The Joy of Crisis

Okay, right, so not exactly joy, but there might be something said for crisis. When I hear that word, "crisis," I see red arrows and hear loud alarms clanging, warning me to run away. But I'm learning that perhaps, crisis is to be welcomed into our lives. Not a very popular opinion perhaps, but think about it: if things stay the same and nothing ever changes, how are we incentivized to make changes in our lives or grow? Where's the fire to get us up and moving?

Oh well, yes, it's true that there's a certain level of internal motivation...perhaps. But I suspect that can fall to a negligible level once a particular threshold of comfort has been reached. We like to be comfortable. *I* like to be comfortable. And oh, don't forget secure. But there can be tragedy in that seemingly safe, warm, snug little bed we're ensconced in; the tragedy of inertia.When everything's hunky dory and life is safely rolling along, why be bothered to stretch for something more? Well, there IS a reason to be and some do it, in fact, but many don't. Sometimes, it takes a full-on crisis to smack us out of our comfy little sleep.

So for me, I'm learning to welcome the crises; to ask what will be on the other side and what that will look like for me. I'm also learning that just rolling with it and being open to the opportunities that present themselves along the way is the key. Because if I'm quiet and pay attention, and resist the urge to go into full-blown freak mode every time something doesn't work out as I think it should, amazingly, the universe opens up and offers me a path.

Just so you know, I've not mastered this yet, but I'm trying, learning, and growing in the knowledge of this little secret, and have friends who are doing the same. It's very exciting to watch in their lives as seemingly difficult circumstances magically evolve into opportunities. Perhaps you're learning this as well. So tell me...how do you handle crisis?

Steampunk....Ever Heard of It?

One of the things that I've developed an appreciation for over the last year or two is the steampunk culture. If you're looking at the screen just now with raised eyebrows and and a confused look, well, you're in good company because that's very often the look I get when I mention steampunk. If you're searching for a definition, however, think "Victorian era meets the technological era." It's all Jules Verne and H.G. Wells sort of stuff with their fantastic and futuristic projections powered by steam and gear works with the glow of 21st century technology peeking through. As much as I am enamored with the beauty that the marriage of these two elements creates, I am even more struck by what lies beyond the mechanization; the air of a genteel civility that seems to permeate the entire culture.

I shall resist the urge to turn this into a commentary on society today, but suffice it to say that the lure of Wells' time machine is great when i consider the possibility of travel to a time when a man wouldn't be caught dead with his pants below his derriere. But alas, I am firmly rooted in the present, if not by the lack of a working time machine, then certainly by my eternal devotion to electronic gadgetry. For as much as I love looking at steampunk art and contemplating what a Victorian cell phone would have looked like, (in my imagination it's all dark wood with glorious gold embossed metals, filigrees, and shining proud rivets), there really was no such device in the era of gentlemanly duels.

And so, for kicks, I leave you with a few links.  The first will explain more of what steampunk is and offer some gorgeous examples of the art and the last two are just....well....fun. We can do 'fun' here, right? :-))

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i9ZX10iM64&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iRTB-FTMdk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eELH0ivexKA&feature=fvwrel

And So it Begins

For a long while now, I've considered a blog. Actually, what I've MORE considered is a place where people could come and meet and share ideas and thoughts and exchange those with the intention of learning, growing, and creating.  Heady stuff, I know, but I believe it's possible. Sadly, my study isn't large enough to contain all those that I dream would come to such a meeting (oh wait, I don't HAVE a study), and in fact, many I hope would attend are from far away places spread 'round the globe.  So welcome to my study...er, blog.  Pull up a chair, hang out, contemplate, ponder, and contribute. We'll see where it takes us.  No one is more eager than I to see what happens along the journey.

By the way...a couple of articles to check out:
http://en.over-blog.com/How_to_study_effectively_for_exams-1228321782-art76187.html
http://www.the-experts.co.uk/article-75703-how-to-get-good-grades-in-college.html