#11 Go mud-sliding in the rain

 

Muddy Messiness

 

WHAT?: Like walking in the nude, Mudsliding is another activity that brings you closer to the earth. But please, ladies and gentlemen, do NOT go mudsliding in the nude. You will end up with severe burns! Heres a story: When I was 13 years old I went to a summer camp in Pennsylvania. There was a soccer field in front of the boys bunks and one day all activities were canceled due to intense torrential rain storms. The rain was pouring down in buckets. We were all inside the bunks watching the rain because there was nothing else to do. Suddenly, I had a great idea, without thinking too hard I ran out and slid about 15 feet on the muddy field laughing my ass off. Then about 30 of the boys sitting in the bunks ran out and started sliding with me. It was a picturesque moment because we were all having an amazing time sliding around in the mud and throwing it around like water. As brief as it was, I still remember that moment in my life!

WHY?: Remember Slip ‘n Slide when you were a kid? This is ten times better. You slide and you’re getting really dirty, but that is the best part!! This is also another activity that would be double the fun when you are sharing the experience with other people. I guarantee you there is no equivalent to this experience. That is why it is so unique and something that you MUST do before you fly away in peace. Next time its raining really hard and theres plenty of room to slide, GO FOR IT! Just say, “Fuck it!” and get really really dirty! The shower afterwards will be the gratification.

HOW?: The environment needs to be specifically set for this to work out. The rain has to be pouring down very hard, and you must have a lot of room (preferably a field) to slide across. Get a good running start and SLIDE, either on your butt, chest, or feet. Just be careful! Don’t land on your head.

CONCLUSION: It ain’t that deep! Just go have some fun!

#10 Plant A Garden…

 

The Growth Process

 

WHAT?: My Greek Father has a tradition every year that he’s kept for ages. Every spring season he plants a huge garden in the backyard. Every year it gets more and more complex and that much more rewarding. This year we have blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, herbs, tomato’s, cucumbers, tomatillo’s, tobacco, mint, all types of roses, all types of sunflowers, apple tree, fig, plum… the list is limitless! 

WHY?: To plant a seed, watch it grow, to care for it, and then to accept its rewarding gifts is a joy man has experiences since the beginning of time! As we’ve learned in the previous post, sometimes its about the process and not immediately about the reward. You work a little bit to care for your creation like a child and when it grows up, it will return the favor with fruit that you can say you grew yourself!

HOW?: This really isnt much work at all. Either buy a plant or get some vegetable seeds, some good nutritious soil, and plant! Water every 2 days or as perscribed by the internet. You can find all your instruction on the internet. You dont need land, you can even use pots in your house right by the window.

CONCLUSION: As a human being, we must follow the tradition giving to us by the beings that walked the earth before us. Work the soil, Till the soil, Plant trees, flowers, and fruits all over the world and let it flourish with wonders. Having a plant in your home and caring for it will undoubtedly make you a much more fulfilling person. You will be much happier you tried it. I guarantee it! (Or your money back)

#9 Peel A Grapefruit

 

Juicy Greatness!

WTF?: Have you ever taken the time to peel a grapefruit from the rind to the core flesh-like fruit? You dont know what you’re missing. Although peeling a grapefruit is alot of work, this entry is about the process of how you get from beginning to end! There are almost infinite layers to the fruit. However, once you peel off all the layers of skin and get to the pink slice of fruit, its a gourmet delicacy that you will love. Its better than candy because its sweet/sour and Oh so Naturale!

HOW?: Start with the rind. Take a sharp knife and cut about a 1/2 centimeter deep, just to remove the peel. Next, by hand, slip the circular whole into a half, and then break each half into slices. Finally, you must remove the skin from the slices. You’ll have to use your nails to do so. You’ll end up with this fleshy pink jiggly fruit that is delicious!!

WHY?: Sometime you have to take the long road to get to where you want to go. Sometimes the process is more important than the result itself. When i did this, i struggled to get each layer off, but once i got to each slice of inner fruit the reward was so flavorful, rich, and enjoyable that i decided to put it on this blog. You must do this once before….kaput!

CONCLUSION: Risk/reward. You work a 9-5 Job, get paid by the hour, and the reward is money to use for life. With a grapefruit its much simpler: you peel each layer and can enjoy Mother Nature’s greatness in each bite!

Do it and write a comment!!

#8 Walk around in the Nude

WTF?: About a year ago i went to a very small school called National Theater Institute, located in an isolated area in Connecticut. There is a huge field there, along with a beach in the behind it. One day, I decided, along with someone else, to walking around in the field in the nude. Eventually other people joined me…. The point is, that walking outside in the nude is another amazing experience that YOU MUST TRY BEFORE ITS TOO LATE. Of course, dont do it in the winter, your thingy just might fall off, but early autumn or summer is best. You may be reluctant at first because you’re not used to it, but once you get into the groove, you will experience something most people never experience.

HOW?: Find a place near you that is open and isolated. A field is what i recommend (the woods are also good), but make sure that your neighbors aren’t around to call the cops on you. You dont want to end up naked in cuffs in the back of a cop car…that would suck. Or even in a jail cell, naked, in cuffs…you’d be asking for it. Anyways, having someone (possibly a lover, or someone you like) makes the experience that much better because you get to share it with another person.

WHY?: According to the Bible, Adam and Eve were both naked when created. The objective of this entry is to go back to our primitive days, when being naked was normal, and clothes were unknown to man. It’s an experience that will free you from the restrictions that we impose on ourselves as humans. Also, being tied to nature, you will ground yourself closer to the earth. Being naked is considered a sin according to many people. This will allow you to be in the raw without any cares.  I KNOW YOU WONT FORGET THIS EXPERIENCE!

CONCLUSION: It’s Primal, its natural, its rooted in the earth, and its freeing! The experience is as if you become one with the natural world around you. One releases his inhibitions, blocks, fears, and worries about being naked in public. It just is what it is, and you must accept it. You instantly become comfortable with your body and love who you are, closest to your heart.

#7 Explore the World

WHAT?: This is the start of a new category of places to travel around the world. Like Skydiving, traveling the world lets you see what other people are doing in other countries. By going to China (for example) you can appreciate Chinese architecture, technology, and advancements that arent in your country. Who knows? You might even make a few friends while you are there. 

ANOTHER EXAMPLE: I went to visit an old college friend named Roy in Eugene, Oregon. Living in a huge city all my life (NYC), Oregon opened my life up to the wonders of the forest and mother nature. I climbed mountains, hiked around Ochoco Wayside Park, slept under the stars, and stood at a natural 300 foot cliff overlooking millions of beautiful green trees. Since then, i created an everlasting friendship with the forests of the world. An intense RESPECT for natural beauty. After camping, Roy was nice enough to let me borrow his car and travel through changing terrain to San Francisco and to the West coast of Oregon….WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!

I went back to Oregon the year later, and there i met an Aussie named James who was friends with Roy. James was a free spirit traveling the world. Studying Spanish, he lived for 6 month in Mexico with a host family and saw first hand what it was like to live amongst the Mexican culture. It’s as if he was living another life. He learned the language and was able to converse with other Mexicans. And he experienced life through a new vision, under new rules. 

A few months later, James met with his other Aussie friend Dean in Los Angeles. (Similar to On the Road with Jack Kerouac [Which Roy lent me to read]) Dean and James traveled north all the way up to Eugene, Oregon where i met him. Dean had other plans to go to Canada and work, while James had plans to go to New York City and then to Europe. From Hostel to Hostel to Host families, James traveled through about 7 different countries until he ended up in Madrid, Spain, where he now resides with a host family. Living a different life in every country. I envy you James! Going with the wind!

HOW?: Of course, traveling the entire world, like James, costs ALOT of money. But there are also plenty of methods for you to travel cheaper. YOU DONT HAVE TO TRAVEL THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY. ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS GO SOMEPLACE DIFFERENT FROM YOUR NORMAL SETTING. Example: If you live in NYC, drive up, take a train to the Catskill mountains and go camping. You will love the drastic changes- going from towering skyscraper to towering green trees.

Other Ways to Save! 1) You can save money using the methods you find on the internet or through your friends. 2) As a student, you can get great benefits through different online organisations. Colleges will encourage students to travel the world in order to learn new things in different countries. An actor/director can go to England or France and study under master theater teachers. 3) Hostels or host families are cheap ways to stay in your favorite locations without the expense of crazy hotel prices. 4) Find ways to conserve your money and food so that you wont go broke all at once. (MORE TIPS WILL BE ADDED SOON!)

CONCLUSION: Experiencing new cultures, new people, and a completely new lifestyle is a way to live many lives within a lifetime! Living in a new country under new circumstances will help you learn a new language and appreciate how other people live. Also, taking a break from your normal setting, will help you escape from your normal trials and tribulations. Drive 100 miles eastward and see where you get! If theres a national park near you, GO THERE WITH YOUR FRIENDS. EXPLORE THE WORLD! EXPLORE YOURSELF WITHIN THOSE WORLDS.

#6 Go Skydiving!

WHAT?: Skydiving is an extreme sport (i guess i can call it a sport) that will completely blow your mind and change the way you see the world (LITERALLY!) It’s an experience that is on most internet lists of “things to do before you die”, but i felt like i needed to post it anyways. I mean, when do you ever get to FLY through the atmosphere like a bird and see sights that you will never see, but only from a plane. The wind blowing in your face, you’re screaming, and below you is the world seen from a new perspective.

HOW?: I suggest that you go someplace scenic to go skydiving. A place with water perhaps, or mountains, even some place tropical (Hawaii). All in all you must find a place where you can see mother natures wonders. There are millions of skydiving schools and companies. Finding the best one for you is actually very easy. They are all pretty much the same. Just go online and find one for your location. They should train you and show you how everything works, and then you can go with a professional who does it everyday of his life.

WHY?: You need to skydive because it will liberate you from the fear that you may have of heights and of the idea of skydiving. It is a challenge that most people wont undertake because of fear and in order to reach a level of confidence and freedom in your life you must take that challenge.

CONCLUSION: Skydiving will make you appreciate the world you live in by showing you everything all at once. You are immediately overwhelmed with the height that you are at and in viewing the world that you must take a leap of faith to overcome the fear. People immediately say no to an experience of high caliber but miss the purpose. It will make you feel invincible and as if you have taken on the world.  

#5 Journal your Life

WHAT?: Documenting your own life is a hobby/ritual that has been around for more than 7,000 years. Dating back to when Greek philosophers would write myths and stories, or even to moments in humanity where cave dwellers would draw pictures to tell their stories, it is one of best ways of examining your past in order to make the future better. Having an account of the highlight moments in your life is a theraputic way of capturing every second.  Happy moments can be re-lived over and over again when you turn back to your past pages. You can remember moments where you made mistakes so that you never make them again. Mournful times become entries of celebrating the life of a lost one. And finally, once you have written a full journal, you have created a legacy for future generations to learn about who you were. However, some entries may want to be kept private, which is also important. Be sure to take out those pages and burn them before you peace out. 

HOW?: I think the hardest thing to achieve in starting a Journal is finding regular material to write about, and then actually getting off your lazy ass to do it. But if you create a routine for yourself and you make it enjoyable, you will have plenty of fun writing about yourself. Make an agenda: set a specific time every day to write, maybe have an objective for each entry. Create a title for each one. For example: One of my journal entry titles is, “Freedom from my Barbarian Ex-Girlfriend” about the time when i broke up with my ex. Be creative! If you have a reason for why you are doing it, and you start to see that it is helping you understand the events in your life, it wont be hard to write a page a day. 

CONCLUSION: Writing is great tool to boost creativity and brainstorm. If you are ever in a jam at work for a specific job, if you FREE WRITE, you will start the flow of thoughts in your brain and eventually come up with great ideas. Your Journal will become one of your most prized possessions because all the emotions, the rollercoaster rides of life, your treasured experiences will forever be on those pages. THERE ARE NO WRONG IDEAS, NO MISTAKES! JUST DO IT!

#4 Talk! Speak! Let it Out!

 

Spencer Tunick

WHAT?: This may be difficult for some people because it asks one to take down the barriers and open yourself up to the rest of the world. What i mean when i say “Talk!” is to talk to the people you come across in your daily lives. Whether it be the guy who owns the gyro food cart, the girl that works at the book store, or the guy waiting in front of you at Starbucks, its good to talk to people and exchange some words. Learn something about the people around you. Even if its a brief conversation about how you love the caramel Macchiato, by becoming more outgoing with people you instantly extend a loving gesture of interest: “What is your story?”

HOW?: You must be positive in trying to talk to others. Especially if its the first time you’ve met them. Find a common relation…Either something in the room, a related emotion, an idea, A SUBJECT that will instantly connect you to the other person. A good one might be, “Those are really nice gloves. Are they wool?”

EVEN BETTER: To get over the fear of conversing, maybe you should make it your goal to talk to 5 new people every day. That’s what i do at auditions. I learn a little bit with every person i speak to.

NEXT: Once you have started a conversation, you can always sense if they are willing or unwilling. But stay open. Even if the conversation is a mere two exchanges, you will have the gratification of knowing that you can talk to the people around you.

CONCLUSION: Relationships are so important because they keep you stimulated and help you find a common connection. If you want to take it even further…get some contact info, meet up for a live event, talk on facebook, grab a cup of coffee/tea (a popular one). No one wants to be alone. There is someone out there for everyone! 

#3 Save Money

-The Biggest problem people have in trying to achieve their dreams is that they are not financially stable.

-HOW?: This is how i save money. You go to work. You make some money. Or not. Either way, depending on your budget, stash away $3.00 a day into a place that is hard to get to. A large bottle, a piggy bank, a deposit box…AND DONT TOUCH IT!!

-At $3.00/day for a year, your total comes out to: 3 x 365= $1,095 a year. If your budget allows you to, try saving $5.00/day or even $10.00/day. By the end of the year, you will thank me for telling you my little secret. 

-This method requires a bit of discipline. But once you get into the momentum, its kind of hard to stop saving. 

CONCLUSION: If you put the effort, you will get maximum returns 10 fold! All you need to do is try.

#2 Be a Musician

Miles Davis once said, “Do not fear mistakes. There are none.”

WHAT?: Music is the answer to each and every person’s soul. Think about it. Millions of cultures and tribes are defined through music. There is always something out there for everyone…find your song. Music also leads to dance. Dancing is excerise. Excercise = endorphins. Endorphins make you HAPPY!

HOW?: Find an instrument you like the best or most accessible (piano, guitar, saxophone, drums) and play. It is a source of unlimited happiness. If you truly enjoy music, you can spend hours at a time learning how to play an instrument. You just have to put the effort to sitting down and learning!! But then again, if you love it so much, you dont need to put so much effort to learning…its all in the fun!

Music for ANY AGE!: People have come to the conclusion that you cant learn music at a later age. Like age 40. Um…You can learn an instrument at any age. Although it is a little bit easier to learn when you’re 5 years old. People just give excuses because they are older and feel like there is no use in learning something new. At age 40, i expect to have at least 30-40 more years to learn as many new things as possible!

The Music Connection: Once you’ve started to learn the basics of an instrument, you can jam out with friends or people you meet on the internet. Like passing the doobie, food, or poetry readings, music is an outlet for people to come together and create!! 

The Next Level: Performance art is ever-so gratifying. Because you get to share you happiness with the people around you and make them feel what you feel. As humans, it is in our instincts to create and collaborate, and then share that with the rest of the world. Get over your fears, by throwing yourself in. Nike has the best slogan. JUST DO IT!

CONCLUSION: As an outlet for Creation, Collaboration, and Exploration you will extend your boundaries of happiness by having a hobby that is the most universal spirit. ”Bach gave us God’s Word. Mozart gave us God’s laughter. Beethoven gave us God’s fire. God gave us Music that we might pray without words.”