6 Reasons Why I Love To Travel

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Start With The Why.

Those four words have been a reoccurring question thats sporadicly flashed in my subconsciousness throughout these past several days.

Start With The Why.

It’s been interesting meticulously examining the answers that I’ve applied that mindset to in various sectors of my life:

Why I’m working at Google…Why I chose to move to Nor Cal….Why I enjoy talking with people….

But most recently, as I once again found myself at the checkout window of American Airlines, I couldn’t help but take a step back and ask…

Why I Love To Travel (so damn much) ?

And why is it important to truly understand, why I do?

The latter posed question is a bit easier to define. It’s start with purpose. By answering the Why’s to life’s’ more inquisitive questions, unfocused lenses become sharpened with direction and renewed motivation. It’s the steady compass that you fall back on when you are feeling lost, full of unanswered questions. Similarly, the inability to answer this notion of Why, can lead to frustration and confusion. Without a defined purpose of why, we become like statues, numb in our motivation and ambition in reaching our potential. So by defining and understanding Why I enjoy traveling so much, I hope that I will only fall deeper in love with this hobby and lifestyle of traveling.

Moving on.

When I posed this elementary, you-should-already-know this question of Why I Love To Travel so much, I was surprised (and slightly disappointed) at myself for not being able to immediately come up with a list of answers.

How was I not able to come up with just a few well thought out reasons on something I enjoyed and loved so much?

Have I been some fake dude who only traveled because it was the “thing” to do as a Twenty-something?

Thankfully, no. The truth is, I just never took the time and mental effort to take a step back and reflect. To just click PAUSE on life and examine deeply and genuinely on the WHY behind traveling.

In the past, I was just traveling cause I needed to. I spontaneously bought tickets and just DID IT. I was on the go, adrenaline flowing nonstop from departure to arrival gates. And it wasn’t until just recently, where I took a hot moment to just step back.

So after a few hours of thought, I was able to churn out from the factories of my heart and mind,

6 Reasons Why I Love To Travel

1. Because That’s Where My Favorite Stories To Share Are From 

Everyone loves a great story. It’s an instant attention-grabber that organically draws an audience. When little Albert pops out in the future (just a reference, I probably won’t name my son/daughter Albert…) I sincerely hope I have some fantastic tales from my travels to share with him/her. (Dumbed down of course for G -rated audience)

2. It’s A Fantastic Way To Connect With People

Not only do you meet some unbelievably fascinating people whilst on your trip, the ability to relate and connect with people back at home is also an added bonus. One of the easiest way to increase your own likeability is by sharing an experience, interest, or belief with another person. By traveling, I’ve been lucky to increase this pool of potentially relatable experiences, interests, or beliefs.

“Oh you’ve been to Nicaragua?!” Cool! Boom, friends.

“What are your thoughts about the tradition of haggis in Scotland?” It’s disgustingly awesome! Boom, friends.

3. To Gain A New Perspective 

…on the culture, the traditions, the values and to find the applicable themes back into our own lives in the US, and vice versa. In this Internet driven world, we’re lucky to learn about virtually ANY ethnicity/race/country/etc. we want with just a few keystrokes. But what we miss out on is that face-to-face, HUMAN interaction. That is irreplaceable.

By being present, you, along with the person you are interacting with, shed a few layers of vulnerability in faith that understanding and curiosity is exchanged in return.

4. It’s Makes Me A Better Person

What do I mean by better? Simply, an improvement of my self before I leave on an adventure. I’ve become more curious, more confident, and more appreciative each and every time I come back. And I know for a fact, that I will only continue to grow by stepping out of my comfort zone when I travel.

5. There’s No Better Hiding Place

I remember the first time I went to Disneyland when I was little dude. Disneyland’s magic got to my imagination and dreams and for a day, I felt like I was just, in a different place. This my friends, is how I feel when I travel. To just turn a blind eye towards reality and to let myself loose in a playground of the unknown.

This unexplored world is just a bigger Disneyland.

6. It’s The Ultimate Canvas To Showcase My Creativity

Photography, videos, writing. There’s no better outlet than embarking on an adventure to fresh and exciting new places to spark creativity. There’s a sweet naturalness to finding inspiration when one is thrown in an unfamiliar place, and I’m truly lucky to be equipped with the tools to capture those moments.

Start With The Why

I thought I’d end the blog with the same header as the beginning to really drive in this point. Whether it’s traveling, your career, your religion, your relationship, your hobbies, take a few moments to just ask the “why’s” behind the things you care and treasure the most. It’s might be scary and uncomfortable. But it’ll also be relieving, uplifting, and motivating, and absolutely rewarding.

I for one,  also have a ton I need to still figure out. But thankfully, with this post done, I have at least one department of my life figured out. (at least for now…)

Let me know what your thoughts are!

Always happy to chat.

Learning with you always,

AL

How To Appreciate The Moments In Your Life Better

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Work, work, I got work to do I kept thinking to myself.

My mind was like a distressed wedding planner before the big day, organizing and reorganizing the tasks for my evening agenda.

I was alone in my castle, planning, scheming, thinking ahead.

Then, in an instant moment, the walls came crashing down and I was rudely brought back to present life.

“Albert, look.”

My friend and I were on our way to a pho restaurant for a late dinner. It was the first in many weeks where we had escaped the confines of our comfortable apartment during this late evening time.

“Check out the sunset.”

I made an effort to turn around. And like the hundreds of previous times I’ve been able to witness this miracle of Nature, I did my best to just soak it all in. The colors, the details, everything…for just a moment. Tonight’s show featured orange, yellow, blue, and a splash of pink and red.

It was beautiful.

At the same time, the other layers of present moment began gradually unfolding themselves.

…Iggy Azalea and her i-G-G-y lyrics…

…the steady hum of the Hybrid Civic…

…the rumblings of my unsatisfied stomach…

My mind slowly swept away all the to-do’s and gave myself permission to just enjoy and appreciate the present moment.

How many times have you allowed a memorable moment, significant or not, slip away because you were just too distracted? Maybe it wash’t intentional, but ultimately, we are in control.

3 Takeaways On Appreciating The Moment (that I gained from this little tale):

1. It Takes A Conscious Mental Effort 

Simple as that. There’s a tiny switch upstairs that you purposedly need to flip. You might even hear your “inner voice” whisper something along the lines of, “Alright…snap snap! There’s a super cool thing going on right now, LOOK AROUND!”

2. Put Away Your Phone

These days, our phones have become anything but a phone. More apps = more distractions. More distractions = less focus to enjoy the present moment. Easy math.

And yes, we get bored and crave to feed our attention wandering minds, but is it necessary to be plugged into our phones all the time, at every opportunity? Just click pause. Sit still, observe. Listen.

You might be surprised at what the world throws back at you.

3. It’s Impossible To Be Present All The Time

We are all natural morning, day, evening-dreamers. Our minds wander and go off on their own adventures. And heck, it’s actually healthy!

So take advantage of those special moments that do happen, that do require your attention and ability to be fully present.

“We do not know the value of our moments until they have become a memory.”  – Sam Houssami

These moments occur all around us, every day. 

Maybe a small experience that pulls us out of ourselves-the drive thru lady complimenting my sunglasses, an older gentlemen striking up a conversation at a bus stop; or we see or hear something that sticks in our minds- the melody of a floating violin note, the tears of an adolescent teenager. 

But to truly experience and understand what these moments might potentially mean for us, we’ve got to be there. To be present and aware. 

So now it’s your turn. 

Are there little moments each day that you might have become accustomed to turning a blind eye to? Are there stories that are waiting to be told if you were just more present? What needs to be changed? 

Cheers,
AL

5 Powerful Ways Coffee 1-on-1’s Can Impact Your Social & Professional Life

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It starts with four words.

These fours words, like the Keymaker in the Matrix, has opened up unknown doors and opportunities for me that I once thought, wasn’t possible.

You probably already know these four words.

In fact, just today, or maybe even sometime this week, you have already uttered and said these words yourself!

So here they are, plain and simple, are you ready?

Let’s. Grab. Some. Coffee.

(or Beer, Or a Cocktail, Or a Bite, I think you get the idea). 

In college, I loved grabbing lunch, 1-on-1 with friends. It was so nice to have a solid hour to just give to each other. To be free from all the noise and clutter that our daily schedules harassed us with and to just be fully immersed in what each other person was saying and listen. To just be physically present, made all the difference.

Then I started to wonder, why can’t I apply this same model of 1-on-1 communication with those outside my social circle? With people who worked in an industry I was curious about? With people who had a similar interest with mine? With people who just seemed…interesting?

And so that’s what I did and continued to do. I’ve been lucky to speak with the homeless, managers, entrepreneurs, fathers, mothers, bloggers, and a whole bunch of other people.

Everyone has something helpful that they can impart to you, and vice versa. Though at times, it doesn’t materialize itself till later on.

It’s been a couple years now since I’ve started asking people out on 1-on-1 coffee meetings and it’s been a helluva ride. After scheduling a beer 1-on-1 with a marketing manager at Cisco last night, I started to reflect and think about what exactly I had gained from all these connections.

What had I gained from taking the initiative to ask these 4 simple, powerful words?

Here are  5 ways these 1-on-1’s has impacted my life, both professionally and socially, and hopefully with bit of motivation, can start impacting yours too.

PROFESSIONALLY

1. Insight Into A Particular Job/Industry Reality check. I’m 22. I’ve only been in the workforce for one, short year. What the heck do I know about…anything? Sure, I could do a simple Google search about a certain job and its pros & cons in a manner of milliseconds, and sure, I could easily go around the Linkedin community creeping on the profiles of potential positions I would be thrilled to be in…but is that really enough to get a clear picture?

When you are sitting down, face-to-face with someone who has been through the trenches, literally experienced the victories and the failures of their jobs, persisted and sacrificed time and time again to become an expert in his/her job/industry, you’re going to get a real good and genuine outlook into what it is all about.

2. Introductions Maybe the person you reached out to turned out to be a total nut-head. You’re waiting and waiting for the conversation to be over, you’re practicing your listening skills to its umpteenth potential. Then at the very end, Person X happily says, “Wow – thanks for listening. You know, there is someone who I think fits right into what you are trying to do with that idea. I’ll be glad to introduce him to you!” And the person turns out to be your future employer. Sure, it’s a bit of a dramatic example, but the fact is, we live in a very very connected world. Disney phrased it best, “It’s a small world after all.”

Here’s a trick for you – if you know Person X is connected with Person Y and you just KNOW Person Y is the key to your success/question/curiosity, but for whatever reason  Person Y has just been impossible to reach… all you have to do is sit down with Person X, buy them the beverage/food of their choice, and at the end, politely ask if you could get introduced to Person Y. Simple math right?

3. Mentorship What’s a mentor? “A mentor is a trusted adviser or guide. Usually, a mentor is successful and has what you are trying to achieve. Your mentor can teach you what worked and what didn’t work.” – Jaime Tardy.

Can you think of a mentor in your life today? Is there someone you admire but just haven’t been courageous enough to approach and talk to? Maybe you don’t. And that is OK. But when that moment comes and you get that internal urge to reach out, you’ll know the 4 words to begin laying the bricks down towards a strong relationship.

SOCIALLY

4. Becoming A Better Listener and Communicator In one of my first 1-on-1’s during college, I was speaking with the Founder of a microbiology plant club on campus and I thought it be a good time to exercise some listening skills I had read about. I challenged myself to see if I could get him to talk for a majority of the time and to just give him the time and space to share his life’s story. 2 hours passed and I had learned a bit more about microbiology…as well as how the entire educational system in China worked and the advantages that it had over America’s. Woah, awesome.

Being in a 1-on-1 setting gives you the opportunity to invest wholeheartedly into what that person is saying.  It’s a personalized time to ask the right questions and to improve on the quality of a conversation, without needing to feel pressured about how the third/fourth person feels on the matter.

It forces you to adjust to the flow of a conversation because there isn’t another person to peep in when there is a long and uncomfortable silence.

5. It Builds Your Confidence I’ll be honest, I still get nervous when I get the calendar reminder to meet up with ___ for lunch. But heck – it’s definitely been a major improvement. We get nervous and scared because of two reasons:

1. The person is a total stranger – its the unknown and the lack of information about this person that causes us to feel uncomfortable.

2. The person might react negatively to you. The What-If’s. What if he thinks I’m weird, What if he doesn’t like my shirt? Etc.

But more often than not, these are our own silly thoughts that we manufacture so that we can take the easy route out and avoid confronting these problems.

And here’s the cool part- with each meeting that you complete, your confidence builds stronger and stronger. Past pillars of fear gets toppled down and your tolerance level just becomes higher and higher. You slowly embrace the unknown and turn that fear into adrenaline. Exciting stuff yea?

3 Sources To Help You Find People For Your 1-On-1 Invitations

Now that you have a better grasp on the benefits of these 1-on-1’s, you might be asking yourself – where can I exactly go to start setting up these meetings?

I got you covered.

1.   

Do a simple search for people around your area who have a job title you might see yourself have in the future. Then just hit Connect and write a personalized message. If they accept your invitation to connect, write a personalized message about a recent blog post they posted on their updates, a question about something they have written in their summary, or even feedback on a personalized site that they have. Just get creative. Then slowly introduce the fact that you want to buy them coffee for 15 minutes of their time. Why 15 minutes? Because 15 minutes always turns into 30minutes, and 30 minutes sometimes intp an hour. No one is going to constantly glance at their watch…(unless they are some high-level executive, billionaire, celebrity, whatever.)

Tip 2 – Join Groups that your intended contact is in. Once you are in that Group, you can message ANYONE without needing to connect with them. Cool right?

2.

There are literally events of ALL kinds on Meetup.com. Find a category that fits your needs and desires ad make it a goal to make one solid connection at whichever event you attend. By solid I mean, a 5-10 minute conversation. Then ask for their Linkedin profile/or number if it feels comfortable and make sure you follow up with them to grab coffee.

3. Your Current Network 

Take a look around you. Are you at work? At the gym? At a family gathering? Is there something about them and their jobs that you want to learn more about?

There’s people all around you! All it takes is a little courage and curiosity in making the first initial contact.

What’s The Worst That Can Come Out Of This? 

Think about that the next time you hesitate on deciding if you should ask someone out to coffee or not. What do you lose by trying? And what do you lose by NOT trying?

The world has never been as connected as it is today, thanks in large part to technological advances. But what we’ve sacrificed for a more convenient and efficient way to communicate through all these digital tools, we’ve forgotten what it is like to expose ourselves, as we are, to another human being in our true and imperfect form. So be different and take advantage of this current digital generation. Show them that they are worth more than just a few email exchanges online!

So dear reader, what are you waiting for?

Take a risk.

Dive into the unknown.

And emerge as a better and improved version of who you were just moments before.

I’ll leave you with two final questions to set you off on this new journey:

Who are you going to reach out to? Who do you need to grab coffee with?

Feel free to comment below and I’ll do my best to keep you accountable!

Good luck.

-AL

The Most Important Number That Every College Grad Needs To Care More About

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I’ve never been a magician with numbers.

In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever gotten anything higher than a B++ (the extra + for emphasis) in any of my math classes.

But theres always been a number that I’ve been acutely aware with.

It’s a number that’s more often than not surprised people.

It’s a number that motivates me to do better, to do more, to aim higher.

It’s a number that constantly has me on my tippy toes, always dancing around with a sense of urgency.

Can you guess what that number is?

That number is my age.

At 22, with 23 quickly approaching on the horizon, I couldn’t help but reflect back on the past 8 years of my life. Phrases like, “It Just Seemed Like Yesterday, and “Where Did The Time Go?  have been repeated again and again with each passing stages of our lives.

In high school, they told me live it up in college because there will never be a time like that again. And I did.

During my Junior year of college, they told me make the most of my Twenties because there will never be a time like that again. And I am. (or so I hope I am)

But it feels different this time. And the fact is, it is different. Prior to my graduation date back in April, I, along with the rest America have been hand-held and marched through an institutionalized style of learning since we were wittle, tiny, kindergardeners. And it wasn’t until relatively recently where they finally let our hands go…into an opportunistic, competitive, yet awesomely beautiful world. But if there’s ever time to learn from the mistakes of the past, now is the time to correct them and to turn them into workable tools for our mindset.

And what are those mistakes?

Purposely allowing time to be squandered on insignificant investments that in hindsight now, have disintegrated to nothing but a small hole in my monetary, relationship, and memory wallet. In high school, I devoted hours on hours perfecting ways to get a “Headshot” which usually ended in me rage quitting. In college, I made an internal pact with myself to watch every single minute of every single Lakers game. In case you didn’t know, a regular NBA basketball game runs 90 minutes long, (that’s without commercials, stoppage of place, halftime, etc.) so long would be a massive understatement.

But I’d like to think that I’ve grown wiser. To realize that 23 will quickly turn into 24, then 25. And another 5 years, just like it has recently, will fly by again into 30.  And walla! my Twenties will essentially be over.

Now, I do apologize for the depressive tone that I might be painting this timeline with, but I do hope you can understand the deeper objective at hand here.

Each of these next years, all 7 of them, can and will have some of the most significant impacts on our lives moving forward. The habits that we establish, the YOLO trips we take to a foreign country, the careers that we build, the relationships that we get into…all have a certain degree of influence for the rest of our lives.

And what an INCREDIBLE asset it is to have.

We have more time than we ever will to pursue a new hobby, to write a book, to do something uncomfortable…

We have more freedom to become who we want to be, go where we want to go…

We have more room for failure to think in “worst case scenarios” and still be able to recover…

Friends, we have the freaking Internet. We have more access to technology than any other generations before us!

They say that we shouldn’t compare ourselves to others’ success because by doing so, we lose perspective and depreciate the good things in our lives. But like anything else in our lives, how we filter that information and use it towards our benefit is up to us. Which for this very reason is why I always get irked when friends tell me that I am doing GREAT for my age. Though I genuinely appreciate their intentions, I just can’t help but gaze in wonderment at this list of:  Forbes 30 Under 30 Who Are Changing The World. Or networking with Stanford undergrads whose drive and mission to build Silicon Valley’s next hottest iPhone app has left me speechless, multiple times. Or gushing over all the inspirational National Geographic travel videos of explorers who go on epic trips to unknown caves. THESE are the people whom I’m placing myself in competition with. These are the people I put my measuring stick against. And why shouldn’t you?

Four questions to consider:

  • Define for yourself what the meaning of success is. And ask yourself, “How and What are you going to do in these next years to achieve that definition of success?
  • What is the number 1 thing on your mind that you WISH you can do but just don’t have the time/energy/money to do? Now think of the worst case scenario if you ended up doing that. Did it match your expectations?
  • Take a look at your current circumstance, every part of it. Now ask yourself WHY you are where you are/you are doing the things you are doing, etc. And now ask yourself WHY four more times till you really dig down into the root of things. (It might scare you)
  • Is there someone whom you just admire and just hope you can be some day? Take a look at where they are when they were your age and see if what you are doing now measures up to that.

Friends, just do something with your Twenties and do it to the best of your focused, creative abilities.

Take a risk.

We can’t all stay 22 forever. (Unless you are Taylor Swift… :P)

-AL

Where I Escape To When Reality Gets Too Boring

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Sometimes I like to sit still and daydream.

It feels good to be in control. To give permission to myself to just escape and allow my mind to wander wherever it pleases. This must be how birds feel. Can you imagine that?

Like a bird, I like to travel to new places. More often than not, my daydreams end up revisiting a place of the past. It’s a pretty cool thought when you really think about how your mind is able to do that. The implosion of imagination within your brain to just suddenly appear in a country thousands of miles away…in just a manner of nanoseconds? Woah.

For 36 seconds, I’m in a kayak, surrounded by an ocean of pitch black darkness. I’m surrounded by tiny streaks of neon blue lights that dart haphazardly in every random direction below us. I carefully scoop a cup of this magical water and drop it on my lap…only to flinch back in surprise when I see my own hand glittering. I am in Mosquito Bay, Puerto Rico experiencing one of nature’s most incredible phenomenons – the bioluminescent bay.

And now I find myself in a different kayak. This time yellow. I see the silhouettes of two neck bending volcanoes across the horizon. I hear monkeys howling. I see farmers tending to their ox. The water is quiet, but only for a few minutes. Rain clouds decides to make a sudden intrusion to an afternoon of peace and begins spilling thousands of little droplets splashing across my face, bare feet, and freshly-wounded-flesh-peeled injury on my left knee. But I welcome it, because I am dreaming still and nothing can stop me.  I am in Ometepe Island, Nicaragua.

I close my eyes now as I have been daydreaming with eyes open and wait to see where my mind takes me next.

I’m flying, no I’m windsurfing across the Atlantic Ocean to a small, quiet city by the sea, populated by 8,000 adorable Irish folks. I’m a bit cold and wet by the time I finally arrive on a perfectly placed hill that boasts a panoramic view of an armada of boats and island humps. I look up and see skies as blue as marbles and feel the comforting blanket of the sun, radiating softly on my skin. Then I GASP. Before me, stretched as wide and long as the Great Wall Of China, is a rainbow so rich and detailed in every one of its colors and so bright and overpowering that I almost began to question if I was hallucinating.

It was the most beautiful rainbow I have ever seen. And it just so happened to be in Howth, Ireland.

These and many other stories in my mind continue on.

Some, more detailed than others.

But they are stories nonetheless.

They are visual and emotional triggers that will leave permanent footsteps in my mind and my imagination for the rest of my life.

They form a little fort in my mind, where I know I’ll be shielded safely from life’s harsh realities, even maybe for just a few seconds.

It’s a priceless investment.

So go travel. And come daydream with me.

-AL

New York City – An Urban Paradise

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Where do I come from?

I come from a city where the streets fall silent before the clock strikes double digits.

I come from a city where the nearest skyscraper to be found is only 264,000 feet away.

I come from a city populated with middle class families, enjoying the day to day, steady beat of

suburban life.

And it’s a city far different than that of The Concrete Jungle, New York City.

Traveling to New York City as a solo wanderer was an absolute dream.  As an avid photographer and risk free adventurer, NYC provided the perfect platform for me to truly be myself. To pause… and feel the heartbeat of the city and to listen to the melodic cacophony of honking taxis, the swooshes of underground subways, and the high-C notes of guitarists, trumpeters, and violinists. Like the piercing winds that cuts through the skins of those who roam its streets, New York City ingrains a spirit of ambition, hope, and unwavering confidence to any who dare to enter.

Its a jungle unlike any other. A couple steps in the wrong direction can rightfully lead you into a completely different world of people, food, music, and traditions.

It’s a playground for every single one of senses to come alive. Remembering to take in a breath is of importance, as you would otherwise suffocate from the myriad of times you become breathless by the sights that surround you.

But simply enough, it’s New York. And the dream to be part of this magical experience has never burned as passionately and longingly as before.

And that dream will come alive, just like it has for millions of people across every corner of this earth soon enough.

-AL

IMG_7906

STOP!

STOP!

Weary Feet

Weary Feet

Silhouettes

Silhouettes

Wanderer

Wanderer

Overshadowed

Overshadowed

Dreaming, bigger.

Dreaming, bigger.

What do you see?

What do you see?

Just waiting

Just waiting

Last Goodbyes

Last Goodbyes

Halal Smoke

Halal Smoke

Streaking Lights

Streaking Lights

Taxi please

Taxi please

3 Quick Tips To Getting More Things Done

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As I struggled to lift the  two twenty five pound monster pieces of iron between my chest, I found myself yelling at myself mentally, (not out loud cause that be weird), to work harder! Naturally, I couldn’t get past another rep because honestly, I just didn’t care enough. I started to wonder however, what exactly does working hard mean? What are the parallels between the hard work you put in and the success that comes as result? So here are three early morning, testosterone induced thoughts on how I think working hard breaks down to.

1. Working Smart, Working Long

It always pained and frustrated me when I saw my peers in high school and college were able to perfectly balance the life of an academic and the life of a social, coo kid lifestyle. Yet, here I was thinking it had to be one or the other. How can you do both?! I was living in the Triple S mentality. (Choose two only of these three options, you can’t do all three. Sleep, School, Social.) And more often than now, Sleep and Social seemed like the logical choice. But in reflecting back on how I’ve been educating myself these days, I couldn’t help but notice the differences in how I approached the tasks and materials that I wanted to learn.

I lacked focus, I lacked the cognitive ability to see the bigger picture, and I lacked the mindset of rewarding myself not by the grades I was receiving, but that the journey and the growth associated with the struggle to get there.

Find ways to work smart, get creative, the solutions are there.

2. Building Habits to Build Your Foundation

What is a habit? I define it as this:

A habit is an action done repeatedly until it becomes an organic reaction. 

Is it right? I don’t know, but it works for me. Once you’ve figured out the smart way of getting things done, it becomes a manner of being disciplined into implementing it in a daily, weekly, monthly actions until it just becomes part of your subconscious mind to naturally repeat these actions. Habits are a series of choices that only we can make. Sure, it definitely helps to have someone to keeping you accountable, but at the end of the day, their words, their dutiful watch and care, will be fruitless if we aren’t making those daily choices.

Need an example? Just think of a bad habit that plagues your life. We all have them. I wear daily contacts and daily contacts comes with these little plastic…thingys that begs you to discard them once you rip them open. Unfortunately, I have not made the choice to first, put a trash can in my bathroom, (tmi? sorry bout it.) and secondly, make it a daily conscious effort to throw these things away. I have a mini Mount Rushmore of plastic thingys piling up on my bathroom counter that I need to do a better job in taking care of.

Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

3. Have An End Goal, But Don’t Make It Your Priority

Often times, when I’m dreaming of these seemingly ridiculous ideas, I tend to already quit before the fight has even begun. I’ve always wanted to dunk. To be able to fly in the sky, imitate Air Jordan’s masterpieces, and to yell in glory and ecstasy upon my return back to the Earth. And it’s a fun and explosive imagery to keep in mind. But when that becomes your main goal when committing your energy and emotions to, it can often nothing but a giant disappointment. Your expectations are raised to an insurmountable level, and when those expectations don’t meet reality, we give up.

Alternative solution: Focus on the steps that it takes to get there. Reward yourself on the mini victories that you are able to accomplish. I’m able to touch the rim? Awesome, high five Albert. I’m able to grab the rim with two hands? Woah! That’s crazy! Double high five Albert. Etc, etc.

Collectively, small steps and small victories make any goal possible.

So, to recap:

1. Work Smart. – long hours may not always be the most conducive way to get things done.

2. Build Habits – repeat your actions, repeat your results

3. Small Steps, Small Victories – embrace the process, reward yourself often.

Now it’s your turn. Let me hear from you. Is this all crap? What’s worked in your life? What hasn’t? What can be added?

Learning and Growing with you always <–my new slogan?  ,

Albert

Tri-Monthly Life Reflections

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It’s hard to believe that its already been three months since that magical, wide-eyed, slack jawed day when I stepped onto the Google campus. Naturally, my senses have gradually acquainted themselves to my surroundings thus making room for more rational, fine tuned reflections. Here are some free flowing thoughts on this crazy journey that Google has introduced me to.

THE ORGANIC LIFESTYLE ADJUSTMENT 

If you were to tell high school Albert that he’ll be working at the most globally known company in the world, eating local grown, restaurant quality food 3 times a day, 5 times a week, with the opportunity to work in any of its offices around the world, he’d probably laugh. If you were to tell college Albert that he’ll be living in a brand new apartment that boasted a rooftop jacuzzi, pool, and fitness center, he probably would have sighed and said, “I wish, man!” The list goes on. And its surprising how nonchalant current Albert is feeling about these changes that just a few years ago, would have thought was impossible/unrealistic/that’llneverhappentome. Yet, here I am feeling as normal as I’ve ever felt. Sure, the first week and a half, I  was a child who just gained unlimited access to Disneyland, but since then, life kind of just organically molded itself as if saying, “what do you mean, it’s always been like this!” I guess its just interesting how mentally, my mind was able to digest these major changes in my standard of living/lifestyle and gradually turn it into  commonplace…even though from a third eye perspective, it is anything but, especially as a recent 22 year old grad. When your lifestyle is adjusting for the BETTER, everything is easier. It’s just more enjoyable. But reverse that order, and it’s a whole different story.

THE TWENTIES HAVE ARRIVED

napIt’s interesting to reflect back on my progression of thoughts regarding “the Twenties”  from high school through college. In high school, the most enticing thing I could think of about living in my Twenties would be that I wouldn’t need to go to school anymore and that I could date chicks who are younger than me and it wouldn’t be weird. In college, after interviewing and learning from a myriad of professionals in their later 30’s on what they would change about their 20’s, I couldn’t wait for the financial freedom, educational freedom, and do-what-you-want-do-it-now freedom that they so happily, (some regrettably) spoke about. In other words, it’s been a steady 8 year build up that accumulated into a roaring, uplifting moment when I was on a free tour in Edinburgh, Scotland. I just thought, “Damn, this is it. I’m living, truly living in my Twenties.” And it’s been everything I dreamed of and will for sure, only get better for the next couple years.

I whole heartedly believe that everyone will experience a moment like this. I have just been extremely lucky and blessed to have arrived, maybe even a little earlier than planned to where I am today. It’s just a matter of time. Don’t want to wait? Then start shaping what you’ve imagined your Twenties to be now. The past 8 years from high school to college flew by, the same will be the same with  the golden years of our Twenties.

CARPE DIEM

Recently, I’ve translated this to, “Seize the opportunity.” No matter where we are in the stages of our careers and googleenvironments, there is always room to really make the most of it. Sitting idly, exchanging procrastination for proactivity, and settling for comfort are all detrimental factors that slow us down in advancing ourselves in building memories, relationships, learning new skills, improving ourselves physically/mentally/spiritually, etc. Yes, I am very lucky to be working at Google. But at the same time, life would have been much easier if I decided to take the easy route of coming in, doing my regular 40 hour work week, and just cruising until my contracted year is over. But I refuse to succumb to that type of mentality. I’ve scheduled multitudes of lunches interviewing dozens of other employees from different departments, joined Toastmasters in hopes of building my public speaking skills, and joined a kickboxing/muy Thai club. And it has been fantastic.

And just as unpredictable as it was when I suddenly heard, then immediately was hired for the Google job, the same can be said for the opposite. Yes, it is safe to assume that nothing drastic will happen in the 9 months, but I would rather live in a mentality of knowing that diamonds don’t last forever, so take advantage of it now.

Carpe Diem y’all!

BECAUSE I’M HAPPY

When people ask if I’m happy with my life, I would say No, not all the time. Which would warrant a natural reaction of concern and a proceeding of quick-fire questions on why this, why that. It’s not that I’m not unhappy, it’s just that I’m content, and happy sometimes. It’s impossible to be happy ALL the time. If we were happy all the time, we’re not leaving any room for the next higher level. It’s interesting to compare how content I’ve felt prior to working at Google when I was living with my friends, surfing in the mornings, and just getting by with a much smaller pay check. Now, with Google I would still say I’m currently very content with my life. There’s just been more mini spikes of happiness from the food, the fitness classes, the snacks, etc. But overall, I’m content.

It’s even difficult to think about choosing which lifestyle I would’ve preferred, because at the end of the day, I’m just comparing a content life with happy moments vs a content life with more mini happy moments, which in my opinion, is just not enough of a difference to solidly learn towards one side. Again, from a third eye perspective, I’m sure choosing Google would be the DUH answer so it’s interesting to see how my feelings match up to what I think the majority would say.

CLOSING REMARKS

All in all, change is an inevitable thing. It’s just a manner of what you do with it and with what attitude and perspective that makes a difference.

That’s it for now.

AL

San Fran – Part I

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There is something about San Francisco that makes me feel…small. Not in the physical sense, (I still felt slightly taller) but in a grander, take-in-the-bigger-picture kind of sense. It’s a humbling feeling really, to think that I’m just a dot among 800K other dots, that I  shared the same piece of ground as former planet shaking individuals, that I am just a shadow amongst the skyscrapers that drape the horizon.

There is something about San Francisco that makes me feel…alive. You know that feeling? When a whisper formulates at the bottom of your belly that gently builds more and more momentum, rising higher and higher in and through your lungs, till it becomes an uncontainable roar of energy that demands to be released into the world. That. It’s an exhilarating sense of sensual overload that cries for your brain to process everything quicker. When safe and monotonous Mr. Suburban is all I’ve known my whole life,  Mr. City has been nothing but wondrous and  breathtaking.

There is something about San Francisco that beckons me to come back. To explore the paths less traveled, to engage and learn more about the stories that its citizens are waiting to share, to be refreshed with bountiful douses of curiosity.

Here’s to a beautiful amalgamation between my heart and the city of San Francisco.

 

Watching

Watching

Still Harbor

Still Harbor

Golden Times

Golden Times

Cross

Cross

Youthful Fountain

Youthful Fountain

 

Be Still. The Inca Trail Is Talking.

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This was a different kind of adventure.

Crazy might be a good word to describe it. Not an external, let’s get drunk and do crazy stuff kind of crazy. More of a, “Wow. I am so small, so helpless” kind of crazy.

Crazy to think about the mysteries of the past. Crazy to think about the arresting gaze which sky scraping mountaintops reflect back at you with each step. Crazy in surrendering yourself to Nature’s will and power, slowly drifting away in its beauty.

Crazy.

So instead of boring you with a description of my time in Peru, I’ll leave you with 11 pictures that I felt in a way, captured my emotions in ways which no word(s) could.

I felt most comfortable to present these 11 pictures in a Black & White setting to eliminate any distractions and to maximize the mystical aura which followed me through my trip.

Close your eyes, let yourself go, and join me in my newfound admiration of this magnificent country of Peru.

 

Finally here - Machu Picchu

Finally here – Machu Picchu

Take me away

Take me away

Explorer

Explorer

Photobomb - llama style

Photobomb – llama style

Helplessness

Helplessness

Where does the path lead to?

Where does the path lead to?

Looking back into the past

Looking back into the past

Together now

Together now

He understands

He understands

Amigos

Amigos

Plaza de Armas

Plaza de Armas

Observations From My First Week At Google

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It still feels a little odd being associated with the word Google. It’s a word that you see not only in your modern dictionaries, but also across the web, the news, and in a holistic point of view, the world. It’s a word that when mixed with terms like work, colleagues, and future, can produce some really unexpected expectations.

Here are a few observations that I gathered during my first week here.

Have you ever had a dream that was cut too short? A dream that you wished lasted just a little longer so that you could squeeze every ounce of its magical powers out before having to face life’s realities? Enter, Google.

The first day was the best. From jumping on a conference bike, (see picture, use imagination), eating ribs, seeing the iconic T-Rex and Slide, and just allowing my sensors to be overloaded, I felt like I was at an adult Disneyland. There’s a special aura that fills the air that is filled by happy employees, (like, everyone is happy here, smiles on smiles on smiles) and a surge of intelligence that is both awesomely inspiring as well as intimidating.

It was fascinating to see the direct correlation between all the perks and amenities that Google provides for its employees and the productivity that followed. It’s a simple formula really. If your workers are happy and their basic needs of health and nourishment are provided, more time and more energy can be maximized into keeping the Google engine running.

The employees here, as well as my colleagues all think on a faster, efficiency-driven track which proved to be a bit dispelling for me at first. It’s not easy being “smart.” During these past few months prior to hearing about Google, I had not done a good job in exercising my brain. My life was on autopilot. I was focusing too much on physical rewards and avoided opportunities to challenge my mental and cognitive state of mind. There’s a switch that needs to be turned on in your brain when you step into onto the Google campus. It’s a choice to think quicker just like it’s a choice to be lazy and succumb to complacency.

I’m a work in progress. I will probably never reach the same level of natural intellect as many of the employees here, but at least I’ll be one step closer. And just like being culturally immersed in a country is the best way to learn a language, I believe being surrounded constantly by the world’s best will and hopefully do wonders to the way I think and learn.

The people here will be my greatest asset. It’s just a manner of exposing myself now and being bold to initiate conversations to those around me. I need to remind myself that at the end of the day, beneath all those layers of genius and Googley-ness, people are simply, just people.

That’s all for now, more posts to come.

Cheers,

Albert

h00ka
Autumn
Conference Bikes
Googs
1/2 Pipe
SF office – Cafe

Twenty Two Years Later

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It’s been a crazy past two weeks to say the least.

Never could I have imagined myself to be where I am right now, mentally, physically, and emotionally. People ask me if I’m excited, if I’m stoked. And to be honest, I’m a little scared.

See, I’ve always thought I’ve been a person of change. That I had some innate ability to adjust quickly, to accept whatever the current circumstances were and to make the best of it. But those changes have always been temporary. The repercussions from these spontaneous, short-lived changes were always minimal. The potential emotional distress that followed from events such as traveling to Nicaragua alone and camping overnight outside a Hilton Hotel were easily blurred away by adrenaline. More importantly, there was always a safety net in the comfort of home and knowing that it would always be there to catch me when I returned.

Home, I think represents a multitude of things. It represents where you are physically, where your circle of friends are, and where you find stability. For me, home for the past 22 years has been in the heart of Orange County. I’ve known no different. I’ve had only a taste of life outside of this bubble and a taste of discomfort through my travels. I’ve had opportunities to broaden my horizon just a little more and to shed my sunny 75, beach-ready, mid-high class, So-Cal naivety. But now, home changes, and it’s a bit uncomfortable.

For the past couple days since my move up to Northern California, I’ve been pushing away any mental efforts to answer the questions of why I’m scared and why I’m uncomfortable. But I’m forcing myself now to think. And I think it just comes down to this concept of replacement.

Think for a second, on when you lost something. Whether it’s an object, a person, or a goal, we’ve all felt the pain and discouragement thats affiliated with something we lose. Often times, we ease the agony by finding a suitable replacement to fill in the hole that had been left behind. But in that search for replacement, we are separated from a level of stability and comfort that we once knew. We feel the most pain in those moments. For some circumstances, the search is short. We go to Best Buy and replace a lost iPhone 5 with a iPhone 5S. For others, we lose a partner. And the search and time it takes to replace that crevice, takes time.

For me, I’ve lost a home. Yes, I’ll still come back to visit, I’ll keep in touch with close friends, and I’ll never forget the memories forged from adventures that only Southern Cali could provide. But I’m not there anymore. I’m on a new path now to discover, dream, and explore this new home that I’ve thrown myself in.

It’ll take time, it’ll take courage. But damn, if there was ever a time for adventure, that time is now.

So here goes nothing.

Cheers,

AL

Image

C.S. Lewis

Turn Off The Radio, Pick Up The Phone

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“I’ve got that summertime, summertime sadness…”

5:13pm

Lana Del Rey’s smash hit reverberated over the radio, drowning out the monotonous stillness of the traffic that had rapidly engulfed me.

“S-s-summertime, summertime sadness”

5:14pm

Sweet, I killed a minute I thought to myself. Couple more songs and before I know it, I’ll be home in 20 minutes!

This was my routine and the routine I’m sure for many of us rushing to get back to the comforts of our homes. We flip on to our favorite radio station, plug in our iPods, and just enjoy the power that music can have in taking us to another world of dreams, stories, and thoughts.

Simply, it’s a great way to relieve some of that stress built up from sitting in front of a computer for 8 hours.

Or in the words of a pretty well known philosopher…

“Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.”  – Confucius

But while listening to yet another re-run of “Summertime Sadness” last week,  I started to think of alternative ways in how I could spend these 20 minutes, 5 days a week.

And the idea that fired into my head was so simple.

I should call at least one person each day for this week. 

In a generation where Snapchats, Facebook chatting, and texting have become the norm for communication, the art of conversing over the phone has in many ways deteriorated. It’s become commonplace to immediately associate a phone call from a friend to besome form of emergency (big news, need for a favor, etc.) It’s almost a surprise when you receive a phone call.

And yes, there is a whole argument and discussion to be had about why and how communication has changed from all the technological advances in making our lives public, especially through the web.

But hey, maybe I just miss an old fashioned phone conversation. Where the questions and answers are not carefully crafted and edited. Where you can hear the sincereness and gratitude from the other person for taking 2min, 45 seconds, 15min to just talk and to listen.

It takes a little sacrifice. And it even takes a little courage. It might feel uncomfortable at first, but I can guarantee to you that it will be worth it, but for you and for the person whom you are calling.

So here’s my challenge for you again:

Call at least ONE different person each day for this entire week.

Whether you’re driving home from work, walking to class, or even taking a poop, put in a honest effort to press that green dial button. Even as you are reading this, come up with a list of people whom you haven’t connected with in a while and write it in your planner/iPhone/iCalender/Google Calender to call them. Or just be spontaneous and call someone when a name or face pops up in your mind. (Just don’t forget!)

So go forth my fellow Phone Champions and start dialing!

AL

5 Lessons That I Learned From My Facebook Hiatus

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2 weeks ago, I made a decision to log off Facebook. I had come to an uncomfortable crossroad where I was genuinely questioning my true intentions of being glued to this social networking site.

What was I trying to gain? Why was I measuring my self-value in terms of “likes? What would I learn by quitting, even for just a week?  These and a flurry of other questions resonated on my mind throughout my evening till I said enough was enough.

I had a friend change my password.

I deleted the Facebook mobile app.

And I hesitantly opened up my arms, welcoming in a new world, clean free of Facebook.

Here are 5 Lessons that I learned from this short, but empowering experience:

1. Online-Only Friends Really Do Exist

Facebook makes it extremely easy and comfortable to build a relationship through the exchange of daily/weekly interactions through chatting, wall posts, tags, etc.

The good? Accessibility and access to sharing links. The bad? Becoming complacent with this digital relationship and missing out on the beauty that comes with in-person, face-to-face interactions.

2. Being Alone Isn’t Easy, But It Helps

During the first three nights, I struggled in filling what seemed to be an invisible hole that had gradually formed in my emotional state. But in those moments of silence, I had more opportunities to just reflect and to think. It was just, easier.

3. Less Distractions, More Productivity

As we all know, Facebook is distracting. There is no denying that. It’s why we block it before a big test. In college, I resorted to this method only when I was at my deepest depths of desperation. But it would never last for more than four days.

Now that I had an chance to experiment with this method for two weeks and apply it toward learning and doing things that I actually want to do, the results have been absolutely gratifying.

No Facebook + Things I’m Curious About + Free Time = 🙂

4. Lower Expectations, Lower Your Ego

When analyzing for solutions to some of my questions, I realized that the root of my problems came from two things.

The first, my expectations when it came to numbers and responses. When the level of expectation didn’t meet results, disappointment followed. Disappointment which lead to the questioning of self-worth, ludicrous placement of anger, and other pessimistic thoughts that are not even worth entertaining.

The second, my ego. My Facebook Ego had slowly built up gradually year after year when I was in college as the number of friends increased and my “status” changed as well. And when an update, post or whatever didn’t get the reception that I wanted, my ego got hurt. Hurting never feels good. But when I look at the bigger picture of things, it becomes obviously clear how un-fulfilling all of this is and how it needs to change.

And it will, gradually.

5. Why We Still Need Facebook

Alas, we still need Facebook. It’s become integrated into our social lives in a variety of ways. From having an efficient way to plan events, store pictures, and building a timeline of embarrassing moments for our future selves to laugh at, Facebook has continually stepped up in being more than just a endless scroll of updates, check-ins, and Candy Crush requests.

For me now, it’s become the most direct way to share my thoughts to my audience, and hopefully beyond. It’s also a fantastic way to plan events for my housemates and to upload photos to share.

And as long as I center my focus on those reasonings, I can slowly begin to worry less about all the other insignificant “rewards” that also come with being a member of Facebook.

But hey that’s me.

—

My Challenge To You

Get off Facebook for at least a week.

See what happens. Ask yourself those uncomfortable questions. Throw yourself into the unknown.

For some of you, the journey will not be easy. For others, it’ll be a seamless transition. Regardless of your rate of adaption, I am supremely confident that fresh and organic thoughts will spring up and hopefully, gently change the course of your mind and actions when it comes to Facebook.

So my last question to you is this,

What are you waiting for?

AL

Stater Bros Friend

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I parked my car. Pulled the e-brake into place. Locked my door. And briskly walked toward the entrance of Stater Bros reviewing my list of items I needed from Stater Bros. 

Just a weekly routine, repeated multiple times now. 

But this time, in the corner of my eye, I saw a man on the ground. A red backpack laid beside him. He was also holding a book. As I glanced a little longer, I made out the shape of large study Bible. At that moment, I promised myself that I would buy him some water or just some item to provide a segway into a conversation. 

I quickly finished my shopping, bought a bottle of water, and swiftly envisioned how I would introduce myself. Then I went out the sliding double doors.

Me: “Excuse me sir, would you like some water?” 

Stater Bros Friend: *Hesitation* 

Stater Bros Friend: “Yes, sure. Thank you very much.” 

Me: “Your welcome!”

I had a myriad of questions that I wanted to rapidly fire at him about his life story, but I did my best to keep it simple. 

Me: “Which book are you reading?” 

Stater Bros Friend: “I’m reading Genesis!” 

Me: “Wow! Reading it cover to cover?” 

Stater Bros Friend: “No. Just reading Genesis. I’ve already read it cover to cover multiple times.” 

Me: “That’s amazing! I’m reading Ephesians, it’s a wonderful book.” 

Stater Bros Friend: “Yes, it certainly is.” 

There was a certain calmness and joy that resonated in his tone and his character. There was spark behind the sky blue irises that looked back at me. He was a man, from what I could tell, who had lost everything. Yet, here he was. Smiling. 

I wanted to do so much more. Buy him a warm dinner and give him all the time in the world to tell his story. But for some reason I didn’t. Maybe I should have. Maybe i was still too caught up with my priorities and my life. But I had feeling that I would see him again. 

I said a quick Goodbye and was left pondering about my brief encounter with my newfound Stater Bros Friend. 

As I sat down driving back home, I couldn’t help but feel like I just owned too much. I had too many material possessions and really just too much unnecessary crap. My Stater Bros Friend owned a cellphone charger, a small suitcase of clothes and a Bible. Yet, the smile that reflected back at me was filled with an overflow of delight and organic bliss. 

What’s his secret? 

I wonder if it’s his faith and knowing that God loves him and walks with him even amidst a seemingly hopeless and lifeless circumstance. 

And I wonder, if these are lessons that I know I, and probably for many others, could also learn and practice as well. 

Till next time Stater Bros Friend. 

AL

 

 

 

A Friendly Plea To My Fellow Post Grads

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TIME SHIFTS

Time, what a precious and valuable thing you are. It’s interesting to see how the concept of time shifts in parallel with one’s current life situation. During my first couple years of college, time for me represented a window of opportunity to explore and experience. To be able to excuse irresponsibility and poor decisions because of the lack of  dire consequences that came as a result (except for a bad hangover). As those years passed by, my mindset slowly shifted to highlight priorities such as developing my career and expanding my network. Time became more valuable and less infinite. I carried this mentality throughout my final months of college, enjoying the time spent in my organizations, the conversations I had with my friends, and the spontaneity of escaping to the beach on a Tuesday afternoon.

Then I graduated.

And began working 40 hour weeks.

Time became more valuable and less infinite, but in a different sense. As my life situation changed,  the concept of time also changed. Time became more valuable because of the shortage of hours that I was able to dedicate to myself and time felt less infinite because I knew my Twenties will one day be over. And though this is obvious to everyone and may sound pessimistic to some, trust me when I say that I am writing this with joy and optimistic urgency. Let’s inspect the first part of valuing time.

BE MORE

Take some time to think about your daily routines and habits pre-work and post-work. Be brutally honest with yourself and ask yourself this question, “am I better than who I was yesterday?” It’s incredibly easy to fall into a complacent and comfortable routine of coming home from a long day of work…watch Netflix….play some video games….surf the web….or for me, watch sports. And before you know it, it’s time for bed. For a majority of the United States, and if not the world, this is normal. Normal is good right?

Living a normal life is good. It’s easy. But I vigorously believe that there is no better time than NOW to be more than just, normal. Though we have less hours, we have so much more freedom in pursuing after goals, discovering new hobbies, learning things that YOU want to learn about, and so much more. The habits that we establish today are the ones we’re going to carry ten, twenty years down the line. And yes I understand that we need our breaks and time to just relax, we are after all human beings, not robots! But what I want to ingrain in you is a fresh perspective and mindset to allocate just a little more time into improving yourself. To be more than just normal, to be better than who you were yesterday.

PRECIOUS 20’S

By now, I’m sure you’ve read your fair share of articles on buzzFeed, Thought Catalogue, Linkedin, etc. on topics revolving around all things related with our 20’s, so I’ll keep this section short. My dad once told me that everyone is given an equal amount of 24 hours a day to do what they want with it. Once that 24 hours expires, it’s gone, forever. Everyone at some point during their day, week, or even hour will find their minds reminisce on the past. For some, it evokes a quiet chuckle from an embarrassing moment, for others, a slow shake of the head filled with regret. We’ll reach this point again when we’re in our 30’s, when we we’re married, when we see our grandkids walk their first steps. And we’ll reflect back on our both specific moments of our Twenties as well as our Twenties as a whole. What do you think you’ll be thinking to yourself then?

Our Twenties are a precious time.

Don’t waste it.

AN EXTRA-ORDINARY LIFE

My goal here is not to tell you what the correct path to life is. After all, I’m just a 22 year living and dealing with the same ups and downs as many of you. But I firmly believe that the times and the circumstances that I am living in now is valuable like gold. I refuse to relegate myself to mundanity and have and will continue to do all I can to be more than just ordinary.

Will you join me?

Cheers,

AL

Irreplaceable Wonder

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I was incredibly lucky to experience nature in her finest display of beauty this past weekend in Zion National Park, Utah. Throughout my time there,  a thought seemed to echo again and again in my mind that reaffirmed my appreciation and love for nature.

Man will always be able to replicate the design of man-made objects, but man will never be able to replicate the design of nature. 

Take a moment and think of the most breathtaking man-made object that you have ever seen in person, on the Internet, in a book, or even through the vivid descriptions of another person. Perhaps you are seeing a cathedral,  skyscraper, or even a castle? For me, what comes to mind is the Statue of Liberty. In a trip to New York in high school, I was fascinated by the history of the Statue of Liberty and all the labor that was exerted to transport it from one side of the ocean to the other. And even more so, the intricate design that went into creating the face, crown, torch, and all the other pieces that give the Statue of LIberty her near human like look. Since high school, I have been blessed to travel and see many other magnificent sights constructed by the innumerable hours of planning, designing and constructing, of man.

And while these objects are undoubtedly stunning and will continue to be sights for millions to see, I couldn’t help but wonder how capable we, as human beings are in replacing such objects. Sure, it might take x amount of years, energy, money, and resources to do it, but eventually, I personally think it can be done. This observation hasn’t made me appreciate man-made objects any less, but it has certainly elevated my love for nature. There is just something so cool in seeing something that you know can never, and will never be replaced in its physical entirety both now in 2013 and a million years from now.

Now take a moment and think of the most breathtaking moment of nature you have experienced in person, seen on the internet, in a book, or even through the vivid descriptions of another person. Perhaps you are seeing a canyon, an ocean, or even a waterfall? For me, what comes to mind is the “Angel’s Landing” hike I did in Zion National park this morning. After an hour of grueling incline up through the canyon and having to even use chains at one point, I was awarded with a magnificent view of the surrounding peaks and the whispers of the mountain top breeze. But what impressed me the most was when peeking down the steep side of the nearest cliff by me, the details of every line and brilliance of colors engraved into its side. Then I looked at another cliff and saw a dissimilar arrangement of lines and colors and again at a different cliff. I started to bring back this thought of how man would even begin designing and building these cliffs and after a few minutes of brainstorming, I simply laughed, shook my head, and smiled.

Again, my goal here is not to belittle man-made objects and all the hard work and resources that are invested in it, but to introduce a fresh perspective into nature and how one can find new appreciation for it. So please, the next time you’re out hiking, backpacking, or even peeking out the window from a plane, take a few seconds and just ponder about the uniqueness and irreplaceable wonders of nature.

Cheers,
AL