I visited an American Bavaria this past weekend. After a post-hike feast, some friends and I shuffled satisfied toward the restaurant’s double door. At the table beside the door was a woman with her husband. She had a matcha-green fishing hat fitted as if about to slide down the back of her head. Greyish-blonde hair …
Category Archives: Observations
…on Seeing the US
I covered my ears between bites of pancakes, bacon, and drip coffee. Understanding everything, from the TV in the background to the Ray Ramano impression four tables away, was overwhelming. Background noise brings funny moments though. The barista who has “totally got [me] if you’re hungry, bro” or the jock telling his airport pickup “just …
On Fate
One of my favorite students is a dreamer, an artist. He began last class by telling a story about something that recently changed his life. The story ended with him finding a new community of friends, shifting his outlook on life, and a newfound sense of spirituality. He believes the entire experience was fated to …
Learning Tiers
Quickly, this idea has been gestating for a week now! Some people have cocaine and hookers, others horse racing and poker. For me, my vice lies in a single, lame, oddly capitalized word: YouTube. My excuse for watching is consistent no matter the situation. I’m learning something new, being exposed to new ideas, using my …
The Long Haul
I’m starting to think that Peace is a mental runner’s high. When you run, there’s a point of maximum resistance. Your mind is yelling, “FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY, STOP AND CATCH YOUR BREATH.” Something has to overwhelm that desire, be it determination or a bear chasing you. Then, the endorphins hit. …
Debate v. Do
As I mentioned, the struggle with debating v. doing is something persistent in all parts of my life. Efforts to make it better usually involve a lot of debating and little doing, immediately undermining any ideas produced. One of my professors suggested saying, “Do it now” five time in a row, three times a day. …
Freedom!
There’s an idea of freedom as the ability to anything you want. That idea falls flat when it meets reality. In a reality where you have infinite resources, where time is spent as you wish, you are not free. There are the laws that govern our realities: gravity, nuclear forces, electromagnetism. If I were free …
Judgement: The New Executioner
The Fear of Judgement has been amplified by one simple idea: everyone can have an opinion. It seems to be an unchecked, ever growing reason we don’t do things we want. The solution preached by many is simply “don’t care about other people’s opinions.” Which… no shit, Sherlock. That would be great. But growing to …
Year Long Realization
A year ago today, a friend of mine left Peru. As is tradition with most travelers, she gifted all the things too cumbersome to bring along. I ended up with a yoga mat, a bottle of wine, and an child’s orange notebook. “Chaq Chao’s Balcony @ Sunset 8/28/18” is three pages long. After that is …
Done Daily
Today was the 7th day in a row I’ve done some from of exercise. It has also been 7 days since my last Daily Alfajore Test. I understand that it isn’t for everyone, but two ideas have changed my health for the better. 1. Brush Your Teeth Brushing your teeth isn’t a massive feat of …
A Fresh Sip 