Blogger Beta

I have updated my blog to the Beta version. I wasn't sure whether I wanted to do this, but I finally decided to try it out (even though it is irreversible). I had some problems at first, but hopefully everything is fixed now. No big major changes, hope you enjoy!

My Response to Human Species

I read this article and thought I'd post my thoughts on it. My first initial response: hogwash. Basically the article says the human species will evolve into two different subspecies one superior (tall, smart, attractive, etc.) and one inferior (squat, stupid, etc). Also, our huge dependence on technology will begin our downfall. I find all of this doubtful as I feel that there is just too many factors that he is leaving out. Also, theories of evolution describe physical features that change, they do not describe psychological changes. I find it hard to believe that "Social skills, such as communicating and interacting with others, could be lost, along with emotions such as love, sympathy, trust and respect." as there is no real evidence of this psychological change, not even in the animal world.

My thoughts.

Dramatic Changes

Our lives are constantly changing in some form or another, little by little. Big dramatic changes only happen over time. Unless something truly dramatic (and often tragic) happens in your life.

For most of my life I have believed the same things, done the same things.... Sure, there have been changes, but they happen naturally over time. This past year there have been some truly dramatic events in my life (some tragic) and the change I've experienced in just the past couple of months in my own life is greater than I believe I would have ever achieved.

I have always been trying to find my identity. In the past few years I felt I was coming closer and closer to an answer, only (as luck would have it) to have a huge roadblock keep me from finding that answer. Now, I feel as though I am back at square one. My personal beliefs have taken a few dramatic turns. My lifestyle, even parts that haven't changed my entire life have been redefined in just the past couple of months. In a since, I'm a completely different person than I was just a few months ago. I forced these changes on myself. I could no longer live with the same ideals and traditions that my previous life held. It was much too painful. I had to change to live.

I'm not sure what the point of this is except that perhaps there is no answer to life. Many of us spend our lives trying to find our identity, trying to find our true selves, etc. I have come to believe that perhaps it doesn't exist.

My philosophical 2 cents.

Dreams fulfilling Needs

Wouldn't it be great if our dreams provided us with needed psychological needs. For instance, let's say a big tragic event occurred in your life and you did not have the proper amount of time to grieve and get over the event. At that point, we would grieve in our dreams. You may not want to wake up the next morning, or not feel very good the next morning, but you would have fulfilled a psychological need. Another example, let's say you did not receive the support you needed from your parents to pursue your lifelong goals. This would create a lot of psychological distress. When you dreamed, however, you dreamed of getting that support and were again provided with that need. Wouldn't that be neat?

I thought of this idea when last night I dreamed of spending time with some friends that I have not seen in a long time. I dearly missed them and just did not have the opportunity to be with them. It was making me a little blue. Even though the events were ficticious, I still enjoyed the dream and felt better about not seeing my friends. I may even be encouraged to seek my old friends out.

Just a thought.

Sleep Walking

At about this time 3:15 am, I woke up and had a spark of inspiration.  Every now and then I'll write something I'm proud of and tonight (or this morning) it happened again.  However, this work is somewhat personal, therefore, I won't be posting it publically on my blog.  If you would like to read it (it's not very long) please email me and I'll send it to you.  For now, I'm going back to bed.

Book Browsing

I was walking around Books A Million this afternoon when I stumbled on a book that I read a long time ago when inspiration took over.  Here's what I wrote immediately after.  Warning: this is unpolished pure raw material.
-Stew

I found it!  I found the book I had been searching for for a long time.  I held it in my hands and those familiar feelings started to rise within my chest.  I feel weak and almost fall to the ground.  I have found it, but do I dare take it?  Can I travel this road again?  Can I do it alone? 

I put the book back.  I'm not sure that I can take on this burden.  Just holding the book took away much of my strength.  Now, reading it may destroy me.  Again.  Those other books destroyed my strength, my will, not too long ago.  What would this do?  Of course, those books were different, I was betrayed.  I don't have to read the book now, I could just take it, but after just holding it, I'm not sure I could even take it.

I have found it, and it will remain here.  When I am ready, perhaps when I have a companion, I will relive those times and once again leave this world behind.  Perhaps this time I won't have to return at all.

BTW, I decided I didn't have enough money and didn't buy the book.

Writing Challenge

Here's a challenge for the creative out there (and non-creative that want something to do).  Take the paragraph below, copy it, and use it as the start of your story.  Good luck.
-BS

What?  My life?  No, surely not.  There's really nothing to say.  Why worry or wonder about mine when you've got your own?  There's nothing special here.  I'm just living my life.

Storytelling

Often when I am writing prose, I write what I hear in my mind.  Most often, this inspiration, the syntax, comes to me as if someone was telling me the story.  Many times I feel as though my writing would be better if it was spoken, or recited, rather than read silently.  I have often thought of postscripting some of my writings with the direction "to be read aloud." 

We really don't hear of storytellers (bards) anymore.  It is as a dying art being replaced with movies, songs, books.  While these other forms of entertainment are thrilling, I think there can be some real value to an experienced, talented storyteller.

Speakers are a kind of storyteller, but from what I have observed from speaking and listening to speakers, it is much too prescribed, no artistic talent is used.  Time is spent knowing your information, reciting, arguing, yet not "getting in the mood."  Plays force you to adopt a character style, but they often involve several people.  How about one person telling a simple story, in character, in style, with talent.  We're losing that.

Writing...

I am having a lot of luck with a short prose story I have just begun writing.  Right before work, the words started spilling and after work they continued to spill (to my great pleasure).  I really like the way this work has progressed, immediately it took on a life of its own and it took very little effort for me to find inspiration.  Of course, this is just the first draft, as I start to reread and edit I may find this piece to become more difficult.

One problem I am having is my main character has to go through a major change in his life, a major progression.  I want this progression to be a very personal change.  Some non-personal ideas would be: my character gets involved in a new relationship and that relationship (or influence from the other person) helps them change, or my character joins the military and helps him change, etc.  I don't want there to be some kind of outside influence, but to be a total inward change.  I also don't want some dramatic event to take place (near death experience, etc.) to motivate him (wake him up) to change.  I'm having a little bit of difficulty with this part, but I am still in the first processes of writing this, so inspiration will still come.

As time passes, I'll be working on this and editing it and will let you know when it is finished.  This will probably be a bit longer than some of my previous writings (some of which I've posted), and so probably will not post the entire piece on this blog.  However, we'll see.  I'll keep you posted as to when this is finished.

Anyone there?

Sometimes, I really wonder whether there is anyone out there like me.  As I meet more and more people, I find that they are all really the same.