The holiday seasons is winding down, though the warm feelings of good tidings lingers in the air. There is still cocoa steaming and candy canes hanging about, while the hustle and bustle of the crowds are still around us. Even as the big holidays have passed, we will always be reminded of childhood memories of the holidays with tree decorating, family gatherings and just all out love. That’s what the season is all about, “Love” right?

Ho! Ho! Ho!
Did you deserve your presents?

The “traditional” holiday season has indoctrinated us with the thoughts of jolly ole St Nick, and how he is writing his list and checking it twice, to figure out who has been naughty or nice. But do we check our own lists?

We believe we mustn’t be naughty, because naughty people get lumps of coal…but when has that ever happened? Dare I Say, in reality, the holiday season is no longer about sharing love, but about what we buy for people…no matter what they’ve done. To go even further, some people even fake their love just for a gift during the holiday season!

Although we’ve grown up, we still believe in the comforting feelings of these wonderful tales of holiday love and giving by our loved ones. With that said, we all know that come December, our girlfriends and boyfriends are skimming the weekly ads and online review sites for the latest gadgets and hottest trends for our gift.

Even if you’ve been fighting since your questionable behavior at a Halloween party in October, there are people who will stay in a bad relationship just for the gifts…or worse yet pick up an entirely new one in hopes of ole St Nick granting their wishes of Gucci, Prada, the new ipad or season tickets.

But is this so bad you ask? I say this is definitely Santa-disapproved, coal-deserving naughty! I have made a list and checked it twice, and each time I have come up with the same answer. Naughty.

Have the times of good tidings fled and been replaced by the need of good gifts? Have we become in such need for material goods we have left behind our morals and well wishes for others to simply don the latest fashions, or that new set of rims? I can see my granny shaking her finger at our generation and saying,  “You outta be ashamed of yourself!” and granny would be correct.

Think back to the purchases you’ve made this holiday season for your loved ones and significant others, and think if you should have reconsidered a lump of coal for them instead. When you look deeply in their eyes, do you find someone who would give their all for you, or do you see the Gold Digging Grinch staring back at you?

So next year as the stockings are being gently hung with care, may your concern be not the latest leggings from Nordstroms…but as you nestle up next to cozy fires and whisper sweet nothings in each other’s ear, be sure to check your wallet is tucked away with care.

The other day, a great woman reminded me of a quote I’ve heard many times in my life, “Stand for something, or fall for anything.”  In light of the  BP oil spill, I have realized a lot of people are not “standing” for much, but really just doing a lot of talking. There’s one thing to say “I’m boycotting,” then to actively take a part in reversing or alleviating the passion point(s) you’ve spoken to so powerfully.

Updates: July 11, 2010
Link at the bottom to help inform those who want to help.

Boycotting the BP Oil Spill: A Fad?

It’s Monday morning, April 19, 2010, and you’re on your way to Starbucks when you noticed you are low on gas. Despite the perpetually unsavory price of gasoline, you pulled into whichever gas station was visibly cheaper than the next, filled up and went on your way without a second thought.

Fast forward a few weeks into the BP oil spill, and now you have awoken to your most passionate of passion points; boycotting BP.

Now, after your morning run to Starbucks, you are Tweeting your fury against the ignorance and atrocities of this oil giant; you share links and pictures on Facebook from CNN and MSNBC of oil covered fish and fowl. Your once inane status updates now lament the tragic environmental losses of the oil spill. All this while you “tsk, tsk” when you see someone pumping BP gas into their tank across the street, as though they were the ones pumping the oil out of the ground and letting it loose into the Gulf of Mexico themselves.

You’ve made your point, and now everyone knows…you’re an environmental advocate, right?

But have you really done anything…and why are you doing this now? Where were you on April 19,  or any other day prior to the spill? Were you angrily Tweeting/Facebooking and “tsk tsk-ing” about the multitude of environmental impacts oil drilling had on your planet on a few weeks ago? Or are you now concerned because dolphins are dying, Louisiana shrimp will cost more and your Pensacola, FL vacation is now in jeopardy, threatened by oil?

Well if this oil spill has got you so upset, what about open pit mining? Deforestation? Whaling or boycotting the disastrous process of making and disposing of rechargeable batteries for your electric Prius/SmartCar?

These intentional environmentally-destructive practices have been going on from before my parents were in their quarterlife, and yet no one seems to “tsk tsk” in tandem when they see large slates of granite counters in every celebrity’s kitchen and bathroom. Nor do we “tsk tsk” at the billions of Starbucks cups made every year. We only seem to stand up when something goes catastrophically wrong. And this “bad weather boycotting,” in my opinion, is just as ineffective as doing nothing at all.

There is no denying that we are witnessing an unprecedented accident, but personally, I am not planning on boycotting my local BP gas station.

I am not “for big oil” and neither am I a “tree-hugger” who wants us all to live like the Flintstones….however, I would prefer to see people be sincere about what they “stand” for and actually stand for something, rather than fall for the next popular passion point on “World News Tonight.”

Thoughts?

From Mashable’s “Are We Losing Interest in the BP Oil Spill”

Sloane Berrent’s Six Ways to Help the Gulf Coast Today. Berrent is a New Orleans resident and social philanthropist, and she has the 411 on how to do your part in the cleanup process, from donating your money to volunteering your time.

I am what you would call the typical black sheep of my family. From a predominantly conservative and religious household came a blond-haired, green-eyed child that managed to become none of those things. However, from these Southern roots, I have managed to obtain attributes like compassion, loyalty and a spunkiness that may be mistaken for attitude.

Don’t Make Lent about You

Fat Tuesday is where a majority of people are celebrating everything that is sinful, because tomorrow brings the first day of Lent. Typically, fried food, soda, cigarettes, alcohol (everything that is wonderful in this world) will be given up for the next 40 days. However, during this time I have decided to ask all my quarterlifers to not remove something from their lives but rather add something. For the next 40 days I will commit a random act of selfless, kindness everyday to strangers, families and friends.

As a generation that is labeled lazy, selfish and indifferent let’s take a stand to change people’s minds one day at a time. Let’s become a generation of movers and shakers, believers and makers. Move people’s opinions of this generation by shaking up stereotypes, making no excuses and above all else believe that one person, one generation can make all the difference.

Lent represents Jesus’ time in the desert where he spent 40 days enduring the Satan’s temptations. So what if I’m addicted to cheap bourbon and French fries. If I give up these for 40 days what does that make me? Cranky and skinner. Who needs that? So instead of making this Lent a small victory for yourself, why not make a quiet statement that will hopefully become contagious. I may be alone in this effort, but if one person decides to join this evolution of Gen. Y then that it will make all the difference.

As a more “social user” of Social Media, I’ve had the chance to interact with some Generation-Y peers who’ve been willing to share their insights and lives with me at the most candid of depths. It is a very humbling experience to have people confide and entrust in you their personal feelings for you to share. I’ve had the opportunity to become to become acquainted with Twitter user, Brandy Weber (@Brandy3216) over the past few months. One day she sat down and, on her BlackBerry,  she wrote into Quarterlife Magazine detailing how she came to be where she was in her quarterlife.

Brandy’s Entry to Quarterlife Magazine:

It’s naptime so I have time to write you!

I am a preschool teacher at a private preschool on Johns Island, S.C.! I’ve taught here since the end of May, teaching 2-year-olds and I love it! But, it wasn’t always as nice as nap time –my story is as follows:

I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, since I was about 5 years old. I wasn’t really “amazing” in school, just an average 3.0 kind of gal – I was much better at socializing, Haha! Every year at the end of the school year, my mom had a scrapbook she put my school picture in and asked some questions such as, “Who were my friends,” “What I wanted to be when I grow up”…etc. and every year I answered “A Teacher!”

I always wanted to teach Child Development 4-year-olds or Kindergarten, so when I graduated high school in Burgettstown, Penn. I went to Mercyhurst College in Erie, Penn. for “Early Childhood and Elementary Education” which technically means I’m double specialized to teach from Birth to 6^th Grade!

I had always said I was going to move south to the beach after I graduated college. My best friend’s sister lives here in Charleston so I came to visit for two weeks and decided this was the place for me!

I worked at the Charleston Crab House as a server while I looked for teaching jobs here. I had an interview for and ended up landing the “ideal” 1st Grade Job. I was a little nervous about teaching – but excited to start my journey!

However, it was a tough year for many reasons. I had 14 students, all who had a rough family life – but I was determined to make a difference! As the year went on, I found most of the parents there didn’t even care about their children…or their education; it was so heart breaking for me! The most memorable example of this lack of interest was shown in the simplest of tasks, picking up your your child’s report cards; they only had to meet with the teacher to receive. I told multiple families I would come in any day or time…and to show how little they cared, I STILL have some of their first report cards to this day.

As I said it was a tough year for me and not a good placement.

Several of the teachers there were very unwilling to help me with my first year of my teaching journey and often found myself lost and asking for help which I wasn’t receiving!

At one point I had EIGHT kids suspended and by the end of the year most people commended me for not quitting – but I refuse to quit on a class (most of the other teachers said with my class they would have quit by Christmas.).

So at this point I didn’t know if I ever wanted to teach again.

My roommate at the time worked at the children’s center and told me to apply for teaching 2-year-olds sounded like it would be like babysitting, not teaching but I learned I was very wrong.

The job I got there was “Lead Teacher,” and I began to love teaching all over again! My students, families, and coworkers were excellent!

Teaching 2-year-olds is so special and people always say,

“They are only two what can you possibly teach them…”

Well, lets just put it this way – because of me you learn to go potty, eat with a fork, use your manners, letters, colors, shapes!

A lot of exciting things as well as life skills you use forever when you’re “only two!”

My job requires a lot of patience, hard work, planning, dedication, and passion for children!

Well, thank you for listening – I am glad to share, because I know I am always interested in learning about people’s journeys  – because I constantly wonder if I’m on the right path! If you know me in real life I have such a well-rounded, sociable, networking, bubbly, happy personality and I wonder if I should be using my gift in some other career or if I am in the right place because I love my job! In the end, I just want to be motivated and love to go to work each and everyday and do what I do best!

– Brandy Weber

###

All can I say to Brandy is, with a personality and passion you have – do not give up on the two-year-olds! If not, when we are well past our quarterlife, there will be a lot of angry, undereducated and under-loved adults – who don’t know how to use the potty…

Being the Florida boy I am, I am been accustomed to a  way of thinking about life and how I want to live it. I love the beach, open air, sunshine and peace and quite that sometime gets lost in the major metropolitan areas. As a chef, I feel far more creative and inspired by a simple life without the stresses of what I like to call “The Fast-Forward Effect.”

That’s why people are in the city anyway, right? To achieve, to succeed, to “rise” to the top, to go, go, go… it’s as if the Fast-Forward button gets pressed. These major metro areas are truly awesome (using the true definition of the word), they have so much to offer, from food to history, education to architecture, opportunity to saturation…I think all of you actors out there know what I mean on that one!

For me, spending the majority of my time in the quite outskirts of these cities is where I find my place. It’s where I find my tempo. It’s where I find… well… myself.

Don’t get me wrong, there is no better place for a weekend of loud unabated partying than NYC or L.A., but as far as Nate Lippy goes, I need the calm ocean by my side and sunshine on my face and of good food in my tummy, of course.

City
Stewart Panton

No, I don’t want to spend my quarterlife in a big metropolitan city. I would rather live right outside the city but not inside the city. The city itself is too crowded and noisy and I would quickly grow annoyed I am sure. However, if I am outside the city (10-15 mins away) I would be able to enjoy the quiet and relaxed environment I believe a home should have.

When I need to go to some parties, dining, or work or whatever other city activities you can think of, I only have to make a short trip into the city, enjoy myself and leave.

City
Russell Michael

I would rather spend my quarterlife in a big metropolitan city; mainly because there is a better chance for me to meet the love of my life…that is if i ever get time off work.

City
David Borron

I’d love to live in a big metropolitan city. It all comes down to weather, money, and the amount of single people living in that city. The only drawback for me would be traffic.  I have a feeling I’d be spending an hour or more a day yelling at how dumb other drivers are. Once I find a place that it suitable to my likings, it will be a grand time. Our quarterlife is generally one of the few times in our lives where we live care free. Metropolitan cities bring culture, independence, and a sense of adventure of discovering a new and big city. Personally, it is the adventure that draws me in more than anything. I think the key to every city though is finding a core of friends to be with. Find people you love that won’t drive you up the wall.  Then you can build around that core as you expand your realm of friendships.

Rural
Paul Eulette

As much as I love living in metro-Atlanta and visiting my friends downtown – I am made to be away from all those people. My pseudo-ADD and over-social self would never get anything done if I lived within the confines of a city. I feel my productivity increases the further away I am from people – and I am more able to appreciate my interactions with the people I choose to be around when I choose to see them.

City
Shannon Mullings

The bright lights, the honking of car horns, the smell of bums on the sidewalk asking you for change as you stroll to club in your heels, these are a few of my favorite things. I’m a city girl, through and through, and the idea of living anywhere else in the world, especially in the country makes me gag with repulsion. One weekend however, my mother had the bright idea to test my limits and suggest a trip to visit my grandfather at his home in Ocala, Florida. We did – and after 48 agonizing hours of listening to crickets chirp and staring at one of the few traffic lights to turn green, we were back on our way to civilization. While my mother rambled on about how sad she was to leave the clean-smelling air and the fresh-from-the-tap milk,  I stared at her and wondered if I was adopted and when I could be reunited with my real fashionista mother in Manhattan. As we drove into our neighbourhood past overfilled dumpsters, flashing blue and red lights of cop cars speeding past us and skateboarders hanging out at the corner store, I let out a long-held sigh of relief, I was home…

For as long as I can remember, I have been conscious of a “fear-influenced duality” of the mind between the desire and fear of success. This fear is partially responsible for the sense of paralysis some experience when attempting to move forward with their goals.

It causes one to think so much about the next step that, in my own personal experiences, you may develop mild headaches and desire nothing more than to lie down in hopes that the fear will move on.

The fear can seem so intense, so acute in instances, we seemingly devolve from the determined, confident people we know we are, into apprehensive and insecure versions of ourselves that we have worked hard not to be.

Keep in mind, however, this is more than a fear of failure – it is a fear of success.

What happens if I do get the job? Am I going to be partly, even on the smallest of scales, responsible for the success of an entire brand? If I do well, will I have to take on more responsibility? Will I be able to continue producing good work?

No one wants to be a one-hit wonder in their own life, do they?

For most, happiness is directly linked to success – it is a causal loop that has been set to iterate ad infinitum.

I have to succeed and yet, I’m scared. If perfection and success cannot be guaranteed from every attempt, why try?

I am sure we have all struggled with this; finding a purpose for life which we know is there, yet invisible to us. We undoubtedly know there is error in avoiding success to avoid the fear, but arguably yields less expectation in doing so.

Less expectation equals less pressure to do well. As the pressure decreases, so do the tension and headaches, thus resulting in happiness, right?

Wrong.

It leads to mediocrity – and happiness does not mediocrity make. So where do you look for a solution that will steer you in the right direction?

Some people say their “haters” – their opposition – is an inspiration for success. The negativity of those people whose life goal is to bring you down is transformed into feeding that hunger. Others, meanwhile, are motivated by the reward of success.

I would like to meet this latter group of individuals and ask them, “Why aren’t you afraid that once you do well, you’ll have to keep doing well?”

How do they find the happiness in becoming genuine success stories while removing the fear from the potential of success?

In my opinion, the answer is simply found in imitation.

Each generation in their quarterlife, including us Generation-Yers, needs an example; an illustration of what has worked in the past. Like those before us, we must continue to carry yesterday’s messages and inspirations as a means to shed light on the issues of tomorrow.

This should be our cure – our solution to overcoming our fear of success.

Take for example, Michael Jackson. He was not only an international superstar, but the inspiration and model for many Generation-Y entertainers who have replicated his style. And yet, Jackson was inspired by and imitated the work of entertainers before him.

Had he said to himself, “Jackie Wilson is the best. Why should I try to contribute anything to the music industry – the pressure to succeed would be too great,” Generation Y would not have had this unique muse; a motivator to follow our dreams.

Perhaps it is necessary to think of success not as a hinderance, but as the embodiment and continuation of the movers and shakers of years past; our own success as a foundation for future generations.

Like the Michael Jackson we hoped he would be – don’t be paralyzed and left to wonder what you could have been, listen to your music and dance.

The best piece of advice I received was from my mother. She always reiterated, “Don’t date anyone you couldn’t see yourself marrying.”  This advice was flippantly thrown off earlier in my life. I think a lot of us go through a serial dating stage where we go out for fun. I often thought, I’m just testing the water and seeing what is out there. As I tested my own waters, I observed many friends who bounced around from one relationship to another. This makes the process of connecting with someone on a deeper level much more difficult – not to mention all the drama and heartache that goes along with it. Seriously, who wants all that drama in their life? As I got older, I soon realized the value of the word, “date.” It’s not just a simple dinner or a movie, but it is the beginning of a relationship, one that may progress into a more serious relationship. This has made me into a much pickier person in regards to who I choose to begin and continue relationships. If you can’t see a relationship being fruitful in the long run, what’s the point of having it in the first place?

How to Bait and Catch Him!
Tara James

The best advice I got from my parents that I would never admit has to be how to flirt with a guy who’s half way across the room in a club or party. What you have to do is catch his eye once – when you do, give him a teasing giggle while looking him up and down, then suddenly stop giggling and act somewhat mesmerized. This way his stare will come back to you repeatedly. When it does, smile like you want him to come closer. Most times, he will. Once he approaches you, act very cute, yet sassy, by playing with your hair and putting your hand on his shoulder and chest playfully. After a while, catch him off guard with a silvery laugh that will drive him crazy. When he asks what you’re laughing about, say that the song playing is your song and that he just has to dance with you on the dance floor – pull him onto the dance floor and wrap your arms around him. If he doesn’t pull back, then you know you’ve got him!

Men can Smell Desperation.
Meggie Hulsey

Personally, I’ve never experienced real casual dating, simply because I always had a boyfriend; (I preferred to casually date on the side.) However, I always had one girlfriend who was on the “lookout” for Mr. Right 24/7.We are all guilty of being at the bar late into the evening, and participating in the “sexy-turn-him-on-dance.”

This is where you’ve clearly had too much to drink and try to coax the hot boy over from across the bar. It starts with flipping your hair, giving him a seductive stare and a flirtatious smile. However, to the sober eye you look like you might be having a seizure. So, what is the moral of this story and best advice my parents have given me…cue dramatic music (dun dun dunnn)…men can smell desperation.

And just in case you were wondering if you are, or are not wearing the latest “Desperate Perfume” – ask yourself if you’ve done these things before:

1) Facebook them the very next day, not to mention she would write on their wall.

2) Text them an hour after she left the bar to say how nice it was to meet him.

3) Drive by their house at night and in the morning to see if there were any “suspicious” cars in the driveway.

Watch Your Parents Cook.
Alexandria Lorenzana

Growing up, my mom never took advantage to learn from her own father, a successful owner and head chef of a thriving restaurant and bar in the Philippines. As I grew up, I made the same mistake, opting out of free, hands-on cooking lessons for sessions with the Sega Genesis. From time to time, however, I would stake a place out in the kitchen, but only to either a) sneak a taste of raw ingredients (the odd behavior of a foodie in the making), or b) fulfill the first-born duties of helping in meal preparation. Now that I am on my own with no access to the joys of home-cooked meals of childhood’s past, I often find myself in the middle of the grocery aisle, calling home and asking for recipes and cooking techniques. Although hindsight is always 20/20 and I should have paid attention when I had the chance, both my mom and I cannot help but smile during these “emergency” phone calls – it is as if we are back in the kitchen, she at the stove and me at the counter. “First you need a half-pound of shrimp, then you sauté the garlic…”

Push a Stone Wall.
Jenna Wessinger

She always said it. I always rolled my eyes. And inevitably, she was always correct (I hate that). “The squeaky wheel gets the grease,” she’d say. Be persistent. You never know unless you try. Don’t give up right away. These were the underlying meanings behind my mother’s favorite words of wisdom. My mother always urged me to never just take a “no” and walk away. Push, she taught me, until you’re pushing a stone wall. Sometimes, even if it was a stone wall, I needed to push. When I was younger I hated this expression. I looked at it as a nuisance. But now that I’m in my quarterlife, I realize that letting people know you’re serious about what you want, and serious about getting it, makes them more likely to work with you and/or for you.

Mom Knows Best.
Danielle Shuey

I wouldn’t exactly describe myself as the type of person always seeking to defy my parents. However, I am significantly different from my other family members in nearly every way imaginable. Let me preface this answer by explaining a little more about myself. I change my mind on a regular basis about what and who it is I want to be, particularly when it comes to my career. I changed my college major approximately seven times (ranging from music therapy to pre-med), transferred colleges, then wanted to transfer back, wanted to go to law school, dental school, nursing school, then grad school for anthropology, public administration, economics… I think you get the point.

My mom knew of my interest in sociology and tried to convince me several times to study what I loved and not what I thought I should study. Of course I didn’t listen. Needless to say, it took me a bit longer to obtain my undergraduate degree. If I had only listened to my mother my freshman year of college, I might have been a little more productive in advancing my career, wouldn’t have accrued so much debt, etc., etc.  Sociology was my minor at first, but it would not be until my first senior year that I would officially give in to the inevitable.

So while this advice is not exactly embarrassing or even applicable to anyone other than myself, I hate to admit that because I was so fickle and stubborn, I spent five years avoiding a commitment to a subject that actually is my greatest passion in life. So…I guess the moral of the story is that sometimes your parents DO know what’s best for you…and even if not, maybe it’s worth giving some actual thought to their advice before casting it aside.

Straight Forward:
Russell Michael

Get a degree first!

Most of our contributors were very uneasy with this “Sound Off!” Topic…many said, ”I’ve been taught there are no regrets in life that everything happens for a reason.” So when they came forward with their regrets – we KNEW they had to be interesting! Here’s the first round of our contributors Top 5 Regrets in Life!

I Have Yet to Find My Passion
Meggie Hulsey

I always envied those kids that always knew what they wanted to be since day one of their lives. How the hell does a fetus know that he or she wants to be a chemical engineer or a computer analyst?!? When I first went to college I dabbled in various majors, from Theatre to Business, and finally decided on Communication Studies. (The meaning may be slightly ambiguous, but I knew that it would lead me somewhere.) My parents always wanted me to a teacher or a doctor like themselves – but I wanted to go my on way. I do not think the regular 9-to-5 job is for me; I could never sit in an office and pretend to like it. Where’s the freedom? Where’s the adventure? I understand that I might be lofty with my aspirations, but at least I dare to dream big. I think that a quote from the great Jimmy Buffett will sum up my thoughts perfectly.

“The life they were so hell-bent on preparing me for bored the living shit out of me. It seemed way too serious. I saw more meaning in the mysteries of the ocean and the planets than theology or religion. I was too busy figuring out ways to skip school, go diving and get laid. My heroes were not presidents; they were pirates.”  – A Pirate Looks at Fifty

I Hope I Don’t Regret Going to College
Danielle Shuey

Hmm…Allow me to explain.

So I recently graduated from college and can’t find a “real” job and blah blah blah…I’m pretty sure you know the drill. Well the student loan INDUSTRY isn’t exactly sensitive to the current economic situation now is it? I come from a middle-class family, I have worked at least a part-time job since I was 15 (except for my freshman year), I had $7750 annually in merit-based scholarships… and I’m in more debt than I like to think about. In 10 years, it’ll be paid off, sure… but what am I going to do for the next 10  years? I’ll tell you what I’d like to do: move to a country in Central or South America working with at-risk youth or victims of domestic violence. Do the same in underprivileged urban areas in the United States. Travel a little while I (should) have the flexibility to do so. Lobby for these issues that get me so fired up. Actually utilize the degree that the current system of loan repayment is preventing me from pursuing with full force.

Since I will make little-to-no money doing what I want to do, I guess for now I’ll just keep slinging sushi at a restaurant so that I can afford my monthly payments…sweet.

Don’t get me wrong…I believe college is a necessary stage in intellectual and character development (not to mention a hell of a good time!) but sometimes I wonder…if only I hadn’t gone to college…

Tanning Beds
Jenna Wessinger

I know, I know.  They are bad for you.  But so is Diet Coke, my friends (which I don’t drink). This is something that I can’t give up. A good 12-minute “relax session” in a tanning bed after a tough day is just incredibly underrated!

Play some soft rock, and I’m out for the count.

I have naturally fair skin so I definitely don’t abuse the bulbs. I go, at most, every other day and always use lotions.

Do I run the risk of skin cancer later in life? Totally. Have I read all of the recent studies concerning the harmful effects? Indubitably.

Will I stop? Not in the near future. Will I regret it? Absolutely.

Attempt to Change the American Educational System
Jodi Toll

There are so many disparities in the system, and I do not see enough people taking the right actions to change it. There is so much to be done that it sometimes overwhelms me. I know I would need to start small, but I do believe it can be done. The world has changed and so must our systems. There is a big difference between identifying the problem and coming up with the solution. I am currently in the “Identifying” stage, but when I am 50, I hope to be a solution provider.

Engaging in More Enriching Activities
Paul Eulette

I’d never EVER change going to the parties, the bars, the clubs and the things I don’t remember in my life…because they define being young. However – what are we going to tell our kids or future employers what we did with our lives?

Party till our liver divorced us?

What about the things that are created by other humans that we are missing? The exhibits of antebellum America, Ecosystems of river deltas, French architecture, Russian ballets, Broadway plays, enriching traveling – all this over waste-faced weekends in Cabo? Which is more fulfilling and memorable in the future?

Shortly put, I think I’ll regret not having a good balance between being faded and being enriched – beyond school.