The Warrior came to a fork in the road and made camp. He contemplated which path to choose for what seemed like an eternity. One path he had trodden before, the other was uncharted.
After many sleepless nights the Warrior awoke early, inspired by a dream. He knelt and spoke aloud.
"I remember the horrible weather I encountered on the first path," he said to his heart. "Though it taught me the lessons of preparation and patience, I worry that it may be as harsh the second time around and I am weary from my travels. On the other hand, the second path is unfamiliar and I fear that I will learn little by walking it, or that it may end prematurely, or that it too will be harsh. Which path ought I to choose?"
The Warrior's heart listened with interest just as it always had. "I have weathered your struggle with you and I too ponder this question," his heart said. "To me, it is a question of desire. In love and war it is impossible to predict everything. A true Warrior knows this and does not let his fears dictate his actions. The important question is this: 'which path do you desire most?'"
The Warrior stood and looked out upon the horizon. The sun was beginning its ascent into the gray sky, bringing with it the wisdom and eternity of a new morning. The Warrior gathered up his belongings and set off down the Path.
The route he chose is unimportant. What matters is that whichever way he went, it was his choice. The ability to choose his path is what gives the Warrior his strength.
This material was inspired by novels by Paulo Coelho. Here, I am merely reflecting on my own life through some of his lenses. In no way do I intend to make a profit from, distribute illegaly, or plagiarize any of his material.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Sorry!
I've been on a road trip, taking some time for myself, hence the downturn in the blog writing. It was a great trip down to Phoenix. I took the road through Hurricane to Flagstaff on the way down and there is some incredible scenery along the way. If you ever need to heal your soul, I reccomend the drive. There is no heart that good travels cannot mend. I spend a couple days with my father and his girlfriend, which was nice.
The drive back up was interesting, I felt troubled and didn't have the same calmness about me that I did on the way down. I took the route through Las Vegas this time.
It may have something to do with returning home, to the familiar, to the problems, that made me feel so disheartened. I felt I did not appreciate the world around me as much as I had on my way to Phoenix. The whole drive left me mostly bored and uninspired until I arrived at the Virgin River Gorge, which was incredible as dusk was giving way to night. I arrived at Hurricane that night and stayed there.
I woke up insanely early the next day and hit the road. The inspiration and the calm finally returned when I was driving through Beaver County. I came over the crest of a hill, between two mountains, and descended into the most beautiful sight I'd ever seen. The mountains, blue and white in the distance, were covered in snow and the valleys followed suit. It was as if I was in a completely different part of the world, where time and distance no longer mattered; where the world was endless. Vast plumes of fog rose up out of rivers throughout the valley. It was the most incredible sight I'd ever seen.
So, that was my weekend.
Ryan
The drive back up was interesting, I felt troubled and didn't have the same calmness about me that I did on the way down. I took the route through Las Vegas this time.
It may have something to do with returning home, to the familiar, to the problems, that made me feel so disheartened. I felt I did not appreciate the world around me as much as I had on my way to Phoenix. The whole drive left me mostly bored and uninspired until I arrived at the Virgin River Gorge, which was incredible as dusk was giving way to night. I arrived at Hurricane that night and stayed there.
I woke up insanely early the next day and hit the road. The inspiration and the calm finally returned when I was driving through Beaver County. I came over the crest of a hill, between two mountains, and descended into the most beautiful sight I'd ever seen. The mountains, blue and white in the distance, were covered in snow and the valleys followed suit. It was as if I was in a completely different part of the world, where time and distance no longer mattered; where the world was endless. Vast plumes of fog rose up out of rivers throughout the valley. It was the most incredible sight I'd ever seen.
So, that was my weekend.
Ryan
Thursday, December 3, 2009
The Record Industry and Higher Education
Many people talk about the continued demise of the record industry. The record industry is failing because they want to use old models to push the same product that people can now get for free online or other methods.
The company CD Baby has found a great way to make it in the new world of record publishing. CD Baby allows individual artists to sell their albums on their website without all the big wig, Record Company bullshit. Its revolutionizing the way music is sold, and its much cheaper. Many artists are resorting to giving their music away for free, and making money of something substantial, such as tours and merchandise. In our new era of free information, this only makes sense.
The higher education system has its own demise ahead. I'm not saying we'll stop learning, but I am saying that the way we learn is changing. People are realizing that they can learn many things they learn in school without going to school, simply by reading and/or trying to do that which they want to do. They are also learning that there is a lot of waste in the current education system. We take so many classes that are supposed to make us well-rounded, but end up becoming frustrated because its not what we want to be learning. And we should be learning what we want to! After all, its our money we're giving them...
Where is the free prize in the education system? Where is the CD Baby?
Could it be us?
The company CD Baby has found a great way to make it in the new world of record publishing. CD Baby allows individual artists to sell their albums on their website without all the big wig, Record Company bullshit. Its revolutionizing the way music is sold, and its much cheaper. Many artists are resorting to giving their music away for free, and making money of something substantial, such as tours and merchandise. In our new era of free information, this only makes sense.
The higher education system has its own demise ahead. I'm not saying we'll stop learning, but I am saying that the way we learn is changing. People are realizing that they can learn many things they learn in school without going to school, simply by reading and/or trying to do that which they want to do. They are also learning that there is a lot of waste in the current education system. We take so many classes that are supposed to make us well-rounded, but end up becoming frustrated because its not what we want to be learning. And we should be learning what we want to! After all, its our money we're giving them...
Where is the free prize in the education system? Where is the CD Baby?
Could it be us?
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