Reflecting on Vantage / Life Reminders.

I know a lot of people have beef with a majority of humanity, but you know what? If we’re all looking for the bad in people and expecting the worst, that’s what we are going to find. My best friend, Sunshine, and I took a trip to Vantage, WA for our weekly get-away and a lot was brought to my attention. Every day is a learning experience and sometimes it’s just a reminding experience. Often we forget the most simple life lessons as we get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of our every day lives. Nothing driving 152 miles away from the city won’t solve.

I went top rope climbing for the first time ever, which you can read about HERE, and I have been spamming the hell out of everyone with my photos, which you can view HERE. I’m just excited. Bear with me. I believe getting off the map is important for the soul. After all, aren’t we all just over-domesticated animals? When your cell doesn’t have service and you can’t Tweet or update your Facebook status, you’re more prone to focus on what’s in front of you. And, in my case this week, it was absolutely breath taking. I swear, I felt like I was in a mix of an open-ended video game / dream / snow globe / another dimension. With that, I was reminded of a lot of the simple things in life. Hence, life reminders instead of “life lessons.“

Jenny, Kenny, Katie, Jetta, Sunshine, Brooke

People will wave back if you wave. And, even if they don’t, that’s okay. Every single person we passed on the trail or between rock formations greeted us with a wave, smile or “How’s it going?” Being friendly can get you so far. When you flash a stranger a smile, you’re opening yourself up to possibilities. We met three different groups of people climbing on the first day, and each interaction started with a simple “Hello.” As Sunshine and I were hiking back from the wall, we met a guy named Andy at the cave entrance, who we greeted with big smiles. By being friendly and making about thirty seconds of small chat, we agreed to meet Andy at The Feathers so Sunshine could have one more round of climbing – this time a bit more challenging.

Strangers will share their shoes for the sake of having a good time. It comes down to being open, friendly and not giving a good g-damn about petty things like foreign smelly feet. I wore three stranger’s shoes over the course of two days. Three people were generous enough to let me borrow their climbing shoes, which ended up being the catalyst for me living a monumental life experience. Brooke even left me with her gear and told me to give it to one of the other girls when I was through with it. “I trust you for some reason,” she said. I thanked her repeatably and told her that if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have gotten to experience such an incredible moment. She said that was what it was all about – being able to help people achieve and experience things they may not have been able to do on their own.

It’s worth the wait. Sometimes you have to wait a good hour or two for the lead climbed to set everything up, then wait for your turn on the top rope. But when you’re clinging to the side of a cliff that’s 55M high, none of that matters and the feelings of accomplishment are overwhelming. And, even if you had to wait another three hours, it still would have been worth it. It’s true what they say – Patience is a virtue.

Sunshine belaying me.

Sometimes you’re shivering yourself to sleep and sometimes you’re swimming in a pool of your own sweat. Seasons change. Everything changes. The only constant is change. How many times do I have to say it? The trick it is taking each and every moment with stride and living in the now. Get through what’s happening in this moment and worry about what lies ahead when you get there. Life makes 45, 90 and 180 degree turns within the course of days/weeks/years (and sometimes even minutes).

It even rains in the desert. Maybe not for very long or much, but it happens. At least it happened to us. I’m not saying rain is bad by any means (I live in Seattle for goodness sake). However, many folks see rain as a burden or annoyance. But it’s got to rain some time, and even though it may be unpleasant for you, it will pass. And, not everything is perfect. Nothing is.

We all have something to learn. No matter how experienced you are in subjects A, B, C and D, I can guarantee there are hundreds of thousands of people who could outsmart you in categories E, F and G. We all have something to learn from every single person that walks into our life. Learning is good for the mind, body and soul. It could be something as simple as learning a new technique for an activity you do every single day to accomplishing something you never thought you could attain in the first place. Observe and admire those around you. Ask questions. Offer input and feedback.

Justin showing me how to tie a proper knot.

We’re all in this together. Whether you like it or not, you’re on this earth with several billion other individuals. You’re not going to like all of them, but you may be stuck in a two hour car ride with one of them (not me, but one of the guys we met along the way). We exist in the same moment and you have to take it as it comes. While you don’t have to agree with everyone that crosses your path, you can at least accept them and learn to appreciate them. Life goes on.

We’re all here to have a good time. It didn’t matter that I was lacking shoes or a harness. It didn’t matter I had never climbed outdoors before. Everyone was there to have a good time and spend time with good company. We were in the middle of nowhere, sharing moments with people we knew nothing about. However, we all had at least one thing in common – we were there to climb. This brought everyone together and everyone enjoyed and embraced that.

My experiences during this giveaway left me feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, and it reinstated some of my faith in mankind. <3

If you found this article helpful, please consider a small donation to The Radical Uprise. This site exists because because readers like you choose to support it. Please click here to submit a donation. Thank you for supporting my creative endeavors. Stay radical. xx 

Seven ways to kick this week’s ass.

• Consciously repeat good behavior. Say please and thank you multiple times a day. Open and hold doors for people. Smile. Build positive energy by repetition.
• Create a personal mantra. Say it loud and proud each morning, afternoon and night. Say it proudly, with confidence and happiness.
• Realize that you are where you are because you choose to be. Life is full of options and choices. If you don’t like something, change it. This may be easier said than done in many cases, but it could also be a walk in the park. Instead of complaining about your boring job, be on the hunt for a new one or change your attitude about your current position.

• Keep your life on beat. Jessica Mullen gives you 20 Harmonic Ways to Keep Your Life on Beat, including “Walk the thread of fun” and “Don’t look down.”
• Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny. Unknown source
• Offer a helping hand. Whenever an opportunity arises for you to help, do it. If your catty co-worker needs assistance, offer. If a classmate you don’t get along with drops their books in between classes, stop to help.
• Seek and you shall find. When you focus on something, it so conveniently seems to appear multiple times in your life. For example, if you get a sudden urge to own a red sports car, you seem to spot them everywhere. Focus your attention on what you do what, and you’ll begin to see it sprouting up.

If you found this article helpful, please consider a small donation to The Radical Uprise. This site exists because because readers like you choose to support it. Please click here to submit a donation. Thank you for supporting my creative endeavors. Stay radical. xx 

Seven ways to kick this week’s ass.

• Practice being humble. Do something that’s worth bragging about and then don’t. Often we accomplish great things, score karma points or do something exceptional that we just want to brag about it. Do it and don’t. Humble is defined as “Marked by meekness or modesty in behavior, attitude, or spirit; not arrogant or prideful.” Give to a charity, take a solo adventure or something else you would generally “brag” about and just smile instead.
• Stop comparing apples to oranges. With nearly seven billion people dwelling on this fine earth, there are bound to be people who are smarter, more fit, more attractive, more experienced, richer, happier and/or accomplished than you. Dwelling on this fact is completely pointless (and potentially depressing). Instead of focusing on how much “better” people are than you, focus on your own accomplishments/hopes/dreams/desires.
• A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall. Speak what you think now in hard words, and to-morrow speak what to-morrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said to-day. — ‘Ah, so you shall be sure to be misunderstood.’ — Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood. / Emerson, Self Reliance

• Don’t get jealous. Get inspired. I spammed the Internet with photos from my last big adventures – a spontaneous camping/hiking trip to the mountains. It was breath taking (and also my first mountain hike since I’ve been in Seattle). Many people commenting on “being jealous.” Jealousy is a waste of time and feelings. Direct that energy towards getting inspired and DOING. Use it as fuel to fire your wanderlust.
• You haven’t “seen it all.” Revisit familiar places with a new perspective. Many places you pass by on a regular basis get taken for granted and looked over. Even if you feel like you’ve exhausted every fun thing “to do” around your city, think again. Do things that force you to change your perspective, like hang upside down from a park bench or look for anything and everything purple or red.
• Get photos developed. You know, those 4×6 paper gems you can hold in your hand? I just placed a 289 piece order from Snapfish. When you sign up, you get fifty free prints and they are offering free shipping on orders over $30. Take advantage. Print out a few photos and send them to friends and family.
• Interact with seven strangers this week. Burst out of your shell and reach out to folks. Walk around the city without talking on the phone or listening to your iPod. Compliment the person standing in line with you. Ask to pet the person’s dog you pass on the sidewalk. Remove yourself from that comfy bubble you’ve build and run into people instead of breezing by.

If you found this article helpful, please consider a small donation to The Radical Uprise. This site exists because because readers like you choose to support it. Please click here to submit a donation. Thank you for supporting my creative endeavors. Stay radical. xx 

Seven ways to kick this week’s ass.

• Stop making fun of people. Inspired by high school drama leaking all over Facebook and people of the Interwebs spewing hate and making people a punch line to their bad jokes, I created this video. And, as mentioned in the video, I really feel like this is one of those things that goes without saying, but apparently it has to be said. Don’t ever use a person as a target for bad humor. Don’t stand for bullying or cyberbullying and start with yourself.
• Give a pre-stamped envelope with a blank sheet of stationary and a pen to a stranger and tell them to write a friend a letter. I love promoting snail mail just as much as I love receiving it myself. People will come up with all sorts of excuses why they don’t sit down and write a letter. I don’t see how someone could turn this opportunity down to send a note when the materials are provided for them. (;
• Some days you’re the bird and some days you’re the statue. You win some, you lose some. That’s life. C’est la vie. Nothing lasts forever.

• Count your blessings and mind your business. Wise words from Atmosphere, one of my all time favorite artists. If you haven’t gotten hooked, please take the time to do so this week. Conscious rap at it’s best, Atmosphere is catchy, thought-provoking and the epitome of what good rap is. “Stuck with yourself just like the rest of us…”
• Take a short “vow of silence.” Take a day this week (preferably one that you aren’t required to work or go to school) and refrain from speaking. Listen. Observe. Spend time in solitude. Paint. Draw. Write. Dance. Walk. Find unique ways to express yourself aside from speaking. Your “vow of silence” extends to social networking sites and texting as well. Take it as some time to seriously reflect on you as a person and where you stand as a human.
• Eat more parfaits. For no other reason than they are delicious and fun to make. Hate parfaits? Insert food of choice here this week.
• Check out my food related “Seven Ways” I guest posted at Winged Snail. Sarah contacted me and wanted to know if I would do a guest post, and how could I pass up the opportunity to reach out to a handful of food lovers at that? (;

If you found this article helpful, please consider a small donation to The Radical Uprise. This site exists because because readers like you choose to support it. Please click here to submit a donation. Thank you for supporting my creative endeavors. Stay radical. xx 

The Radical Uprise Shop Update. Buy individual buttons and Discontinued issues of TRU Zine.

Just wanted to drop in quickly for a couple small updates. First of all, before I went on my vacation, I removed all single button listings. To be quite honest, having 90+ listing for individual buttons got to be a little overwhelming. I created button packs, but I understand some folks just want one or two, or many want three buttons from three different packs. With that said, I’ve created a new listing, where you can choose which buttons you would like to purchase individually. Note that buying a pack ends up saving you in the long run, but consider the extra charge for individual pieces a “convenience charge” since it’s a bit more time consuming for me. (; Be on the lookout, as new buttons designs (and hopefully a new zine or two) will be sprouting up over the course of the month!

On another note, but still in regards to the shop, I will no longer be printing zines 001 – 007. The stock I have on hand right now will be it. However, there will still be some copies floating around, but they will only be sold as part of the Zine Fiend Weekender Pack (which will be updated with new zines shortly). If you haven’t purchased the first three issues, take advantage now by visiting the shop and snagging them!

I hope you’re having a great week!

Seven ways to kick this week’s ass.

• Have a little faith in humanity. Not everyone is out to get you and there are some really great people in this world if you give them a chance. I’m not saying hop into the first sketchy van marked “FREE CANDY” on your way to work or school this week, but I am saying have some faith. I recently watched this video on Tumblr and it warmed my soul a little bit. (: Look for the best in people and so you shall receive. The opposite applies. Seek good and have faith in your fellow human.
• Learn to be more assertive. Speak your mind and express your opinion. Note that you don’t have to be rude or condescending to do such a thing. Stand up for yourself, even if it means “agreeing to disagree.” Although sometimes it may be easier to let things roll off your back, other times it is more beneficial for you to speak up. You make the call.
• Join groups on Flickr. There’s everything you could imagine out there from facial hair appreciation to all things green to photos from around your city. It will allow you to see what other people are doing/where they are going and ignite some wanderlust, and it could also inspire you to take more photos of your everyday living.
• Climb a tree. Or climb anything that’s climbable, really. Release your inner child / monkey and go reach for the tree tops. Bring a book and use Mother Nature’s La-Z-Boy to enjoy some quality reading nested a few feet off the ground.

• Visit your grandparents (if you’re still blessed to have them living). Take a couple hours out of your week to spend time with the old folks. Bring over some pastries or a small crafting project and spend some quality time with your elders. If you don’t live near them to partake in such activities, write them a hand written note on a handmade card.
• Watch the paint dry. Most people would use this idiom to describe something very dull and boring. Imagine sitting and staring at the wall, watching paint dry. Believe it to be boring and it surely will be, but putting a different spin on it can make it fun (or at least beneficial). Take some time to “watch the paint dry” this week. Sit facing a wall and just stare at it. Use it as a means of meditation. Clear your mind, focus on your breathing and simply…watch the paint dry.
• Comment with your favorite “unconventional” summer activity. Last year I released a “Summer Kicker” mini zine, which gave readers fun ideas and projects to do in the summer months. I intend on releasing another this year, and I’d like YOUR help. Skip the normal stuff like “have a cook-out” or a “water balloon fight” and let me in on your secret summer fun. I’m looking to create an action-packed and wanderlust-invoking zine this year with fun activities such as ice-blocking or camping out for a week in your favorite part of town. By commenting, you’re giving me permission to publish your idea, so be sure to include which name you’d like published under!

If you found this article helpful, please consider a small donation to The Radical Uprise. This site exists because because readers like you choose to support it. Please click here to submit a donation. Thank you for supporting my creative endeavors. Stay radical. xx 

Seven ways to kick this week’s ass.

• Take your best friend out to lunch and leave your cell phones in the car. Don’t let your smart phone distract you from quality time with those you love. Forget the “world wide web” and focus on the world in which you are living in right now.
• Don’t push your beliefs onto others. Whether it’s your religious beliefs, your concept of “right” vs. “wrong,” your morals, ethics, values, opinions, etc. Respect other people’s choices and don’t force your belief system onto others. Read my post, “Why I’m not a militant vegan.”
• Go on a mega photo adventure. I’m currently in Cincinnati on vacation visiting friends and family and I’ve been making it a point to go and do and see as much as possible. My best friend and I ended up uncovering an abandoned amusement park, which was a blast. See what treasures lie in your city. View my flickr for photos over the past few days.

• Give credit where credit is due. Don’t take credit from anyone else, and for the love of all things holy, don’t delete photo credits. It’s easy for photographers and models to lose their identity when sites like WeHeartIt and Tumblr exist. Be nice.
• Make FUN your number one priority. Leave the house proclaiming, “I can’t wait to have fun today. Today is going to be a blast. I look for the joy in life!” If you’re not having fun, find out how to make adjustments accordingly or partake in activities that DO bring you joy.
• Be the kind of person people can look up to. Lead by example. I try to be a good person because I want to be a role model. I want to be the kind of person I wish I had to look up to when I was growing up.
• Go raw. I mean unedited, unfiltered, unprocessed. Talk about things that some may deem “taboo” or “strange.” Be real with yourself and others. Take this week to experiment on being more bold and see where it takes you.

If you found this article helpful, please consider a small donation to The Radical Uprise. This site exists because because readers like you choose to support it. Please click here to submit a donation. Thank you for supporting my creative endeavors. Stay radical. xx 

Seven ways to kick this week’s ass.

• Reanalyze the idea of “stress.” People aren’t stressful. Situations aren’t stressful. Your attitude deems that person/situation negative and your thoughts pertaining to it plaster a stressful label on it. Our attitudes play a huge roll in everything around us. As Dr. Wayne Dyer says, “There is no stress in the world, only people thinking stressful thoughts.”
• Confidence is a state of mind, and typically we can only reach that level of confidence by practice. Unlearning. Affirmations. Repitition. Reshaping our state of mind. This week, practice confidence and dismissing other’s opinions of you. Take time this week to put yourself in situations that allow you to practice confidence. Go out dancing and act a fool. Wear something you typically don’t have the confidence to wear. Tell your crush you are into them. Step up to the plate this week and go all out. You may surprise yourself.
• When a problem arises, consult yourself first. Don’t spread your personal issues onto social networking sites like Facebook. Refrain from mass texting your friends about petty issues. When faced with an issue, take time to reflect and spend some time solo. Meditate. Write down your thoughts. Make Pro/Con lists. You may find you can find the answers within you before blasting the Internet with verbal diarrhea. Go someplace quiet and reflect.

• Smash your ego. Accept being wrong. Accept not getting the last word in. Accept that many people out there are more attractive/happy/wealthy/friendly/successful/peaceful/etc. than you. Set aside your pride, let go of your ego. Ask yourself, “Do I want to be right or do a want to be happy?”
• Change your mind and don’t feel bad about it. Every day we grow and progress. Each year we get older and wiser. Our thoughts/feelings/expectations/morals/ethics/values can sway at the drop of a hat. Never say never, and don’t shame those who do make changes in their life that don’t agree with your own code of morals.
• Realize that self esteem is about SELF. Web definition? A feeling of pride in one’s self. Self esteem is not about what other people think of you, nor other’s assumptions/opinions/expectations. Learn to feel good about yourself even when the world is against you. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, you’re the only person you have to lie down with at the end of the night. Make sure that person is happy. Scratch that. Make sure that person is ecstatic.
• Adopt a PMA. Lucky for you, my newest zine may be just the right thing you need to kick start this plan in motion. You can pick up a copy in the Storenvy shop. Incredible cover art by The Mister Lister. Thirty two pages of goodness.

If you found this article helpful, please consider a small donation to The Radical Uprise. This site exists because because readers like you choose to support it. Please click here to submit a donation. Thank you for supporting my creative endeavors. Stay radical. xx 

 

Only shooting stars break the mold.

As stated in a previous post, music is simply an eargasm. It can be great for mindless pleasure, energy invoking, PMA igniting and, of course, life lessons. One of my favorite genres of music is pop. Generally because it’s simple. There isn’t a lot of decoding and analyzing. No diamond in the rough. No cryptic message. No eighty-seven page instruction manual. It’s blunt and to the point. Pop love song say, “Hey, I think you’re cute. I like you. I want to kiss you.” It doesn’t get more straight froward than that. And, generally speaking, I struggle to refrain from dancing to most pop music. Justin Bieber and Ke$ha are definitely two of my favorite pop pleasures. Hands down.

However, I can never dismiss the awesome tunes that I bumped ten plus years ago. Songs include (but are not limited to) Sugar Ray’s “Every Morning,” Shaggy’s “Bombastic,” and Spice Girl’s “Wannabe.” Today I’d like to dig up an old track by Smashmouth you all might be familiar with. It seems like a mindless pop song about being an “allstar.” Then, you watch the music video and you swirl super powers (or lack thereof) into the mix,  but the truth is, there are several blatant life lessons floating on the surface of this song. With that said, I’d like to take some time today to break down a few bits of the song and highlight some of the wise words from Smashmouth. (; Please note, this is my interpretation and your take on the jam may be completely different. That’s the beauty of music. We each take a different slice of the pie.

“Allstar” by Smashmouth

“Well the years start coming and they don’t stop coming.” Hey, guess what? The world keeps spinning, whether you like it or not. You’re get older by the day, as are your peers. You will never be any younger than you are in this very moment, so live it up! Stop dwelling on the past. Stop worrying about the future. The time is now and the place is here. Take each day as it comes and make the most of every single one.

“Didn’t make sense not to live for fun.” If you read (which you should if you don’t) Jerry and Esther Hicks, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Joseph Campbell, folks of the like, you would learn that being happy and having fun should be at the top of your priority list. Life is supposed to be fun. You have the ability to change many most aspects of your life that put a damper on your happiness. For example, if you’re dating someone who no longer makes you happy, you’re working a job that takes a mental/emotional/physical toll on you daily, you’re not pleased with your appearance, you have a poor attitude, etc., etc. If you’re not happy or having fun, make some changes.

“So much to do / So much to see / So what’s wrong with taking the back streets?” Go off the beaten path, per se. To revert back to Joseph Campbell, “Where there is a way or path, it is someone else’s path. You are not on your own path. If you follow someone else’s way, you are not going to realize your potential.” I’m not suggesting you take a solitary stroll down a sketchy alley at night in a bad part of town, but you might discover some pretty cool graffiti and that’s always A+ in my book. (; This world is full of places and things to discover, enjoy, share and learn from. If you’re marching down the street wearing the same uniform as those around you, marching to the beat of the same drum and keeping your eyes focused on the person in front of you, you’re going to miss out on all of the wonders this world has to offer. Go on adventures. Take solitary trips to the park. Take more pictures than you know what to do with. Break down barriers that hold you hostage and run wild.

“You’ll never know if you don’t go / You’ll never shine if you don’t glow.” Basically, you’ll never know if you don’t try. Don’t dismiss your faint glow just because it’s not as shining and shimmering as others. You’ve got to start somewhere. Putting that foot forward is the first step. Don’t compare yourself to those around you. Even the wealthiest/most brilliant/famous people had to start somewhere. The caterpillar doesn’t turn into a butterfly overnight.

“Only shooting stars break the mold.” If you want to be seen, you’ve got to walk out of line. There are billions of people in this world, and we each have something to offer. However, breaking the mold is typically a pretty surefire way to be seen. Nikki Minaj didn’t get where she is today by being mediocre. And, generally, to get there, you’ve got to dismiss other’s expectations/perceptions/opinions of you.

“It’s a cool place and they say it gets colder / You’re bundled up now but what ’till you get older.” Life is hard and it gets harder. But, I beg to differ. Sure, as an adult you are faced with many more responsibilities and expectations, but that doesn’t mean you need to lose your youthful aura. Regardless, perhaps it would be beneficial to “bundle up” with a thick skin, since the world can be a rude/crude/judgmental world and you’ll need one to dismiss any of the comments people will say about you needing to “grow up.” Peter Pan syndrome for life!

“My world’s on fire how about yours / That’s the way I like it and I never get bored.” Keep life exciting. Dance with the flames. Keep things interesting. “Life isn’t boring, you are.” Constantly be fueling the flames that keep your life worth living.

Please enjoy this dramatic reading of Smashmouth’s “Allstar.” Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel. (:

If you found this article helpful, please consider a small donation to The Radical Uprise. This site exists because because readers like you choose to support it. Please click here to submit a donation. Thank you for supporting my creative endeavors. Stay radical. xx 

The Radical Uprise Zine #022 Reading + Giveaway!

Are you interested in zine readings? I’m thinking about ways to share some of my work with my readers. I believe zine readings will give me a chance to share a piece of the zine with folks, and give people a chance to see what the zines entail before committing to buy one.

In this case, I’ll be hosting a giveaway. Head over to my YouTube channel, subscribe and comment for your chance to win a free copy of issue #022. I’ll be giving away five copies and choosing a winner this week. (: Future readings will be less rambling, FYI. Since a giveaway is included with this one, that’s kind of the main focus. Thoughts? Let me know.