spiffyhink

When I said I was in the process of putting up all my old resources and art, I figured I'd just throw it up somewhere and get around to making it look nice when I felt like it, but I have to admit...it feels really nice to be building websites again. Like really, really nice. I've been doing other things professionally (working with hardware) because I got so tired of it, but the funny part is that I think I've gotten better at it because of the break. When it comes to IT work, about 90% of the job always comes down to problem solving and knowing the right questions to ask, and it's like exercising a muscle. And just as with exercising the rest of your muscles, your problem solving muscle can get "bored" by doing the same thing over and over, and will stop getting stronger. So I've found it's always a good idea to mix things up and do different things every so often to keep yourself sharp. Artists will often tell you the same thing, as creativity is also a muscle, and tends to work the same way.

...Just something to keep in mind the next time you hit your mental block, I think.

I wrote this in my personal (read: on paper) journal today, but I wanted to share it here as well:

"I rely on small treasures to make my life meaningful.

As I was walking across the MSU campus after jazz ensemble, I walked through a space between buildings where not many people go. The buildings there are not often used, and some are devoted to miscellanious activities, but it's quite old, and there is a nice walkway and lawn, and very large, and obviously old, trees which provide lots of wonderful shade. At the time I was feeling a bit depressed because I had felt physically 'off' since the morning, and had performed badly in jazz, but when I passed under one of the trees, I noticed it became incredibly peaceful. Fridays are quiet anyway, since most people like to sleep in instead of going to class, but here I couldn't hear anything except for the leaves and the low hum of an air conditioner close by. No talking, no cars in the background, no cell phones...nothing. Because of the cool from the shade, it seemed as if the tree had created a little haven for those few who actually walked by it. It was beautiful.

But unfortunately, I couldn't stand there forever. I have homework to do, and I'm sure someone would've come along eventually and asked what on Earth I was doing just standing and stupidly smiling at a tree. So before I left, noticing that it was a pecan tree, I bent down and picked up a few pecans it had dropped and munched on them on the way back to my car.

By the time I reached Sunwatcher Plaza, I had eaten all the pecans, so I stuffed my pockets full of the ones that had dropped over there (there are three pecan trees outside of the Liberal Arts Hall, for those who haven't noticed). One of the students who had been walking by stopped and looked up when he saw me. 'Is that a pecan tree?,' he asked. 'Yup,' I said, and he looked a bit surprised as he said 'Wow!' just before walking off.

It made me happy, because he sounded as if he had never stopped to notice the tree, and had never thought of picking up its fruits to munch on. I think a lot of people do that--there are a lot of things that even I don't notice, and we tend to be so distracted by school and work anyway--it made me smile that I had inadvertently caused someone to notice a simple thing that he otherwise never would have considered, and I know if it were me at least, I'd never be able to walk past that tree without noticing it again."

I do hope everyone is having a wonderful day, and enjoying the weather if you can (whatever it's like where you are). Don't forget to pick up a few pecans when you run into them, and think of my little story!