Give Up, Don’t Give up
March 8th, 2009 • Comments »
News flash, people: Apathy is on the rise. As life continues to deliver the harsh blows, people are giving up on their ideals, hopes and dreams. The “I don’t care” mentality seems to become increasingly prevalent as people get older. Here in the small town in which I live, I constantly encounter people who work hard, pay their bills, go to church, and raise their kids, but without much else going on upstairs, or anywhere else for that matter. Not just the older folks, either. People of all ages seem to be losing their ability to think about and subsequently discuss anything beyond the realm of small talk, gossip, or who did what on their favorite reality television show.
Not that I am completely innocent in this regard. With a family of four, two full-time jobs, and a new house to take care of, I rarely have enough energy at the end of the day to do more than dive onto the couch and watch some mindless television show. But even so, I hate this behavior. I despise the way the world manages to suck up all of your time, money, and energy. Dealing with other overworked, underpaid people on an everyday basis is enough to make you want to scream. Think about it: when was the last time you were able to engage in a meaningful discussion about life, death, philosophy, or spirituality? It is sad to see the mass migration of clones jump into that lifeless, mainstream mentality of apathy and mindlessness. Continue »
Gloom and Doom
February 15th, 2009 • Comments »
There are so many things that everybody knows but nobody seems to to do anything about. Everybody knows that politicians are corrupt, but nobody does anything. Everybody knows that government is failing, but nobody does anything. Everybody knows that prices are increasing, but nobody does anything. Everybody knows that food portions are getting smaller, but nobody does anything. Everybody knows that products are being made more cheaply, but nobody does anything. Everybody knows that teachers are underpaid, but nobody does anything. Everybody knows that celebrities are overpaid, but nobody does anything. Everybody knows that kids are starving around the world, but nobody does anything. Everybody knows that mass media is biased, but nobody does anything. Everybody knows that everybody knows, but still, nobody does anything.
So don’t do anything then. Just sit there, nod your head, maybe reflect for a moment, and then move on to the next task on your to-do list. You know that you aren’t going to do anything to change the way things are. You know that you are hedging your bets to see how bad things will get before you have to give up your selfish lifestyle. Your selfish will. You know that things are getting worse, but you still just sit there and do nothing. Ignore the things you hear and forget the things you know. After all, things aren’t so bad when you don’t think about them. Continue »
Blog Your Voice
February 1st, 2009 • Comments »
I have been blogging for well over three years now. Throughout the process, I have learned many lessons and realized many important insights. From these myriad learning experiences, the one thing that seems paramount to me as a blogger is the importance of “blogging your voice.”
Although this may seem obvious to the more enlightened bloggers among us, writing with your true voice is probably the most important way to connect with your audience and attract new readers. A wickedly designed site may merit a bookmark. A popular post may warrant a second visit. A trusted recommendation may even garner a subscription. But ultimately, a great blog requires a great voice.
Strip away the fancy design, the amazing functionality, the advertisements, the banner, the logo, the animations, the buttons, the links — everything but the content itself — and look at what remains: your voice. Say what you will, it’s your voice that defines you.