Put On Some Shades

I'm writing you to catch you up on places I've been

  
Everything in the world operates with such delicacy and synchronicity.

Everywhere your eyes choose to admire, nature finds a way to surprise you.

Every living creature, no matter how big or small, crawling from point A to point B, for whatever reason, seems to understand its role in the world.

Even if you realize the grass isn't greener on the other side, appreciate the clouds that look like mountains in the sky next to a perfectly illuminated sun.

Taking photographs to brag about a free concert ticket or stitching together images to gloat about simultaneous events and uploading them to Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter have become a part of life.

Capturing the moment has become a new priority.

Sometimes, the moment captured is for confirmation of one's social status.

As naive and shallow as that may sound, it happens.

What about money?

Money has shed a new light since the beginning of college. It's appealing, but not fully satisfying.

Instant gratification, for sure.

If someone were to ask me three years ago, would you want three thousand dollars in cash or a three thousand mile road trip?

I would've said "Cash, baby. Cash!"

Sometimes, trips are better than money.

I failed to understand the importance behind discovering national parks or visiting museums when I was younger. 

I hated the annoyingly boring 2 hour car drives to Jax Beach filled with Bee Gees classics pumped through the speakers.

But yes, I am guilty of trying to synthesize moments.

10 years later, I catch myself snapping an absurd number of pictures rather than letting my eyes and mind wander to attempt to understand the intricate beauty of the world.

Now, I set my phone aside more often, while my face is glued to the side of whatever window I'm near.

And I stare.

Because I don't know when I will ever see clear, starry night skies or weird weather patterns again.

Or find the places I've never known before.

Since I'm not sure when this trip will end.


You should have seen that sunrise, with your own eyes. It brought me back to life.

You'll be with me next time I go outside.

No more 3x5s.

Just no more 3x5s

  

Cole Summer

In this Tallahassee summer, I don't need to pop a molly to start sweatin'. 

All I need to do is step outside in this mid-June, blistering heat and I’m sweatin’.

Imagine walking 5 steps! I don’t even want to picture running.

Woo!

But don't put the blame on the summer heat for our natural, human laziness. 

It's just easier to complete tasks that require less energy because it's comfortable. As a result, our air conditioning systems suffer greatly as each grind and clutter in their gray boxes to spew breaths of fresh, 68 degree air into our rooms. 

Eventually, our bank accounts also suffer because the light bill will most likely be in the triple digits. 

So, is it wrong for "maximizing" efficiency or is it okay to accept a spontaneous wave of laziness? 

Walter Benjamin's "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction" speaks of the importance of appreciating the presence of a piece of a work rather than photograph and the impact of human interaction of creating the reproductions. 

Benjamin writes, "During long periods of history, the mode of human sense perception changes with humanity’s entire mode of existence."  

You nailed it, Walter Benjamin. 

Each decade of time or "era" contains a certain lifestyle that matches the mode of existence. Simultaneously, our sense perception adjusts. 

In our case, the ridiculous acceleration of technology in the 21st century has affected our existence. Technology has become helpful and useful for the connecting people and distributing information quickly. 

Along the way, this technology wave became more and more useful for our daily lives. From answering machines and microwaves to iPhones and Netflix, the huge improvements make living heavenly. 

Facebook's, Instagram's, and Twitter's revelance in this "technological boom" is obvious as well.

These social networks are designed to keep people in touch, but also to share ideas and events. These sites have such a high upside, but a new problem arises. 

Physical, social interactions are at risk. Just as Benjamin tells us it is more important to be in the presence of a work to fully appreciate its value, our daily conversations are just as critical. 

Human interaction is important for our social development. The usage of these social networks, along with access to unlimited text messaging, have almost replaced the mode of communication, from in person to phone-to-phone.

We risk losing character, charm, and charisma, but smile at the thought of another glossy iPhone. 

Technology is designed to help our lives, not to be the sole focus of our time. Instead of complicating and dominating our lives, it should compliment and direct us in the right direction. 

So what if you sweat on your walk to the bus stop? 

Shy away from the laziness, unglue your eyes from the Apple-product screens, and remember people have been around longer than these cute machines. 

This could just be another phase. 

Because if we continue to continue in the direction of communication through social medias and cellular devices, we'll miss out on the beautiful moments of life.

You could get lucky enough to meet your favorite artist of all-time, as my friend Arisse did:

Arisse (right),  Rapper J. Cole (upper left) in VIP at Miami

 

   




















If we become distant socially, even with our advancements, we risk of letting our heroes down. The same heroes that encouraged us to make the world in the future a better place.

We have the resources. We have the technology. We have more than enough people.

We have to stay connected, not just viritually, so we don't disappoint our heroes. 

Right, LeBron James?

Changes

Changes scare the hell out of people. 

Sometimes, it creeps up on you unexpectedly. Other times, it comes gradually. 

And so the idea of something becoming permanent can be overwhelming for me.

Tattoos have always appealed to my brain. The variety of color on my skin has appealed to me, but I've always been hesitant. Even some of my childhood heroes' arms had more ink than the Berlin Wall prior to its tumble in 1990.

So, it would take every ounce of energy with a perfect idea for me to accept this challenge of getting a tattoo.

Instead, I search everyday for a sign or symbol that keeps me from staying in a routine.

My dark, brown glasses have a way of using my peripheral to find a direction to go in.

Changes.

What do you think, 2Pac?

One of the central topics of the 2008 presidential election between Obama and McCain. As a public, we are all searching for some change for more permanent success, individually and collectively.

We just have to make sure to not be as ignorant about facing change, unlike Mr. Kurtz and Marlow in Heart of Darkness by Ishmael Reed.

Ignorance of other cultures hinders the voyage the European characters undergo in Africa. This form of idiocy prevents improvement and progress.

Our generation is more aware than before.

Yes, our generation is also becoming sick of hearing about change, but it's only because we have a better understanding of our world and our individual significance on the globe.

Anyone can make a difference.

But we need to ensure the right changes are being made though. Otherwise, we'll just keep fucking up.

I dare you to take a step outside of your comfort zone.

Trying jumping off the highest high dive, eliminate junk food for a few months, or even apologize for the drunk dial you sent to your ex last night.

We'll make it through this seemingly never-ending list of problems our nation faces.

And during those days of built up frustrations and mind-numbing anxiety, a sign might come along and help change your thoughts.

We're headed in the right direction of changes soon