The Cat's In The Cradle?

As I sat at my favorite Mexican restaurant last Thursday night, reveling in the fact that the weekend has arrived, an old Harry Chapin song. It was none other than "Cats In The Cradle." Having enjoyed the song as a kid, I never fully understood it. Now I fully do.

It follows a father and son. When the son is growing up, the father never has time to spend with his son. Nonetheless, the son still wants to be like his father. As time progresses, the tables turn. The son grows up and the dad grows old. Now, the dad wants to spend time with the son who has a life of his own.

Maybe I was just in a nostalgic mood, but hearing this song made me examine my time management habits. Do I really put time in where time is do? Do I cultivate my friendships and relationships with people or do I chase after fruitless, unfulfilling goals?

While we all have obligations to meet, it is important to sit back every once in a while and wonder who you are and what type of mark you will leave on this world. That is what Harry Chapin taught me last Thursday night.

Naivety: I Welcome It

I am not really sure what the purpose of the blog is; it seems that it is an outlet for me to explore life and figure things out. That being said, one thing always gets me. Young people are always looked down upon for being naive. Why is that looked down upon?

Naivety is portrayed as a bad thing. It is portrayed as ignorance or laziness; when really it should be portrayed in a completely different way. Someone who is naive is generally optimistic and hopeful about their future; they had yet to be jaded and crushed by the world. They still have that altruistic nature about them. But often times our elders dismiss students as naive or out of touch with the real world. But if we weren't told no, what could we accomplish? The boundaries could be limitless.

Now I by no means have all the answers or will claim to. Hell, I have just recently figured out what I want to really study in college. Though my field of study and personality has changed, their is one part of me that has stayed the same. I still believe in the goodness of people and the belief that our best days lie ahead of us. I refuse to believe that we as a people have reached our potential and that it is all downhill from here. 

While I do not have all the answers, I know one thing; I am determined to not become cynical towards the world like so many people do once they enter the "real world." My altruistic nature will not be wasted, neither should yours. Deep down, we all have that little child that dreams, that wishes. That little child that yearns for second chances. 

Let that little child run free. If we are too make it further in life, we must be able to trust each other in difficult times. I may sound like an idealist, but I prefer the term realist because I believe in the goodness of people.

A 180-degree turn

I came into college with a conviction and drive. My goal was to be an amazing music educator; I was dead set on changing lives through music. Last fall, I became jaded and realized enough was enough. The music school had a monopoly on my life. I decided I wanted more out of life, so I switched my majors last spring. This in essence was a lifestyle switch for me. I didn't know what to expect this semester. I started the semester with two completely different majors. Political Science and English Literature are a far cry from Music Education.

Now, I have no clue what I want to do with my future. My "old self" would be freaked out. Everything had to be figured out; I prided myself on having a vision. Well, my current self is a-okay with taking it a day at a time. I used to think I understood everything. Now I realize, I really don't.

I only know this moment. As they say, "Yesterday's history and tomorrow's a mystery." While this is a somewhat dismal outlook. I have become more focused on the present. What can I do in this moment? How can I help others? What will help me be successful? The future is a long way off, but the time is now. 

I revel in the idea of figuring it out as you go. If we live life in the stereotypical script society hands us, it wouldn't be any fun. We are graduate high school, then college. We get married and get a job and eventually have kids. We cart the kids around to soccer practice and help them with homework and wistfully watch them go into the world one day. Then we grow old and enjoy our golden years.

Does that sound like a bad life? Absolutely not. But I want something a little more, something a little different. I have no clue what it is yet, but I am sure I will figure it out along the way. Half the fun of being 20 is that your script hasn't really been written for you yet. We are writing it right now. Our experiences at this age affect our future. What discipline will you study? What connections will you make? What skills will you develop?

The future comes at us fast, but even though I have no clue what I want to do or where I will end up, I know I will be happy. I will not settle for a job I do not enjoy; I hear too many middle-aged people complain they don't like their job. Moreover, I would like a job that makes a difference in the world.

I fully buy into Ghandi's quote, "Be the change you would like to see in the world." A big movement starts with something small. It grows and grows until it cannot be ignored. I also believe in Martin Luther King Jr.'s quote, "Our lives end the day we stop caring about what matters." My life will end the day I do not have a pulse. No matter how cynical or jaded I may become, I resolve to always keep my altruistic, idealistic nature.  I will be a voice for those who do not have one.

I have come a long way in a year. I appreciate everyone in my life and the value of hard work. I am thankful for the talents I have and wish to develop them. Most of all, I want to just do work. I am ready to get my hands dirty and leave this world a better place when I leave it.

School Spirit

As I was standing in the student section last night during the ASU football game, I finally realized how much school pride ASU has. Everybody bleeds maroon and gold; I love it. They are proud of this university in some way shape or form. Ed Ableser, a state representative from ASU's legislative district, said some of the Republicans in the legislature are more militant Sun Devil fans than he is. He also added that some compromises over bills have been hatched at football games.

So I ask, at a point in nation's history when everything seems divisive, why can't we all just have a little patriotism? Or at lest find some common ground to unite us so we can move forward as a country. I hate to break it to some people, but Obama is not Hitler or Stalin. He has not systematically killed 6 million people or starved his people. Let's just find a common cause and do work.

If emotional college students can find common ground over something like school spirit, rational adults should be able too as well. One of the best things about being in college is the diversity of the atmosphere. Walking through the Memorial Union, there are about 8 different languages being spoken at any point in time.

This generation by far, I believe has the best chance to overcome the partisan atmosphere that has overcome this country. This generation, for the most part, is more tolerant to liberal ideas. This can be seen in the gay rights movement, or the Modern Civil Rights Movement (so it has been called).

Despite this fact, our nation is still divided over issues. I'm not advocating we become best buddies with everyone, but patience and a common goal might be nice. That's all. Those two simple things could accomplish everything we every dreamed of.

An Experiment

I'm going to make this week's column an experiment. I am going to challenge myself to write in the frame of an editorial I like. Rules and boundaries have been set. The topic has been chosen. It's game time. 

Curt Schilling to Run for Senate Seat?

As I was on The New York Times website this evening, I saw that Curt Schilling has taken an interest in the late Ted Kennedy's Senate seat. I was a little taken aback by this fact. I will always imagine Curt Schilling as the badass that took the mound several times for the Diamondbacks in the 2001 World Series. 

I now wonder if a new trend is sweeping the nation. When a celebrity's career is dead 

and dried up, do they feel it is time to go into politics? 

Arnold Schwarzenegger is governor of California, comedian turned politician Al Franken is

now a senator for Minnesota, and Val Kilmer is considering a bid for the governor's seat 

in New Mexico in 2010. 

Sometimes I ask myself what business The Terminator, an SNL comedian, and Batman 

have in politics? But I guess the answer is simple. They live in this country, just like you 

and me. The only reason the media has a field day is the public is used to seeing them 

in one role and one role only. Famous people have a right to voice their opinion just 

as much as normal people do.

So should Schilling run for the Senate seat? I don't know. If he can do the best job, 

then sure. If he is doing it for media attention, then no.