fluttering hearts

I was recently having a discussion with a friend of mine in which we were debating whether or not a soul mate really exists. This is something that's been on my mind for a while now, and I often hear people give up on love and stop trying to find the right person for them particularly at a very young age. My issue with this is the idea of a single person that is perfect for you is ludicrous, not because that can't possibly be true, but because there can't possibly ONLY be one person who is right for everyone. There are six billion people on earth doesn't it stand to reason that there is more than one person you would deem to be the perfect mate for you to spend your life with.  Like there is more than one person you've come across that you have extremely similar interests to you there has to be more than one person who shares the exact core values your looking for in a perfect mate, but maybe one guy has a mustache and one doesn't or maybe one of your perfect girls likes vanilla ice cream and one hates it, it doesn't matter. The fact remains that I strongly believe that for every person there is significantly more than one person that you find attractive, share core values with, and can spend the rest of your life with. With six billion options, there has to be, now whether or not you will come across these people who may be half way across the world is a whole other story. This brings up my second issue, I think one of the reasons we as people are so quick to give up on our search for love or feel that it is hopeless is the provincial lifestyle we tend to lead. We often forget just how vast the world is and how much it has to offer. We get caught in small bubbles or pockets of our own countries, states, towns etc. and don't realize that our perfect existence may be right there beyond the horizon in a brand new arena. So if you're truly dissatisfied don't blame love change your circumstances. Maybe you need a new neighborhood, city, or country. I know one thing life is too short to spend sulking and unhappy so chase your happiness because I'm sorry to tell you everybody, but no there isn't one person out there for everyone. But there's probably two... or more...

Ignorance is not Bliss

So I was just thinking about one of the things a friend said in response to a question I asked her, and it was that one of her biggest pet peeves was people who were ignorant, by choice, and this got me thinking and I have to agree. Now anyone who knows me, knows I can be confident, cocky, and even arrogant, but one thing you must also know is that I am the first to admit that I don't know everything and I certainly don't know enough about anything. I'm constantly curious, looking to learn, and know more because you only live once and there are just so many things to look into. Every person and everything has something to offer and I want to learn as much as possible. I think this is why I love debating and I even like losing a debate (like not love, I never love losing anything lol), because if I lose a debate that just means I've learned something new, changed my opinion, or strengthened my argument for another time. I honestly believe it is our duty as humans to never become complacent and always strive to know more and learn more because it's one of the things that makes life wonderful our ability to experience, analyze, and learn new things. Also by opening our mind up to new ideas we can break down some of our barriers, biases, and problems. I think of how curious and innocent children are and how often they can come to conclusions and solutions adults would never consider because they simply don't think in the same limited way we begin to as adults. I think it's important to find a balance with our rationality and curiosity, because if we can find a way to combine child's never ending desire to learn more with the rationality and logical nature of our adulthood imagine what we could accomplish. Maybe we could begin to truly think outside of the box to solve some of the problems we face. Also think of how much richer each and every moment of life would be if we were constantly and consciously learning and growing and striving for these things. With every moment being a new experience and new adventure we would be overwhelmed with new stimuli and would always be excited about the thrill of something new, like the anticipation right before you open an unexpected gift. Now don't you think that is something we should all strive for.

Awwwwwww it's adorable

So as I was having one of my genuinely stimulating intellectual discussions, I came upon the question  who is the cutest animated character, and I realized I simply can't decide, but there are certainly some contenders. First, I had to look at what makes a character cute. First they have to be visually appealing, preferably with some sort of  exaggerated features. Next they must endear themselves to the crowd with they're actions, expressions, and emotions. Finally they have to be memorable. So now let's just look at some of the characters that come to mind for contention of cutest animated character in the land. First come the minions from despicable me, with those massive eyes, that adorable language, and they frantic actions and constant mistakes they are certainly in contention. Next comes boo from Monsters inc. with her extremely exaggerated features, genuine innocence, and curiosity how can we not fall in love with this adorable babe. How about apu the every memorable and quirky monkey from aladdin, first he's a monkey, second he acts like a human, and he's dressed in a his own costume classic. What about the bunny from hoodwinked besides being an evil mastermind he was an adorable bunny with the those extremely exaggerated features, the cutest voice ever, and that delightful way he bounced around he was easily one of the cutest animated characters. Finally how about the dog from Up not only was he man's best friend, he could talk, and was ALWAYS excited he warmed the hearts of children everywhere and probably made sales for dogs go up nationwide. These are simply the five that first came to my mind and why I find them to be adorable, but what do you think who's the cutest animated character and why?

  

Generation Y

I was once told that a generation can be defined as a group of people that all share ages with in an one 25 year time span. So essentially you could say your generation would be anyone in your age group or 12 years older or younger than you are. The reasoning being is that this is about the range of people that can relate to and understand the same things as you. They grew up dealing with approximately the same things as you and experienced the same events and developments as you did. As I reflect on this Idea I'm beginning to think generational gaps are getting much smaller, things I was amazed to see created and developed children are now growing up with. Things I had to work to figure out and get used to kids are being taught how t use from an early childhood and use effortlessly and events I experienced and thought were significant and few and far between seem to be happening far more frequently. Now I don't know if it's age and more awareness or if things really are changing more rapidly, but it seems as though I can connect with a much larger group of people that are older than me, than those that are younger than me. While I currently feel like I can talk to, connect with, and relate to anyone up to about 45 years old before a significant generational gap becomes really apparent (as far as experiences and opinion) The gap is much shorter on the younger side it drops to about 16, now I also understand that anyone younger than that may not be at a point in there life where they want to connect or talk on a deep level, but I'm considering in the future. I feel like the age gap will seem so much larger when these kids get older just because of how fast things are developing now, as far as technology, and the ways we connect to the world, and other human beings. I'm not saying this is a bad thing at all just interesting. I feel like things will continue to change so rapidly that a three year age difference may seem like an 8 year one just because of the changes and developments that are made in that time.

Although I think this has made me appreciate my generation that much more. Not only because I see the vast array of things we are getting involved in, and the prospective ways we can change the world, or because I know I can look to these people for advice, help, and guidance, but because as generational gaps get smaller the things that connect our generation become so much more wonderful. A love affair with the first gaming system I would consider ours from the original Nintendo-the Playstation 2, or cartoons like the original power rangers, or red rover, yo momma jokes, or the Beenie baby boom. It is things like these and the memories we forged that will connect us forever. Further more this connection and a mutual understanding that you've probably been through some of the same things and had some of the same experiences can create a mutual respect between us, and allow us to help each other grow and develop as we begin our time as the dominant generation in the world. As we leave our legacy on the world, we will have to rely on each other as we are scrutinized by those younger and older than us, sometimes rightfully so, and sometimes not. But the important things is that it will be more than our credentials that will connect us it will be our bond as people and the generational connection we share will play a big part in that. We think like no others think, we act like no others act, and we will continue to live like no others live.

Gen Y love you guys!

Artistry & Audience

Yesterday I was having an overly analytical conversation about KanYe West, and my friend made a good point about rappers in particular, but I think it can be applied to most musicians and/or celebrities. His point was that the more success you gain and the more money you make the less your work (whatever that may be) will be relateable to the your audience because in essence your getting further away from their lifestyle. The further you get the harder it becomes to create work that deals with issues and topics that they can relate to and understand because you no longer understand them. I found this intriguing and very true because neither of the participating parties is dealing with the same things anymore. So from a content standpoint your work will inevitably suffer because the very thing that made your fans love you has now become absent from your work, but on the other hand from a creative standpoint you will now have the resources to do the things you had always envisioned and desired to create. If you are a rapper this means that inevitably the more successful you become the more and more your message will become diluted and lost, but your production value, beats, features, and extras will significantly improve and level off the disparity that is created and allow you to create final productions that your fans will still enjoy and love.

My question then becomes my question then becomes as an artist  or entertainer of any kind is it enough to merely make a product that is visually or audibly pleasing or to really create a masterpiece does it have to have further meaning. Since I consider myself an artist and spend ample time only focusing on the visual I would love to say it is enough to create things that are merely pleasing, but the truth is that's not enough. Don't get me wrong your creations can be merely audibly or visually pleasing and they will be appreciated, but I don't think they will truly captivate your audience like all artists aim to do. In order to do that you have to make them think, reflect, and analyze what you have created and why. Only then can you make the audience bring that work into their everyday life inspire them to change and think or do things they may never have considered before. Only then can truly create an impact and ignite change.

How then can an artist reconcile personal success while maintaining the same level of in depth message that got them to the level they are at. The truth is the only way you can accomplish this is to understand it, and to continue to strive and stand for more than just yourself, but for a greater purpose. You have to have an insatiable desire to stand for more than just a person, but for the ideals behind the person that you are, you have to surround yourself and constantly keep yourself connected to the issues that were important to you from the start and that made you who you are. In essence you have to remember why you started doing what you started doing, because rarely does anyone do what they do simply to become rich and famous, most people want to make a difference, an impact, to change the system.

Unfortunately most celebrities and people in the public eye forget this and we are often left with fantastic musicians, artists, actors etc. who create wonderful things that lack substance because they are simply too disconnected from their audience.

-Insights-