I don't drive a Volkswagen. Nor do I plan on it. I'm a pick up man (Joe Diffie anyone?). I suppose if they made a cool truck though, I would. Anyways, the folks at Volks have a really cool commercial out right now that is right up my wheelhouse. It's a bunch of people of all ages laughing, and at the end it quotes "It's not the miles, it's how you live them." Pretty baller marketing if you ask me.
When I moved to Nashville 4 years ago I decided I needed cowboy boots. So naturally I went online and found a pair. Outsourcing is cheaper as our Mexican friends have taught us capitalists. But 4 years later my boots have this badass, rugged and scuffed look to them. I've resoled them once already and I'm going to keep on resoling them because the more scuffed they get, the more miles they travel, the more character they have. Who wouldn't want to be badass, rugged and scuffed?
Same with jeans. I have a pair that I'm fairly confident have more patches than they do original fabric. I hope you do to. Because everyone knows jeans aren't comfy until they are almost worn out. In fact, nowadays the young whippersnappers buy jeans that already have holes cut in them. They are manufactured like Paul Bunyan has been wearing them for a couple years. Now, some people have beef with that, but it actually makes sense. As much as we love new things, we also favor the used look on our clothing. But why?
Maybe because we've seen some celebrity or person in the public eye do it, and have come to the conclusion we need to look like that too. Related but side note, I just read that Justin Beiber takes bath salt before he picks out what he's going to wear for the day. Always remember kids...WWJBNW (What would Justin Beiber not wear).
Not to compare the elderly to old boots or jeans, but we humans are the same way. We're cooler when we have traveled some miles and are a little rough around the edges.
We as a society have determined that the experienced look is cool. A lot of people appreciate someone that looks well put together. I'm one of those people. But would you really want someone that is physically and socially perfect? Absolutely not. And lucky for us, no one is.
Truth of the matter is, no matter how high our standards are for people, it can't be perfect. And that's awesome. A lot of the people that I deem as important, it's their quirks that I appreciate the most. That's their personality. Their character. That's why a lot of the times when we miss someone, it's their odd mannerisms we think of first.
Some people call them flaws, but really it's just a scuff or a fray in our personality. And that gives us individuality. The more comfortable you get with your scuff's, the more your personality becomes something other people envy.
So don't worry about making sure that identity of yours seems pristine, everyone is going to be a little rough around the edges. And now a days that's cool. So embrace those little imperfections in yourself and other people. Life will come easier.
In conclusion, just like our clothing and buying a Volkwagen, how we live these miles we travel is what gives us that badass, rugged look. Which ultimately will make us one cool old person.
New in my life: Taking on new responsibilities is synonymous with taking on new debt. I need to return a pie pan. Faith is a tough, but beautiful thing. It's warmer out west this time of year. Salad dressing is delicious.
Keep smilin'
JM
Monday, December 10, 2012
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Kryptonite Makes Me Sneeze
There's always that silly interview question of "If you could have a superpower, what would it be?" I always choose practicality and say "Instantly making stoplights green." But creativity tells me there's cooler powers out there...
Superman can fly. The Hulk is super strong. Spiderman can climb and wrap people up. They all have their one or two characteristics that they use to dominate. That may be personifying fictional characters, but there's a good comparison to how us peasantry can use a superhero's conundrum.
I've written about superheroes before. About how anyone can be someone's personal superhero on a daily basis. I dare you to go back and read it. This bloggage is more so about how you should focus on your own personal superhero strengths.
There's a reason people go and see Spiderman over and over again as it's remade. People love superheroes. They love to see the good guy win. When people leave a superhero movie, they want to take that euphoric feeling back home and somehow use it to be a superhero in their own little sphere of influence. Hell, when I got out of Karate Kid, I judo chopped 3 people. That last part is irrelevant and untrue.
In grade school most people do a cornucopia of activities at the same time. From basketball to baseball to choir to the debate team. But as we approach high school, most of us, for the sake of our parent's schedule and not spreading ourselves to thin, choose one or two extracurriculars to focus on. So naturally what sport or club do you choose? The one or two you're best at. Yep. And for 90% of us, that choice we make is not teaching us to pursue that sport or activity as a career, but simply to focus your efforts what you are ninja at. (ninja = really good)
Now sometimes super models get a bad wrap for being less intelligent than the average primate. But to be honest, that's perfectly okay. And you know what? Engineers usually aren't that great in conversation. Now those are stereotypes, so if you're a whiz super model or an extroverted engineer, cool your pants and go back to hence the words "sometimes" and "usually."
I actually respect the super model for not being as smart as the average bear. She's done what millions of people who suck at their job have failed to do. She's figured out her strength in life and she's focusing on it. If you're not an extrovert that's good with people, that's okay! You don't have to be in sales or on a stage. There's plenty of libraries that need to be kept in order. If you're not good with kids, don't be a teacher (that goes out to you Mr. Schmidt)
I love to see a doctor or an actor or teacher that are really good at what they do and totally enjoy doing it. They're not just following a paycheck. They've put some thought into their occupation choice. Boom.
You don't see Captain America jumping off buildings trying to fly. He knows his own strengths. As should you. So the point of this creative grouping of words is to remind you to evaluate what you're really best at. Hopefully you did it about the same time puberty played a part in your life, but if you didn't, give it a whirl these days. If you upwardly dislike your job or don't personally feel like a good fit where you spend a large chunk of your life, do a quick self evaluation of what you're really Superman at.
Choose your superpower and use it for good, not evil.
New in my life: If I visited Nashville, I'd recommend 6 points. Someone told me dime pieces are better out west. The bear necessities of life are much more than a baller Disney song.
Keep smilin'
Superman can fly. The Hulk is super strong. Spiderman can climb and wrap people up. They all have their one or two characteristics that they use to dominate. That may be personifying fictional characters, but there's a good comparison to how us peasantry can use a superhero's conundrum.
I've written about superheroes before. About how anyone can be someone's personal superhero on a daily basis. I dare you to go back and read it. This bloggage is more so about how you should focus on your own personal superhero strengths.
There's a reason people go and see Spiderman over and over again as it's remade. People love superheroes. They love to see the good guy win. When people leave a superhero movie, they want to take that euphoric feeling back home and somehow use it to be a superhero in their own little sphere of influence. Hell, when I got out of Karate Kid, I judo chopped 3 people. That last part is irrelevant and untrue.
In grade school most people do a cornucopia of activities at the same time. From basketball to baseball to choir to the debate team. But as we approach high school, most of us, for the sake of our parent's schedule and not spreading ourselves to thin, choose one or two extracurriculars to focus on. So naturally what sport or club do you choose? The one or two you're best at. Yep. And for 90% of us, that choice we make is not teaching us to pursue that sport or activity as a career, but simply to focus your efforts what you are ninja at. (ninja = really good)
Now sometimes super models get a bad wrap for being less intelligent than the average primate. But to be honest, that's perfectly okay. And you know what? Engineers usually aren't that great in conversation. Now those are stereotypes, so if you're a whiz super model or an extroverted engineer, cool your pants and go back to hence the words "sometimes" and "usually."
I actually respect the super model for not being as smart as the average bear. She's done what millions of people who suck at their job have failed to do. She's figured out her strength in life and she's focusing on it. If you're not an extrovert that's good with people, that's okay! You don't have to be in sales or on a stage. There's plenty of libraries that need to be kept in order. If you're not good with kids, don't be a teacher (that goes out to you Mr. Schmidt)
I love to see a doctor or an actor or teacher that are really good at what they do and totally enjoy doing it. They're not just following a paycheck. They've put some thought into their occupation choice. Boom.
You don't see Captain America jumping off buildings trying to fly. He knows his own strengths. As should you. So the point of this creative grouping of words is to remind you to evaluate what you're really best at. Hopefully you did it about the same time puberty played a part in your life, but if you didn't, give it a whirl these days. If you upwardly dislike your job or don't personally feel like a good fit where you spend a large chunk of your life, do a quick self evaluation of what you're really Superman at.
Choose your superpower and use it for good, not evil.
New in my life: If I visited Nashville, I'd recommend 6 points. Someone told me dime pieces are better out west. The bear necessities of life are much more than a baller Disney song.
Keep smilin'
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Suns Out, Guns Out
Life, put simply, is about barking up the right tree. They say in the wilderness, you can't survive on elk meat alone because it doesn't have enough fat content for the human body. That was an interesting fact to get your attention. In regards to hunting though, the bigger the game, the higher caliber of bullet you are going to need. We all should apply that weaponry lingo to our own lives.
The word caliber is used to identify different types of bullets, but also is a synonym for quality. Quality in reference to life, is given based on circumstances. Our circumstances are often times based on choices we make. So in essence, you choose your quality of life. (Let me throw out my personal disclaimer: I don't drive a pimped out Range Rover on 20's. Actually, most of you people reading this, have a higher income level than I do. But my job is better than a lot of people's vacation. Yep.) Once again though, money doesn't determine your quality of life. Your habits do. Example: A millionaire addicted to cocaine doesn't have a great quality of life. They simply have comfortable surroundings financially supported by their bank account.
In layman's terms, habits are how you go about your day to day life. I've preached about this in a few of my prior opinionated chapters. Like this one: http://www.joemosley.blogspot.com/2011/08/state-farm-who.html In this jaunt though, I'm not confabulating about specific habits but simply that you should improve yours. For all you readers who are perfect, disregard that last statement.
Now I've only been alive for a couple of decades or so, but I feel like I've ran into some really smart, successful people throughout my happenings. I've also had the pleasure of interacting with the other end of the spectrum. The difference between wicked successful people and those that don't bring much to the table? You guessed it, habits. Here's the definition based on the book of me: Habits(n): What you do and how you treat people. It's your demeanor, the way you carry yourself, your swag, for my R&B friends.
Remember the hunting speak from earlier? The bigger the game, the bigger caliber. Use that in life. Step up your game. Step up you caliber. Boom.
New in my life: It took a second to recharge from that. Being selfish is not a negative thing. 67% of my wardrobe has been given to me. Mexican food definitely became popular because of the free chips before the meal. Apparently I my thumb is green.
Keep smilin'
The word caliber is used to identify different types of bullets, but also is a synonym for quality. Quality in reference to life, is given based on circumstances. Our circumstances are often times based on choices we make. So in essence, you choose your quality of life. (Let me throw out my personal disclaimer: I don't drive a pimped out Range Rover on 20's. Actually, most of you people reading this, have a higher income level than I do. But my job is better than a lot of people's vacation. Yep.) Once again though, money doesn't determine your quality of life. Your habits do. Example: A millionaire addicted to cocaine doesn't have a great quality of life. They simply have comfortable surroundings financially supported by their bank account.
In layman's terms, habits are how you go about your day to day life. I've preached about this in a few of my prior opinionated chapters. Like this one: http://www.joemosley.blogspot.com/2011/08/state-farm-who.html In this jaunt though, I'm not confabulating about specific habits but simply that you should improve yours. For all you readers who are perfect, disregard that last statement.
Now I've only been alive for a couple of decades or so, but I feel like I've ran into some really smart, successful people throughout my happenings. I've also had the pleasure of interacting with the other end of the spectrum. The difference between wicked successful people and those that don't bring much to the table? You guessed it, habits. Here's the definition based on the book of me: Habits(n): What you do and how you treat people. It's your demeanor, the way you carry yourself, your swag, for my R&B friends.
Remember the hunting speak from earlier? The bigger the game, the bigger caliber. Use that in life. Step up your game. Step up you caliber. Boom.
New in my life: It took a second to recharge from that. Being selfish is not a negative thing. 67% of my wardrobe has been given to me. Mexican food definitely became popular because of the free chips before the meal. Apparently I my thumb is green.
Keep smilin'
Thursday, March 15, 2012
A Road Trip for the Nomadic Soul
The problem with planting vines is you never know where they're going to go. Unless of course, you guide them in the right direction. Same could be said about your goals.
I remember going on road trips as a kid. And the longest leg of the journey was traveling to the location. Maybe it was the anticipation. Maybe it was me being impatient. Or maybe it was the fact that as a self proclaimed Indiana Jones, I was heading into uncharted waters which made the final destination seem a lot further away. And as I've slightly grown up, I've realized it's the unknown part of exploring that makes the initial travel to somewhere take so long.
In my elementary and high school years, my parents would drive me twenty minutes into town so I could get my education at the private schools. (Yes, I'm one of those kids. And yes, I am better than you because of my first twelve years of schooling.) God bless Dan and Mary Jo. When I would tell the "city" kids that I lived 20 minutes away, they thought that seemed like eternity. But for me and my family, by driving it everyday, it seemed like a quick trip. You see, the more familiar you are with a route, subconsciously the less time it takes. Ya feel me dog?
Usually at this point, I will make a moral comparison to the topic previously stated. Wait for it....In my room there is a picture of a canoe on a lake and below it says "Success is a journey, not a destination." I've never understood the canoe part, but if you don't have clearly defined goals it's hard to have a destination to journey towards. And just like back in the day when I still peed my pants on the way to Disneyland, it takes a lot longer to get somewhere in life if you don't have the end prize in sight. And the more familiar you mentally become with your route (i.e. game plan) the easier it is to achieve. Yep.
So all you Ferdinand Magellan's gather up your life's compass, globe and Garmin so you can figure out a clear picture of where you're going. If it's the setting your goals part that's getting you in a tiffy, I vomited some words once upon a time that may help with that. Find those here: Aim Small, Miss Small
New in my life: I drank wine at a vineyard and lost my wallet. Jesus drank wine. I think that's why I found it back. The girl with the dragon tattoo definitely lives in my neighborhood. I've been buying a lot more pickles and running more yellow lights lately. I'm quite cool with both of those.
Follow me on twitter @mojosley for more self proclaimed wisdom.
Keep smilin'
JM
I remember going on road trips as a kid. And the longest leg of the journey was traveling to the location. Maybe it was the anticipation. Maybe it was me being impatient. Or maybe it was the fact that as a self proclaimed Indiana Jones, I was heading into uncharted waters which made the final destination seem a lot further away. And as I've slightly grown up, I've realized it's the unknown part of exploring that makes the initial travel to somewhere take so long.
In my elementary and high school years, my parents would drive me twenty minutes into town so I could get my education at the private schools. (Yes, I'm one of those kids. And yes, I am better than you because of my first twelve years of schooling.) God bless Dan and Mary Jo. When I would tell the "city" kids that I lived 20 minutes away, they thought that seemed like eternity. But for me and my family, by driving it everyday, it seemed like a quick trip. You see, the more familiar you are with a route, subconsciously the less time it takes. Ya feel me dog?
Usually at this point, I will make a moral comparison to the topic previously stated. Wait for it....In my room there is a picture of a canoe on a lake and below it says "Success is a journey, not a destination." I've never understood the canoe part, but if you don't have clearly defined goals it's hard to have a destination to journey towards. And just like back in the day when I still peed my pants on the way to Disneyland, it takes a lot longer to get somewhere in life if you don't have the end prize in sight. And the more familiar you mentally become with your route (i.e. game plan) the easier it is to achieve. Yep.
So all you Ferdinand Magellan's gather up your life's compass, globe and Garmin so you can figure out a clear picture of where you're going. If it's the setting your goals part that's getting you in a tiffy, I vomited some words once upon a time that may help with that. Find those here: Aim Small, Miss Small
New in my life: I drank wine at a vineyard and lost my wallet. Jesus drank wine. I think that's why I found it back. The girl with the dragon tattoo definitely lives in my neighborhood. I've been buying a lot more pickles and running more yellow lights lately. I'm quite cool with both of those.
Follow me on twitter @mojosley for more self proclaimed wisdom.
Keep smilin'
JM
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Personal Guesstimation
We all know the best way to catch a frog is by shining a light in it's eyes, and then sneaking up on it. Common knowledge. In fact, pythons will stretch themselves out next to it's soon to be prey just to size themselves up against their dietary colleague. I hate snakes. You following yet?
Now I'm not worried about what I am going to teach my kids someday. That's still a minute or two away. But I know something that every kid should have ingrained in them at some point is proper self evaluation. I'm a big fan of self evaluation. It goes back to the whole concept of growing as a person. Because we all know, if you're not growing, you're dying <-- cliche.
Proper self evaluation is a tricky thing though. Mainly because there are popular categories where it's extremely easy to size yourself up on this totem pole life we have. The biggest one is what drives most of the world. Money. How much income you have. That in turn reflects what flavor of car you drive and the kind of clothes you wear. And as we get older that translates into how big your house is, what school your kids go to, and how big of a trampoline you bought your offspring.
Level of income is the most common form of comparing ourselves to the people we surround ourselves with. Some people turn that comparison into jealousy. Other people use it as positive motivation. Either way is not my point. My point is our self evaluation shouldn't be based upon what we have but rather what we give back to others. I'm not speaking of feeding the homeless or contributing to our church. Don't get me wrong, those are great things to do. But what I am referring to is that when you wake up every day you should be focusing on making life better for the people you deal with rather than gathering up more acorns for your winter stash.
The concept is your self evaluation shouldn't be based on your possessions but simply how you treat other human beings in your day to day actions. This concept is actually pretty simple to use. Here's a few appetizers: hold the door for people, smile, make an effort to listen, compliment someone you don't like. Yep. Just saying, you shouldn't worry about holding a candle to yourself, instead check the batteries in the flashlight your pointing at others (shining light at frogs concept...a bit of a stretch, I know).
In Merica, everyone's entitled to their opinions. This is mine. Feel free to share yours.
New in my life: In celebration of Black History Month, I'm moving to East Nashville. I'm focusing more these days. AM Radio isn't a choice, it's a lifestyle.
Keep smiling'
JM
Keep smiling'
JM
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