a BLITZ of a night

A long time friend, and B.I.C, of mine tied the knot a week ago. I couldn't be happier for him. We grew up together. We met around the grammar school years and as time went by, shared experiences grew us closer. This concept is also the same for the group of 'guys' within the wedding party and within the bachelor party. At this current point in life, some of us have moved away, began pursuing new careers, found loved ones, and even added new life to the group through children. All of these things bring new seasons and change. But one thing I noticed during the few days with these men is experiences can't ever take away the bond of friendship. As many of you know, I currently live in rainy Portland, Oregon. My current life looks much different than my first 25 years'ish. But one thing remains the same. What is that? Shared life experiences. No-body, No-distance, and No-time can take these away. I've met many SOLID friends within my year and a half in Portland. New life experiences are unfolding faster than I can plan. I am grateful for this. However, there was a special energy last week when the ten of us came back together. All ten joined the team after different times of life, but each play's an intrigual part as another.

Right now its hard to attribute words to the time spent last week. A few are; refresh, joy, comfort, shenanigan's, youthful memories, brotherhood, Jaeger and celebration. All important life aspects that sometimes get lost in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Well, maybe not lost, for I believe these to always be present in life. But rather, maybe hidden. Hidden by our own eyes. Hidden by our own laziness. Hidden by our own self-conscienceness.

So my buddy Ted, he is the one that wedded. He moved to Portland about 5 years ago I believe. We haven't spent much time together due to differences in work schedules and city location. But one thing that always remains is the closeness and bond that will never separate us as friends and brothers. What we did on Ted's bachelor party is not the point, despite the laughs and stories that were created and will be shared for years to come. The point is the time. The point is the commitment. The point is the sharing of life together. The point is the acceptance of all. The point is the intentionality. The point is the giving of who you are to each other. It's about bringing to the table who you are, bringing the talents and qualities that you were made to give away, allowing then the group as a whole to become one big brotherhood of Tom-Foolery and Genuine love.

This got me thinking about the importance of time and relationships. Now we all won't argue that time heals, creates, supports, bonds, thickens, and strengthens all. However, why does it take time? And moreso, is it the time that does this, or is it us, human beings, that need time to do the 'things' needed to strenghthen, support, give, create, heal, mend, pursue, trust? My answer is Yes! Both, obviously. However, I would say the latter, humans that is, has the bigger role. What do I mean?.....bare with me. I am saying that I don't think it is the time itself that bonds things together, creates, and or brings people closer. I think it is the willingness of the individual to be open, free, honest, and unselfish. Since these attributes are not easy for some, this is where the time plays in. But my week with my friends got me seeing that one of the reasons outside the years of camping, sleepovers, high school events, tom-foolery, sporting activities, and nights at Blitz Pearl:) it is more about our openess and honesty with one another, alongside with our acceptance of each other for who we are, despite our flaws, despite our tendencies, and in spite of our Legitness!!!

Let me simplify, or try. Time obviously brings out things needed to bond people together. But can we shorten that timeframe? Or is it an energy within our world that just happens. I say we have full control. What I have found in my short 27 years of life, but breadth of 27 years of life experience is the more I open myself up, the more I am honest both with myself and the world around me, the more I remove expectations and guilt, and the more I live free of fears, the more life unfolds beautifully before my eyes. Thus, back to my 'hidden' life aspects comment. Life happens around us 24/7-365. The question then is, are we being willing to see and be a part of this already unfolding Life? Are we being willing to turn our fears, doubts and self-consciousness off? Are we willing to bust down walls that extend from the sides of our face so that we can see what Life and time is already giving us? It's begging for us to notice and take advantage of. Every moment, every second of everyday is a new creation. Are you utilizing it? If not, may I suggest getting a group of your closest friends and celebrating. Tell stories, hug, play golf, go to your local bar, paint, whatever you are good at, whatever stirs your emotions inside and excites you, GO DO! Go Celebrate one another and Life itself! We did this last week, and it turned into a BLITZ of a night for sure! May we open our lives to the lives around us and the life that is beautifully alive every moment of every day. Much Love to Ted, Matt, Matt, Mike, Mike, Ben, Tim, Joe, Andy, Mr. Jaeger himself and the BLITZ of a night that reminded me of what Life is all about. Love you all......until next time.

sc

Dude, check out the ripples on that chick!

It's been a few days since I have wrote. Partly because my daily schedule and routine looked quite different. I house sat for a good friend of mine and watched her two dogs. Dogs are work, at least hers. It was good though. It got me out of my studio and into a really nice home for a couple days. It's said dogs are good training for kids. Maybe??? I think dogs aren't even close to kids though because they don't respond to you. They don't learn from you. They don't converse back and forth with you. They may love you, but it's an annoying love, its a love where they want to lay on your chest as you sleep at night. I don't want anyone laying on my chest as I sleep at night. Ok, I take that back. A beautiful woman can lay on my chest as I sleep at night anytime! Anywho, I am seeing that I am a creature of habit. I like being organized. I like my studio. I like walking downtown to Barista on my morning's off or late work days and enjoying coffee and time. I am not a rushed person. I enjoy getting things done and doing things promptly and professionally, but in regards to non-task time, I enjoy slowing down as much as one can. I also attribute our Global realities as to part of why I haven't written. A lot has happened within our World the last few days and I don't know exactly how I feel about it yet. With that, I love the country that I live in and am happy that Peace and or Justice is being pursued. This however is not accomplished overnight. It is not accomplished by one man or the lack their of, one man. It is accomplished by You, Me, your Barista, your Spouse, your Children, your Mailman, your Broker, your Clerk, your Golf Pro, your Boss, your Friends, your Pastor, your CoWorker, your favorite Chef of your favorite Restraunt, your Taxi Driver, your Butcher, your Tenant, your Roomate, your Neighbor, your Accountant, your Housekeeper, your Bartender....I think you get the point. One man can't change the world and it's problems, and one man being removed from this world can't either! Thus, to steal a thought of a great man, may we all realize we have the power and PRIVILEGE to "be the change we want to see". This takes belief in you. Now if you're anything like me, their are days I believe in myself and am extremely confident in the things unfolded. But, sometimes doubt creeps in. Sometimes people's voices stir up our direction and make it cloudy. Sometimes rememberance of past failures (which is a word that doesn't even exist to me, because their is no such thing as failure in my opinion) add a weight to our ankles to slow us down from pursuing our goals. Whatever it may be, believe in yourself! Believe that if you choose to, you have the ability to breathe life into your surroundings. Everything one says and does has an echo, a rippling effect. The effect may take hours, days, months, years, or lifetimes, but effect always happens. Reverberations are constant. We remember what was said to us. We remember how people looked us in the eye during a conversation...or how they checked their twitter account on their phone as we shared with them a moment of our life, which ultimately says; Yea, Yea that's great, but I really care more about what Kim Kardashian and Lamar Odom ate for breakfast this morning than what you are taking the time and courage to share. Seriously, we all have encountered this. But it doesn't have to continue. It doesn't have to keep heading down this road. A new city is being developed called intentionality and it is going to need an off ramp. Somewhere, right now, someone is probably skipping a rock on a surface of water. They are watching it skip across and create ripples. After the rocks momentum stops and sinks, it's ripples don't. They continue! They expand, they grow, and they eventually collide with the other ripples. Sometimes change happens immediately, and sometimes in a lifetime beyond our own. But the constant are the ripples and we have the power to choose what kind of nipples, i mean ripples, we want to flash to the world!