Jeter and his own personal Professor X

I recently went to the movies to see one of this summer's blockbuster films, X Men:First Class (excellent movie, by the way). This film is more than just a reboot of the last generation of X Men films, it shows us the origins of Professor X, Magneto, etc. I do not claim to be an X Men fan, yet the story lines were all done extremely well. I finally know what averted the Bay of Pigs disaster!!! There are two central themes to the X Men films that I want to highlight (and which I feel make the X Men comics so interesting. The first being the notion that it is ok to be different. The second (and what I will focus on in this blog is the battle between people being innately good or evil.

For those that know the X Men stories, Professor X (leader of the good) believes that all men are innately good and that we should do good just because. We should "be the better man" at times even when someone wrongs us. This is contrasted by Magneto (leader of the bad) who believes that man kind is evil and must be destroyed. Now he doesn't come out of left field with this notion. He was fairly wronged as a child. He sees how men look at him and his fellow mutants (or people that are different) and does not approve. He thinks men should be punished for how they treat others that are mutants (different).

As soon as I got out of my car and turned on the radio following the movie I turned on WFAN (NYC sports talk radio) to hear a debate concerning Derek Jeter. For those of you who don't know, Jeter just collected his 3,000 hit. To make this storybook moment even more "perfect", it happened to be a home run. So how does this relate to X Men you ask? How could a Yankee ever be spoken in the same sentence as a good guy? hmm...

Today's Jeter controversy stems from the young man who caught the historic ball. This young man, a 23 year old kid, (with tons of student loans) caught the ball and was quickly ushered away by Yankee Stadium security. Supposedly the Yankees offered him memorabilia, great Yankee tickets for the rest of the year, etc. All in an attempt to get their hands on the ball - a ball on its way to Cooperstown. Now, this ball sounds like it would be welcome a starting bid of $250,000 on the market. That is a nice lil sum to help pay off those student loans! So what did the young man choose to do???

Young Mr. Christian Lopez asked for nothing, and took nothing. All he wanted was for Derek Jeter, whom he said worked for that ball, to have the ball back. Now this response has resulted in some fans calling WFAN stating that the Mr. Lopez should have held out and either sold the ball, or demanded money from the Yankees. why not, in a day where teams and athletes make millions and billions of dollars, giving some scraps to Lopez wouldn't break the bank. Why shouldn't a cellphone salesman get paid when MLB and its teams certainly get paid handsomely. Other callers on the other hand said that he did the right thing. Even if not all people do good in the world, we should all DO GOOD, and they applauded this unselfish deed.

Professor X felt the good in people, and always wanted his actions, and the actions of his team to represent that. Christian Lopez believes in the good in baseball, the team and players that he grew up following. While there is much evil in the world, and we are wronged in many ways, it is refreshing to find people who believe in the good and want to do the right thing...just because.

Changing Priorities

Recently a co-worker warned me that when I have kids, nothing else was going to matter. Now this might be a strange thing for your boss to say to you when referring to your job, but it definitely got me thinking. Not only have my priorities changed through the years, since I work with teenagers/young adults I see how priorities of some can be so different than the priorities of others.

As a teenager growing up I had one priority. Unfortunately (while being important to me) it was not my grades in school. Like most in High School, my priority was girls and finding a girlfriend. The amount of effort, emotion and time that I spent on the phone, thinking, wishing and hoping that she would be mine was enormous. I would spend the whole afternoon on the phone sitting there not saying anything, but just knowing she was on the other end - and that was a better option than doing just about anything else.

Now this didn't mean that I didn't think about or do anything else. My grades were always pretty good, and I always got my work done. I enjoyed hanging out with friends, playing basketball, listening to music, swimming in our pool, but if a girl wanted something - things normally got pushed to second.

How many times have we heard..."if you spent that much time on your homework as you do on those video games (or memorizing those lyrics) then you would have straight A's". We see that right now in the school that I work in. Many students who might not test well, or might not get good grades can excel in other things because....they care enough to put in the work to be good at it. It is always very difficult (as an adult now) to figure out why a student can be out all night with his girl, which then effects him in school the next day. If they just made the right choices, they would not be in the situation that they are in now. If we could only look at each other through THEIR eyes, and not our own....

What effects someone's priorities, and how does someone change their priorities? I guess if there were easy answers to those questions life would be a lot easier. Too many times we know what we need to be doing, but we tend to do just about anything else. While we call it procrastination, I tend to believe that it means that our priorities are just not aligned with what we think or other think they need to be. I feel that we devote enough energy to succeed if it is that important to us - unless internal factors such as low self-esteem hinders us.

It is easy to find people in my field of work getting burned out because of all of the emotion and energy that they devote to their profession. Since those working with kids normally do not make too much money, to stay in the field one must be passionate about what they do - making it easy to prioritize their work over other aspects of their life which could help balance them out.

As I have gotten older my priorities, and motivations have changed, and I look forward to them changing again and again as I grow older. When I was single finding love was a priority. When I down, finding something to focus on and "accomplish" was a priority, and yes, when I have children, he/they will be my priority. So what happens during the "in between times"? The times that we need to focus on something, but we want to do anything but - and we procrastinate? How do we change our priorities?

I believe that if we are struggling at accomplishing tasks or goals, we need to evaluate our goals (as well as our needs and wants). It is very easy to decide that we are going to start a new project, but how do we actually make that happen? Without proper goals and objectives we won't get too far. So as I try to figure out how to get past the idea phase..lets remember that we should not judge someone's priorities through our own eyes, because we do not know all of the motivation behind them reaching their goals.

A New Day: The Genesis Part 2

1/4/09 was my first blog post on this page - titled the same. New Years seems to bring that out in us. The need, want to start anew - to accomplish our old/new goals, to make promises to ourselves and our loved ones, and to just be better. I started this blog as a New Year resolution two years ago, to write and create more. Just like most resolutions, I have not blogged once a week just as I wanted to, but it has given me the opportunity to create and achieve - two things that mean a lot to me. While another day, another year passes, and the world changes constantly, my desire for creation and achievement still stand tall.

The Bible teaches us that the Genesis is the beginning, yet it can also mean starting new (just ask Sega and its 16-bit video game monster). Starting new doesn't have to mean a self'awakening, but just the realization that we are on a grand journey, and every day, every year allows us to start new with new choices, and experiences to enjoy. My path has taken me on a journey that I am proud of. I have been loved, and have loved. I have achieved, and strived for more. I have had fun, yet kept my feet on the ground. While my experiences have taken me to various wonderful places, I continue to have new beginnings.

On this January 1st, 2010, I continue to want to create and achieve. I am excited to be married and prepared to be starting our family. I am excited for where my career choices will take me. I am excited for all of the new games I will complete this year. I am excited for the new experiences, new laughes, and most importantly, new time I will spend with my family and friends. While I know that not all of the resolutions that I create will stand the test of time, I also know that each day that I make it to will bring me a new chance to start anew.

Inspiration, change, and sports coats

When a reporter asked Chris Carter, of the New York Mets how come he was wearing a sports coat although the dress code for the team was "Casual", he commented, "There's nothing casual about a pennant Race". Now we all know Mr. Carter (AKA Animal) as an overly hyper guy with a lot of energy and enthusiasm, but maybe he does have a point. Are the 2010 New York Mets on August 8, 9 games back of the NL East leading Atlanta Braves, in a pennant race? Maybe not. But should the team feel the urgency as if they are? Should they be fighting their hardest and showing us (fans) that they are doing everything they can to get back in it, I think so. Chris Carter's comment, while being a little naive, exemplifies the attitude that we (fans) want our Mets to have. The never say die, fight till the death, give it all you got attitude. The issue is that the 2010 New York Mets lack a lot of that, and they have for sometime. But how does a team, ownership, the coaching staff change attitudes and mentalities? how does anyone do that for that matter. The lengthy introduction notwithstanding, this piece is not about the failures of the New York Mets. This piece is about how we find inspiration to change, and to ultimately succeed at our goals.

Many people think that change is a scary thing. I once read a saying, and I do believe it, that we are not so much scared of change, or the new ways, but the time in between the old and the new. Let's consider a break-up. Breaking up is definitely not easy to do, but we aren't afraid of finding someone new, we are scared of the time in between when we are alone, OR just not over him/her. That's the part that sucks, not the new relationship. The Mets have been holding on to the hope that this group of players can still regain the form that they showed in 2006 and win it all (with a little tweaking each offseason). They aren't so afraid of creating a new team, they are afraid of that time in between (the rebuilding process).

Now just like with the Mets, there are always a lot of outside factors that hinder our push for change. The Mets have a fan base to keep happy, as they need to make money. For the rest of us, maybe it's the bills that have to be paid thats keeping us from making bold moves like a change in career, maybe it's influence of family and friends that keeps us stagnet. Many times we have the goals, but because of the many obstacles of life, we avoid change out of fear of failure. The New York Mets are failing now, something has to give...

Where does the inspiration come from for change. The case of the Mets not making the necessary changes even when failure is already apparent is common. We become comfortable in failure and avoid change out of fear that things could be worse. Things could always be worse, but where does the inspiration come from the make the leap of "faith" to aspire towards dreams and a better way?

Sometimes, its a thought at night, sometimes its changing a routine. Other times it is necessity. It just might take a complete overhaul of attitude, mentality and vision to change the Mets at this point, it is nice to see young fresh faces such as Carter stepping up to ask for change. What will inspire you, or myself to make change a reality? To be continued...

Creation

I love making things.  

I drafted a second and third fantasy baseball team just to create the team (the third team I might never even look at).

I used to spend an hour setting up a scene with my toys as a child.  I spent maybe 15 min actually playing with them.

How many times in our daily lives do we get caught up with what we are doing, what we are supposed to be doing, and forget what we love to do?  Many of us seem to get complacent much of the time because we enjoy the stability of the status quo.  If things are working, why fix it, right?  This essay is about creativity and bringing things to life, or creating new life.  To feel alive, we must find things in life that allow us to feel alive and allow us to be who we really are.  I have recently become more aware of my love for creating things, and I would like to share that passion of mine.

maybe I always knew it, maybe I always had it in me, but I think I can attribute my greater self-awareness of my love for creation to my wonderful fiancee Sandy.  She is also a very creative person who has started her own business, who loves to take photography, and who also loves arts and crafts.  This emphasis on creation in the house has made me more aware of it.  Through this awareness, I have realized that I have been that way all along.

I am most proud of saying that I was integral in creating the Advantage and Advantage Plus Programs at Middle Earth, Programs for juveniles on probation.  That feeling of being there from the origin is a wonderful feeling for me.  I have also translated that passion to my personal life.  I am very proud to say that I created the idea for www.whatmakesushappy.com .  Now, that site is being taken down tomorrow, but for a good year, it was running strong and helping people who a more positive focus.  

I think this is something that definitely runs in the family.  my brother is one of the most creative people I have ever met.  He has created so many things ranging from beautiful music, to wonderful artwork and photography, to great holiday cards for the family.

This blog came from the desire to create something.  On January 4th, shortly before I was to go back to work from my holiday vacation, I felt the need to create something.  I began playing around with themes, until I found one that worked and then began writing my thoughts.  This is the result of that long long night.  Many of my past creative thoughts which have not yet come to fruition will have to be kept secret for now (or else I would have to kill you).  Recently I felt the need to create something for my family that Sandy and I will be creating.  We started a website http://amazinpassions.weebly.com is focused not on US but on our passions.  There are pages for the New York Mets, for photography, for the things that make us happy, for our love for music, as well as a place for both of us to blog (this blog will be fed into that site).  While it is a work in progress, I am proud of its beginning stages, of creation.

At this turning point in my life, this point when I am getting ready to create a family, it is so important to me that I focus on what makes me happy, and not stay complacent.  Why continually do things that allow me to get by, but do not completely fulfill me.  I am changing my mindstate to creation and I will find what many gems lay in front of me.  I want to be at the start of something big, I always knew that I would be there, and now I am laying the groundwork for that to happen.  While a lot of this may seem vague, it is meant to, like I said, I would have to kill you if I told you.  So, please enjoy some of my creations as they appear, there are more to come.  

The Have's vs. The Have Not's

"The Grass is Always Greener On the Other Side".

We have all heard that quote before, and I think most of us embody it whether we like it or not. We as a culture and people are fairly in tune with our needs and what we want. Whether it's materialistic, or emotional, Americans have no problem telling others what they do not have, but want. While I will admit I am a product of my environment, at times I try to take it back and look at the bigger picture. Too many times we are focused on what we don't have, and what is wrong, then what is right, and what we have. Instead of being happy about our lives and focusing on the good, we focus on what we do not have and how we are not fulfilled. How often do we realize that when we "get" the things we sought after we realize that our lives have not so much improved, but we feel disappointed that with the anticipation over, that emptiness remains.

I have chosen to dedicate this piece to what I have. This blog will be about the positive in my life, leaving out what I want. I feel that if we all start to focus on what we have, we will realize the beauty in life.

I have a beautiful, sexy, genuine, sweet fiancee. Never in my dreams did I ever imagine that I would be able to spend my life with someone who is so caring, and full of life. I truely feel that my life has improved since she has entered.

I have an amazingly talented, thoughtful, kind, brother, who means the world to me. I am so proud of the man that he has turned into. He makes me want to always strive to be a better person

I have two wonderful and supportive parents. They both have been there for me from day one and I am more than grateful for all the love that they have given to me.

I have some of the best friends that a man could ever ask for. My friends are funny, supportive, real, and just good people. They are all my family and will be forever.

I have a job, which in these days and times says a lot. I feel truely grateful that I have been given the ability to help people and improve my program. I spend much of my time there and it has introduced me to wonderful friends, new worlds, new insights, as well as new challenges.

I have overall health. I am here and I have the ability to enjoy my life.

I have a deep music collection and it tells my life story if you give it a chance. Music has been such a big part of my life and I could write my story by listening to the music that I purchased each year.

I have a great love for video games with a large collection of games (as well as systems). Whether it be first-person shooters, sports, adventure, action, racing, fighting, I have them all. My games could keep a person entertained for a long long time.

I have a diverse education in many subject areas. This could range from juvenile justice, to video games, to sports, and to music. Religion, politics, social injustices, love all play a part in my mental encyclopedia.

I have passion, empathy, compassion, love all inside me. What I have is just too much to mention, but I feel truely grateful for all of it. Especially, in these days of economic stress, it makes sense for us to really focus on the joys of our lives, rather than what we do not have and what we want. All of our lives are full of goodness if we just look deep enough. Focusing on these positive aspects of our lives could only help us live happier.

Versatility vs. Expertise

"A wise man needs to learn more because he is aware of how little he knows about so many things.  He is aware less of what he knows, than what he does not yet know."

We have all heard that quote before in some way or another.  This quote comes to mind when I think about the difference between people who are very versatile in their knowledge and lifestyle, versus those who seem to be experts in their respective fields.  I am not here to make judgements as to what course of life learning and living is better, rather to discuss the differences.

Let's begin by comparing two students, one (student A) who has majored in a liberal arts field, and one (student B) who has majored in say, nursing.  What is the difference between their courses of study?  Student A is required to study a large diverse field of classes and gain knowledge in many areas.  Student B, while being required to take some general ed. requirements in the beginning, the main focus is on the field of nursing.  Is one student right or wrong?  Is one student better or worse off when entering the work force (seems that today both students are in deep shit)?  This is definitely very subjective.  Student A might be able to understand a wide array of concepts but when entering the work force their will be no definite paths.  Student B will become focused on Nursing and when entering the work force they know that their path will be that of nursing.  

In these hard economic times we must ask ourselves what path is the best to take.  Is it better to know something about a lot of things in case we have to change careers, or is better to become an expert at one thing with the idea of being an authority on that?  

Now lets consider lifestyles.  We could compare someone (person A) who has many varied interests and can have a conversation on many topics with someone (person B) who has lived their life learning and focusing on one thing in particular, lets say a Rabbi.  Person A may be a hit at any get together because they can add to many conversations, while person B will mainly impress those in the religious sectors.  

I did state that I was not going to give my opinions on what is best or worst.  I think as in life, there are more questions than answers.  Can one become truly wise if they live as person/student A?  what about person/student B?  In our search for knowledge of self, do we find it if we are an expert in a field, or if we have had experiences that are varied?  I have chosen to live my life in a versatile way.  I have followed in my father's footsteps in this regards.  I believe that whatever has gotten you to where you are today, and gotten you to be good, is the right way to go.