Reunited And It Feels So Good…
by projecthitchhiker on February 25, 2009
in Awesome Stuff, Music
After a long hiatus, I’m getting back into music. Playing, writing, creating.
The other day, sitting down with the guitar and playing for a few hours, I realized that I NEED to play music. That music needs to be a bigger part in my life than what it’s been in the last few years. Another realization: I’m not content now just playing established songs — I want to create. I sat down for a few hours tonight writing and felt really great. I think what I’d forgotten in the last few yeras was that creating and playing music is at least a small part of my major definite purpose.
February means French
by projecthitchhiker on February 11, 2009
in Accountability Lists, Four Hour Workweek, Personal Development
February is my month of French in the Power of Less Challenge. I committed to studying French at least 30 mins per day for the month. This goal in particular, is really important to me, as I want to come away from this job with a working ability in French.
But first, a quick thought about the language learning tools I’ve chosen. I recently had a discussion with a friend about why I gave up using Rosetta Stone for learning languages. My reasons for stopping have to do with effeciency and adherance.
Acheiving Your Childhood Dreams: Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture
by projecthitchhiker on February 2, 2009
in Lifestyle Design, Personal Development
Technology is an amazing thing. As a medium, the internet is neutral — neither good or bad. And as users of this medium we have a choice on how to use it.
Today I used it to become absolutely INSPIRED.
Screw New Years Resolutions: A BETTER way to make change in 2009
by projecthitchhiker on January 21, 2009
in Accountability Lists, Four Hour Workweek, Language Learning, Lifestyle Design, Personal Development
“I’m going to quit smoking, lose 20 pounds, give up drinking hard liquor and run at least an hour every day.” How many people out there have ever actually succeeded with New Years Resolutions? Why does it always fail? My theory is that it’s too much all at once. It becomes more painful to continue with the extreme lifestyle makeover than the short-term pleasure you would get reverting to your old habits.
Dear Email: If You Haven’t Heard Back From Me By Now, You Never Will
by projecthitchhiker on January 8, 2009
in Four Hour Workweek, Lifestyle Design
EVER. Okay, so that’s a little harsh and not completely true. But here’s what I did. It being the New Year and all, I’ve been doing a lot of reading about making changes. Seemed like an appropriate time. And in all this reading I came across some great stuff. Notably, I discovered this blog and then through it, this blog — where I found a few excellent articles on processing your Email Inbox to ZERO and keeping it there:
2009 Is Gonna Rock (Plus: Christmas French Lessons)
by projecthitchhiker on January 3, 2009
in Accountability Lists, Awesome Stuff, Four Hour Workweek, Lifestyle Design, Personal Development, Travel
(photo: New Years 2007 in Nha Trang, Vietnam)
2009 is going to be fantastic. But first, a cliche look back at 2008:
Most important lesson learned in 2008
The number one rule: Do what you love. Don’t give a damn about what anyone else thinks about you.
Top Non-Fiction reads of 2008
Vagabonding by Rolf Potts and The Four Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss. These two books are required reading for anyone who wants to travel or doesn’t like the idea of spending their life in an office cubicle.
All Music Is NOT Created Equal
by projecthitchhiker on December 28, 2008
in Lifestyle Design, Music
After writing the last post about hitchhiking to Montreal to see TOOL, I got to thinking. How could I be so obsessed with a band and a genre of music so much eight years ago, and yet now when I listen to the same band I feel overwhelmed. Overwhelmed in a bad way. Like the music that represented my life and feelings so perfectly years ago, is now way too heavy and NEGATIVE for me.
I think we all intuitively realize on some level that music aligns you with whatever its VIBE is – whether it’s angst, lovestruck-ness, happy go lucky, sadness – but we rarely take a minute to consciously think about it. For instance, when someone just breaks up with you, you might listen or relate to songs about lost love, feeling down, broken hearts. Or it’s possible you would listen to heavy aggressive music because that’s how you feel. Or maybe you try to listen to happy music to cheer yourself up – to try to get out of that slump.