life goes on, and goals begin to develop, the line moves either up or down, depending on your accomplishment or failure of the specific goal. This is what is most natural to a human being; failing and succeeding. And when the line dips below its steady plane, our natural response is sadness, anger, or even depression. However, when your line is lower than usual, or you have failed, or seemingly failed at something, it should not be regarded as a negative thing. This is the best opportunity to succeed. It is only natural that when at the lowest point, of anything, the only way to go is up, or remain the same. So when we fail, there are two ways to approach it- we can see it as an opportunity to only achieve a greater task than before, or we failed because the goal we had in mind was one that was not broken down into realistic parts. The greatest failure of all is to leave your line on a constant plane, with no rise or fall.

The worst thing you can do to yourself is to allow your line to remain at a constant level, with no achievement or failure. When this happens, you have failed, because you no longer have a goal. You may think you have a goal, but you do not, because with a present goal, there are only two options, fail or succeed. The most common trap to fall into is the one in which you believe you do not have a goal in mind, when you really do. You think your line is constant, but you are failing. You have a goal, and chances are, it is too big, inconceivable, or unrealistic to achieve in that present day. So you have failed in that goal, which sets your line down. So when you think you are stuck, on a constant line, you are really only sinking lower because you are ignoring the fact that you must set smaller goals. So you are actually in a good position, opposed to the rut you think you are in. Because despite your line being lower and lower by the day, now, you have no where to go but a higher point. And that alone should inspire you to achieve a small goal, something that leads to the ultimate goal. As soon as you achieve even the smallest of goals, your line suddenly shoots upward, and you are now in an even more positive position.

It is extremely rare for someone to remain on a constant line, without failing or succeeding, because usually, they are failing, but they are unaware. But failing is no longer a negative thing, so you should not be saddened when you realize this. It is an endless cycle, one that is both confusing and intriguing, because it deeply is involved in each and every one of our lives. We cannot be tricked into believing that failure, in any sense, is the end, because in reality, it is the very beginning. We had to of started at the bottom, and failing is now just considered a new beginning.

Suffering and Succeeding

2009-02-08T16:33:00.004-05:00

I have begun to learn something about life that I thought might help someone that reads this post, about suffering and succeeding. Life sets traps for us, sometimes small setbacks that may discourage us for a moment, or larger obstacles that may affect our lives for years. However, these obstacles, no matter the magnitude, are absolutely necessary for advancement in life. Every single life story is different, and people are obviously more privileged than others. Some are born into wealth, or talent, or power, while others are born into little or nothing. People may be born into poverty, or a life of violence and hatred, and be thrust into evil at a very early age, against their very will. However, no matter how someone is raised, or how they set up their life to play out, at some point in their lives, they will be forced to suffer. They will experience loneliness, or hate, or anger, or jealousy, or isolation, or be stuck in a trap that constantly pushes them against their creative will. This suffering may be experienced at any time throughout someone's life, and may also last for any period of time. But throughout this period of that person's life, will they discover who they are inside, what their souls are created of, and how they will act for the rest of their lives. It is an incredibly prolific time, but is hidden underneath a cloud of what is seemingly worthless life.

Some people will not understand what is happening to them, while other people will fully understand that they are experiencing a time of self change that is both necessary and life altering. It is inevitable however, that you will suffer at some point in your life, and the outcome of that suffering will be your true character. The isolation that this period often brings is also the most in depth time of personal discovery and thought. Some of the deepest thoughts, desires, ideals, and dreams are developed during the times spent alone, or spent suffering inside yourself. You will undoubtedly develop dreams that will resonate in your head constantly, things that you feel are the only solution to your so called 'problems', and will certainly solve the trouble that surrounds you. This period in anyone's life is the most personal time that they will experience, and if ignored, or forgotten, can be a tragedy. The thoughts that cross your mind during this time are so precious and deep in the sub conscious, that they should be expressed in some way as much as possible, whether that be through music, or art, or writing.

The idea is, that ever single person is meant to suffer, and that when this does happen, it is important to accept it as not just a point in your life that may seem the lowest, but an important step in self discovery that will determine the way you play out your life. It should not be wasted by attempting to battle the forces of destiny, because it is with absolute certainty that you will suffer. The worst thing anyone can do is to fight these forces by trying to change themselves too soon, by attempting to fit in with a certain crowd, or surrendering to negative energy that is sent out by people too worried that they will fail to realize that they are experiencing something unique. You will succeed, because life is not meant to be wasted, it is meant to experienced in full, and that is only possible if someone truly is at one with their mind and soul, and understands themselves to the fullest.

Spiritual Energy

2009-02-03T09:33:00.001-05:00

There are millions of songs in the world, and millions of note combinations, chord progressions, and tempos. Every single human being's voice has a different frequency, causing every single person to sound differently when they speak or sing. There are hundreds of different instruments, computer effects, and microphones. These are all factors that create, and change music. For every single note played, sung, or treated, there is an energy released from it. Not an energy in the sense of the common knowledge of the word, but an energy in another form, one that has a spiritual power, not necessarily a physical power. These energies are emitted from the sounds made from the instrument or voice, and stay in existence forever. The trick is recognizing them and changing them into physical energy to use for your own betterment. The spiritual energy released by music can often not be heard, or is ignored by the listener. Many people refuse to accept the invitation to listen to the music at all, or refuse to feel the spiritual energies that come from it. However, any song can affect any one single person, in both positive or negative ways. In the same manner, the same song may have different affects on different people. Someone may receive positive energy from a song, or even portion of a song, while another person may interpret the song as a negative thing and be affected in a bad way.

These energies stay in existence and may be used to infinity, even if the song is not be played. As soon as someone feels the spiritual power of one single note, or a whole album for example, it stays inside them for eternity. They may never know this, or refuse to use it. But this person who heard a note, or a song, or an album that gave them positive spiritual energy, will contain this energy inside them forever. The hardest thing to do is transfer this energy to other people, and change it into physical energy for yourself. One may hear a portion of music, and understand that they now have this wonderful and beautiful spiritual energy inside them, but have no idea how to use it. Ultimately, if that energy is indeed wasted by staying inside someone but never used, the music has not served its purpose for that person. Music is meant to release these energies, and in turn, help people find the strength or inspiration they need to complete a certain task, or reach a certain goal. Some people ignore this catalyst, and go on with their lives, and often struggle to complete their goals, without the help of these powerful energies. One can certainly be successful without using music's spiritual energies, but will suffer a time in which they feel they are missing an important factor in their lives.

It cannot be taught, told, or even shown how to use this energy in one's life to accomplish something. It is purely a feeling, something that can only be felt in one's own mind, and only be expressed through love, or music. Even if one does successfully use this energy to complete something, or fulfill their own lives, the accomplishment alone is not the proof of these energies. It is only something that each individual person knows inside themselves, and is different in each person. The purest form of these energies is the kind in which the artist who has created the music, created the actual song as a result of using the energy from another artist's work. And when one hears this piece of music, they are not only receiving the spiritual energies of the artist who made the song, but those of every person before him or her who inspired them, and everyone who inspired them. This is how everyone in the entire world has the ability to be spiritually connected, through the power of these energies that have been shared, passed, and made into new art. One single note, of one single song, on one single album, in one single artist's entire discography, represents every artist who also released their own spiritual energies, as a result of someone else's.

Think of it as if it was a family tree, in the sense that if you go far enough back, then every single human is related, no matter what you believe. Even if you don't believe in God, or evolution, or whatever other way of how this universe was created, we can all agree that everything had to start , somewhere, somehow, and therefore, we are all ancestors of this first being, regardless of how or when it began. It is the same with music and its spiritual energy. Whether you believe in God, or a higher power or not, we can also all agree that the basic idea of God has existed since the beginning of time. And therefore, the first piece of music had to been as a result of some spiritual energy that this being felt, which caused him or her to express these energies through the most natural way possible- through sound, or music. And so this person's music released an energy, which caused someone else to create music as a result of the feeling of this energy. And on and on for thousands and thousands of years, until eventually, there are millions of people who make music, even in the simplest form every day. Everyone's energies are distantly related, no matter how different or complicated they seem.