My one year old puppy is named Jack Lemon. Since my last name is Lemon, I thought that it would be cute to name him Jack. I like how his name is funny and at the same time I get to pay homage to the late, great actor. After all, my puppy is quite a character. One of the great things about pets is that they provide unconditional love.
I love my puppy, but every once in a while I may have a bad day or I am busy with homework and I can tell that he is depressed that I have not played with him. Usually, I will try to take a minute to play with him, so that he feels better, but there are days that I just cannot make the time. In these instances, Jack just lays on the futon behind me and stares at me with his sad, soulful eyes. Another common occurrence is when scheduling has not provided me or Lauisa (my wife) the time to stop by the house to let him out of his cage. He will give Lauisa and me the evil look and basically ignore us. In both of these examples, Jack’s demeanor can be changed by taking a moment to play with him. Once his tail starts wagging, he will stay in a pleasant mood for the rest of the night. Even though Jack gets upset with us from time to time, he always loves us in the end. Another great thing about Jack is the way he makes me feel as if I am the center of his universe.
The reaction that I receive from Jack when I come home from work and school every day is priceless. He demonstrates an appearance of sheer excitement and further embellishes on it with what I like to call, ‘the full-body wag’. ‘The full-body wag’ is when he does not stop with just a mere wiggle of his tail. His entire body begins to move from side to side. It gives me the feeling that I always brighten his day. I wonder if Jack realizes how much he brightens my day as well, since he always knows how to put a smile on my face.
Jack has become a great friend and an important part of our family. Now that he is a part of our life, I cannot fathom this life without him. I know that he will not last forever, but the impression he has made on myself and my family, will be long-lasting.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Spring
Yard work always seems to be more tolerable in spring. It is difficult to complain when one is surrounded by so much life. Just this last weekend I had a list of tasks that needed to be completed; some of which was very grueling work. But it is the feelings and images of my surroundings that made this day more significant.
It is a beautiful clear morning and the dew is still glistening on the blades of grass. The air is fresh and sweet with the smell of cut grass and flowers. Bumble-bees are in pursuit of pollen and every bird in the sky seems to be singing a song. A neighbor’s dog is barking in the distance and the children next door are playing outside. Off of my back porch I can see a huge spot of grassless dirt, which is where the prior tenant’s above ground pool sat. Zigzagging ruts made by the tractor can be seen all throughout the dirt. I grabbed the rake and began working.
Getting all of these ruts smoothed out is no easy task. The dirt is dry and hard, due to the rays of the spring-time sun. After some time, I found myself discouraged at how daunting this task is, but after a deep breath and a glance at my surroundings, I am at peace. After leveling the dirt, I began spreading the grass seed. I slung a handful at a time across the large stretch of soil. My inner dialogue is filled with statements like, “I hope this works” and “I can’t wait for a full yard of grass”. With the seeds in place, it is time to provide ample water to promote growth. The process of growing grass is a long and arduous task, but given the right conditions, one can appreciate some of the simpler things in life.
The feeling of accomplishment that one gets when working outdoors is second to none. This feeling, coupled with an inspirational back-drop is a formula to ensure a level of satisfaction and peace. Spring is a symbol of new life and rebirth. This is for good reason, since it is the one time of the year that I feel the most alive and attuned with nature. I wish spring lasted all year long, but I guess then it would not be as magical. I will just need to make the best of this spring and soak up every bit of it.
It is a beautiful clear morning and the dew is still glistening on the blades of grass. The air is fresh and sweet with the smell of cut grass and flowers. Bumble-bees are in pursuit of pollen and every bird in the sky seems to be singing a song. A neighbor’s dog is barking in the distance and the children next door are playing outside. Off of my back porch I can see a huge spot of grassless dirt, which is where the prior tenant’s above ground pool sat. Zigzagging ruts made by the tractor can be seen all throughout the dirt. I grabbed the rake and began working.
Getting all of these ruts smoothed out is no easy task. The dirt is dry and hard, due to the rays of the spring-time sun. After some time, I found myself discouraged at how daunting this task is, but after a deep breath and a glance at my surroundings, I am at peace. After leveling the dirt, I began spreading the grass seed. I slung a handful at a time across the large stretch of soil. My inner dialogue is filled with statements like, “I hope this works” and “I can’t wait for a full yard of grass”. With the seeds in place, it is time to provide ample water to promote growth. The process of growing grass is a long and arduous task, but given the right conditions, one can appreciate some of the simpler things in life.
The feeling of accomplishment that one gets when working outdoors is second to none. This feeling, coupled with an inspirational back-drop is a formula to ensure a level of satisfaction and peace. Spring is a symbol of new life and rebirth. This is for good reason, since it is the one time of the year that I feel the most alive and attuned with nature. I wish spring lasted all year long, but I guess then it would not be as magical. I will just need to make the best of this spring and soak up every bit of it.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Where Did The Time Go?
Exercising used to be one of my favorite activities. I exercised six days a week. Usually four days were devoted to weight training and the other two for Cardio-vascular fitness. I loved the feeling of accomplishment that came with exercise. But more intoxicating was the level of confidence that being physically fit generated. Unfortunately, life took over.
It is as if at some point I let my life dictate how I should feel and what I should be doing with my time. Work in itself takes up so much of one’s time that it becomes very easy to turn to a sedentary lifestyle. Even though my desk job lacks the need for physical stamina, it is the mental stresses that deplete my energy. Not to mention that I have to devote an hour and a half to two hours a day just for the commute. Include my college courses and all of the sudden, I am out of time. I know that these are just excuses, but they do have an effect on my state of mind.
I recently started back up on my exercise and I must admit it is definitely tougher than I remember. I still get the sense of accomplishment, but it will take a while to get all of that confidence back. Luckily, exercise is still a great deal of fun for me. I also enjoy the mental game that one experiences while working out. (Can I get one more repetition in? or I think I will try forty-five minutes on the treadmill today.) The internal motivation to grow is a powerful force. I am very proud of myself for starting to exercise again, but time constraints will continue to plague me.
I am having trouble finding a happy medium between work and fitness. Now I am exercising more, but I am also more physically drained. This makes some of my work hours more complicated as I sometimes fight to stay awake. Where does all of the time go? I know that life wasn’t always such a scramble.
I will do whatever it takes to get my health back, but it will be a long arduous road. I just need to maintain focus and avoid distractions. I also need to be sure that I reward myself occasionally for any small goals I meet along the way. And above all, “Don’t get discouraged.” It took a great deal of time for me to get into this physical state, so it will take me just as long to get out.
It is as if at some point I let my life dictate how I should feel and what I should be doing with my time. Work in itself takes up so much of one’s time that it becomes very easy to turn to a sedentary lifestyle. Even though my desk job lacks the need for physical stamina, it is the mental stresses that deplete my energy. Not to mention that I have to devote an hour and a half to two hours a day just for the commute. Include my college courses and all of the sudden, I am out of time. I know that these are just excuses, but they do have an effect on my state of mind.
I recently started back up on my exercise and I must admit it is definitely tougher than I remember. I still get the sense of accomplishment, but it will take a while to get all of that confidence back. Luckily, exercise is still a great deal of fun for me. I also enjoy the mental game that one experiences while working out. (Can I get one more repetition in? or I think I will try forty-five minutes on the treadmill today.) The internal motivation to grow is a powerful force. I am very proud of myself for starting to exercise again, but time constraints will continue to plague me.
I am having trouble finding a happy medium between work and fitness. Now I am exercising more, but I am also more physically drained. This makes some of my work hours more complicated as I sometimes fight to stay awake. Where does all of the time go? I know that life wasn’t always such a scramble.
I will do whatever it takes to get my health back, but it will be a long arduous road. I just need to maintain focus and avoid distractions. I also need to be sure that I reward myself occasionally for any small goals I meet along the way. And above all, “Don’t get discouraged.” It took a great deal of time for me to get into this physical state, so it will take me just as long to get out.
The Freedom Machine
Motor Vehicles have been a symbol of freedom for as long as I can remember. From the moment I sat down in my first car, I felt a sense of release. I was un-tethered from the parental guidance that oppressed me. The ability to transport myself wherever I wished with the turn of a key was exhilarating. The feelings during those moments are still ingrained in my soul.
With the wind in my hair and the sun on my face, I could just drive. I did not need a destination. I could just crank up the radio and get lost. The uncertainty that lurked around each turn made each trip a mystery and an adventure. Looking into the rear-view mirror was like glancing through a portal and seeing the past. Sometimes I would take a deep breath and put the gas pedal to the floor. As the car accelerated, I felt as if my heart was going to pound right out of my chest. It was thrilling, scary even. I could do almost anything that I wanted in my car. I did not have a care in the world.
These days, my car takes on a much different tone. Now that I am much older, money became an issue. It just seems irrational to drive around wasting gasoline and adding miles to my vehicle. The freedom machine of my youth officially lost its luster. I still hope to get back there at some point, because I do believe that there is something almost therapeutic about just going for a drive. When I was a teenager, I remember telling my mom that I was going out. She would always ask, “Where are you going?” My usual response was, “I’m just gonna go drivin’ around.” It is difficult for me to wrap my mind around this statement now. When go for a drive these days, it is just to get from point A to point B. I always have a premeditated destination. The freedom machine is now used for nothing more than function.
Perhaps this is why a lot of adults go through a mid-life crisis. It would seem to me that one of the best ways to relive ones youth is to channel some of these feelings. The older gentleman that just passed in his brand new Corvette with the convertible top down is probably trying to inject the adventure back into his life. I am sure that will be me one day. I am only thirty-one and I already yearn for the feeling of freedom that my car once bestowed upon me.
With the wind in my hair and the sun on my face, I could just drive. I did not need a destination. I could just crank up the radio and get lost. The uncertainty that lurked around each turn made each trip a mystery and an adventure. Looking into the rear-view mirror was like glancing through a portal and seeing the past. Sometimes I would take a deep breath and put the gas pedal to the floor. As the car accelerated, I felt as if my heart was going to pound right out of my chest. It was thrilling, scary even. I could do almost anything that I wanted in my car. I did not have a care in the world.
These days, my car takes on a much different tone. Now that I am much older, money became an issue. It just seems irrational to drive around wasting gasoline and adding miles to my vehicle. The freedom machine of my youth officially lost its luster. I still hope to get back there at some point, because I do believe that there is something almost therapeutic about just going for a drive. When I was a teenager, I remember telling my mom that I was going out. She would always ask, “Where are you going?” My usual response was, “I’m just gonna go drivin’ around.” It is difficult for me to wrap my mind around this statement now. When go for a drive these days, it is just to get from point A to point B. I always have a premeditated destination. The freedom machine is now used for nothing more than function.
Perhaps this is why a lot of adults go through a mid-life crisis. It would seem to me that one of the best ways to relive ones youth is to channel some of these feelings. The older gentleman that just passed in his brand new Corvette with the convertible top down is probably trying to inject the adventure back into his life. I am sure that will be me one day. I am only thirty-one and I already yearn for the feeling of freedom that my car once bestowed upon me.
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