There are so many things in the world that we are preoccupied with. I know I've mentioned this before, but the more I talk about it, the more everyone becomes aware of just how much they have to do. But at the same time, we cannot forget about others. True, #1 is ourselves, but at the same time, we can respect and do good things for other people by sacrificing things that are dear to us in order to make others happy. I know this from personal experience because I've had to do that all of my 4 years here. This is the last piece of advice I am going to give to everybody regarding any tips, because the last blogging I do while I'm here is going to be devoted to the Epic Piece (which I'll give more details about later on). But here are some tips for doing things for other people and respecting them:
1. If someone needs help, never refuse it.
If someone needs assistance with something like getting some piece of work done, holding a door open or giving them some words of encouragement, we all have the potential and the ability to help those in need.
2. Be wary of your time and encorporate it with other peoples' time
This is important so no one falls off track. There are a lot of things to do and people to help, but at the same time, we cannot forget that we are busy and how there are so many things to get done. Help out as long as the schedule works for you.
3. Good deeds eventually get rewarded
Some people may decide not to do good deeds because they feel they won't be rewarded. But no matter what happens, we should still help everyone out when we can whether there is something waiting for us at the end of the tunnel. That is not the most important thing in the world.
4. There is satisfaction when you do
Helping someone out can make you feel good inside with knowing you accomplished something important that can help change someone's life. That is one of the most important things we can do as human beings.
5. BE THERE
The most important part about helping people out is knowing that you'll be there for them in the end. When there is a rocky situation in one's life, never give up and be there for the people that care about you, as well as the people you care about the most. Try to have respect for everyone and be a humanitarian.
These points are the last ones I will give to anyone who is interested. And they tie in well with the "Epic Piece" that I have been working on for a month and a half. As it nears completion, there is so much that I want to say about it right here and now. But I have to wait just a little bit longer (sorry Bobby!) because I am revealing it at the Fitzies on April 30th. It will be several more days, but I will say this, it will be bittersweet. And whether or not the piece is successful or not, I at least tried to give back one more time. And it is the last thing I have to do before I graduate. So I hope that everyone will like it. Next time, I will mention the piece in detail to everyone who is interested and my parting thoughts before I leave. See you next week for the grand finale...
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Where are my books? Tips on improving memory and clues on the Epic Piece.
Trying to do a lot of things in such a little bit of time is a tricky thing to do. As college students, we have so many things to do and keep track of in our daily lives. However, there are periods where we forget about what we have to do. We get so preoccupied with these things that we can get pretty forgetful and neglect what we needed to do in the forst place. The only thing that I can say about this is the fact that we need to be more aware of what we have to do and how to accomplish it. Does this mean that we need more space on our hard drive that is our brain? Sorry, but there are no upgrades available. And no ginko biloba either! What happens to us is pretty characteristic of most other people in this world. So what can we do about this? The only way we know how! Through tips!
1. Keep a notebook and organize everything you have to do
This tip is important because you can look back through what you have to do and already have it written down. This is very good if you have seven or eight things to do in a single day (reminds me of wacky wednesdays). But the point of this is to put them in the order that you do them. For example, one person could put their classes first, the regular everyday tasks next and then the extracurriculars. Another person would like to mix it up and maybe rearrange the classes and the everyday tasks. Each one of us is individual and unique. Tailor the list to your liking an to who you are.
2. Think of key words for what you have to do
This tip may not work for everybody, but for those of you out there who like to think complex, you can instantly come up with key words or abbreviations to instantly think of what you have to do. Honestly this is a difficult way to think of what you have to do. I'll even confess that I would have problems with this. Next tip!
3. Sticky notes!
If a notebook does not work out, write post it notes for yourself and put them in areas of the room where you need to go and do stuff. This is a great tip, however it seems a little too Memento for some people.
4. Repeat whatever you have to do in your head by thinking about it
That's right! Repetition is something that everyone can do. By repeating it over and over again in your head, you should be able to remember everything as long as you use concentration. Then again, having to repeat the words "doing laundry" several dozen times may not go over well with people.
5. Get to know your routines
By learning about your everyday routines, you can be prepared for whatever comes your way through the days of the week like Monday thru Sunday. If you dothe routine for long enough, then you should be able to remember everything!
And that's all there really is to it. And I'm doing the last one right now by remembering to write this blog!
Before I go, I would like to mention a special surprise that I have before I graduate. I am going to be revealing it next week at some point which concerns most people. I will not reveal it until next week, but I will say that it is going to be amazing (hopefully if everyone likes it) and I'm excited because I've been working long and hard on this for a while. The only clue I will give about it is that it pertains to stained glass that I work with. All right, one more thing! It will be a great way to wrap up a career and just by looking at it, it will speak words to everyone. That's it. But next week, my blog will be devoted to mentioning this incredible piece to everyone. Be excited for the unexpected and think about the possibilities of giving back to others! The art will speak for itself after making so many pieces for everyone, this is the piece to end all pieces. To be continued...
1. Keep a notebook and organize everything you have to do
This tip is important because you can look back through what you have to do and already have it written down. This is very good if you have seven or eight things to do in a single day (reminds me of wacky wednesdays). But the point of this is to put them in the order that you do them. For example, one person could put their classes first, the regular everyday tasks next and then the extracurriculars. Another person would like to mix it up and maybe rearrange the classes and the everyday tasks. Each one of us is individual and unique. Tailor the list to your liking an to who you are.
2. Think of key words for what you have to do
This tip may not work for everybody, but for those of you out there who like to think complex, you can instantly come up with key words or abbreviations to instantly think of what you have to do. Honestly this is a difficult way to think of what you have to do. I'll even confess that I would have problems with this. Next tip!
3. Sticky notes!
If a notebook does not work out, write post it notes for yourself and put them in areas of the room where you need to go and do stuff. This is a great tip, however it seems a little too Memento for some people.
4. Repeat whatever you have to do in your head by thinking about it
That's right! Repetition is something that everyone can do. By repeating it over and over again in your head, you should be able to remember everything as long as you use concentration. Then again, having to repeat the words "doing laundry" several dozen times may not go over well with people.
5. Get to know your routines
By learning about your everyday routines, you can be prepared for whatever comes your way through the days of the week like Monday thru Sunday. If you dothe routine for long enough, then you should be able to remember everything!
And that's all there really is to it. And I'm doing the last one right now by remembering to write this blog!
Before I go, I would like to mention a special surprise that I have before I graduate. I am going to be revealing it next week at some point which concerns most people. I will not reveal it until next week, but I will say that it is going to be amazing (hopefully if everyone likes it) and I'm excited because I've been working long and hard on this for a while. The only clue I will give about it is that it pertains to stained glass that I work with. All right, one more thing! It will be a great way to wrap up a career and just by looking at it, it will speak words to everyone. That's it. But next week, my blog will be devoted to mentioning this incredible piece to everyone. Be excited for the unexpected and think about the possibilities of giving back to others! The art will speak for itself after making so many pieces for everyone, this is the piece to end all pieces. To be continued...
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Get me a double espresso! Tips on getting more sleep.
Something that eludes so many college students when they least expect it is getting the right amount of sleep. Here we are going through the day with courses to do, extracurriculars and whatever makes our days go round. Then when we get back to our rooms, we try to go to sleep, but with everything that we do, sleeps often gets the shaft. Now some people can operate on only a little bit of sleep like my roommate does. I still don't know how he does it. Maybe he's a student by day and a superhero at night when I'm asleep (Hammerman to the rescue!) . But for the rest of us like myself who rely on a lot of sleep to properly function, it can be problematic. I know for a fact that I do a lot of things going through my final semester. But one night with just a mediocre amount of z's can throw me off. I drag my feet around all day and say to myself "Why didn't I go to bed earlier?" There are even times when I wake up in the morning when I'm like a zombie from one of those zombie films (George A. Romero comes to mind) as I take a shower, get dressed and head off to the cafeteria (oooooooohhhhhhh!). But to reiterate my point, sleep is important to everyone whether we choose to think about it or not. It helps our bodies feel better and prevents us from getting sick (which is how sickness goes around campus just as easily as the Black Plague went around Europe in the Middle Ages, though in this case, no one dies. They just become REALLY miserable) As a matter of fact, I feel a little sick right now. But enough of the random bantering. It is time to tell you some tips about getting more bed rest to heal and your body and your soul (all right, the last part sounded really cheesy just then, almost like some yoga or mental expert saying that to you in a class or session).
1. Go to bed earlier
Every single college student will probably cower in a corner and say "Oh my god! He just said the E word!". But there is truth to what I say about it. By going to bed earlier, you are able to get a little more sleep and feel more refreshed in the morning. The average college student stays up for who knows how long doing whatever they like. This is something that I should start doing a lot of. No more going to bed at 1 or 2 in the morning for me!
2. Have something soothing before bed
I'm referring to some tea or milk before bed. Something that does not have a lot of sugar or caffeine in it. When you have either of those things, you get burned in the end. Which means that there's no coffee recommended for those who have to have it before bed (and in case, you're wondering, I'm not a big fan of coffee, despite the title of this blog). So drink something that soothes you.
3. Make your bed more comfortable
In order to get a lot of sleep, it is important to be as comfortable as you possibly can. That means having the right covers, a comforter, a cushy mattress and pillows (I can't get enough of them!). But the thing to think about is just propping them up right and finding the right comfort position for everyone as they toss and turn in sleep before the REM kicks in. I realize that its what I need right now.
4. Think repetitive thoughts
Having trouble going to sleep? Think of something repetitive that will have you fall asleep by constatly thinking about it so it will overload your brain and you're out like a light. A great example of this is counting sheep. As for myself, I like to think about sports before going to sleep. Sometimes even going to sleep as I think about some games or events that stand out to me. "And now, the starting lineups for your Chicago Bulls..."
5. When your body needs sleep, it needs sleep
Don't ignore the signs that your body needs sleep. Because when you feel exhausted and want to fall asleep, then do it. Take a nap and you'll feel a lot better. That's how it usually works right there. By not getting rest, we take a toll on our bodies one way or another.
So by going to sleep a lot earlier, we give ourselves more energy to tackle the day. Now if you'll escuse me, I need to get some sleep and feel better! I'll see you all later in dreamland (with good dreams of course!).
1. Go to bed earlier
Every single college student will probably cower in a corner and say "Oh my god! He just said the E word!". But there is truth to what I say about it. By going to bed earlier, you are able to get a little more sleep and feel more refreshed in the morning. The average college student stays up for who knows how long doing whatever they like. This is something that I should start doing a lot of. No more going to bed at 1 or 2 in the morning for me!
2. Have something soothing before bed
I'm referring to some tea or milk before bed. Something that does not have a lot of sugar or caffeine in it. When you have either of those things, you get burned in the end. Which means that there's no coffee recommended for those who have to have it before bed (and in case, you're wondering, I'm not a big fan of coffee, despite the title of this blog). So drink something that soothes you.
3. Make your bed more comfortable
In order to get a lot of sleep, it is important to be as comfortable as you possibly can. That means having the right covers, a comforter, a cushy mattress and pillows (I can't get enough of them!). But the thing to think about is just propping them up right and finding the right comfort position for everyone as they toss and turn in sleep before the REM kicks in. I realize that its what I need right now.
4. Think repetitive thoughts
Having trouble going to sleep? Think of something repetitive that will have you fall asleep by constatly thinking about it so it will overload your brain and you're out like a light. A great example of this is counting sheep. As for myself, I like to think about sports before going to sleep. Sometimes even going to sleep as I think about some games or events that stand out to me. "And now, the starting lineups for your Chicago Bulls..."
5. When your body needs sleep, it needs sleep
Don't ignore the signs that your body needs sleep. Because when you feel exhausted and want to fall asleep, then do it. Take a nap and you'll feel a lot better. That's how it usually works right there. By not getting rest, we take a toll on our bodies one way or another.
So by going to sleep a lot earlier, we give ourselves more energy to tackle the day. Now if you'll escuse me, I need to get some sleep and feel better! I'll see you all later in dreamland (with good dreams of course!).
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
The pump stole my money! Tips on gas prices.
Managing money is a tricky thing to do. I know this for a fact because with every dollar that I earn, it goes toward food, supplies, the occasional DVD (darn those cheap DVDs at Walmart!) and the most costly endeavor out there...filling up the wagon! I'm not going to lie. The car I own is not as good on gas as it should be (Jeep Wranglers were made to go anywhere, not save gas). For everyone that owns one of those special fuel electric hybrids out there, there is no problem with going anywhere since the car can get 30+ miles to the gallon or more. But for those of us who have those monstrous SUVs out there that say "I own the road.", then chances are, you won't own the road when the car has to get filled up frequently at the same rate when a regular person eats three meals a day. And with how much you're taking out of your wallet (credit and debit cards included), its almost as if the gas pump is saying to you everytime you're about to put the nozzle to the car "All right! This is a holdup! Give me the money or you get no gas!" (I'm also imagining a gas pump pressing the nozzle up against a person's back in the process, which is a bizarre surreal image now that I think about it). But the point is, gas prices are going up and there's not much that we can do about it. But, there are a few fuel saving tips that we can do to help us save a little money in our pockets and use it for more important things (no, online gambling is NOT one of them!):
1. See which gas station is the cheapest
By driving around in your local area, you can see all of the gas stations and deduce which one has the cheapest gas offered to the general public. Do this when you're just randomly driving around and write down all of the prices that you can (but not while driving! That's too dangerous!). Also notice certain patterns that gas stations have when they raise prices. This is one way to help you save some moolah.
2. Fill up your car on the weekend
This may sounf a little crazy, but it makes sense. When do gas prices seem to go up? (Jeopardy music plays). If you don't know by now, gas prices go up during the weekdays from Monday thru Friday because of all of the trading, buying, selling and all of the other businness that goes on at the New York Stock Exchange. On the weekends, the prices stay the same because the NYSE does not function and they stay balanced. But for those of you who have to fill up the tank before the weekend comes, then it can't be avoided. But for those who wait and are patient, then they can fill it up without the gas price changing at the last minute (it hasn't happened to me yet, and hopefully never will. I can imagine the person changing the sign and giving me this awkward smiling grin to mock me).
3. Drive less
This tip says it all and is self explanatory. Drive less. Now for the people out there who like to go on some sort of "road trips", then the car is going to be using up a lot of that gas. Soif you can, reduce the amount of time driving and start saving (no roadtrips to Florida or California please!).
4. Spend less money on trivial things
When you spend money on snack foods, electronics or DVDs (once again! I have to beat the habit!), it takes away from the money you can put forward toward gas. So to keep yourself from feeling short changed at the pump, make sure that you do not spend all of that hard earned money on things that are less important that filling up your car (though it is okay to splurge once in a while).
5. Get your car checked out every now and then
Even though we do oil changes every 3,000 miles, we should still check on our cars to make sure that they are up-to-date and are more fuel efficient. This choice is optional because it can be expensive to give cars tune-ups (beware Volkswagen and Volvo fans!).
Those are the best tips I can give to people who want to save gas. Although the gas prices are at an average of around $2.70 a gallon, you know that those penny pinchers will up the ante and the gas prices will reach over $3 a gallon. But with the advice I've given, you can be prepared for whatever comes your way. See you later!
1. See which gas station is the cheapest
By driving around in your local area, you can see all of the gas stations and deduce which one has the cheapest gas offered to the general public. Do this when you're just randomly driving around and write down all of the prices that you can (but not while driving! That's too dangerous!). Also notice certain patterns that gas stations have when they raise prices. This is one way to help you save some moolah.
2. Fill up your car on the weekend
This may sounf a little crazy, but it makes sense. When do gas prices seem to go up? (Jeopardy music plays). If you don't know by now, gas prices go up during the weekdays from Monday thru Friday because of all of the trading, buying, selling and all of the other businness that goes on at the New York Stock Exchange. On the weekends, the prices stay the same because the NYSE does not function and they stay balanced. But for those of you who have to fill up the tank before the weekend comes, then it can't be avoided. But for those who wait and are patient, then they can fill it up without the gas price changing at the last minute (it hasn't happened to me yet, and hopefully never will. I can imagine the person changing the sign and giving me this awkward smiling grin to mock me).
3. Drive less
This tip says it all and is self explanatory. Drive less. Now for the people out there who like to go on some sort of "road trips", then the car is going to be using up a lot of that gas. Soif you can, reduce the amount of time driving and start saving (no roadtrips to Florida or California please!).
4. Spend less money on trivial things
When you spend money on snack foods, electronics or DVDs (once again! I have to beat the habit!), it takes away from the money you can put forward toward gas. So to keep yourself from feeling short changed at the pump, make sure that you do not spend all of that hard earned money on things that are less important that filling up your car (though it is okay to splurge once in a while).
5. Get your car checked out every now and then
Even though we do oil changes every 3,000 miles, we should still check on our cars to make sure that they are up-to-date and are more fuel efficient. This choice is optional because it can be expensive to give cars tune-ups (beware Volkswagen and Volvo fans!).
Those are the best tips I can give to people who want to save gas. Although the gas prices are at an average of around $2.70 a gallon, you know that those penny pinchers will up the ante and the gas prices will reach over $3 a gallon. But with the advice I've given, you can be prepared for whatever comes your way. See you later!
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