The Next Step

From day one we have been prepped for "the next step". From potty training to college graduation we've had our hands held in hopes of making decent progress onto the following chapters of our lives. Once the advancement has been made we are showered with praise. Our first steps, mastering basic arithmetic, parallel parking, all the way to advanced biochemistry that only surgeons or jeopardy contestants would be privy to. We've earned this praise though. After all, it hasn't been easy getting this far. Our goals that we set for ourselves may be high, but it's all about trying to achieve our full potential. However, eventually the ones that have led you all this way have to step back and take the back seat. You're the driver now and quite frankly, it's terrifying as hell.

They say that 'the college years' are the best years of your life. If that's so, then I'm about to peak at 22, and it's all down hill from here. I'm staring at the rest of my life and the decisions that I have to make right now are more than overwhelming. Suddenly I'm realizing that I have 10 months left before the script of my life is blank and I have to start writing the next page by myself (literally and figuratively). While this may be somewhat of a daunting task my Wanderers, remember that you are not alone. Things are going to change. Period, plain and simple. I will tell you this though. The true friends that have stood by you for so long are still beside you, just as you are right beside them.

The truth is we don't peak at 22, 35, or 40. There might be an "Over the Hill", and 20 may be the new 30, but I'm going to live each day the way I want and argue, until the day I die that we never "peak." Our lives are a constant series of ups and downs and we just have to sit back and enjoy the ride. It's hard enough to try and start this journey into "the real world," but doing it by yourself would be a hardship above all others. Cherish the friendships that you've made and remember that no matter how far you may be from each other, whether it be the next town, the next state, or the next continent, that those people will always be there for you and that it's only a matter of time before you see them again.

You remember that time that you stood on the corner to wait for the bus in the freezing cold, only to realize that you'd missed the last one by an hour and had to walk all the way back? Or how about the time that you took one shot too many and your best friend patted you on the back while the coolness of the toilet seat felt like home against your flush cheeks? Who could forget the time that you stayed up playing "Kings" around a self designed coffee table until four in the morning, knowing that you had a nine a.m. class. The time you all hiked and complained the entire way up, only to realize how much closer you had gotten, dangling your feet over the edge of the cliff and stared out, silently, over the pristine untouched landscape that seemed to stretch out forever.

These memories are what make 'the college years' so incredible. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Take all of these and allow them to fill you up as you take this next step into the real world. It's not going to be easy, I assure you. The world has a way of smacking you down just when you feel like you've gotten a grip on it. When you feel like you've been beaten down, that the world has had it's way with you and you're not getting a second chance, remember all of those good times from before and know that you're going to be just fine. Keep getting up and make new memories. There might be new traditions on Christmas, altered acceptance of drinking habits during weekdays, and certainly trials and tribulations that will test you, but I know that each and everyone of you has the ability to take that "next step" and come out on the other side smiling.

The Last Goodbye

I've always been a nostalgic person. Anyone that knows me could easily vouch for this, hell, just read any of my blog entries. I don't consider this a bad quality, but sometimes holding onto certain memories becomes excruciating . Sometimes I can grip them so tight that reality becomes distorted, the past remains unbearable, and the future is just too much. I pride myself on this quality however, no matter how unhealthy it can appear at times, it's simply something that makes me, me.

The goodbye is always the hardest part:

You hug your family goodbye after Christmas dinner. Stuffed to the brim with ham and pasta salad you must now embark from relative to relative to say your farewells and good nights. After you receive a crippling bear hug from your uncle, you continue to hobble onto the next aunt or cousin in hopes of a gentle embrace that will grant you some reprieve. It's not that a hug is a bad thing, there's just so much love that it can hurt sometimes. It's these things that you will come to miss.

You go to your best friend's "Bon Voyage" Party. As you drive there you casually remind yourself to not lose composure. The night will consist of board games, dinner, and gossip for dessert. All the while that goodbye is creeping up on you; you know that this night cannot last forever. After an overwhelming long hug, you wave goodbye from the car as you back out of the driveway. Sometimes all you can do is smile to avoid falling apart. The Lumineers play softly from the speakers; tears blind you as you swiftly dip out of sight and merge back onto I-64.

You sit on your bed and watch him mouth the words "It's over." The hair on the nape of your neck stands tall, like soldiers on the front line, your stomach takes residency next to your Adam's Apple, and all you want is the one thing you can't have, the love you just lost. You tell yourself it would have been easier if you had some warning; heartbreak, however, is never something that needs foreshadowing. It's a reality that hurts, and a goodbye that is even more painful to swallow. 

You wait in a room filled with the ill. Stomach bug in row 3, twisted ankle three seats down, and a nurse hurriedly running down the hall, clipboard in hand as a muffled voice echoes haunting calls of distress over the intercom. You blankly stare at his old face, his white lab coat gleaming back at you, and the word "Cancer" still bouncing around the inside of your head. You hold her hand and tell her "Everything will be alright", even though you have no medical training. Hope is the only medicine in your pharmacy. She gives you the best smile she can muster as you squeeze her hand tighter.

My Wanderers our paths are not always clear. We merge from paths to streets and from roads to countrysides, never with signs or a GPS. We are constantly forced to do the best we can with what we have. Isn't that what makes us such colorful people though? In life, there are no rule books and no maps of the future. We write it ourselves. I know it's hard sometimes, it's hard for me too; goodbyes are just a difficult part of life. This doesn't have to be as bad you make it out to be though. You do have some power here, so take it. 

The trick to saying goodbye is not dwelling on the mystery of the future. Do not revel in the ominous. Instead however, think of every good time that you had together. I know that sounds cliche, but it's so helpful. Saying goodbye is hard enough as it is and being depressed won't change a thing. You can choose to be happy or you can choose to be sad. The day will seem a whole lot brighter when you smile instead of frown. Take a step forward my Wanderers. Each day is a challenge and I know you can overcome them. Hold onto those beautiful memories forever, never lose them. Let the others go and be free from your sadness.

Always be a shoulder to cry on for others, and always be thankful when someone offers you one in return. It is so much harder to go through this alone so don't turn away the people you care about most. Just remember that this too shall pass. We will get through this one day at a time. You just have to remember to enjoy the time that you're given and look forward to making new memories. When you're at your lowest, look up, because that's exactly where you're headed. Keep wandering, we'll all get to where we want to go in the end.

Keep Calm and Shine On

It's not like how they show it on TV. The span of an entire illness comes to a conclusion in a very comfortable 45 min. Programs even have commercial breaks in between all the drama to allow yourself the opportunity to further comfort yourself with a trip to the bathroom or a quest for that bag of peanut M&Ms in the cabinet. Within minutes of air time, the tests that had previously been performed are ready; the hot nurse returns to the wise doctor's office and hands him the file as he looks for his glasses in the pocket of his oversized white coat. A quick, witty exchange and then it's back to work. The rooms are always nicely lit with the Hollywood touch and everything is pristine and new. The floors are shined, the nurses are sweet and compassionate and the doctors somehow all look like GQ models. Hollywood, right?

The real world though is not Hollywood. The halls of a hospital smell like rubber gloves, 409, and the overwhelming smell of sub-par chicken broth. The waiting is gruesome and agonizing. The nurses mission is to get in and get out. There's no encouraging side comments, where the patient suddenly has an epiphany with the nurse about "What it all really means." Some are curt and unresponsive. Others are Chatty Cathy's with the inability to take a pause, let alone a pulse. And then there are those who are polite and kind and know exactly what to do. Now I can say whatever I want about their performance, but at the end of the day they are there to do a job, not to make friends. I can respect that. At the end of the day it's not their friendship that I'll leave with. If they do their job, then I get the auspicious privilege to take the person that I'm visiting--home.

You'd like her if you knew her. She is the most remarkable person I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. Her laugh is infectious and her love is unconditional. Her talents: rearranging furniture, designing excellent "goodie trays", and wreath beautification. Her weaknesses: a good Dan Fogelberg song, feeding people until they had to scale back a notch in their belt, and having pictures hand framed and hung on the wall (just right). She's my mom and has given me absolutely everything that I could ever need and then some. Now it's my turn.

My mom is strong. She is the kind of person that would turn down help, but follow with "Do you need anything?" or "How are you doing today?" Life has thrown me a curve ball though. When they told me she had cancer my entire world stopped. The word kept playing over and over in my head, and I couldn't grasp it's meaning. Did I break down? I'll answer that with the quick retort, "Is the sky blue?" I inherited her strength though and from here on out you're looking at a 6'4 "Iron Man". I have found that in times of true upset though, you see the most pure, beautiful side of people. It's a raw compassion molded into cards and thoughtful prayers. All of them stacking on top of the other, building up a mountain of positivity that I dare you to try and conquer. My family and friends are incredible and we are such an unstoppable force. There is a magic about this family that is unbreakable. We don't know how to give up and we certainly won't start now.

My Wanderers, life can change so very quickly. I have "preached" in these past blog posts about seizing the day and it couldn't be any truer. Take the time and appreciate everything that you have and especially the people that are so important to you. Be strong. Take the storm and turn it into sunshine. Light up the world with your positivity. The human spirit is truly amazing and is capable of so much. This is life. It's messy, complicated and often times not what you expect. But with positive thinking, group support, and a whole lotta love, anything is possible. "The path may be long and treacherous, but I am here to hold your hand and guide you to the finish line." I'm ready, so take my hand and let us begin.

The Emotional Connection

Life is beautiful. I couldn't describe it to you; for everyone needs to see it and experience it for themselves. However, there is a gift we possess that conveys this beauty. This gift cannot be wrapped, seen, or even bought, but it can be felt. Emotions are our gift. The power to feel so much love that you would rather cease feeling than to be without it. To experience so much hurt and pain that you buckle at the knees for fear to go on. And to feel so helpless that you don't know where to turn or at best, where to begin. I will tell you what my Wanderers. I see these not as plagues, but as privileges. A responsibility that we are all hard wired into accepting and should never condemn, but more so to embrace. The power to feel, even when it's pain, is the beauty to live. And that beauty should not be overlooked.

Let's be honest, life is hard. More than that, life can be all but impossible at times. A widow working three jobs to put two kids through college. A mormon missionary who is excommunicated from his church for being a homosexual and then sent to a camp to convert him to "normalcy". It can seem unfair and brutal, but there is a bigger picture. Now I would not consider myself a religious man, but I am a firm believer in fate. I believe that for every single one of us there is a plan. A light at the end of the tunnel that is sometimes blocked from sight, but never extinguished. An ever burning hope that things are going to get better. So I ask of you, that when things seem dreary and that light cannot be seen, please do not give up. Work through these woes and uncover that flicker of hope again. It doesn't matter what rut you may feel yourself dwelling in, there is always an out. A life-vest on a sinking ship. A ladder from a burning building. We are all meant for so much more, and those lights are never far from sight.

Now as humans, we reside in our comfort zones. Never wanting to upset the balance of what is accepted or challenge rules that appear to be set in stone. However, something is lost when we isolate ourselves. Connectivity. We confine ourselves into our perfect little stereotypes and do not wish to step out and experience others. We read people the moment they walk through the door. Judge the ground on which they walk before they have a chance to open their mouths, and it is in those seconds where we allow them into our content little space or we shut the door and flip the deadbolt. I'm not chastising anyone by any means. We are all human after all. But we do owe it to ourselves to allow this connection back into our lives. To talk to people and experience new things. Embrace people for exactly who they are and never for a moment pass up on opportunities. Now I wouldn't advise embracing the "bath salts" guy who ate that homeless man's face off. For one, I just don't approve of such foul play. And two, you might get your face eaten off as well. The point is though to allow your comfort zone to stretch. Or better yet, to lift off your shoulders so that you can see the world with some clarity to the reality that surrounds you. There is so much out there to discover and try. Don't limit yourself. Go out there and see for yourself. Allow those emotions to pour out and feel alive.

I can sum up my point with something of a metaphor. Have you ever looked at a comic strip? Not read it, but held it so close to your face that the pictures became nothing more than little dots. Life is kind of like that sometimes. We may not be able to see past the mere pixels on a page, but eventually, we pull the image back just enough to discover the entire picture, and somehow everything makes sense. Each connection that we make, and each emotion that we have is a singular dot. We are all part of the big picture so allow yourself to step back and see it. May these emotions that you have only bring you closer to the people around you. Connect with others, don't be afraid. Live out loud. And above all, be the change you want to see in the world. That picture is a beautiful thing and I'd hate for you to miss it.

The Importance of Ideology

A sophomore at Harvard, in the Fall of 2003, had a falling out with his girlfriend. Drunk and in a tired haze, he developed an idea. The idea was to compare pictures of female undergrads to each other and have students rate them based on their physical attractiveness. This was clearly his way of coping with his recent breakup however, the site went viral in a matter of 4 hours and generated enough activity to actually crash the Harvard system. From there he would go on, with the help of investors and friends, to develop the greatest social networking site of all time, facebook.com. Now this should not be perceived as new information to those who have seen "The Social Network", but Mark Zuckerberg, at the age of 28, is now valued at 19.1 Billion dollars and was a billionaire before the age of 25. All of this stemmed from an idea, and this idea changed the world.

The earliest memories that most of have from our childhood involve make believe. Playing "Cowboys and Indians" in the backyard or "Barbies" with elaborate "soap-opera"inspired dilemmas. All of us were dreamers. Are dreamers. Fueled primarily by the depth of our creativity and the attention spans which we possessed, we all created our own little worlds. Growing up, however, takes it's toll on the creativity and functionality of a young persons mind. A moment comes in every persons life where it is no longer "cool" to fantasize and dream, and from there layers of creativity begin to peel away. Eventually we get older and where do we end up? In a cubicle lit by florescent lights and chat about the winner on "American Idol", then proceed to leave our mediocre employment in our overly priced SUV's (which we can hardly make the minimum payments on) to end up at a dinner table with undercooked chicken and insomnia when our head hits the pillow. Not a shred of creativity remaining. Think about it. Is that the life you dreamed up when you were a kid? Where did our imaginations go...?

Now I'll settle with you. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a desk job. It keeps dinner on the table and keeps a roof over our heads. Over half of available jobs out there are working in an office building and with unemployment in April 2012 at 8.1%, I'd be satisfied with simply having employment. With this said though, there is a problem with running through each day in a cyclical fashion. Not stopping once to think outside the box or revel in the ideas of what could be. That is the point I'm trying to make. Dream my Wanderers. That next big idea is out there, so take it. What's wrong with dreaming? No one can take it away from you. The power to create and to invent has become a lost art and should not be overlooked and certainly not be taken for granted. Everyone is special, and everyone has the ability, just like Mark Zuckerberg, to change the world. The power is in your hands, don't let it go to waste. 

We are the now. The products, websites, and new inventions that people will be talking about in the years to come will be made by us. We hold the key to our future and clench the power to make a difference. I'm not talking about money, fame, or notoriety either. I'm simply getting down to the fundamentals of exercising our own minds and branching out into the vast world of creativity. Let your imaginations run wild my Wanderers and let's see how much we can change in the next 20 years. Wander through the wide open and unchartered to discover what no one else can. Open your mind up to new possibilities and learn about the things you don't understand. You only get one shot at this life. Let's see if we can't put it to good use and one up Mark Zuckerberg to our ideas that we've yet to discover.

In "Light" of Recent Events

On April 16th 2007, 32 people woke up as if it were any other day. They hurried out of bed and prepared themselves for yet another mundane day on Virginia Tech campus. Some rushing out with no time to clean up their dirty dishes or make their beds with the notion of "I'll do it later" lingering on their lips. Stepping out of their dorms or walking out of their apartments to catch the bus, there was a noticeable chill in the air. A flurry or two scraping their faces as they whisked themselves off to class on time. Without warning, or reason their lives would unknowingly end soon after... There is a great question we ask ourselves all the time, "Why?" Why this? Why here? Why now? The answer is simple. There is no reason. Life hands us hardship upon hardship and through those we gain strength in ourselves to press onwards. I'll tell you what though, through the ashes and memories of these 32, I myself have witnessed something truly beautiful. Hope.

My Wanderers, I ask you to take a moment and reflect upon the events of your day. Now let me ask you this, did you live each second to it's fullest, truly and undoubtedly breathe in each moment as your last? I'm not talking about any of this "YOLO" shit either. I'm saying did you take the time to appreciate the air in your lungs and remember that you are so lucky to be given this day? As creatures of habit, we settle into our routines. Wake up. Eat. Go to class. Eat. TV. Workout. Homework (if the mood should strike). Bed. Never pausing, however to stop and take a look around and truly be thankful that even in the dullest of settings, you have the ability to carry on. Hell, I'm guilty of the same thing as I go through my day, head down, simply saying, "Let's just get this over with."What I'm trying to convey to you though is that we need to take more time just to appreciate what we have right in front of us and not dwell on the things that we cannot change. It's simply torture to continually going around consumed in the negativities in life. Smile, for you have a lot to smile about.

Over the past few days I have watched my total understanding of human nature shattered in front of my eyes. I watched as complete strangers banned together in respect for one cause. Participating in the "3.2 for 32 Walk for Remembrance" truly shook me. The energy that pulsed through this sea of people was electric. You could feel it, hear it, and understand it. It pulled you in and I couldn't help but be moved by it. Nearly 5000 people walked 3.2 miles to remember the lives of 32 brave men and women who were taken so quickly, yet the mood was anything but somber. People, of all races, genders, sexualities and personalities, banded together, and for a short time there was nothing but this. A glow that you could see on the faces of each man, woman and child, and through each of them, this crowd shined like the sun. Their energy was contagious and soon I found myself consumed by it. An inner warmth that burned through all of my sorrows and replaced it with uninhibited love.

On the anniversary however, April 16th 2012, 5 years had passed and I stood in front of Burruss Hall, on the Drill Field and watched in awe at the sight that lay before my eyes. The air was warm and again I felt that contagious energy rushing through me as I listened to each speaker. Sends chills up the back of my neck just thinking about it. I choked back tears as the crowd grew larger and the list of names continued to be read. Upon the conclusion of the readings this energy took a new form. Candle lightings from neighbor to neighbor ignited a roaring wave of hope from person to person. Looking out over this sea of light I became lit, lit with the notion that I belong here and this is my family. Pride welled up inside of me as the chants of "Let's Go...Hokies" echoed from all corners of the crowd. For the first time, I watched a group of 10,000 people, put down their problems and join together to continue the healing for this incredibly strong community. 

So tomorrow, take the time to look at the world around you. Try something different. Explore both sides to an issue before jumping to a conclusion. But above all, make sure that you tell the people you love each day just how truly special they are to you. I guarantee you that 32 families would love to be able to do the same. Hold a place in your heart for those lost and neVer forgeT the strength of people. We are one nation, one state, one city, who live for 32. We will prevail and succeed over the hardships we are put through every day and get up when we fall. We are all Virginia Tech. 

Serendipity

The dark will always find the light. We Wanderers cruise through our lives in search of answers. Desperately seeking the knowledge to life's great unknown questions. From the earliest moment that most of us can remember up until the day we die, we dwell on a single question, "Why?". Why is it that we contemplate on the things outside the realm of our control? Torturing ourselves with the answers outside our grasp. The answer is simple. We are creatures of knowledge. Constantly in demand of knowing what we don't understand or finding out the answers to our questions. A thorn in our side that constantly keeps us moving on; it makes us thirst for the acknowledgement of the things that we could never hope to come to terms with.

I offer you, my Wanderers, a new reflection. How about the notion of Serendipity? Webster says that serendipity is "an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident". Think about it. We all dwell on the past, constantly saying that there is no hope for the future. Truth be told, if we live our life through the experiences of our past, that's probably the right answer. What about this though? The answer is out there for us, we just don't need to go looking for it. At the right time and place the answers to all of our questions will land right in our lap, typically when we least expect it. I ask you, like I myself have had to do, to remove yourself from your current trifles. Look at your life from the outside in. What is it that you see? I guarantee you that no matter how much you have it "all figured out", the answers that you've been searching for are still undiscovered.


I'm tired of searching and I imagine you are too. No longer do we need to put ourself through so much angst. So much uncertainty is out there, yes. However, with this said, we are still human. We are meant to grow and make mistakes. Through these struggles and coming out on top through overwhelming odds we undoubtedly find out who we truly are. Laugh at the struggles in your past, because you know what? You're still here. You're here to step up and fight another day. Waving your sword of confidence and wisdom, you stand tall knowing that the good days are so close you can taste them.


Wanderers it is your turn to make me proud. Turn up the volume up on your life. Dance, sing, and find the joy in all the things that life has to offer. Never wish to grow up too fast. These days are meant to count too. So let us all take a moment to breathe. Remind ourselves that life is serendipitous, like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get. I promise you, the moment you stop looking, those answers will land gently on your lap, and you will be able smile at all the bad times you have had to go through to get to this place of utter bliss. Like a feather on a breeze, we too will fly. Let's take this time to be swept off our feet, only to come down when we find ourselves in a place of true happiness. This is your time. Take on new challenges and march up to things outside of your comfort zone with arms wide open. Embrace life with every ounce of strength that you possess and make sure you remember that you are perfect just the way you are.