500 Words

The past few weeks have been a blur. It's been emotionally draining and rewarding at the same time. First, I finally got around to launching my Science News and Education blog, sciencescenes.com. Shortly thereafter, I launched the same facebook page. In order to do both, I needed to get over my fears. I needed to humble myself and just take action. For once, I needed to stop overthinking and just create.

On top of these two actions I took towards my creative side-hobby, I also have been busy battling some sort-of cold or flu like virus. This pathogen has not just knocked me on my butt, but has also taken my wife and two children out of commision at various points this week. If you think having two sick kids under the age of four is bad, try being two sick parents trying to care for two healthy kids under the age of four. Not only that, but both kiddos have been waking multiple times either due to sickness and/or nightmares. The other night, I found myself on 2 and a half hours of sleep.

Because of the lack of sleep, my willpower and weight loss endeavors have been totally put on hiatus. I am finally turning the corner, so I will have to begin again on Monday.

Overall, things are looking up. However, no I have this personal blog as well as the science blog to take care of, and I do not have the confidence in my writing yet to not just stare at the blank page. Which is all the more reason to just start writing. I was already thinking of creating a promise to myself that I would reach a daily word count every day during my waking hours, but it was solidified today while listening to one of my favorite podcasts, “After Things”.

http://weirdthings.com/2016/01/after-things-beater-eaters/

After Things is the after show podcast of a second podcast I also enjoy, Weird Things. During “After Things”, magicians Andrew Mayne and Brian Brushwood join their creative  Justin Robert-Young discuss their creative and entrepreneurial endeavours. At the end of every After Things show, the three each pick one item which has inspired their creativity or business acumen for the week.

Andrew recommended “The Power of Habit” again this week, after Brian reccomended it previously. Andrew discussed how, using the power of habit, he decided to set a goal to write 2,000 words a day. Ever since he began working on this goal, he has met this habit daily and it has increased his creative output. He has written more than a handful of book along with various lesser writing words. He claims a friend of his made a similar goal and shortly afterwards, this person ended up with a full length self-help book.

Now, to paraphrase many writers, the only way to become a better writer is to write. I am not doing enough writing at the moment. I am not getting better at it. It is holding me back from creating. I need to write better, in order to have the confidence to write more, and I need to write more to write better.

I know I do not have the number of free hours in a day that Andrew has. I work as an educator with two little kids and need to take work home with me. I cannot work during my job hours. I can only really write after the kids go to bed.

So 2000 words is out of the question for me. However, I can set a smaller goal. I hereby pledge to write at least 500 words a day. I will not always be on this blog. I might be on my science blog. Or it might be on some other projects I have started during this most recent creative itch I have had. But let’s get writing.

Day 1. Way Done! Well Done.

-P

10 Things I learned from playing table top RPGs

A lot of people have negative opinions about table-top role playing games (RPGs). But I think they are no worse than any other hobby. As long as they don't become an obession, they are a great way to spend an evening with your friends. I've played a lot of table top RPGs (Dungeons and Dragons, Vampire, Werewolf, Star Wars), and I believe these experiences have made me a better person. Here are the top 10 things I have learn from playing table-top RPGs:

1.) The journey is more fun with friends.

Life, business, and gaming are better in groups. Companionship builds confidence. In groups you have people to share your success with; you have people to play devil’s advocate against your silly ideas; you have people to make you laugh at your failures; you have people to get your back when you bad mouth the half-orc barbarian after one to many pints of ale in the local tavern.

 
2.) Your choice of companions can determine success or failure.

The best adventuring party consists of a group of people whose individual strengths compensate for each other’s weaknesses. A group of wizards are not going to be able to climb the parapet or hold the crashing gate while their friends escape. A group of barbarians aren’t going to be able to detect and disable the trapped exploding treasure chest. Find people who complement your weakness and strengths.

 
3.) Natural ability will only get you so far, everything else must be earned.

In all table top roleplaying games, you start off the quest as an exceptional individual in an exceptional world. Compared to the average peasant, your character is an amazing individual, capable of incredible feats of strength, cunning, or magic. However, compared to fellow adventures, kings, dragons, and enemies your character is nothing but a level one individual. It is only through working and gaining experience that your character gets stronger, faster, and better and is able to reap the rewards of adventure. Don’t take your natural talents for granted keep striving to get better. Eventually you’ll find a challenge that can’t be overcome by raw talent alone.

 
4.) The bigger the risk, the bigger the reward.

When raiding a level one goblin den you’ll be lucky to find a common steel sword and a few pieces of silver. However, by sneaking into the red dragon’s lair and defeating him, you’re going to land yourself a cart full of gold, magic weapons and armor, and a ton of experience. Be a wolf. Weight the consequences and gamble with the maximum you can afford to lose.

 
5.) You must have a plan….

You can’t just run into that den around the corner and hope to take out everything that’s in there. It’s best to have your rouge sneak in and find out that are four adult trolls: one is sleeping, two have their back to the wall arguing, and one is vigilantly watching for approaching danger. Then you can make a plan on what spells to use, where to send your paladin, and make sure to finish the job with a healthy dose of fire.

 
6.) … and when that fails, you must be able to improvise.

Like actions in life, actions in table top RPGs  never go exactly as planned. When you run into the den of trolls and find out they are only illusions attached to an advanced warning system set up by an evil band of warlocks and shamans, you’re going to need to execute a new plan on the fly. Take change in stride, work with your advantages, do the best you can, and never give up.

 
7.) Even the best will fail; even the weakest can turn the tide.

Every table top RPG that I have played has a chance outcome for even the best to botch their roll, and even the worst to be able to score a critical hit. I have played a character built specifically for dealing with explosives and demolitions fail his rolls every time he tried to throw a grenade. I have played a level one illusionist wizard who unexpectedly incapacitated the high level commander of an invading war party with a single stone. Like life, you have to roll with the punches. Sometimes even with all the planning in the world you are going to fail, sometimes you’re going to be bested by someone or something who is obviously inferior to you. That’s life.

 
8.) The seven deadly sins will catch up with you.

I’ve played games with other players who displayed one of these attributes as a character flaw. Usually this character becomes the first to succumb to the challenges of adventure (sometimes by his own party’s hands). Don’t let your negative attributes cause you and your party to fail.

 
9.) Every choice you make has consequences. Everything is a choice. The worst choice you can make is doing nothing.

We often don’t realize that everything in our lives is a choice. We make a choice to take action literally thousands, if not millions, of times a day. These choices become more apparent in a role playing game. Do I take a left or a right at the fork of the road? Do I trust the young thief child, or the rich noble man? Should I sneak past the sleeping dragon, or start a fight while I have the advantage? The worst possible decision is to do nothing. Stopping on the road will not further your quest. Not choosing between the thief and the nobleman will gain you two enemies rather than only one. Eventually that dragon is going to wake up.

 
10.) It’s not over until it’s over.

Even when my character was up against impossible odds, I never stopped trying something to overcome. Most times he made it through, if a little worse for the wear. The worst that happened… he died. It’s the same in life. Never stop fighting until you can’t fight.

Thanks for reading. Keep building those cathedrals.
 

-P

Five Deathbed Regrets... and why Gaming is Good.

I have been on a TED talk kick lately, as you can likely tell from previous blog posts. Currently I am working my way through the eight episode package about life hacking on Netflix.

 There is a talk by game designer Jane McGonigal who talks about why playing games will extend your life and the top five regrets that people have on their death bed. Here is the aticle Ms. McGonigal References: from the Guardian.

Here are the top five regrets people have on their death bed:

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
Be a wolf not a dog.

2. I wish I hadn't worked so hard. This one is especially poignant as a new father. I need to make sure I keep doing it for her, but I also need to do it with her.

3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings. This is especially hard for me. I am a work in progress.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. I think I really need to work on getting that weekly (biweekly game night going).

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier. Isn't that this whole point of the blog?

I was listening to Tim Pychylof iProcrastinate Podcast the other day, and he said something especially deep. He was asked about what he thinks about the concept of tomorrow in regards to people saying that they will "do it tomorrow." He responded, and I paraphrase, that always living in tomorrow is not the best idea. One of the only truths we have is that eventually, for all of us, there will come a day where there will be no tomorrow.

Let's not have regrets when that day comes.

-P

Day 29/30 Almost there!

Are You a Wolf or a Dog?

Yesterday's image of the ants and grasshopper reminded me of an old Aesop's Fable that went something like this:

A hungry wolf happened upon a well fed dog. The well fed dog asks the wolf to join him in his life of leisure. The wolf agrees at first. Upon closer inspection, the wolf notices the dog's fur has been worn down at the neck and inquires as to why? The dog explains the collar as to which all dogs must wear. The wolf leaves the dogs company deciding he'd rather starve than be a slave.
 

I realized upon reflection, that this fable does not only represent the liberty vs. slavery question, but it also represents the two ways of decision making.

You can live your life as a dog making all the easy decisions and playing everything safe. This will guarantee that you life a comfortable life, but in return you will be living the life that society deems is proper. You will not be able to follow your dreams and passion.

Or you can live your life as a wolf. You have the freedom to pursue your own dreams. Though the reward is great, the risk is equally high. You could find a feast or struggle with famine. You will need to hone your talents and constantly improve your skills and knowledge to minimize the risk and maximize the reward. The life of a wolf is much more difficult.

Neither existence is right nor wrong. It is up to you to decide. Are you a wolf or a dog? I know what I wish to be.

-P
Day 28/30 (Two more to go).

Believe in Your Students - Even the Bad Ones

I am a teacher. Part of building a better me also involves exploring ways to be a better educator. This following video shows something very important to me. I think I do my best to follow all the advice in this Ted Talk, but I know I can be better at it. If you aren't an educator, but manage people or want people to do their best for you, the advice given works the same way; just substitute students with people or employees.

First, students won't learn from you if they don't like you.
Second, they won't like you if you show that you don't like them (verbally or non verbally).

If you want to improve motivation and inspire students, believe in them. Show them you believe in them. Even when they fail; Believe in them. Sometimes you will be the only person that believes in them. Even if you don't like them; Believe in them. Did I mention...? Believe in them.

If you believe in them, they will work for you, they will learn. They will believe in you.

-P
Creative Challenge: 15/30 -50% of the way there!!!! WOOT WOOT

Joss Whedon is My Master Now - Commencement Edition

Joss Whedon gave a commencement speech over the weekend. You can see it here.

It's one of the most motivating speeches I've heard, and basically covers the reasons that I started really working on this blog. To sum it up:

• You are going to die.
• You can't change the world. It changes you.
• You will never be satisfied.
• You can make it better by listening to the voice that screams for change and accept that it will never shut up.

I really started posting on this blog because after the birth of my daughter, I was forced to deal with my mortality. I realized that while I am successful, I want more. I want to be happier. I want to listen to that voice that's never satisfied. I want to change.As all the kids are saying; #YOLO.  Join me as I chase my happiness.

Strong stuff. True stuff. What do you think?

- P
Creativity Challenge 14/30

 

2013 Goal Reached - and Sunday Rewards.

Great news on the awesome front! Back in February, I listed some of my goals for 2013. One of my goals was to raise $1000 for a charity. The charity I chose was St. Jude's Children's research hospital. This hospital holds a special place in my family because a cousin credits this organization with saving her life.

She was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor when she was a child. Because of St. Jude, her family was able to afford cutting edge treatments and travel expenses. This charity made a difference. Through their treatments, my cousin beat a 6 months-to-live diagnosis and has been in remission for nearly two decades!

With the help of my family and friends I have been able to raise $1220 for charity! I can scratch this off my 2013 list, but I'm not done yet. The race is not for another two weeks, so I still have time to destroy this goal even more!


Also, I have slipped in keeping score for my motivation game, but I did record enough experience points to be able to draw a card today. My win? A motivational quote. I almost have enough for another card next week. Only drawing once gives me more motivation to record my xp this week.

"You know the rule ... if you are falling - dive" - Joseph Campbell
 

Keep up the good work. See you again tomorrow.

-P
Creativity Challenge 10/30 (33%)

Cons: I'm scared. (Part 2/2)

Yesterday I wrote on the two excuses halting your sucess. Yesterday I addressed the first: It's hard. Today I am going to address the second: I'm scared.

This is my big excuse. I like hard. Hard makes it special. I can kick Hard to the curb. But I am always scared. Scared of succeeding. Scared of failing. Scared or changing. Scared of not accomplishing anything. It's the kryptonite to my superman.

Suggestions on overcoming fear are welcome. I will tell you, however, the two ways I am confronting my excuse.

First, being scared goes away a little bit with each success and each failure. Just by trying something you become a little less scared. That's the main reason why I have been putting myself out there for critisism and compliments. I have been joining forums left and right to promote this blog and to hold myself accountable. Each time I allow myself to be vunerable, I realize that vunerability is not so bad and I become a little bit more confident. This allows me to take bigger risks daily. With this confidence I have even been able to open up to my wife about "my silly little dreams" lately. It truely feels good and our relationship is stronger.

The second thing that is helping me overcome my fears is my daughter. I have to be a rock for her. She is completely dependant on me and my wife. I have no time be afraid. I must be strong for her. Additionally, my daughter has forced me to confront my mortality. Life is precious. Time is fleeting. We only get one shot here on this planet. The only time to do it is now.

I am working on this excuse. It will take time. I can't promise I won't use it as an excuse, but I am aware of it now.

-P
Challenge day 09/30

Cons: It's Hard (part 1)

My friend Jean posted this on her Facebook. I just had to ask her if I can publish it on this blog. It's too good and too true.

Too often we don't follow through on a hope, a dream, a goal. Most of the time the only con is an excuse. I have only been able to come up with two excuses for not following through. One of them? It's hard. My goal? Not to use this excuse for the remainder of the year.

It will be hard, and because it is hard... well, that's why the reward is all the greater.

See you all tomorrow.

-P
08/30 Creativity Challenge.

"Do it for her." Inspiration from the Simpsons.

Sometimes I get tired. Sometimes I don't want to do the right thing. Then I think of the Simpsons. Specifically the episode "And Maggie Makes Three."

It was an episode during the prime of the series. In the epiosde, Homer quits his job at the nuclear power plant to work his dream job at the bowling alley. The only issue is that Marge is pregnant, and Homer needs to get his old job back to support his growing family. He is forced to grovel and beg before Mr. Burns. Mr. Burns allows Homer to return and to put Homer in his place, Burns hangs a sign above Homer's desk that reads "Don't forget, you are here forever." Homer is not allowed to remove the sign, but makes the best of the situation by hanging pictures of Maggie around his office covering up portions of the sign so it then reads "Do it for her." I remember the scene being powerful when I was younger, but it has taken on whole new meaning now that I have a young one.

I disagree that you shouldn't follow your dreams, however there is a lesson to take away from the scene. Sometimes when I don't want to go forward I think about the type of man I want to be. Not for myself, because that really hasn't worked in the past, but what type of man I want my daughter to know. "Do it for her" has become a mantra.

-P
Day 07/30 of creativity challenge.
Day 01/30 of fiscal responsibility (yuck).

Finding Motivation in the Weirdest Places 01: Silver Linings Playbook

Things are going well. It's a lot hard than I thought it would be to come up with new content for this 30 day challenge. It's really helping me find inspiration in many different places. This is good, and will only make me a stronger writer and more creative minded person. That is exactly what I was going for.

Tonight's post was going to be about a new reward system/ game that I have semi-created (I got the idea from a podcast I listen to), but that will wait until tomorrow.

Instead, I am introducing a new series of articles: Finding Motivation in the Weirdest Places. This evening I red-boxed Silver Linings Playbook. My wife wanted something romantic and I obliged. It was not exactly what I expected it to be. I will try to keep this spoiler light and will keep, but there might be some minor details that come out, so SPOILER ALERT.

The movie is a quirky character-based dramedy about a man who is trying to find his footing again. He has just been released from an eight month stint in a mental institution for savagely assaulting his estranged wife's lover.

The story is choppy and the characters are frustrating at times, but boy was it entertaining. I would give it four out of five stars.

Anyway here is the personal motivational truths I took away from this movie:
1.) Dogged determination can improve your life situation. Our hero lost 80 lbs, runs every morning and whenever he is frustrated, and is reading through every book on his estranged wife's syllabus to better understand you.
2.) A positive outlook also helps. Our protagonist takes every setback with the mantras that he is looking for the silver linings and "Excelsior".
3.) However, they can only take you so far. You need to not be afraid of mistakes, but you must learn from them. The main character suffers many self-inflicted set backs in order to improve his situation and win his wife back. Each time, he learns from them. Sometimes the lessons he learns are frustratingly inaccurate or too small, but each time he tries to change something. By the end of the movie the character is taking his medicine, is avoiding situations that would put him in trouble with the law, and creating new mantras. End result: Happy.

END SPOILER

Here's what I took away.
1. Find a goal and create a routine to achieve that goal.
2. Stay Positive.
3. Make mistakes, and learn from them.


That's it for now. I needed to make sure I stayed on task. I'll see you tomorrow.

-P (Both Challenges 04/30)

30 Day Challenge: TED talk.

So here I am again. Tired. Pushed around. A little burnt out. But here. My dreams are killing me. I have too much inside that just needs to get out.

I just wanted to link to this TED talk. I think it might help me. Maybe it will help you too.

So here is my first 30 day challenge. I am going to pick two. I know that picking two will make it that much harder to complete. However, I need to do both of these.

30 Days of Creation - For the next 30 days I will do  the following (today counts): I will create content. I will practice producing my thoughts. I will post 30 (29 now) new blog posts or 4 panel webcomics to be posted in the future.

30 Days of Fiscal Responsibility - For the next 30 days I will not spend money friviously. This includes junk food, soda, and impulse buys. I will pay my bills on time. I will donate the remaining funds to my fundraiser by this weekend.

Day 01/30

Warrior Watch: UltraMarathon Man

This book is an exciting read. Not that it is some sort of witty high literature (I read it in a single sitting), but because it shows what the human spirit can achieve with the proper motivation. 

Get this; Dean Karnazes was a typical thirty something going through the typical mid-life crisis routine, and instead of giving into despair and monotony he acctually does something about it. 

After a night on the town, complete with more than a couple of drinks and extra-marital temptation, Dean turns from the road more traveled, throws on a pair of beat gardening shoes and runs thirty miles through the night. Realizing activity can replace the growing up doldrums, he soon makes running a pivotal part of his life. The returning athlete, fresh from a 15 year hiatus, then bumps into a couple of army rangers training to complete a 50 mile race through the wilderness, leading to daunting 100+ mile events, marathons through the least hospitable environments (Death Valley and the Polar regions), and other herculean feats of endurance. 

Quote:

"Get action. Do things; be sane, don't fritter away your time; create, act, take a place wherever you are and be somebody; get action."- Theodore Roosevelt
1900 Many-Sided Roosevelt, p. 83

Warrior Watch

I can't believe I haven't seen an episode of this before.

This television program, is a great inspiration.

6 men, 3 American and 3 from the UK, travel the globe and compete in various sporting competitions of indigenous peoples. It is simply inspiring what these athletes do and endure.

Last One Standing

Need Motivation?

This ad is awesome.

Doesn't even need the "Just Do it".

If you need to get out there and lose weight, become stronger, or accomplish your goals, you need to get out there and do it; no excuses. Your health is in your own hands. Your accomplishments are up to you.