67. In Praise of the Trivial - How I Met Stanley

I think that trivial knowledge is underrated. In world of extremes it is hard to understand the value of random information. Even on television what is often portrayed is a stereotypical nerd or a lovable dolt. There is rarely an in between, but it must exist. I've said before that I am striving to become a better story teller. I'm vigorous about my academic pursuits and I know their importance. Yet nobody at a party wants to listen to a discussion about the pythagorean theorem. What is wanted is new an exciting information. This was clearly demonstrated to me today in a powerful way. But I wasn't at a party. I was waiting in line to buy a frozen pizza.

66. Nap Time!

I believe it is universally accepted that when we become adults we long for the days when we were told to take naps. Ah, those were the days... and we were foolish enough to fight it. Now that we're all grown up we wish we slept more. Studies show that on average 40% of people don't get enough rest. Many countries all over the world combat this by adopting the Spanish custom of the siesta! If only we could understand that. For today's gift, I'm going to try to incorporate some much needed rest into my sleep deprived schedule. While I do that, check out some of the many napping benefits I've found!

65. Go For a Walk

Go! It's ok. You can do it!

Pecan pie. I couldn't get it out of my head. I was craving it like crazy and nothing else would do. The problem is that my car was in the shop and I had no way to get to the store. Having always been partial to hyperbole, I was quick to declare that I would do ANYTHING for a piece of pecan pie. Realizing my sprawled out position of sloth on the couch, I quickly realized the error of my words and the laziness many of us carry. When did walking get ruled out as an option? It was a nice day out and I was in no particular hurry. Besides, adventure is out there!

64. Self Talk

Today I have been reading through a lot of my recent posts and I've come to a conclusion: I don't like the way that I talk to myself. I don't think I'm alone. I suspect that this is a universal truth. 

I beat myself up a lot about my shortcomings and my lack of progress. While there is part of it that is legitimately rooted in a desire to grow and get better, much of it is simple insecurity. We are understanding with others. Yet we are our own worst critics.

No long ramblings today. No funny anecdotes. Just a commitment to be more aware of how I address myself and a hope that you do the same for yourself. After all, I'm pretty awesome. And if you're reading this you're automatically awesome by association.

63. Eliminating Bad Influences

"Bad company corrupts 
good character."
         - 1 Cor. 15:33

Just over a week ago I received a very unexpected message from someone who in all honesty is the last person that I ever expected to hear from. Okay, that's an exaggeration. But it was unexpected nonetheless. It wasn't particularly bad, but was not good either. As with most things in life, it's kind of complicated.

62. Using Fewer Words (Hopefully)

I have to agree with my friend Calvin. I can't stand school. Why? Because of the way I have always been taught there. Don't mistake me - I thoroughly enjoy learning. But formal schooling has left myself and millions of others with a residual plague: verbosity. We simply use too many words. I blame standardized tests and assignments that value length over quality. My most recent term paper read like watered down coffee after having to add two pages of fluff. Sure, everything necessary for the buzz of academia was present, but so was filler to meet a certain word count. Less often really is more.

61. The Proximity Principle

Ever notice how close mama ducks keep their babies?

If you've been a regular reader of this journey at all you've undoubtedly discovered that I love books. Because of my mild dyslexia, this hasn't always been the case. In fact, reading for pleasure has been a relatively new endeavor for me. Part of the reason that I'm so gung-ho about it is because I aspire to be a polymath, a modern renaissance man. In the course of the last year of trying to decide a college major, I came to the realization that I'm not interested in specializing in anything in particular. I'd rather learn about as many things as possible. The best way to do that is to live life and to read. I'm seeking both.

60. Wishlist

Only 40 days until my birthday!

Today's gift is a little different. For the last 12 years or so, I have very actively asked for nothing for my birthday. I've reasoned this away by saying that I don't need much and that I'm more than happy just to spend time with friends! While this is true, there's more at play. There's a part of me that felt unworthy of gifts and didn't want to convenience anyone. I also had asked for other things in life before and not received them. I learned to dislike expecting things and didn't want to get my hopes up. Recently I've been learning a lot about having proper expectations of people, and today I'm putting it to use! What do I mean? For the first time in over a decade I'm telling people what I want for my birthday!

59. Acknowledging Mistakes & Being Honest

I received this email today. I was pleasantly surprised.

Many people are familiar with Netflix. I myself am battling an addiction to it! Last night their site went down for a while and no one could watch any videos instantly. In a great show of customer service they sent an unprompted email to their subscribers offering a small credit for the inconvenience - all you had to do was click the button and it was instantly applied. I did the math and the credit was only for $0.24. That's not really a huge dent to anyone's wallet but is still an awesome show of loyalty to their customers and to their service. I was encouraged because it's so rare that a company will do this. In fact, it happened to me about 5 months ago as well when I was trying to watch. I got the same offer then. I learned a lesson today about owning up to your mistakes and making things right. However, that's the most important thing I learned from this experience.

58. Life and Death

One of the best lines from
one of the best movies ever...

"Every man dies... 
              ..not every man really lives."

---

For some reason today I am thinking much about my own mortality. I'm looking at life and questioning a lot of things, mostly about myself. I belief strongly in God and I have put my faith in Him. I know where I am going when I die. No, that is not the topic of today's ruminations. I'm wondering about what it is to really live. 

57. College... Still

...but I have decent grammar

I have been a college sophomore for the last 4 years. Oh, how I wish I were exaggerating. My freshman year went by fast, but then I began to get other priorities. I put off school for a couple of years and moved to Texas to work for a youth ministry. I then started my sophomore year, while still working in full time (often overtime) ministry.I was only able to take a class here and there and was often "too busy" some semesters for any classes. Because of how my priorities were stacked, I even ending up failing a few of the courses. School just wasn't enough of a priority. This has to change.

56. Slow and Steady

The sun blinded me as I left the locker room. Squinting, I saw everyone headed over the the track. I waddled my 11 year old body over and stood at the back of the group in sheer terror. I'd usually gotten by in gym class by staying out of the way and moving around enough to where I wouldn't be called out. Fortunately the day we were supposed to climb the rope I'd been sick. But this day lady luck had forsaken me like the fickle shrew she is. I gazed at the rows of hurdles and pondered how I was going to get enough speed or height to launch my girth over them. I wasn't an athletic kid. I was a fatty, and the other kids made sure I knew it. I went up to the coach and feigned illness. It was my only shot. Out of what could only be a mixture of compassion and pity, he let me sit out. Everyone there knew what was going on, so I walked away in fat kid shame. And it's back.

To My Regular Followers:

Hey all, I know that I've gotten behind on posting. It has been a very crazy couple of weeks. I'm still about a week behind in writing, but the tasks are going and I'll have the articles written soon. Thanks for bearing with me.

In the meantime, here's a cool idea I want to try: quick homemade ice cream! I may even find a way to make it one of the gifts!



Who WOULDN'T want to do this? And I have a sneaking suspicion that 7-10 minutes of dancing around as vigorously as this lady would be fun AND burn a good chunk of those ice cream calories!

Ok, here's my idea: This Sunday let's all make some homemade ice cream and share our creations right here! Who's with me? Any takers? Comment here so I know you're in!

Oh, and on a random note: Howcast.com is purely awesome. Thanks for great content!

55. Love/Hate (Mostly Hate) Relationship

Water. It is the most influential and necessary physical factor to every thing earth. It is the one ingredient that is required by the entire realm of beings - including plants. It is gentle enough to provide life sustaining power yet destructive enough to carve huge canyons through the rocky soil of the earth; so massive that some would even call them grand. It covers 70% of the globe and makes up about 60% of the human body. It is rumored to be the healthiest thing for us. And I despise it.

You have to understand where I'm coming from. I grew up poor. This means that we couldn't afford a lot of juices or sodas or anything like that. The option we had was municipal tap water, complete with it's many "added nutrients." I should be able to rest my case on that alone but I'll press forward: this stuff was gross. It tasted like metal and always had traces of the chlorine used to treat it. To this day, despite knowing it is untrue, I shudder to think that it was just reclaim water. This was NOT cool in my book. What we could afford was generic kool-aid and bulk sugar. Thus I survived childhood.

54. Rethinking Happy

---

It isn't what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about.

                                              - Dale Carnegie

---

As I'm writing this I have a huge grin on my face. I've had one all morning, and I feel great. Would you like to know why? Ok, well.... there is absolutely no reason at all. And this is exactly how it should be.

53. Ditch the TV! Well, Mostly...

Growing up I knew the TGIF lineup by heart. I would look forward to spending my Friday nights watching Cory muck things up with Topanga, and I still am enamored by the Urkel dance. I won't even attempt to deny it - I tried to follow along with the moves at home! As an adult now, I find that I still feel the same way about television - I love it. Maybe too much...

52. Too Much Info - Avoiding Overload

This Picture = Immediate Conviction

I am guilty of reading many different blogs and articles online. In an age where an immeasurable wealth of knowledge is available at the click of a button I would feel irresponsible to let it all go to waste. I'm an avid fan of RSS and Google Reader is in my top five visited sites. But today I came across this picture and had a mini-epiphany: I am receiving way too much information to take in and process. After having consumed all of the recurring blogs, articles, news, and the many books I am required to read for school I have come to a startling discovery. In the last month, I've only spend about 2 hours reading books that I want to. Considering that I've spoken several times before on my desire to read more books, I am not content with this result. I decided that I have to do something, and I have to do it fast.

51. The Value of Meditation

I recently was able to read a portion of a great book called The Art of Happiness written from a series of interviews with the Dalai Lama. As I dove into this book I was enthralled by the profound simplicity of the Dalai Lama's words. So much so that in the three weeks I had the book I was only able to get through the first third of the pages. The reason? Because the content cut deep. His thoughts were simple enough to understand yet proved gripping once they were allowed to sink in. I do not adhere to the Buddhist belief system but I believe that there are disciplines within it that can lead one to a better life. The depth of his words' meaning launched me into one of these principles before I even knew it. I was compelled to meditate on everything that was presented.

50. Big Decisions. Life Changes.

Off I Go... (also a great song: click here)

Today, March 14, marks the halfway point of this journey to become a better man. In the last 50 days, I know that I have grown more than in the 5 months prior. As many of you know, the year that I had before beginning this project was extremely difficult. I'd been let down in more ways than I can name and at one point I lost all confidence in myself. That's part of what inspired all of this. I needed to prove to myself that I am better man than some were telling others. I also needed to prove to myself that I could become better than was. Today, halfway through the experiment, I see in the mirror a good man about to embark on another great adventure.

49. Prayer - More Meaning, Fewer Words

When you pray, rather let your heart be without words than your words without heart.
          - John Bunyan, author, The Pilgrim's Progress

God speaks in the silence of the heart. Listening is the beginning of prayer.
          - Mother Teresa, nun, missionary, amazing woman

There come times when I have nothing more to tell God.  If I were to continue to pray in words, I would have to repeat what I have already said.  At such times it is wonderful to say to God, "May I be in Thy presence, Lord?  I have nothing more to say to Thee, but I do love to be in Thy presence.
          - O. Hallesby, priest, fervent Nazi opposer 

---

I just spent an hour and a half writing a long post on my need to pray more, and to learn to pray more effectively. After seeing these quotes, my words seemed feeble. Today I am learning to pray more effectively by learning to listen to God more than I speak.

And that's all I have to say about that.

48. Early to Bed, Early to Rise...

This reminds me of elementary
school. I've no idea why.

...makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise? Ben Franklin seemed to think so. So does the U.S. military - and I don't think anyone would argue that that soldiers do more than most of us. But here's the thing: Winston Churchill is one of my highest role models, not Franklin. Churchill was a night owl, often staying up until 4am and sleeping until noon. Despite his sleeping patterns he lead Britain through WWII. I'm also a fan of Mark Twain. He said, "Put no trust in the benefits to accrue from early rising, as set forth by the infatuated Franklin..." So, who's right? My conclusion is both - because a sleeping schedule isn't the real issue.

47. Consistent Bible Reading

A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.
                                     - Theodore Roosevelt

I have a confession to make. I don't read my bible nearly as much as I should. I use the busyness of life, specifically my college classes, as an excuse for my lack of dedication to studying the bible. I do make an effort to read Proverbs each day, but that's a very minimal effort when compared to the vastness of God's Word. Today I came across this quote from Theodore Roosevelt (one of my favorite men) and was convicted. There is no reason for me to value my college education over the richness of knowledge and wisdom contained in the pages of the bible.

For today's gift, I'm making an effort to read my bible every day. Here is where I need your help: I've yet to find a bible reading plan that I have been able to stick to. I know that I need dedication on my part to do it, but I'm also wondering what resources you have found that may help me. Do you know of any reading plans that are realistic to follow?

46. Choosing a Good Perspective

There are some things in life that are just absolutely necessary. One of these things is underwear, and I needed more. Time to go shopping. I drove up and down the aisles trying to find an empty space, growing more frustrated by the moment. When I finally did I whipped my car in and turned the key toward me. Unbuckling my seatbelt, I took a breath and just sat watching. People were zipping by in their fast little cars while talking on their phones and hastily eating their paper wrapped lunches. Customers streamed from the building with their bags full of goodies. New arrivals darted to the doors to take their place inside. I'd been to this mall many times before, but had never liked it. Or any mall for that matter. Too many people. As I watched I couldn't help but notice that all of these people looked stressed and angry. That is, all except one.

45. A Woman's Words

I walked through the door, textbooks in tow, and was met with the unmistakable scent of slightly burnt coffee beans. Three women sat giggling in the corner and speaking in hushed whispers. It struck me odd that women in their mid-twenties would act like teenagers. I must have allowed my confused gaze to linger long enough for them to notice. They quickly sipped their lattes and resumed looking around the room. One of them appeared to be throwing furtive glances my way as I requested my cappuccino. She was cute, but I wasn't interested. I was on a mission that certainly didn't include beginning a career searching for women in coffee shops.

44. Snap Out of Digital Writing

Today's gift (& manly picture) are inspired by the good folks over at The Art of Manliness.

I know that I, like most, spend a large about of time in front of a screen. This is true for my writing as well. Because I am relatively new to the writing scene, I'm learning it by modern standards (i.e., on a computer). But I'm starting to realize that there is some esoteric inspiration that only comes by putting ink to paper. I'm sure Hemmingway would agree. The trouble is tearing myself away from my beloved keyboard in an age where the vastness of the internet contributes to the widespread belief in ADD. So what to do?

43. To Watch or Not to Watch?

Nearly a decade ago I made a conscious decision that has affected my level of information ever since. I decided to not follow any sort of news source. You see, I have an admittedly naive idealistic notion that people should tell the truth. But I have yet to find a news source that reports anything without extreme bias. Many people complain about one news source or another being biased, but only reluctantly admit that their preferred outlet is just as guilty. This is immediately followed by a rebuttal saying that their news source isn't as bad. Somehow this gives me a mental picture of young siblings squabbling. No, thank you.

42. Digging Deeper - Learning More on Guitar

My Current Guitar, Oliver
(not really. but close)

Growing up my family was poor. My single mother worked two full time jobs and often a third part time job just to cover the bills of having three children. Because of this we were accustomed to only receiving toys and treats on special occasions like Christmas or birthdays. The year that I turned 13 there was only one thing that I asked for: a guitar.

I didn't realize it at the time, but in retrospect I can remember my mother doing everything that she could to scrimp and save and buy me one. The day of my birthday she brought out a big box and my heart started to race as I attempted not to hope for it to be a guitar. After all, no one wants to be disappointed, and I truly would have enjoyed anything I got. But still... I hoped.

I lingered over the gift for mere moments before ripping the ninja turtle wrapping paper, shredding it like their nemesis. I opened the box to see a shiny red acoustic guitar ready to toughen up my soft uncalloused fingertips. I couldn't have been more excited. It was the cheapest guitar she could find and I never was even to figure out what brand it was... but to this day it is my favorite of all the guitars I've owned.

41. Benefit of the Doubt (Especially To Siblings)

Me & My Beautiful Sister (getting along)

I stepped away from the people I was with to answer the phone. "Hello? Hello??" A second later I heard my sister's voice, but it was breaking up with the signal. "Chri-, my --one isn't wor-ing righ-. It hasn't be-- f-- weeks. I need to get - -ew one, but since it's on yo-- plan I nee- you- --lp." It was hard to hear her, but I got the message.

40. To Do List: Redux

Massive To-Do Lists Rarely Get Finished

Almost a month ago I started making daily To Do lists. Well, I intended to at least. This goal floundered shortly after I'd started it. The reason it failed was because I kept having these massive lists of specific tasks, many of them things that I wanted to do everyday. The problem with this is that I didn't want to make a huge list every night, and I dreaded having so many tasks to do when I awoke in the morning. Today's gift: find a better way.

39. Better Nutrition Part II: "Healthy" Meals?

Uhh... No

A couple of weeks ago I started taking multivitamins to help with my nutrition. Ideally nutrition is improved with both a better diet and commitment to exercising regularly. Today I want to look at one of these and to get a solid answer to a question that seems to have an ever-changing solution: What on earth does a healthy diet look like? The answer is not what you might think...

Ask the Reader: Quick Update and Request

Hey folks, just wanted to let you know that this week I have a few big projects for school, and as such I'll be spending almost all of my time on that. I'll still be doing the gifts each day, but it may be Sunday or Monday before I get the time to write and post the next few days. Thanks for bearing with me.

In the meantime, I have a question for you!

It's proving difficult to come up with ideas for self-gifts everyday, so I'd like as many suggestions as I can get. Remember the criteria: The goal is for each of these things to (1) be intentional and thought out, (2) make me a better person in a way that is somehow discernible to myself, and (3) be reasonable for anyone to duplicate if they so desire.

Thank you guys for your suggestions, encouragement, and for your loyal reading of this journey. I'm honored you'd take the time to do so.

38. A Brief Hiatus

Stress + Worry = Insomnia

The vicious red digits on the clock's face read 4:17am. The callous colon between the digits blinked it's mockery at me as it ticked away the seconds. I raised my head to see a haggard face and blood shot eyes returning my gaze. This companion of mine wouldn't leave until I'd dealt with the reasons for his presence. I stepped away from the mirror and tripped on a discarded towel. As my knee crashed into porcelain and I grumbled Disney approved obscenities, I made a decision to eliminate these reasons in the hopes that my old friend insomnia would return to the pit from whence he came before I have to go all Gandalf on him.

37. About Caring: Just Shut Up and Listen

"Remember when we were in high school and laughed at the idea of this? Never thought it would happen to me. We thought we were invincible... we were idiots." I sat across the table from my friend not knowing what to say. I longed to tell him that I understood what he is going through, but I'm simply not young enough anymore to be that arrogant. I have experienced bad relationships, have been used and discarded for someone else. But never by a wife.