Abstract Art

I try not to stress myself over the billions of things that I either don't know or understand. I try to keep life as simple as possible. Period. Life has enough problems of it's own, which is reason enough not to add to them. Right now, I'm in a coffee shop, thinking of what to write about. It didn't take long to notice the vast array of over 30 abstract paintings hung all over the wall, most of which were retailed at over $600. Now, I don't know if it's just me, but I personally can't justify paying a couple week's paycheck on a canvas that looks like some painter just sloped random colors on it and called it some extravigent work of art. I spent over 5 minutes just trying to guess what this one particular painting was trying to portray. Was it a nuclear explosion? A really bad hairdo? Instead, when I took a closer look at the painting's description, it turned out that the painting was supposed to be a blow fish. A blow fish? I mean, cummon. In a fit of frustration I left my soft couch to continue surveying the paintings that seemed to clutter the walls. Was that painting a resemblance of chocolate? A sheperd? Some distant forest? Out of the 30 paintings, I managed to guess only one of the paintings. After I finished examining the final painting, it finally hit me that abstract art's purpose, as far as I was concerned, was to make the observers confused, but only at first. Abstract art in many ways, is more complicated than normal paintings. Normal paintings of people or scenery communicate much easier to the ovserver because the whole intent behind the painting is to be as blatantly obvious as possible. Abstract art, in many ways, is more fun and challenging to look at because it requires at least some imaginative thinking in order to intrepret the painting. I quickly resolved to put my previously naive and ignorant attitude towards abstract art away for good. Instead of flatout dismissing it as a sloppy mockery of normal paintings, I instead acquired a greater appreciation for art that was radically different from the obvious paintings, such as The Mona Lisa and The Creation of Adam. Is there a life lesson to be learned of this experience? I would say so. I have started to look at new things not through the lenses of skepticism, but instead with an attitude of adventure and excitement. Life takes on a whole new flavor when you open you mind to the things around you.

Life Changing Moments

Instead of it being one paticular class or person that changed my thinking, it was rather a group of about three or four men who changed my thinking.   Most of them were teachers, but one just a friend that I had met.   All of them had been through very rough times, and were great examples of what men should be.   Two of them were teachers, one for ethics and one for debate.   The other was probably one of the most radical people I had ever met.   Just by listening to them, and how they had lived the early years of their lives made me look up to them.   All three had been through horrible stuff and had lived through it to tell what it was like.    As we teenagers grow up into our tweens, we have many ideologies of what life is like as a celebrity or someone with great popularity and wealth.   We tend to naively look at these lifestyles as if they are the best way to live.   One of the three influential people that I have learned from lived that perfect American dream.   He had expensive cars, grew up with big names such as Steve Mcqueen and John Wayne, dated playboy bunnies, had large amounts of wealth, and was a soccer and tennis pro.   But by the time he had hit 25, most of his life's accomplishments had washed down the drain through various means.   To be continued...

The mind blocker

I am trying to push it out of my mind, but it just seems to consume my every thought.   Yes, you guessed it.   I'm moving, and this can either be relief or dread.   Moving out of state or out of the country can be like pressing your life's reset button.   There's no going back, and no control+z for undoing something you wish you hadn't.   It's hard to think about the future, much less plan for it when you know that you will basically have a different identity in a year or so.   We tend to identify ourselves with our surroundings; it defines what kind of person we are, to a certain degree.   The reason moving can consume so much of your brain's mental energy is because you have to view everything that is currently going in your life as temporary.   In the end, all things are temporary, but it's different when you know when things will end.   It's kind of like how no one wants to know the date of their death.   If you think of it as an adventure that could take you excited places, your attitude should change, and you should look into the horizon with anticipation for the unknown.

What I see

I see dolphins jumping out of the water in the distance, and surfers competing for the biggest waves. You look out over the ocean on the eve of a sunset and you can see all the little islands off in the distance.

Screams of delight ring in the air as kids plunge into the translucent water on the beach on a bright sunny day. There is nothing to compare to the sound of the wind blowing through palms trees; its such a distinctive sound, and is also very relaxing. I have fallen asleep under palm trees before, and it seems as if all life's troubles fade away and you are left looking up at a clear blue sky.

Hawaii is known for their pineapple fruit that grows naturally on surrounding landscapes. The fruit itself is so sweet and intense that if too much of it is eaten, it can make your mouth raw. It is a hearty fruit that just seems to be a symbol of freedom and enjoyment. If I could associate a taste with Hawaii, it would definitely be pineapple.

Although I did not grow up near Hawaii, I did grow up on the west coast, and quite close to the pacific ocean in fact. You can always tell when you are getting close the coastline when you're on a road trip. The ocean breeze that drifts inland can be smells from at least 20 miles away. The smell of salt, and all the thousands of other aromas that drift from the sea to greet you truly make you feel alive, in a regenerate sort of way. When you live by the sea, many people describe it as living on the edge.

The feeling of sand is unforgettable, it's smooth yet coarse texture running through your hands. You try to count all the little grains of sand, and you soon realize it is just as possible as counting the stars on a clear summer night. The feeling of the salty water on your body feels invigorating, but not so much as when you have an open sore or cut. It seems to burn so bad, but it is actually the salt purifying that cut or bruise.

Story Summary - I have just arrived in Hawaii in the middle of July, and am ready for a week full of fun and relaxation. Just being here in this warm climate is like therapy, especially after all those long dreary days sitting in my office doing paperwork. The culture seems to be so low-stress, and much more loose than my home in Los Angeles, where you spend more time sitting in traffic than you do with your family. It was time for a week where I could be alone somewhere else than a big city, where I could recollect myself for another year of work. I can't wait to just relax on the beach with a martini in my left hand and a book in the other. I can't imagine why anyone would ever want to move from this place; it's like paradise to the weary and stressed. Not only Hawaii, but all the little islands that surround it seem to all be the same. I'm not sure if I can make up my mind as to what I want to do with my only week of vacation. Should I go wind-surfing, take a hike into the lush foothills and mountains, or go to a Day Spa? There is no end to the opportunities for fun and relaxation at this beautiful tropical island. Maybe I should go into town and experience life with the native Hawaiians. It's hard to believe that the natives here are Americans by citizenship. They look and act so much different that your typical American from California or New York. America, if you really think about it, is such a ethnically diverse country. It will probably be hard to connect with the natives here, but that's kind of the reason I came here, because I wanted something different from my home back in Los Angeles. If you tend to look at the unknown, in this case Hawaiian culture, as an adventure, you will be much more free to engage the uncertain in an effective way. This will be a week to remember.

The Bahamas

Sunny sky, clear blue water, and a surfboard are what I could go for right now. I've never been much of a fan of cold weather, and have always done better in warmer climates. I find that I never get sick when it is nice outside, and instead get sick when it is cold, damp, or really overcast. Whether or not the sun is out really has a profound affect on not only my mood, but physical condition. The Bahamas/Hawaii from what I have seen are very happy-go-lucky cultures. The styles of music, and hula girls create a very loose atmosphere. Everybody is having fun and enjoying the warm outdoors. If only I could live here.

Europe - Post WWII

How is it that Europe became a socialist continent? To basically summarize this whole post, I would like to say that I personally think that Europe got chewed up so bad during both World Wars that the German, Dutch, British, etc. people were so lost and confused that they were willing to turn to any form of government that would offer them security. Thankfully, because of Communism's obvious detrimental effect on Russia and its armed forces, Europe did not go as far as to adopt a communistic form of government, but instead became a Socialist continent. I think socialism is a couple steps behind communism. How is it that Europe went from such a conservative, religious continent to what it is now? Netherlands is probably the more liberal country in the EU. Male prostitution, legal drugs, state run schools, and national healthcare characterize this small but populous country. A hundred years ago, it was a much different country. My grandparents on my dad's side of the family immigrated in the 1940's to the east coast. They met on the ship as they were leaving their home country. My mom's side of the family were immigrants from Germany who also came during WWII and moved to the east coast. I feel like some of my idenity and history is in both Germany and the Netherlands. The Dutch especially were notorious for their tough spirit. I see that especially in my dad's parents, both of which have been through alot of hardships, and are stronger than ever. They tell me about how the Germans took all their food when they invaded Holland, and the Dutch had to eat tulips just to stay alive. It seems that a whole generation of truly amazing people are fading away quickly.