Outlook for Spring/Summer 2008

Well, another winter season is in full swing (and waning, just about) and this is usually a time of anticipation and planning for me in both music and athletics.
Additionally, in 2008, I do hope to write more...not only in terms of updating and blogging...but I really would like continue my briefly lost fever to write about pretty much anything that I am dealing with or thinking about. This habit seems to have left me but it shall resume!! Have I been too busy or mentally occupied?...maybe...but that is a shame and a fault that only I am responsible for. Some topics floating in my head are:
Politics- how, as only an observer (as opposed to being an active promoter of a thought or political party) I notice how politics have become nothing more than an entertaining shouting match thus losing it's essential purpose.
Religion- how people fail to question in order to find understanding or furthur appreciation
Love- isn't love for others or things the most important of all things...being more important and taking precedence over ANYTHING else in life...
My family-beautiful things happen in this house (that I currently live in...but not for long) everyday.

I hope I get to these by the spring.

And here are some thoughts via the usual split of "Music" and "Athletics":

MUSIC
I do have auditions coming up...
Looks like there's a good chance I will be auditioning for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. They are seeking a 2nd trombonist/utility trombonist. I have visited the city and also met members of their current trombone section. The city is AMAZING and the guys I met are players that I admire VERY MUCH. This audition is March 2nd.
The New York Philharmonic will soon hold an audition for a new Assistant Principal trombonist. When they announce the date, I'm sure I'll be sending a resume. Yeah, me...New York Philharmonic...haha. But eh, these auditions don't always come up. Not quite sure when this audition will be. I'm guessing late spring.
San Antonio Symphony is looking for an assistant principal/second trombonist. This is May 5th.

MY playing is currently WILDLY out of shape. In fact, it may be the worst it has ever been. My lip issues are still lingering from my lip injury in which I took about a month's time off...combine that with my trombone being damaged and kept in the shop for two weeks, and a cold and BAM...there are some out of shape chops. But, it's just a matter of gettin back into it an plugging away. So, the next few weeks aren't going to be fun (mainly because no one likes to sound bad...even when practicing). But I CAN play now...thank you Jesus.

Athletics
It is indeed winter and my goals and focus for the 2008 season are becoming much more refined (as is the case every year about this time). Gladly, this year I will not have an indoor season (which usually takes place during the months of Jan and Feb) which occupies me with the shot-put...I am not a shot-put thrower! So, for this I am glad. I can focus the early 2008 months on more off-season discus training.
I have a better idea of my body dimensions for this season. It is much different from past seasons in which I typically compete at about 295lbs!. This year, I will be at 260lbs. Currently i am about 270...so my target date for this will be around mid-Feb. I also am aiming to have a very strong core and abdominals this season. The aim is to have a leaner body but be stronger than ever. THIS WILL TAKE SOME WORK. The challenge is to lose fat yet maintain and even build more muscle mass...One day it's gonna have to just click in...badass mode. Olympic Trials are the goal.


well there it is...

holler

June

written Dec 4th, 2006

To and for my brother with every fiber of my heart...

June

I have never loved him more than I love him now. For now I look into his heart and what I see is something this world fails to know everyday. His heart is like water…fragile, sensitive, flowing, light. His heart is honest, caring,

My brother June is a bit different. They say he has schizophrenia…and not the highly commercialized perception…if that even exists. They say he lives in an imaginary world most of the time…they say he is depressed…they say his mind does not function correctly.,,,they say he is detached from emotion at times…not knowing when to connect one emotion to the other…Yes, it is true, on the surface my brother’s issues cannot exist in our world. He can’t function the way we would want him to…he cant understand the way we want him to…but he is beautiful…he is pure…and what his heart knows is something the world is lacking a great deal.

Before he faded into his current state, I knew what the world saw of him and accepted for about the first twelve years of my life. Even then he was considered kind of an oddball…though very handsome (a lady killer, quite frankly)…he was very sensitive, odd, “out there”. He drew art…and not only did he draw art…he drew amazing art…award winning, in fact. His creativity was his most amazing feature…he tapped into worlds unknown by many…unaccepted by most…unwilling to comprehend by others. His brain is always thinking, extraordinarily…realizing beauties the world is blind to…and this is “odd” to us. Indeed, his mind was and still is something unlike this world.

He had a very unique sense of humor…often misunderstood and maybe seen as goofy or odd. But I loved it…it was pure, it was honest, and it was real…too real for the world to know it was funny…too pure for anyone to be willing to laugh at it…too honest for anyone to admit…

And for those twelve years of my life, he fit the definition of the perfect brother…he loved me with everything he had…he kissed me everyday-more than I ever wanted him too…he carried me…he slept by me as a baby that was ten years younger than him…he got me into sports…taught me how to throw a spiral…told me to believe in myself…told me to give it my all… As we both grew, ten years apart in age, he continued that love for me… i remember many times bike ride,- him operating the bike, me straddling the bike frame with a seat that he made from several blankets. We’d ride to dairy queen, the movies, his friends houses…I was in his arms all the time.

I don’t think I have ever told him I that I love him…I don’t think he ever heard it…then, all I knew was him…and to be with him all the time seemed natural and given…

In the summer of 1998 my brother started hallucinating…he saw things that were not there…he heard things that we couldn’t hear. Treatment followed and progress was made…

Then came a dive into drugs and alcohol…though many seem to function with the combination of the two…my brother’s silk heart was easily tainted…he got into trouble…he was abused…he met the wrong people…he was attacked…he suffered…he was isolated from my family as a problem…he was abused…he was told he was no good…my father telling him to leave the family…me telling him that no one wanted him around…me yelling at him…almost hating him while I was in high school…I hated him for not being the person that I wanted him to be…the person the world wanted him to be…I was hating the person who loved me with all of his heart before the day I was born. The things I said…the things we all said…how could anyone handle it…and such trauma was part of his whole life…he moved here from korea when he was seven..to a foreign land…he was left at home alone because my parents had tow ork..he cried from the momtn they left until the moment they cam eback…he was scared…he dealt with extraordinary struggle of an immigrating child…he came before me…he guided me through this world…he went through it…not me…all the horror…he went through it…and protected me from it

Regrets, pain, sorrow…this is where we find ourselves sometimes…but its no one’s fault really…what is –is what is.

I am at odds with the spiritual reality…the more I maintain my faith…the more I hurt…the more I cry…

WHY God? Why does pain even exist? Don’t you run this shit? Why are humans doomed? Don’t you run this shit?

The question is simple…primitive, even. But is it valid? Yes. Faith, james…keep faith...often told to me by people who are not in my shoes…faith, yes…it can be attained…but what should I base it off? The high number of people who recover from mental illness?...sarcasm. The high number of mentally ill people who have had the bible beaten on their heads…and NOT “entered the kingdom of heaven”? The complete unfairness of the preaching…that who so ever shall not love God will burn in eternal suffering…people like the mentally ill who are not capable of comprehending Christianity and are at mercy of what GOD ALLOWED TO HAPPEN?( Yes, because he is, in fact, the creator of all). Is that right? Is that Christianity, really? Does Christianity send the mentally ill to HELL because they weren’t able to comprehend the word?

Yes, to me, there is a God…but God in the real sense has not been shown to me…there is something else…has to be…there has to be a certain truth…my brother is a testament to that.

Maybe we should accept it…that is reality…accept it and live with it as a beautiful situation…that is better…that is what makes sense. I don’t understand why we should see it as him being damned for eternity? Is this Christianity?

I spend time with him now…his overly active brain is now numbed by medications…he is no longer the June that we once new…he is the June that God created…what we know now…what is true. Before just a few days ago for years ( hes been at a “house for weird people” in LA) I coudlnt communicate with him…I wasn’t willing to accept what he is…because it hurt me…because it ripped my heart…but now…we communicate…we talk…we hold conversations…we act like brothers…something I haven’t done with him since I was 12…yeh, he still murmurs to himself…he still makes up certain events that have happened…he still believes the social security is holding 800,000 dollars for him…but he is my brother…and I know him…the love he gave to me helps me…it guides me…to understand…to believe…to share…to see into his heart…

We talk, sometimes he makes stuff up…but what he says…its beautiful,,,its true to him…it serves as a manifestation of his heart…its what the world lacks…someone who taps into what is beautiful. Sometimes it feels as if he is talking to himself like he has been doing forever…sometimes he talks to me…like a regular person…something we haven’t done in years.

I always remember him being upset at what the world see as slight mishaps…perhaps something someone said or did…it bothered him for hours…often reoccurring in his mind sometimes maybe a month later…

Hyung, as I call him, has opened my heart to the universe. I hear what he rambles to himself…I come to understand why he gets upset…I want to know what he is thinking…

Schizophrenics are said to be in an imaginary world. My brother is known to be in an imaginary world…but who is closer to reality? We live our lives ignoring so many important issues…we lie to ourselves…we don’t answer to our hearts…we spend all of our time coping with what is essentially wrong…we dont answer to our heart…we don’t love in every sense of the word…we’re afraid to put our emotions on display...we accept denial…we pursue prestige…we envy…we lie…what can be more far from reality?

Maybe we have one purpose in life…we live our life for each other…we sacrifice everything we have for just one other person…Hyung does it for me. His life is a sacrifice…his whole life…it opens my eyes, my heart, my everything…with every day that he lives, reality for me exists…truth exists, honesty exists…as I am writing this, this damned Microsoft words tells me how I shouldn’t write this…for what? What is the importance of that? WHAT?

Hyung, I love you…you gave me everything I have…everything I know…everything I love…God gave you to me…one day we will know what God has in store…the world will change because of you…the world will know what love is…the world will know truth…because of you…because I remember everything…the bike rides, the kisses, the hugs, the pain, the abuse, the struggle, loving me with everything you had. We don’t show affection to each other lik we used to when I was little…your reality keeps us from doing it for now…just wait for me. With your every breath I learn something new…your existence…your “ailment” gives me passion…it gives me closure…it gives me faith…I cant even imagine what you had to go through…the trauma…even if you don’t know it now…you will know that I love you…the world doesn’t live the way you think it should…and it angers you to the core of your heart…and I understand…you’ve tried your hardest to be the person you want to be…and the world doesn’t bother to understand you…I know why youre upset…and youre right

one day we’ll be together again…

the way it used to be…

in beauty

November 29, 2007

Cool...so it seems as if some of you guys read this stuff...ok then! Back by such POPULAR demand here we go...ill split this between "music/trombone" and "athletics".

Well, school is rapping up for the fall semester and I can say this semester alone has provided me with a lot of experiences... dot dot dot.

I've met a lot of new people and especially happy to have met the people I would never imagined I would associate with. So that's great.

MUSIC/TROMBONE

Musically this semester was very good. I have taken strides in my playing (aside from BUSTING my lip hardcore which set me back quite a bit...more later) and also have learned a great deal from my auditioning experience in Cincinnati. Aside from just garnering "auditioning experience" I learned one VERY important thing from my audition in Cincinnati...and that is the fact that I CAN compete on a high level...and that I CAN do what I want to do....which is to play in an orchestra...the word "will" however...not gonna jump the gun on that won quite yet. But i did come to the realization that yeah, what I want to do and how I do it...and what I thought I was capable of...its there for the takin.
My lip////yeah, It got busted the hell out of...3 stitches and about a month off of playing is what it took. The inside of my top lip was dangling because it literally got carved out by my top teeth. I did get lucky, however...things could have been a lot worse. No, I really cant play the way I used to...some things will have to change in order for me to progress...but wow...I never knew how much I loved playing until this happened. My first few notes back were very emotional... i knew I had to keep playing...no matter what damage this injury might have done. But I am playing again now...things are kind fo squirly...but I am playing! thats all I care about...something I havent genuinely felt since i was eleven years old.
Lessons this semester have gone well as always and orchestra has been fun as always. However, sadly, a long-time friend of mine passed away. Someone who truly implanted and inspired the aspect of LOVE that I realize today. I first met him when he was only 13 and I was 14. An odd couple we were but what drew me to him was his passion for music....at the age of 13! Someone who I could venture to say might have been a prodigy on the trombone. Ryan exposed me to such beautiful things and music for me has a lot to do with him. I'm sad that he had to pass at such a young age, but he gave me a lifetime.

ATHLETICS

Discus training has been going well. Not a lot of throwing has been happening...pretty much all of my off-season training to this point has been strength and conditioning. Currently my weight is within the 270-273 lbs range. This is about ten lbs lighter than my originally intended weight for the season but my strength has maintained itself and the loss of mody mass isnt hurting my strength at all. Assuredly, this new weight will help my technique a lot and will allow my body to be a bit more efficient in the ring. The 2008 season is an Olympic year so my main goal is to qualify for the trials...which means I would have to focus on my season leaking well into the summer...thus me waiting later to begin throwing in order to avoid peaking too early. My season usually ends right when the summer begins so this will definitely require adjustments.
My season will likely start in mid- March in Austin, TX for the Texas Invitational. I have faith in myself. In both music and throwing...you have to go for broke. There is never failure...there is only learning, living, and loving.

Yo dog

hola mijo

Alrighty,

School has started for all the students in this university but me...seems like. The Cincinnati Symphony is lettin me audition for their 2nd/assistant principal trombone spot in a few months so this opportunity is all I seem to care about right now. Even my throws training has taken a back burner for now. This is my first real audition and more and more am I starting to realize how hard it is on my lips and embouchure muscles during this preparation phase (otherwise referred to as "face" in the catch-all terminology). It's also a killer when you factor in the trauma to the face experienced in rehearsals aside from practicing. It's gotten bad enough to where I have only played about 1 hr on Saturday and none today (Sunday) to let the muscles regain some structure and repair. Im finding out more everyday that I need to treat the face as I would my body as an athlete; exercise, rest, and treatment. Something I will have to be more disciplined in for the rest of my preparation in the next six weeks or so. My goal is to show them what I got...that's all I can control. To say that I am excited is a horrible understatement. Yeah, there will be more experienced players there...some of whose playing I admire very much...but again, all I need to focus on is showing them what I am all about...and that effort in itself can be a life-long study.

Teaching trombone has been good. My kids at Cypress Woods seem to be doing better and I think I have become a better teacher. I have one kid in particular who sounds real good and wants to major in music in college and I have absolutely no hesitance to encourage this path for her. Though music is considered a "get lucky" type of occupation, I think she has what it takes to give it a shot. I also have students at Cypress Springs High School and those are some great kids. Their band directors have all prepared them well for the new school year and I expect a large handful of them to make region band/orchestra. There, I also have a kid who wants to major in music and the case is the same with him. I honestly do have faith in his talent ambition to become a performer. I'm glad God has given them to me as I am excited to play a substantial role in their path to success and fulfillment.

I have not eliminated my athletics training completely, however. I have not been throwing at all lately (as it is still deep into the off-season for us) but I have altered my body slightly all while building more intellect on my events through coaching a local high school kid. It is absolutely true that, in many aspects, coaches will learn more from their athletes than the other way around. I got a high school sophomore right now taking some discus lessons from me and I think he's got some sort of potential. He's a smart kid, listens to me, and he lets me be hard on him. He buys into my coaching schemes despite his dad's slight concern with my approach. The kid is making some great improvements both physically and intellectually that is very impressive for someone of his age. His goals are to break his school's record and make the state trackmeet for the Texas private school scene otherwise known as TAPPS (as opposed to the UIL which governs the Texas public schools).

Currently, I am getting closer to my desired competition weight for next season which is going to be in the 278-280 lbs range. Right now I'm sittin at about 283-285 on any given day and I already feel better than the previous 296-298 range. Training has consisted of a "body balancing" weight-lifting regimen done four days a week. Cardio in the form of interval training is typically done 2-3 times per week. My diet has cleaned up only a little bit but for people like me (and others) who have spent most of their lives eating terrible food, that can help quite a bit. I usually keep it clean during the week with sandwiches, nuts, fruit, and a daily plate of food (prepared by my wonderful momma packed and ready to go for me in the morning) consisting of rice, meat (typically fish, chicken, or beef), and spiced cabbage ("kimchi")... and on the weekends I let myself have some fast-food(which is DELICIOUS) and restaurant food. Once I hit 280 I need o focus a lot more on building more muscle mass and leaning the body to maintain a very muscular 280. That'll be hard work.

Ok, need to get back to my social psych assignment so that just about does it for this study break...which seems to have lasted longer than any study session I have had or will ever have...by now, I think you know my positions on "school". Tomorrow, the usual drill...wake up, practice, class, practice, teach, practice.

yo momma,
Lee

Amidst Summer's Waning

It is a sad time...
Summer is almost over. What an effing bummer.
However, to wrap it up, The summer of '07 turned out to be exactly what I needed. A great winding down period from school year of hell.
I've spent a good amount of time practicing, teaching, and working out. My playing has made some important strides, my students-getting better, and my body has gone the direction I wanted it to. Currently, I have the most muscle I have ever had yet weigh 8 lbs less than my usual competition weight. I seriously had fast food like every day for a long stretch. Now I'm making it once a week...and this is like some sort of record....hahaha.

looking ahead:
-School...is gonna be about as cool as dead cat as usual.
-I've added two high schools to my teaching schedule. Looks like I will be teaching at Cy-Woods, Elkins, and Conroe High Schools. I have concluded that I just cannot teach middle school kids...not at this point. teaching younger players is a skill in itself...which will take time for me. How will I have time? Well, lets just say there is going be a big adjustment soon.....which i cannot share now...but I will still be training for discus, going to school, and resume trombonitus. Teaching will be cool. My teaching is getting better with every lesson so that is exciting. I look to have 1-2 kids making state this year and about 50% of my kids making region.
- I don't plan to cut my hair.....hahah
-I will train well this year. Looking to adjust my competition weight to about 280lbs. This is much less than 296 that was last season. I will be stronger and leaner...thats that.
-I'm gonna continue practicing, obviously. I hope to devote 3-4 hrs a day regularly outside of rehearsals. This is essentially my purpose for school....to train, cultivate, and develop as a performer and to take this with me to the real world when I leave.
-I will likely pursue German as another language to learn to somewhat complete the arsenal of languages. The little french, italian, korean, and spanish I know really provide a lot for me both in terms of benefit and personal enjoyment/knowledge. It just helps me make sense of things. I'm lucky to have grown up where I grew up and so is everyone else that did with me in the same area.

Alrighty, that'll due for another update...
ciao

a whole lot of the same thing

Buon giorno

Well school has ended and this is a great thing...mainly cus I hate school...but also because a load has been off my shoulders and now I can practice trombone and train for throwing without the useless stress of homework on my mind. Don't get me wrong...music is my major...but classes are not...I love music...but I hate class. For me, school is essentially practicing, rehearsing, and taking lessons with my trombone teacher...training in music...to become a better player. And I consider myself to be a double-major as I am also very focused on training for my throwing.

Conference-USA meet was this past weekend and I won it. yay. I ended up throwing 183 feet just about and though it is under my personal record, I am very happy with the result. There are many factors that determine the potential of distance on throws on a certain day and the day of conference the conditions did not turn out to be optimal for record-breaking performances. However, it is all about who throws the furthest compared to others on the day of competition and I came out on top. I'm very pleased to have competed well...usually Im caught up in myself at meets trying to better my personal record and I often forget that there are others that I have to compete with...and I am glad i was able to compete well. Next up there is regionals in Des Moines, Iowa and if I do well then I will qualify for the NCAA national championships. My goal for regionals is to be in shape to throw 60 meters which is about 197'. I am confident that I can do this. Training for regionals thus far has been pretty good and right now my throws sessions are focused on quality rather than quantity as this time of year you really don't want to throw yourself out. Training in terms of out of the ring includes sprinting, jogging, ab work, power cleans, overhead snatches, squats, flys, and delt work....that's all. At this point of the yr it is important to focus on event-specific muscles and concerns to body balancing are addressed later when the off-season arrives. I'm looking forward to training for regionals for a chance to throw at NCAA nationals...I'm pretty optimistic about my chances but you never know what to expect...all you can do is train the best you can and give it your best...that is all you can ask of yourself in situations such as qualifying for big meets and championships. Same with music...you have to practice hard and when the time comes to perform it should be a celebration of your hard work...no matter the outcome, there is no wasted time or energy because the journey you take to become better is what is most important.

Music has been going well. Again, without school I now have energy to devote to only two things...throwing and music...it feels great. So as you can imagine, my practice sessions are a lot more focused and productive. I've come to the realization that I need to quit imitating sounds and produce more sounds that are unique to myself...it is art afterall. People always compliment my sound however I think there is more... My sound has evolved from what I have heard and I think now its time to add an element of personalization and unique quality to my sound and character of playing. Everyone has something extraordinarily special to offer in music however it is often neglected because people practice with an intention to conform to what is "good"playing and stopping their satisfactions there...I have a lot to offer this world...time to cultivate my sound...

The summer for me will be spent doing what I essentially want to do with my time...which is splitting my day between throws training and practicing my trombone. That is the life, ahhhhh! No friggin nagging theory HW to deprive me of sleep ...sleep needed in order to have good practice sessions and training. I will teach a good amount of lessons this summer to my high school kids and also open my network to take on more students for next school year. I'm also lookign forward to rehearsing with my brass quintet and playing music with colleagues now that we arent all tied up with HW and rehearsals for lame music. I imagine I'll take a one-week break from the trombone sometime in the middle of the summer as I plan to play a recital sometime in early July. This recital keeps on being pushed back but you know what...I have that luxury!!!

So there it is...another update.

Ciao

Musical and Athletic training update

Things are, as always, exceptionally busy. And now that I am in season everyday is a day that prepares me for competition on every weekend. Right now we are in the shot-put as only indoor track and field events are competed during the early time of the year. I hate shot-put and the only reason I allow myself to do it is to help the team...i really do hate the shot-put...wah. however, I have been getting better at it especially after spending a few weeks with legendary UH coach Tom Tellez...and after our work together, I know exactly why he is legendary...the man just flat out knows how to communicate with athletes. Maybe this is why the number 1 long jumper in the world has had a prolonged stay in Houston just to train with him. Anyways, my goal is to qualify for the NCAA meet in about a month from now and I need about 5 more feet on my throw to do it ...and I know i am well capable of that...I just need to let one go. Im pretty confident I can throw this damned ball far but the event just doesn't appeal to me thus leaving me at practiced with not much passion...not as much passion as when I practice the disc...and ah, yes, we have just started the discus back up after about a 2 month layoff and it has been goign great. Im sitting at about and easy throw of 180' which was me at my prime last season...to be at this point before the outdoor season has even started is a very good sign. My goal for the first outdoor meet this year is 200' and my season goal is 210'. I can do it...i just feel like it is going to happen...as an athlete, you just know things...and if they don't work out, its not because you weren't capable...it just calls for re-examination. i started out the discus last yr at about 160 and ended up throwing 188' at my first meet...and i knew it then too.

Music has also been getting better. I've had some good lessons lately with my teacher who is pretty much one of the smartest people I have ever come to know. I am playing a recital this semester so despite the busy track season, I will prepare a recital and share music with the world! I'm also int he trombone choir for the first time and though I don't liek trombone choir much as a whole, it does give me a work-out for my chops and helps me build some important muscle to become a stronger player. Anyways, there are some things to look forward to as far as the orchestra season is concerned and also my friend Weston who plays with the MET Opera is coming down to give a masterclass so that will be fun im sure. I have also still been with my quintet, we now have a name and it is the Metropolitan Brass, oddly. The players are completely professional and I am the exception but Im glad I get to work with people who serve as good examples.

Sleep is not something ive beend oing lately....its impossible...school, training, practicing, school work, teaching, family...who has the time. I will now turn into slumber for what is a night that consiosts of more sleep than I usually get...5 hrs...that's not bad.

until next time,
arrivederci

The Pursuit of ....What?

I have recently come to question the motives of us...creatures of economy.

It seems to me that too many people have lost a hold of the role that things such as money, education, training (whatever it may be), and time should play in our existence.
There was a point in history when people put efforts into their pursuits for search of a greater perspective, purpose, goal...when education meant the opportunity to learn, when training meant the opportunity to improve, and when time devoted was time loved...
Now were in a time when all three of these things equate to the likes of money, qualification, and status in order to define success amongst others and to give reason to pat ourselves amongst our backs. We're in an age when education is seen as a means of income, training is seen as a means of qualifications to make income, and how time is now equating to money. We're turning our training and education into benchmarks of status rather than opportunities of further appreciation...silly titles such as John Doe, ph.d are now affiliated with names and people feel the need to boast a certain status...why is this so important? People are striving to excel on the basis of everyone else's short-comings, competing with only each other and stopping their satisfaction with superiority over another person.

How have we funneled into the ideal that purely beautiful factors such as learning, training, and time devoted are factors of generating wealth? And our educational systems have switched their nature from the enlightening state of our ancient philosophers to what is now seeming to be a series of memorization and regurgitation... and who shall ever master this silly system of education will be stamped with an approval of A. "Education" is now what must be attained for the handle of money.

Have we lost a hold of why we live?

Instead money should serve as a means of sustainment...not something we devote our lives to. And yes, this is coming from a son of immigrants and a son of a family who has never known what it is to flourish economically. There are things more important than money...fulfillment, love, giving something to this world, taking something from this world...sharing something...yes, money does play a role but only to facilitate the greater good.

We are living in a time when education and training is seen as a means of money, and not as a means of learning. When all pursuits are geared towards the pursuit of money...money that will come and go.


The concept of doing what you love over the pursuit of money is something that is far fetched... and the life pursuits of many individuals are directed by monetary prosperity.
Yes, money must be made...we live in a world that is dependent upon it...and no, we cannot survive off just a love for what we do... but money is not what we should love and however little or much has been made cannot dictate our happiness.

is this writing repetitive? is this something our teachers tell us not to do for an "a" paper? I'm repetitive for the sake of communicating this idea. What is the reason for our next step? For our next breath? What is it for? something that comes and goes...or for something or things that we were born to do?

I have met many people who make the majority of their income doing something that is NOT what they love to do...yet they acknowledge this and pursue whatever it is they love unceasingly...that is real, that is genuine...money for them is a blessing that helps them sustain other things that are more important than money.
To make money and to stop the evolution of your existence at that point is when tragedy occurs.