Distracted

I filled the last few days with user experience training, and will resume Blogging tomorrow.

Mortality

Death is scary. 

I've been to quite a few funerals/wakes in my life.  From friends to relatives to people I didn't know.  It's always a different experience, but it's always awkward for me.  I don't know how to deal with death.  I don't think I'll ever know. 

Patience and Elbow Grease

It's great to have patience. But sometimes you need to put a little force into what you do.

Last night was spent replacing the glass/digitizer on an iPhone 3G.  One step of the process is to heat the glass to loosen the glue holding the frame.  But even after heating the frame, it's not like the glue is no longer tacky.  Although I bent the frame a bit while removing the old glass, it doesn't matter because it's hidden behind the glass.  In this case, perfection was not necessary.  And that's okay sometimes.  Sometimes you need to be rough with the situation at hand to get results.

Childhood Fun

Yesterday I had fun. Not fun while drinking. Not fun while hanging out with friends. No. I had the fun one experiences in childhood.

For my birthday my sister bought me a Lego set. It could either be a sport-touring bike, a hog, or a dragster. I choose the sport-tourer first. While diligently following the directions I can already see flaws in the design. After constructing as instructed, I play. I pull out another Lego set for pieces. I modify the design to make the bike more sporty. I spend over an hour trying different configurations.  Afterwards, I snap a few photos of my creation. Perhaps the whole idea of solving a problem excites me the most. I feel happy just to play with the Lego set. I don't need music. I don't need a TV droning in the background (although the thought crosses my mind).  I destroy my sport bike creation. I return to reality by constructing the Sears Tower and dragster as instructed.

Patience

My thoughts on yesterday consists of frustration and realization.  

I attempt to take the easy route and use the "create a playlist from choosing a song" option.  It captures some of my favorites but not others.  I then proceed to scroll through my extensive list of music to create my own playlist.

Too many times I try and find the "easy" option.  I want things fast, I want things now.  But often times I need to exercise patience.  Often times I need to do the work.

Not to say that trying the easy option first isn't a good idea.  But when that doesn't work I need to put my head into the task and plow ahead.

Acceptance

I've always felt awkward in social situations.  People say it's normal and that I should just "be myself" or whatever it is that people say.  But I always strive for acceptance, and I fell my thoughts are so contradictory that I wouldn't be accepted.  So I say nothing and I respond directly.

Work Life

My mantra for work life is passion.  Passion for excellence.  Passion for discovery.  Passion for problem solving.

Pushover

Fairly late in life a friend taught me two important things.  One: the meaning of "pushover."  And two: that I was one.

I often credit my success to the low bar set.  Going through life I contribute as much as I can to better people's lives.  But at times I swing in the opposite direction and think only of myself.  As I continue in life, my idea of service should evolve to include deeper meaning.

Live (9/20/2010)

This begins a series of posts designed to challenge views on living.  The plan is to write a post at least daily.  The post should reflect on some thing.  This thing (an idea, a purpose, a major event) revolves around living life.  What drives my living today?  Why does this drive me?  

On the plane ride home I watch "Before Sunrise." Although I've seen the movie a few times, I feel as though I don't remember any of the scenes.  I connect with the movie on different levels: similarities with the feelings, understanding of thoughts, some comedic value.  My brain churns on the ideas of purpose in life.  Although I live with a vague idea of purpose, I never actually sit down and write my thoughts.  I wonder how my life would change had I kept log of the things that affected my life on a daily basis.  

Today I lived to serve.  I always feel that to serve is the best way to express my affections.  I love showering my wife with gifts and attention.  I enjoy extending this to my family and friends.  I sometimes worry that I will be misunderstood; but for the most part rely on the optimism in the human thought process.  For one reason or another, serving makes me happy.  On a small level, helping someone out with a gift.  On a larger level, employing my talents to an effective level.  Today was just a small blip: offering to pay for my father-in-law's new sunglasses.  But seeing his excited expression invokes my feelings when receiving a special gift.