Barely Talk and Listen Much

Mark Twain once wrote that "[t]here are basically two types of people. People who accomplish things, and people who claim to have accomplished things. The first group is less crowded."

I have to admit, I have been in that second pool of people. I see it all the time. It seems to be a push for respect. Someone talks to you and makes you feel comfortable and within a minute you are telling them everything they didn't ask for. We leave them thinking to ourselves, "They are impressed". What we fail to realize most of the time, is that they are being nice. A common courtesy that Dale Carnegie recommends to everyone trying to gain friendship and respect: "Let the other person do the greater deal of talking."

I now feel that anyone accomplished has no need to prove themselves. In truth, they are the ones sought after, the ones respected and well thought of. I have to admit, after learning this I realized how insanely selfish it is to talk away and try to impress the other person. It's kind of embarassing to know that I am being tolerated. Needless to say, I need to learn the art of not talking enough and listening too much.

Change...me

"Changed" in its elementary form is good. I feel like I have changed a lot in my life. I have so many things left to change that seem so rudimentary to a common day; things that may be simple to so many. Why can't I conquer these changes? Where is the far-reaching-thought-provoking ideas and dreams that I had when I was younger? When did they leave me? I have to admit that they are still there...dormant in the recesses of my mind; surfacing when stimulated by any sense familiar or dream born.

In truth, I remit a few moments that I have wished to be smoothed away on the stubbed surface of time passed, but other than that they are experience in its ignorance and infancy. I find myself looking deeper. There is something great and mystical about being alive, constantly accumulating. I know that if and when I am old and dying, when my teeth are gone, my eyes shut wide open, when taste has surrendered to my tongue its last favor, and my mind rendered an empty box that my vivacious soul will remember what I have done, and I will come to the same conclusion that I have come to today...

I have learned and learn. Feel free to substitute any other action verbs you have.

Gas'y Ice Cream

Yesterday, for 20 minutes, I sat in Art 101 and painted a huge piece of paper completely black. At this stage we were then asked to draw things with our eraser.

Not one person mentioned 9/11 yesterday. Not one. I saw a couple hundred people and not one mentioned 9/11/2001.

Ice cream makes me sound and feel funny. I think I am intolerate. It hurts. It really does. The cheese, ice cream, and cow drained products...all casterated from my life. I'm going to eat them anyways.