LIFE* A Different Point Of View: pt.3/3

LIFE* A Different Point Of View: pt.3/3

Life As A Rock (the micro and macro view):

ALL matter, at its smallest, most fundamental level is energy condensed into a very rapid vibration. Every thing we see, feel, hear, and taste are different frequencies of the same vibrational field.

Lets compare the macrocosm vs microcosm in a simple analogy:

Imagine you are holding a rock in your hand. As you now see that rock(from the MACRO perspective) it is a complete and solid object. We know from looking very closely with microscopes that within that rock there are millions of molecules moving around at incredible speeds. However, even if you know conceptually that the rock is made up of many smaller moving parts, when you look at it as it sets in your hand, all you see is the rock in its current form. There is no separation. From the MACRO perspective you do not see this process that is taking place. The rock is not in the process of becoming a rock. It is a rock. 

 

Now, the molecules within that rock have have a different point of view. They know their world(the rock) only from the MICRO perspective. In which they experience themselves individually moving from “here” to “there”, very rapidly. 

Both of these perspectives are true.

It is only from our limited perspective with which we see ourselves as separate from one another. Our lives on this planet are series of very small, rapid movements in which we move from “here” to “there”. Seemingly, these individual movements do not effect the 'whole'. Though just as the molecules move together to create the rock held in your hand, so to do we move to co-create this reality.

LIFE* A Different Point Of View: pt.2/3

LIFE* A Different Point Of View: pt.2/3

Life As A Puzzle (differences in perspective):

In life it is easy to dismiss thoughts and ideas of other people that don't quite fit your understanding. It is important to remember however, that we will never be able to grasp life's 'big picture' by refusing to try and understand the perspective of others. Consider this metaphor:

A teacher comes to class one day and hands each of his students a piece to a puzzle. The students then take turns going around the class each saying what their idea of the complete puzzle is based off their individual puzzle piece. Some of the students are positive they know what the big picture is. Some students have a pretty good ideas as to what the completed puzzle will look like. Then some students inevitably blurt out “I don't knows” or answers that other students deem 'stupid', 'wrong', 'crazy'. Individually none of the students can be 100% sure what the 'big picture' is based off their own perspective.

Soon the students are instructed to come together and assemble the puzzle. As the pieces are placed, one by one, the 'big picture' becomes increasingly clear. The teacher then tells the class that each student with an answer that was considered 'wrong', 'stupid', or 'crazy' must remove their piece from the puzzle. The 'big picture' very quickly becomes unrecognizable as useful pieces(perspectives) are removed.

This metaphor represents life. The removal of important pieces of the 'big picture' is what happens when we regard others points of view as 'wrong' or 'stupid'. If we ever hope to get a better idea of what the 'big picture' really is we have to consider two things. First is that individually we don't know as much as we like to think we do. Second is that everyone's life and perspective contribute to the 'big picture'. Together we can work to understand even those people our society considers 'wrong', 'stupid', or 'crazy'.

LIFE* A Different Point Of View: pt.1/3

LIFE* A Different Point Of View: pt.1/3

Life As A Game (operating through life):

Growing up in the explosion that is the video gaming industry, I've come to know video games fairly well. From the original games such as Asteroids and the Mario Bros. with basic two or three button controls. To the more recent and more complex games such as the Halo and Elder Scrolls Franchises. Gaming is increasingly popular partly because of the opportunity it provides people to take control of characters and embark on different quests and adventures. 

What if I told you real life wasn't much different from the games we've come to know and love. There are many similarities between our games and the characters we control; and life and the ways we move through it. 

Consider this:

The world as we know it, down to its finest detail, is contained within this disk(life). In this game of life every possible outcome is already on this disc, but it is up to you to choose your experience. Your experience is created by every thought in your head and every choice you make. You get to choose your players levels of fun, participation, meaning, and fulfillment.

There will be challenges, rules, bosses, and achievements throughout the game. You(the main character) interact with other characters as you move along your journey. You may not be able to control every other characters contribution to the game but you do control your players response. If you choose to take the game very seriously with the sole intention of winning, as many people do, you can expect some cheating involved. Or you can enjoy the game for what it is and play as much as possible. It is together that we co-create this game of life and the game would not be complete without each players contribution.

How you play the game is ultimately up to you. Remember though, how you view life is vital to how you function within it. Remind the other characters not to take the game so seriously, as they often forget, and remember yourself that its meant to be enjoyed and shared with others.

YOU ARE AMAZING

Do you realize how fucking amazing you are? I mean how really, truly spectacular your existence really is? 

You have survived your entire life up to this point. The fact that you are reading this right now defies countless series of astronomical odds. You have made it through trauma, mountainous obstructions, and devastation all throughout your life and still, here you are.

I invite you to consider this:

 -As you sit at your computer, you are currently on a massive rock floating through space. Moving at roughly 2 million miles per hour.

-That rock is vastly complex, self sufficient, and 4.5 billion years old.

-That same rock is orbiting a star that is a million times larger than the rock itself.

-There are millions of stars in our galaxy that may potentially provide life for countless other floating rocks.

-Our galaxy is just one of the hundreds of billions of galaxies in the known universe.

AND STILL YOU EXIST.

Still unsure of how absolutely astonishing you are? 

 -Your experience has provided you with your own unique view of life. This means your ideas, abilities, and insights are unlike anyone else that exists.

-Each of your two eyes are composed of 130 million photoreceptor cells. In each one of those cells, there are 100,000,000,000,000 (that's 100 TRILLION) atoms-that's more stars than the milky way galaxy.

-Your entire body is made up of around 7,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (7 octillion) atoms.

-The elements in your body came from collapsing stars at the beginning of time. You are literally made of star stuff.

-As quantum particles, electrons in the atoms in your body exist as a collection of probabilities and potential rather than specific locations.

You have infinite potential to do ANYTHING. To dream ANYTHING. To create ANYTHING.

Simply stupefying.

Continue to grow and to learn. Show courage. Shatter your limits. Celebrate life in everything you do.
Above all else, keep being you because...

You, my friend, are a fucking masterpiece.

Whats In Your Gym Bag? 14 Workout Essentials

It's a new year. That means new resolutions, new goals, new aspirations. We here at BoldlyGrow want you to excel in all aspects of life but for today, lets focus on your healthy living goals. In order to have effective workout sessions, you're going to need to be prepared. The following is a list of the 14 workout essentials to have in your gym bag so you can take your grown and sexy to the next level:

Water Bottle:
This one should be a no brainer but water should be one of the first things you throw in your bag. Its important to always stay hydrated when you're working out. Whether you're training for cardio, strength, endurance, whatever. Hydration is crucial in any workout routine so water has to be accounted for in your gym bag.  

Vitamins/Supplements:
A lot of times, when at the gym you'll notice people carrying around shaker bottles. The bottles will generally contain some kind of whey protein, creatine or other supplemental shake. Studies have shown that if your lifting weights you should eat approximate 15-30 minutes prior to hitting the weights and eating again within 15-30 minutes of finishing your workout. This allows your body the peak nutrient absorption and it is why you will see people packing extra containers of vitamins and supplements. *Always consult a physician before you start any supplemental regimen.

Flip-Flops:
Tough actin' Tinactin's stock may or may not take a dive after this post but this subject has to be addressed. Sandals, Flip flops, or "thongs" as they're called in Australia, are an important, not always accounted for, supply in any gym bag. Especially if you end up using the showers or the pool at your local gym. Athletes foot, also known as foot fungus is very easy to catch at the gym. You can take a big time preventative measure by tossing a pair of flip flops in your bag. 

Athletic Tape:
Ever dealt with the annoyance of a jammed finger or toe? Well I have, and you can take it from me, having a roll of athletic tape in your bag can be the difference between a completed work out session and going home early because of a strained digit. Athletic tape is used to support joints and add resistance to strains. Do yourself a favor a toss a roll in your bag.

Timer:
A timer can really come in handy if you're training for competition or even if you're simply trying to improve your mile time. It helps to have a training partner to help keep track of your times but its not impossible to record your own times. Either way, keeping note of your times goes a long way towards improving the effectiveness of your workouts.

Resistance Band:
Besides their portability, resistance bands are increasingly popular because of their number of uses. Many athletes swear by them because they target smaller muscle groups and can add another level of challenge to your routine. Resistance bands are also extremely inexpensive compared to most work out equipment. So even if you are ballin' on a budget and cant afford a gym membership, they cheap to add to your "home gym".

Towel:
The last thing you want when you sit down at the bench press is to lay your head in a pool of someone else's sweat. Unfortunately not all grown adults have reached the point in their lives where they clean up after themselves. Its not pretty but its the world we're living in folks. Bring a towel.

Deodorant:
You smell that? What is that smell? As your nose darts around the gym, trying to locate where that funky odor is coming from you suddenly realize, that funk...is you. No one wants to be that smelly guy so remember to toss a stick or can of spray deodorant in your bag. 

Gym Shoes:
Flat sole shoes work great for lifting weights and running shoes work great for running. What ever activities your workout routine consists of, have the proper footwear. Designated gym shoes will prevent unnecessary damage to those fresh new kicks you got for Christmas so remember to pack accordingly.

Workout Log Book:
TRACK YOUR PROGRESS. It doesn't matter what kind of workout you're doing, the ultimate goal is to improve and you'll never know how far you've come unless you know where you started. Pick up a cheap notebook and a couple of pens to keep in your bag at all times. Another popular component to tracking your progress is take before and after pictures. You'll get a real self esteem boost when you can look back at how far you've come, and with pictures, you can share your journey with your friends.

Nail Clippers:
This one is mostly for guys but this tool is partially a hygiene issue and partially a safety issue. Its important to have good hygiene when it comes to working out to prevent any infections and it can also steer you away from injury. If your fingernails are trim and clean, you carry far less bacteria and you lower the risk of ripping a nail off. Clippers are a great addition to any gym bag.

Lifting Belt:
When you are lifting weights and you start increasing your weight limits, its a good idea to have a lifting belt in your bag. You wont need the belt for every exercise because you still want the full range of motion for your abs and core. However, when you are lifting heavier weights during squatting or power cleans it helps to have that support. You only have one back after all and if you hurt your back well...that will put a big dent in any progress you have made.

Jump Rope:
Another cheap, portable, effective form of exercise. Chances are you have used a jump rope at some point in your life but in case you haven't I'll break it down for you. Jump ropes are great low impact tools. Not only do they improve cardio performance and tone muscles at the same time. They are a quick way to burn off  extra calories. Come clean, you and I both know you snuck that extra candy bar in at work! You can make it up to me though. Jump rope for 10 minutes and we'll call it even.


Headphones:
Regrettable to forget. Headphones are one of my favorite tools in my gym bag arsenal. Listening to music while working out can really help you get in that zone to bust out those last few reps. They also help drown out all the over-the-top grunting from the gym rats in the corner. Since I do enjoy creating my gym playlists so much I'll share a few choice songs I use to get in my zone. Feel free to steal this playlist as long as you use it!

 
So there you have it. The 14 workout essentials in any proper gym bag and a bonus playlist to help get the ball rolling. Its a new year people. lets stick with those resolutions we typically break and raise the bar for ourselves. Good luck on your training and I'll see you out there!
 
"A man who is physically fit performs better at any job. Fatigue makes cowards of us all."
-Vince Lombardi

2012 In Review and A Look Into 2013

I want to start off by saying what a year it has been. Both for the world as a whole and my own little personal slice of it. We've been witnessed to so many things this past year, its safe to say the year 2012 classifies as a doozey. When it comes down to the year in review, we've seen big, big changes across the board. Just to name a few:

In politics, there was an election extravaganza across the globe. We've seen the re-election of US president Barack Obama as well as notable shifts in power in France, Mexico, and Russia(more or less). Also worth noting, the do nothing congress of the United States has definitely earned its title this past year.

In sports, we saw London play host to another successful year of the Olympic games and the thrilling win of Denmark over Serbia in the European handball championship. We witnessed one of the most controversial sports drug scandals ever involving Lance Armstrong as well as the New York football Giants Hoisting the Lombardi Superbowl trophy over the New England Patriots.

In Science, we saw the greatest scientific discovery of our time with the Higgs Boson, Curiosity's arrival on Mars, The US government crashing two satellites into the moon(weird right?), Felix Baumgartner dropped from the edge of space setting the free fall world record, and we survived another apocalyptic prediction. Big year in science.

In Nature, hurricane Sandy hit devastated the New York/New Jersey area of the United States , and the trend of global temperature rise continues virtually unnoticed.



In my own world, this year I turned 24 and made the biggest change of my life so far. Moving from Atlanta Georgia to Melbourne Australia has been an exciting adventure as well as an enormous opportunity. Having such a big change in my life has given me plenty of things to reflect upon and I am profoundly grateful for that. 

Moving into 2013, my goals for are simple. I encourage you to make your goals simple because if the goals are simple, they should be easy to complete. When you consistently complete your goals you are setting a foundation for a successful and fulfilling life. This year I will be setting for myself at least one goal in each of the mind, body, soul categories and challenge you to do the same.

Mind: My goal is to read 5 books this year.

Body: My goal is to complete a half marathon this year.

Soul: My goal is to volunteer for a total of 25 hours and to stay mindful as much as possible this year. 


 If you feel inclined to set a few goals for yourself and need someone to keep you accountable, share your goals and progress with the BoldlyGrow community and we will support you however we can. If you don't complete every goal you set, go easy on yourself. We're all just doing the best we can with what we have.

I wish you all happiness and success in the new year, keep coming back, and as always- boldly grow in the direction of your dreams.   
 
 


photo credit 

Street Art Scavenger Hunt

Today is Christmas in Australia. Since I am away from my family and most of my friends, I decided to do something that was both challenging, and rewarding. I went on a scavenger hunt! I scoured the streets of Melbourne looking for the best street art I could find. What I found may shock and amaze you. Some of the pieces I found were/are incredible. Truly a feast for your ocular appetite. Since you can't all be in Melbourne Australia to see these, I figured I would bring them to you.

I wish I could give the respective credit for each piece, but unfortunately there is no way I can know whose is whose. If you know who created one of these phenomenal pieces of art please let me know and I will credit them accordingly. I will post a few here and if you like what you see and want to see more, click on the "Follow Me On Instagram" link on the left side of the blog. Now without further ado, and for your viewing pleasure; The spoils of my Christmas Day Street Art Scavenger Hunt.

There you have it. Some of Melbourne's finest and truly spectacular artwork. If you like what you've seen here, click the Instagram link on the left side of the blog to see more jaw dropping pieces. Enjoy, and happy holidays!