You Are As Burdened As your Secrets

One of the most courageous thing an individual can display is expressing a sercret, and then letting go. But which is harder: telling or letting go? The answer may lie in a book at your local Borders. A post card with no name is tucked between page 78 and 79 has a very dark or uplifting message. In it, is someone’s burden that has been carried around for a very long time.

It cannot be told to trusted individual or even to their pets. Instead it’s shared online with other strangers who say, “me too. I felt that too.” There at our most vulnerable moment we are human. The virtue of courage is the ability to be vulnerable to others and the willingness to allow others do the same.

The online space for sharing our secrets is postsecrets.com. Frank Warren is responsible for thousands of people’s ability to share and forgive themselves, others, or circumstances.

If you don’t know this site yet, then it’s time to have a ‘me too’ moment with someone you never met or ever will know.

mahalo.

Make the Jump: Reinveting Yourself, But How?

 

I want to get into the Tech industry.  I want to be like Leo  Laporte .  But the problem is I have no computer programming skills or IT certificates.  I have no radio background.  But I know how to do have 70 of 100 geeks skills only tech nerds know how to do.  For example, I can  do a clean install of Windows 7 on a Mac,  produce a podcast, hack my Nintendo, and use Twitter like a pro.  I know not to listen to bloggers who claim they can SEO websites under a low,low fire sale price of $2,000.

The challenge is how do I translate my geeky nerd skills into a job? More frank, what job can I qualify for?  It’s like being at the edge of cliff and seeing the other side with glee, but not knowing how to cross the gap.

Then there is the Catch 22. You need experience in the job you want, but the job you are in doesn’t provide those work experiences necessary to transition. So you find yourself as dilettante, screwing around on the edges.

Thoughts? Any advice in making the jump to the other side?  How about that Catch 22? Any luck flying?

Humilty: Dont Be a 1-Up-er

Humility is one of those virtues that is undevalued, but vital to becoming a better human being. It’s a reminder of what you do have instead of what you don’t have. And the gap that seperates what you do have versus what you don’t should be a motivator in making you a better human.

I think we get caught in what others are achieving and then in turn, demand it be our turn. This self-entitlement fails to cut through the underlying stuff going on like jealousy, envy, inadequacy, or insecuity.

You ought to reflect on the achievements thus far. What should be in high esteem is the hard work of service and volunteerism that nobody asks you to do or thanks you for. It’s smalll things that, in doing an inventory, be in your bullet point mental resume. I’m talking about reading to a kid every night, saying yes mam or sir to those who came before you, not being a pain in the ass when it doesn’t go your way, and recognizing a lot of the business decisions that effect you have little to do with you, personally.

Humility. Be appreciative of your gains, and not so much your neighbors 1-Ups.

Make Some Damn Good Coffee

The best 15 bucks I ever spent: French Press.  Lifehacker.com did a story a while back on how to make coffee without breaking the bank.  After reading the article and inspired,  I bought the equipment:

• French Press
• Coffee whole beans
• Air-tight jar with airlock
• Coffee Grinder

According to Lifehacker and other blogs, whole beans win out in quality.  I bought some Colombian beans from Whole Foods.  They work.  I got the jar from Bath, Bed, and Beyond.  Note the medium one can hold up to a half of pound of beans.   I got the coffee grinder from Macy’s where they had it on sale.  Score!
Yesterday was a fail attempt at making coffee.  I burned it.  I used the preheating method where I let my drip coffee maker run through to heat up and use the heated water again to make the actual coffee.  It turned out bitter.  Today I made coffee using the heated water from the drip coffee maker and then use the heated water for my coffee press.  I have to say the french press makes the world of difference.  I can’t wait to use it again soon.  I would drink some coffee when I get home, but I would not be able to sleep.  I think it’s worth it.

That’s it.  Now go out and make some awesome coffee.

Online Dating: Whats Wrong With My Profile

A few friends since college are exploring online dating. One thing that they are experimenting with is their profile and trying to maximize their success in grabbing the opposite sex attention.

Although the online market streamlined the efficiency of dating and provided a bigger selection in would be partners, dating hasn’t gotten any easier.

Fellow blogger and college friend, Andi, in Date Diary expresses the need to tweak her profile for better effect:

“To be honest, it seems that sending out all kinds of winks / e-mails (no waiting for guys to make the first move online!), but not getting much of a response.

Which leads me to believe there must be something inherently wrong with my profile.”

Read more: here

Guys please share tips, lifehacks, or some honest advice on the subject of online dating. What proves to be successful in attracting you?