To Dream A Little Dream

I’ve been having trouble sleeping these past few days. At first, I thought it was because my mind was too engrossed in the Millenium trilogy by Stieg Larsson. But yesterday, I didn’t pick up “The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest” and I still had trouble sleeping.

I realized this morning that the cause of this issue was anxiety. Anxiety for my future. Anxiety for my perceived lack of any accomplishments these past few weeks and anxiety about not succeeding in my current endeavors.

When I was let go from my previous employment on January 26, 2011, I was actually relieved. I have been having some issues with my commute for some time and this gave me an opportunity to focus all my energies on looking for employment locally. I did this for the past three weeks with eager optimism. I even went to some job interviews and even though nothing panned out I wasn’t at all fazed.

Once I started receiving my unemployment benefits, I realized that I now had a wonderful opportunity for something else besides looking for a regular 9 to 5 job. For years, I kept wondering, what if I did something else? What if I perceived one of my dreams of writing, stand up, heck, even acting? I now have this little window of opportunity to actually try these little whimsies with very little consequence. Worse case scenario, I realise that they were nothing more than pipe dreams and I go back to the life of a drone.

It is in this attempt of my dreams, that my anxiety started to kicked in. I no longer have an excuse for not accomplishing these goals. The only thing I have in my way is myself. This is what’s causing my sleep troubles. I’m worried about failing.

This morning I decided that I was going to stop worrying about it and just put in the effort. I got myself out of bed early today and exercised for the first time in many years. Got two blog entries out to catch up to my quota (one by suggestion, and this one straight from my heart), and once I shower up and get all refreshed I’m going to go back to working on my comedy writing.

Just because I’m 34 doesn’t mean I should be afraid to follow a dream. As the saying goes, “It’s never too late”.

UPDATE:

Just want to make it clear that I’m still seeking employment and am not trying to take advantage of my benefits. My creative pursuits are being done in concert with my job hunt.

What Technology Can’t I Live Without

In this day and age, I can’t imagine a world without computers or smartphones. It seems the more I upgrade the technology I use, the harder it is for me to go back to the way things were. Using broadband internet instead of dial-up for example. As soon as I experienced the speed of a Cable modem, I was willing to cough up the $50 a month to maintain it. Also, once I experienced the convenience of a wireless router, I immediately got rid of most of my ethernet cables.

But above all, I use my computer and smartphone for just about everything I do, everyday of my life. I use emails for correspondence instead of pen and paper. I read websites and use rss readers instead of looking at newspapers or magazines. I get most of my shopping needs or music from Amazon.com or Soap.com instead of going to actual brick and mortar stores. My smartphone helps to facilitate all of this when I’m on the go.

It would be quite a shock if all of a sudden computers and smartphones ceased to exist and it would take some time to adapt to lesser technological methods. Thankfully, such a scenario is close to impossible and I will continue to have access to my computer and smartphone, until some more advance form of technology comes about to replace them.

Comix has closed. No more funny business.

Just read on the “Comic’s Comic” blog that my favorite comedy club (where I also did my 5 minute stand up routine for my graduation class), is no more. This is truly sad news for us comedy fans.

 

I’ve Never Lied About My Age

I’ve never lied about my age. Never saw a reason to. But people rarely think I’m as old as I am.  When I was much younger, people thought I was older than I really was (some kids in the neighborhood tried to take advantage of this by having me buy them beer or cigarettes. Ah, the good old days of not carding people, right?). Nowadays, people can’t believe that I’m 34 years old.

They usually look at me and think I’m still in my 20’s. It’s flattering of course but not true. Course if I think about it, it’s gotten harder for me to tell people’s age as I’ve gotten older as well. I wonder if that’s psychosomatic. Some people have told me I look younger with my hair cut short than when I have it longer. I really don’t see it. The shape of my head looks different of course but I don’t see the age difference at all.

Anyway, that’s pretty much all I have to say on this topic. I’m just trying to keep consistent with my post a week oath. I would write more but I’ve been a little preoccupied with some things (which I will of course eventually write about on here). In the meantime, here’s my post for this week. Adieu.

Am I An Optimist, A Pessimist, Or Something Else?

I consider myself to be an optimistic realist. In general I see things with a positive light. Obviously there are things that can’t be seen with a positive spin (unemployment rates, wars, hate, etc), but in general I try not to let things bring me down.

Even now, in what may perhaps may be one of the most difficult times in my life. I can’t help but be in good spirits. I’m currently unemployed and am valiantly seeking work but in the interim I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. I no longer have to contend with the long draining commute I used to have.  I’m sleeping more than I have the past few years. My brain is as sharp as I remember it being before my 4.5 hours of sleep status. I just think right now things are looking very good for me right now (lack of income notwithstanding).

Because of those factors, I don’t feel stressed out at all. In fact, I was way more stressed about money when I did have a job (how funny is that?). Now I’m just tightening the belt a bit, looking for work and seeing the world in a positive light.