momma's boy

Have you ever gone over to a friend's house, or were just watching people out on the street, and wondered what things would have been like if you had had their parents? For me it is kind of perplexing sometimes. I'm not sure I could handle even living in some of those houses. Other times I sit there and wonder how I would be different if I was raised there in that family instead of in my own.

I must say though, that any way that I look at it, it makes me so much more grateful for my family! Sure we have our moments of friction, and my little brothers can get on my nerves... but really, they are perfect for me. They are just the people I need around me, to associate with, love, grow with, and learn from. I'm where I am for a reason, and I'm happy with that.

Sometimes the reason is to do something, to help others grow. Sometimes it is to get help. But wherever you are, be happy with it. Try to make it better. Encompass all the scenarios and you'll never miss out:

Always be searching to serve, but looking to learn.

tastefully done

The other day I was out to lunch with my family and with my grandma, and she made the comment that she is liking less and less foods now. It's kind of like you only like so many foods as a kid, then like more and more as you grow older, then as you mature further you like less and less again, going back to the good stuff.

Tell me though, why do people bother to 'acquire tastes'? If we don't like something, there is probably a reason for it. Let's look at some extreme examples-- smoking. Who likes to breathe in smoke? Not me, that's for sure! So why would someone bother to do something they don't like over and over again until they like it? Especially when they know it's bad for their health? Same thing goes for drinking alcohol, or doing any other drugs!

But really, why do we do that? It's like you eat something, and have to spit it out because it's so disgusting, and then you're like "hmmm, that was revolting. I think I'll do that again!" and again... and again... But since it would appear that we revert back to our original tastes, do you know what I think? I'm pretty sure that we never actually like those acquired tastes anyway. We just trick ourselves into thinking that we do. The motivation? I hypothesize that it is just for the social standing or refinement that we associate with those tastes. Really we should just be realizing how silly those uppity people are for bothering to try to like those gross things!

I think I will stick with my fruits and veggies, which I like, and are the best for me anyway!

That reminds me of another thing.. why do we torture our bodies even further by not getting enough sleep? Like I can understand once in a while, getting something done or whatever. But why do we resist our body's effort to help us get the rest we need? Or anything else, for that matter! Our bodies know so much better than we do consciously what we need. So we should listen to them! We'd be so much healthier and happier if we did! So on that topic, I'm going to sleep. Goodnight world!

what difference does it make?

There are times when I have these great profound thouths and feelings, but I have the most difficult time putting them into words. This is one of those times, and I'm just not sure what I want to say. It's kind of lie there is a whole level of understanding, that goes on above and beyond words. You know what I mean?

Well here goes nothing:

There are times when we may think "what difference doest it make?" Does it really matter if you are kind just this once? Is opening the door really that important this time? Is sponsoring just one kid over in Africa really gonna matter all that much? These kinds of questions can go spinning around forhours, and you can look at the bigger picture and see that they really don't mean a whole lot.

Well let me tell yo something: you may be looking at the bigger picture, but you are definitely not seeing the whole picture. Let me give you an example. It is pulled from a religious experience, but it is widely applicable.

There was an LDS missionary who worked hard and diligently on his mission, every day for two years. He did the very best that he could, but the whole time, he didn't baptize a single person. He felt like a failure. Years later, someone who had known this missionary went back to the towns that he served, and met with the people this missionary had taught. He made a record of all of the people who had been baptized because of his influence, and the people baptized because of their influence, and so on. I just a matter of years after this young man had completed his mission and returned home, thousands of people had been baptized because of his influence.
He had worked so hard, with all of his heart, might, mind and strenght, and yet he felt like he was going nowhere, like what's the point? But he continued. He came home feeling like a failure. But he led to the conversion of thousands of people, and led them to find something that made them happy. And that was just in a twenty years or so. His influence is still expanding today, all because he was constant and never gave up.

So even when you feel like what's the point, don't stop doing the right the, making people smile, helping people out. Because it may not see like it makes a lot of difference, but really, it can have all the difference in the world.
So I send out my thanks and appreciation to all those who participated in TOMS day without shoes today. Walking withiout shoes may not seem to make all that much difference, but a few years down the road, it may just have improved the lives of thousands, or millions of people, indirectly.
We may not see the effects immediately, or at all sometimes, but they are there. So again I say, don't give up. Never quite. Keep on keepin' on. Do the right thing, be polite, be helpful. Love your brother, and most of all smile.

YOU and make a world of difference.

the simple things

Why do we go around making things so complicated? When it comes right down to it, life is pretty simple. But because of our human nature, we complicate everything and wrap it all up in mists of confusion to such an extent that we don't even know how it should be anymore.

Here's an example of how we have complicated things, and how we can keep it simple. (Completely hypothetical situation by the way; I'm not telling anybody's story, especially yours!)
Lets say that you are embarrassed about something, and so you tell a small little lie to keep people from finding out about it. Not to big a deal right? Or so you think. As time passes, you end up needing to formulate new lies, or to warp the truth to protect your original lie. It's like peeling an onion in reverse: adding layer upon layer upon layer. And then what inevitably happens? Somebody smells that funky onion smell and hits the play button. Now instead of going in reverse, it's going forward and the lies are peeled away one by one, hurting people's feelings. Now you are so wrapped up in the yarns you told you don't know who knows what, people are mad at you, and it all just becomes a tangled mess. Now its like trying to peel a ball of yarn like that onion. It just does not go well!

How could it have been avoided? Well the answer seems simple now from this perspective: tell the truth from the start! And yet how often do we find ourselves caught in that trap?

Life can be pretty easy/simple if you let it. (That doesn't mean lazy though! Challenges always happen) Here all it would have taken was to have a little bit of integrity.
That integrity would go a long way! First of all, it would have made you tell the truth from the start, right? Then no more lies would have been told, peoples feelings wouldn't have been hurt, and life could have continued pretty much as before. But even better, with integrity, you probably won't do anything that incredibly embarrassing that you would lie to cover it up! You would be comfortable with your decisions. Here's a good guide to use to check your integrity: what would Peter's mom think if she knew?

I love my mom, and I'm grateful for her appreciation for the simple things, and the little things she does. She even reads my blog, which may not seem like a big thing really, but it means a lot to me that she wants to take an interest in my life.

So ask yourself, "what would Peter's mom do?" and remember to KISS

K.eep I.t S.imple S.illy!

driven to distraction

Graduation. Two months from yesterday. It's so close. And then it is time to move on in my life. Preparations are already starting. We're starting to review for AP tests, I'm preparing for final musical competitions, the hardest I ever have, I'm looking for an internship to fund college, and we're beginning to get ready for the actual graduation ceremony. Thankfully, I will have one final fling: at graduation, I will have the opportunity to conduct the band for a time!

How is it that when I already have more things to do than fit in the hours of a day I always go looking for more? How will I get it all done? One easy answer is to not waste any time! I always need to be doing something productive, especially right now. Plus that'll keep me out of trouble! ;) But the real answer is one step at a time. I can't expect to do it all at once. It will take doing, and patience, but I can do it! I need to do it.

It's really just a constant process. I know the things I need to do, but sometimes I get distracted. I know how to be happy, but sometimes I get distracted. I know how to be the best I can be, but sometimes I get distracted! So we just have to constantly be taking stock, and reminding ourselves what we need to do. This way we can do anything at all.

Anything at all

sore fingers

Well today I didn't get out much so I don't have any new pictures... but I did a lot of practicing today! I'll get to that later though.

Today was the first day back to school after spring break. That isn't really a pleasant change after having such a wonderful break, but it was good too. Oh! Here's a story I just heard yesterday that goes well with everything that I've been talking about. There was a little boy who wanted to become a great baseball player. So he practiced and he practiced and he practiced. One day he was out practicing, and started focusing. He was determined to hit the ball the farthest he ever had. So he tossed the ball up, and... it fell to the ground. So he picked the ball up and began focusing again, harder, even more determined to hit the ball. Again he tossed it into the air, he swung, and as it landed softly in the grass he began to look a little down. Well, it being baseball and all, he knew he had one more strike. So he squeezed his eyes shut, focused harder than ever before, took a deep breath, and once again, tossed the ball into the air. He took a great swing! When he looked down into the grass at the ball at his feet, the tears began to well up in his eyes.. but then a great big toothy smile split his face and he said "Wow! What a pitcher!!"
It's all about our perspective! So even though going to school today might not have been the most enjoyable thing after a relaxing break, it was great to be around all of those wonderful people! I got to smile at people and talk to people and lift people all around me again. So it was good!

Now, as for all that practicing--
I spent a lot of time practicing my guitar and singing, to the point that one of my fingers started bleeding, and and three others were incredibly sore. And yet I kept playing off and on, learning my songs better. Now I have to wonder, was it worth it? Is a couple sore fingers worth the happiness I'll hopefully bring to people I don't even know in the next couple days? Well I think so!

So ask yourself: what price are you willing to pay to make a difference?

Well here is a chance to see. Compliments of TOMS, there is a a day, April 8th, when they are sponsoring a day without shoes. Go check it out-

http://www.onedaywithoutshoes.com/

What price are you willing to pay?

new life

Easter. A day that traditionally marks the beginning of new growth and blooming life as the last remnants of winter give way to the full onslaught of spring. You know, you could almost use it like New Years. Reaffirm your resolutions to start again and be better. That's kind of what it's all about. If you do it often then you won't forget and you're more likely to do it. So choose to be happy all over again! Do it every single day!

Alright, so looking at this picture, there's a couple of things I want you to notice. First a little something from my trip again. While we were in Seattle we looked for gifts for my family and all of my siblings. The sweater I'm wearing is a sweater from Mexico that I got for my older sister. But I discovered some things about myself in the process. First off, since my dad was paying and so I didn't really have to worry about money I realized hat I wouldn't last long as a millionaire. I'd soon become a pauper. I'd give my money away using it for the benefit of others in the form of gifts and philanthropy. And not in the slightest to make a name for myself or show off that I have money, but just for the sake of helping people because I have the resources, and I really don't need that much. I discovered something else too though. Back to my dad's comment about me not getting a gift. It's because I feel any money going toward me is pretty much a waste, even though I would not hesitate to spend that same money on anyone else! I can be content with whatever I've got, and more than anything I want to be the one serving not being served.

The other thing about the picture is that I've got my guitar again! I'm almost ready to go try busking for real! I practiced a bunch today and I have a small arsenal of songs. Here's what I've got so far:

• We're Going to be Friends--Jack Johnson
• I'm Yours--Jason Mraz
• Hey Soul Sister--Train
• Grow Old With you--Adam Sandler
• 1, 2, 3, 4, --Plain White T's
• I just can't wait to be king--Lion King
• Somewhere over the rainbow--Iz

Plus pieces of two Brazilian boleros.
I'm so excited to try this! I just hope that my fingers last up to it.

a priceless gift

Yesterday, my dad and I explored all over Pike Place market and picked out presents for my family. Today my dad bought a hat then commented, "so far we've gotten something for everyone but you!" I got my gift though, and it was the best!

Part of our trip to Seattle kind of bombed.. we were going to go sky diving but the weather just wasn't cooperating! That's alright though, we can reschedule and try again another time for no extra cost. But the trip itself? Priceless.

I'm kind of into music and art, playing fourteen instruments or so, singing, composing, conducting, painting, drawing, photography... yeah that's me. Plus being really good at math and the sciences, but I don't focus on them nearly as much. Anyway, my dad is an engineer, and because of our differences in interests, we haven't always seen eye to eye. Sometimes we have trouble relating to each other, though we can find common ground in some of the technical stuff.
Today though, that kind of changed. Instead of going sky diving, we got to spend some time touring Boeing facilities, and going to visit Seattle's EMP both. Years ago, my dad worked for Boeing. And the EMP was for me and my musical, artsy side. The best though was just talking. He told me stories from when he worked at Boeing, and we talked about airplanes and engineering and the building and all sorts of cool stuff. He even told me the reason he worked for Boeing at all.

When he was little, he had heard stories about his father working at Boeing. Then coming out of college, he got an offer from them. The pay wasn't the best, but in weighing the pro's and con's he thought that he didn't really need to take that job, might've been better off with another one, but if he didn't take it, he would spend the rest of his life kicking himself, wishing he had, feeling like he missed out. So he did it.

All of a sudden, I knew that my dad understands how I feel. My situations may be completely different, like going to a concert or being a part of another ensemble, and we may not think we can relate. But now I know we can. He understands. That was a great feeling to know all of a sudden.

Later, we were stopped for a bit in a parking lot, and I jumped out of the car to take some pictures. He waited patiently for me to do it. When I came back I tried to explain why I do it, what it means to me. He surprised me again. He may not do the things I do, may not like all of the things that I like, but he understands what I say with them. He's encouraging me to do them, and he sees through MY eyes the beauty in them.

So to sum up....
sky diving: $250
really talking to my dad: Priceless

You can't put a value on family

just daddy and me

Have you ever noticed that when it’s all rainy and stormy and gross outside that you can get kind of down, especially if you have to be outside? Well it was SO blustery today in Seattle that my dad and I were leaning almost all the way over sometimes, and one time crossing the street the wind stopped us pretty much completely for a bit before we could forge on through it. Here is where the power of choice comes in though: I just had to laugh at the weather! Sure it was a pain, but you know what? I wasn’t gonna let it bother me. Instead, it was fun. I had a blast!

The trip to get to Seattle was pretty adventurous too. Let me preface that story with another one from this summer. It was the middle of July, and I was driving through the middle of Idaho, in the middle of nowhere, where it was very hot. All of a sudden, my car overheated, and my radiator blew. It didn’t just pop the cap off, it full out blew. It got a nice long crack in the side and so wouldn’t hold water really at all. Anyway, I was stuck on the side of the highway, a couple miles from any city, without any water for me or my car. Well I spent a lot of time there and kind of wish that someone would’ve given me a hand. I eventually got out alright, but still.

Here’s how that relates to the drive. We were going along great, but as we started to get part way, it started snowing pretty good. Well any time that I saw a car on the side of the road, I would slow down a bit and check to see if there were even people there, and if they had it under control, because I was totally ready to give them the help that I didn’t really receive when I broke down.

That wasn’t the only adventurous part about the trip though. I’ve now been introduced to something I hadn’t really seen before. Begging. At a gas station we stopped at there was a kind old black man who called me over to his car. He was the nicest, most polite person I met all day! But he didn’t have any money for gas. We gave him some. Then, later when we were walking along the waterfront, my dad was approached by two different people asking for money, and he immediately pulled what he could out of his pockets, whether it was just a few coins, or a few dollars.

A lot of people say they want to be just like their dad, and a lot of people say that they don’t want to be anywhere close. Well I would like to be like my dad. Not an engineer like him, maybe not do some of the same things, but definitely be as kind and understanding, as encouraging and uplifting, and as good of a father.

I love my dad.

busking in the sunlight

Well at first I had no idea what to write about today. I ended up getting up late, so I didn't even go on my bike ride this morning. Then I got up and worked on my car again for most of the day. I mean my longboard came which was very exciting and I tried it out for a while, but it just didn't seem like I did a whole lot! But I've got the perfect thing to talk about: busking.

Busking is street performing, like singing on street corners and that kind of thing. Well I've been thinking for a while that I would really like to go try it. Maybe try it out for a date, and go buy dinner with our earnings or something. At first I just thought it would be kind of fun to do. But now I guess I can see how much I've grown! Let me explain:

My family went on another picnic this afternoon, and since busking had been so much on my mind I decided to bring my guitar. I spent some time playing and singing on a bench in the park while my brothers and sisters went to go play on the swings. Well there were some little kids at the park too who I kept watching and I began to think.. it was a fun idea already, but it became so much more appealing to me when I discovered how happy I could make even just the little kids walking by, and hopefully their parents.

So having fun was a good reason to do it, but i found my nobler cause. Making those people smile and happy as they walk by. That's a good reason too I think :) I'm so excited for it! I also discovered that I need to expand my repertoire a little bit too though so that I don't get bored with playing the same music again and again and again...

But here is my challenge to you: if you see someone like me (take that however you want to! :] ) smile at them! It might very well make their day, which makes it totally worth it to you to try it out!