For the past few weeks, I have felt like I have been stuck in neutral (as my very cleverly thought up title says). Mostly because all my friends are still home from school, and instead of planning the rest of my year or being productive in some sense, I have been hanging out with them. Which is fine by me. It nice to have them around after so many months of being on my own. (Which I also don't really mind either.)
But I still can't help but feel like I am just stuck in neutral. Not moving backwards, and not moving forwards. Just staying put. Not progressing or moving towards anything. Just going about my days without anything to show for it. I guess you could say I felt very unproductive. I just felt like I hadn't done anything spectacular and I wasn't making progress towards something like that.
Then this past Tuesday I read a very thought provoking quote on the inside label of a bottle of Honest Tea. Love that stuff. Anyway, that quote was:
"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant."
-Robert Louis Stevenson
Showing posts with label videos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label videos. Show all posts
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Thursday, December 20, 2012
The last post ever.
Hi everyone, please pay special attention to this post. This is a very important one. This is the very last post I will ever be doing. Never again will I write about my gap year. Never again will I write about anything anywhere. Or do anything anywhere for that matter. Why?
Because the world is going to end tomorrow. Duh. Tomorrow, December 21st 2012, the world will end. How do we know this you ask? Well, it is because the Mayan calender ends tomorrow. After a 5125 year long cycle in their calendar, it ends. And as we all know, the end of a calender kept by an ancient civilization dictates everything in the present and obviously, the future. We are not entirely sure what is going to happen, but it could be anything from being sucked into a black hole, being hit by the rouge planet Nibiru, or being attacked by zombies. All are a high risk and are things that may happen on the 21st.
Some have called this phenomenon of this sure to be cataclysmic event merely a pseudoscience. For example, NASA says that Nibiru was an Internet hoax and will not crash into the earth. If NASA knew anything, they would know that the Internet can always be counted on as being a highly credible and reliable place in all fields. No hoaxes every originate here. And since when has NASA been credible?
Clearly, the Mayan calendar ending marks the end of us too. I have enjoyed writing here quite a bit, but now I say goodbye.
Obviously, I was being slightly satirical. Or a lot so. I guess you can figure out for yourselves what I really think.
But, all this end of the world talk really got me thinking though. What if we knew that the world was definitely going to end? What would you do? And I don't mean go to EMS and stock up on survival stuff so you can survive and eventually bring humanity back in a place called Panam that consists of 12 outlying districts and a capitol... hunger games. Not like that. I mean what would you actually do? Would you travel somewhere? (Pick somewhere close so you could actually get there before the world ends.) Or be with a certain person? Or rob a bank? (That would suck if the Mayans were wrong of course...) Or try something you have always wanted to?
You get the idea. But, it just really got me thinking about it, so I decided to use some sarcasm to eventually get to a valid point. And that point is:
Try and live everyday as though the world is going to end the next day. Live in the moment.
That is probably the oldest anecdote in the book, but the more I think about the possible Doomsday, the more I desire to really live my life that way.
Anyway, those were just a few thoughts. Happy end of the world. Talk to you never. And learn how to use a bow and change your name to Katniss if you really want to survive it. But let's enjoy things until the end comes.
Because the world is going to end tomorrow. Duh. Tomorrow, December 21st 2012, the world will end. How do we know this you ask? Well, it is because the Mayan calender ends tomorrow. After a 5125 year long cycle in their calendar, it ends. And as we all know, the end of a calender kept by an ancient civilization dictates everything in the present and obviously, the future. We are not entirely sure what is going to happen, but it could be anything from being sucked into a black hole, being hit by the rouge planet Nibiru, or being attacked by zombies. All are a high risk and are things that may happen on the 21st.
Some have called this phenomenon of this sure to be cataclysmic event merely a pseudoscience. For example, NASA says that Nibiru was an Internet hoax and will not crash into the earth. If NASA knew anything, they would know that the Internet can always be counted on as being a highly credible and reliable place in all fields. No hoaxes every originate here. And since when has NASA been credible?
Clearly, the Mayan calendar ending marks the end of us too. I have enjoyed writing here quite a bit, but now I say goodbye.
But, all this end of the world talk really got me thinking though. What if we knew that the world was definitely going to end? What would you do? And I don't mean go to EMS and stock up on survival stuff so you can survive and eventually bring humanity back in a place called Panam that consists of 12 outlying districts and a capitol... hunger games. Not like that. I mean what would you actually do? Would you travel somewhere? (Pick somewhere close so you could actually get there before the world ends.) Or be with a certain person? Or rob a bank? (That would suck if the Mayans were wrong of course...) Or try something you have always wanted to?
You get the idea. But, it just really got me thinking about it, so I decided to use some sarcasm to eventually get to a valid point. And that point is:
Try and live everyday as though the world is going to end the next day. Live in the moment.
That is probably the oldest anecdote in the book, but the more I think about the possible Doomsday, the more I desire to really live my life that way.
Anyway, those were just a few thoughts. Happy end of the world. Talk to you never. And learn how to use a bow and change your name to Katniss if you really want to survive it. But let's enjoy things until the end comes.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
12-12-12
Happy 12-12-12!!! Is anything supposed to happen on this day? I don't think so. I just thought I should mention it because it IS really cool and this is the last time the three numbers of the date will be aligned like this until....January 1st 3001. Woah.
Thinking about this whole 12-12-12 business got me thinking about how close we are to 2013. Which of course got me thinking about how fast this year going by. Lately I have really been stressing out about my plans for the winter and spring portion of the gap year, and thinking about how close we are to the new year only added the pressure.
Then, since it's almost the holiday season, my friends will be coming back from school ready for a well needed break. They have spent this past weak studying hard and finishing up their first semester, and I am just here. Ready to greet them. That though gives me a severe feeling of inadequacy. I feel as though I copped out of doing that kind of academic work. I have never been one to do that, so it has been very weird for me to not be doing anything in that academic sense.When the teacher said read this and write about it, I did, no questions asked, so I guess it is only natural to feel as though I should be doing something.
So here I was worrying myself over this and researching apartments in Finland (Nothing definite on that yet, but a plan is coming together) during this past very rainy weekend, when yesterday-WHAM! Epiphany. Well actually more like reality slap.
Last night my family and I went over to have dinner at the house of some very good friends of ours. Their son and I went to elementary school together and have always been really good friends. He too is doing a gap year, only he does not have the safety net of knowing where he is going to school next year. And yet, he is following his passion of web design and just living and experiencing his gap year without feeling guilty for being self aware and taking time to just relax and grow (as I had been doing so much lately). Having dinner with them just talking, laughing, and discussing everything from Adele to Siri to gap year plans reminded me why I chose to take a year off.
I had been loosing faith in my choice, and yesterday I just realized that it was totally crazy. As my friend said, "Be a student of life and all it's nuisances. It is far more valuable than any education an institution can give." (I took that from his twitter, but I give credit where it is due). That quote is incredibly true. From what I have experienced so far from my gap year (which has been comprised of mostly working) is that life can indeed be nuisance. Day to to day that same repetition can be boring and bland. But it's something you have to do. And the trick is to just enjoy it and make the best of the day.
Before I start to ramble on too much, my point is that I found renewed faith in my gap year choice thanks to a visit with an old friend. Even though at times it may seem as though I may not been doing much, I know that day to day I am indeed learning, even it's not E=MC2.
I leave you with this inspirational quote of the day that perfectly relates to how I feel right now.
Thinking about this whole 12-12-12 business got me thinking about how close we are to 2013. Which of course got me thinking about how fast this year going by. Lately I have really been stressing out about my plans for the winter and spring portion of the gap year, and thinking about how close we are to the new year only added the pressure.
Then, since it's almost the holiday season, my friends will be coming back from school ready for a well needed break. They have spent this past weak studying hard and finishing up their first semester, and I am just here. Ready to greet them. That though gives me a severe feeling of inadequacy. I feel as though I copped out of doing that kind of academic work. I have never been one to do that, so it has been very weird for me to not be doing anything in that academic sense.When the teacher said read this and write about it, I did, no questions asked, so I guess it is only natural to feel as though I should be doing something.
So here I was worrying myself over this and researching apartments in Finland (Nothing definite on that yet, but a plan is coming together) during this past very rainy weekend, when yesterday-WHAM! Epiphany. Well actually more like reality slap.
Last night my family and I went over to have dinner at the house of some very good friends of ours. Their son and I went to elementary school together and have always been really good friends. He too is doing a gap year, only he does not have the safety net of knowing where he is going to school next year. And yet, he is following his passion of web design and just living and experiencing his gap year without feeling guilty for being self aware and taking time to just relax and grow (as I had been doing so much lately). Having dinner with them just talking, laughing, and discussing everything from Adele to Siri to gap year plans reminded me why I chose to take a year off.
I had been loosing faith in my choice, and yesterday I just realized that it was totally crazy. As my friend said, "Be a student of life and all it's nuisances. It is far more valuable than any education an institution can give." (I took that from his twitter, but I give credit where it is due). That quote is incredibly true. From what I have experienced so far from my gap year (which has been comprised of mostly working) is that life can indeed be nuisance. Day to to day that same repetition can be boring and bland. But it's something you have to do. And the trick is to just enjoy it and make the best of the day.
Before I start to ramble on too much, my point is that I found renewed faith in my gap year choice thanks to a visit with an old friend. Even though at times it may seem as though I may not been doing much, I know that day to day I am indeed learning, even it's not E=MC2.
I leave you with this inspirational quote of the day that perfectly relates to how I feel right now.
"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see."
Monday, December 3, 2012
How the HELL am I going to spend the rest of my year?
Now that we are into December, it has been a few months since I began this gap year. I started off not entirely sure of my choice and not really knowing what I was going to be doing. I mean, I had "the plan" that I would deliver to people whenever the skeptically asked " a gap year...?" Really my only solid plan was that I was going to work. Which I have done a lot of. But now, I am starting to worry. Back in June my dad when to Finland to help re-setup a company called Kitewing (www.kitewing.com). It is a product that I use and ice sailing is a sport my family participate in every winter. Check out this video to get a clear idea of what it's all about. It's really hard to explain so I find just telling people to watch a video is the best way for everyone to understand what it's all about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IfQEmq5kOM&list=UUkkipXwvRJJFD8VadMwWIzA&index=20&feature=plcp
Okay, are you done? Cool. I filmed, edited, and sailed in that video and it is probably the best one I have ever made. Anyway, while my dad was there he found out that the company needs people to work during the winter months in the factory putting together the Wings because it is their busiest time. And that, if I so desired, I could work there and have that job. So working and living in Finland from January to March was my big plan. The glue that held together the rest of the year. And now, it's almost January, and I still don't have a place to live. That was the one catch in the idea; finding me a place to live in Finland for three months. Apartments are CRAZY expensive. All the people that we know in Finland have either not gotten back to us, or don't have the room. It is a lot to ask of someone, but we are still searching for that place. I know how amazing and beneficial a trip this could be, so I really hope that we can figure this out in the next month.
Because of this uncertainty considering what was supposed to be the creme dela creme of my gap year experience, I have be fervently searching for other options as well as ideas for the spring time. I have had some luck so far. I found a super amazing website called WWOOF.com. It stands for World Wide Opportunities for Organic Farming. It is totally amazing and there are hundreds of farms in almost every country across the world. Basically you work at a farm in exchange for free room and board while being in a new country and the opportunities to explore. I have been reading farm profiles for the past few weeks and it's so overwhelming. There are just so many options in so many countries. I can't decide. But where ever I do decide to go, I am going to try and plan it so I can " farm hop". Spend a few weeks one spot, then on to the next and the next. This is going to take a lot of planning, but it is something I really want to try and do, so I am going to do my best to make it work.
As great as that is, there is just so much more I want to do. So many places that I want to see and things I want to experience. And I am starting to worry that it won't all happen this year. I am afraid that I will have barely done anything cool and adventure by the time August rolls around. I will have missed out...
BUT. Just as I begin to get myself thinking like that, I have to stop. I have to put away the worry wart and find that inner hippie. I need to give myself a break. Whether or not I am trekking through the Himalayas, the point of this year is that I took it. I followed my initial instinct of not being prepared for school. I took that risk and now it's my job to make it the best it can be. That, of course, is easier said than done. See? I am my own worst enemy. I'm going to drive myself crazy. Really. I think I need to just give myself a break and relax and enjoy my year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IfQEmq5kOM&list=UUkkipXwvRJJFD8VadMwWIzA&index=20&feature=plcp
Okay, are you done? Cool. I filmed, edited, and sailed in that video and it is probably the best one I have ever made. Anyway, while my dad was there he found out that the company needs people to work during the winter months in the factory putting together the Wings because it is their busiest time. And that, if I so desired, I could work there and have that job. So working and living in Finland from January to March was my big plan. The glue that held together the rest of the year. And now, it's almost January, and I still don't have a place to live. That was the one catch in the idea; finding me a place to live in Finland for three months. Apartments are CRAZY expensive. All the people that we know in Finland have either not gotten back to us, or don't have the room. It is a lot to ask of someone, but we are still searching for that place. I know how amazing and beneficial a trip this could be, so I really hope that we can figure this out in the next month.
Because of this uncertainty considering what was supposed to be the creme dela creme of my gap year experience, I have be fervently searching for other options as well as ideas for the spring time. I have had some luck so far. I found a super amazing website called WWOOF.com. It stands for World Wide Opportunities for Organic Farming. It is totally amazing and there are hundreds of farms in almost every country across the world. Basically you work at a farm in exchange for free room and board while being in a new country and the opportunities to explore. I have been reading farm profiles for the past few weeks and it's so overwhelming. There are just so many options in so many countries. I can't decide. But where ever I do decide to go, I am going to try and plan it so I can " farm hop". Spend a few weeks one spot, then on to the next and the next. This is going to take a lot of planning, but it is something I really want to try and do, so I am going to do my best to make it work.
As great as that is, there is just so much more I want to do. So many places that I want to see and things I want to experience. And I am starting to worry that it won't all happen this year. I am afraid that I will have barely done anything cool and adventure by the time August rolls around. I will have missed out...
BUT. Just as I begin to get myself thinking like that, I have to stop. I have to put away the worry wart and find that inner hippie. I need to give myself a break. Whether or not I am trekking through the Himalayas, the point of this year is that I took it. I followed my initial instinct of not being prepared for school. I took that risk and now it's my job to make it the best it can be. That, of course, is easier said than done. See? I am my own worst enemy. I'm going to drive myself crazy. Really. I think I need to just give myself a break and relax and enjoy my year.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
I'm the next Steven Spielberg?
Currently, I am sitting at work, taking this time to write here so I can get a break from doing nothing. Because there is (and has been) nothing to do. I've had maybe three customers since 8 o'clock this morning. Ever since then, it's been intense games of Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 on my iPod and reading Gone with The Wind (which, by the way, is a wonderful literary piece). It was like this yesterday. And it will be like this tomorrow. Typically, I would find this very bleak, but today it's fine with me.
My dad just called me about twenty five minutes ago to tell me that a photographer (who's name I cannot remember) saw a video that I just made about a sailing event my family participate in every year (here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAdZTEJ1QME&feature=plcp), and according to this photographer, I am incredibly talented and he wants me to do some editing for him. After watching this particular video, he went on to watch all of mine and contacted my dad's friend, who then contacted my dad, and then my dad called me.
I do not mean to boast, but I must admit I do have a knack for video editing. Along with photography, hiking, nature, Bones, ice sailing, and traveling, cinematography/ directing is one of my true passions. Everything I do, I always picture in "movie-vision" as I call it. I am constantly thinking of how things would look through a lens and how different angles and shots could convey a particular message. I have a vision of how a video should be planned out in my head before I even touch a camera. I get random ideas all the time based on whatever it is I'm doing at the time. I know how I want it to feel and how I want it to look. So for me, this is a very amazing opportunity. Who knows, it may lead to my ultimate dream of working for National Geographic filming astounding documentaries about nature and then making a movie about my own epic adventures in the great outdoors.
My dad just called me about twenty five minutes ago to tell me that a photographer (who's name I cannot remember) saw a video that I just made about a sailing event my family participate in every year (here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAdZTEJ1QME&feature=plcp), and according to this photographer, I am incredibly talented and he wants me to do some editing for him. After watching this particular video, he went on to watch all of mine and contacted my dad's friend, who then contacted my dad, and then my dad called me.
I do not mean to boast, but I must admit I do have a knack for video editing. Along with photography, hiking, nature, Bones, ice sailing, and traveling, cinematography/ directing is one of my true passions. Everything I do, I always picture in "movie-vision" as I call it. I am constantly thinking of how things would look through a lens and how different angles and shots could convey a particular message. I have a vision of how a video should be planned out in my head before I even touch a camera. I get random ideas all the time based on whatever it is I'm doing at the time. I know how I want it to feel and how I want it to look. So for me, this is a very amazing opportunity. Who knows, it may lead to my ultimate dream of working for National Geographic filming astounding documentaries about nature and then making a movie about my own epic adventures in the great outdoors.
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