How you beat it!

Stuart Scott changed the world of sports broadcasting forever. He was taken from us far too soon. He still impacts people to this day, myself included.

I have taken this quote from his famous 2014 ESPY speech and for the longest time tried to apply it to every aspect of my life. It feels more applicable than ever today, it has for about the past week. I think I have been trying to deny the idea that my sophomore year in this little village that has become home, is coming to a close.

Surrounded by corn, and people who have, and continue too, change my life. I have entered my final 36 hours here. A year and semester that started with so much promise, comes to a close two months too early.

But I refuse to let it cripple me, I believe that more than ever what Mr. Scott spoke 6 years ago reigns true.

You beat the things that bring you down in life, the things that threaten you, by not allowing them to destroy you! You live your life, you continue your passions, you grow, you continue to live life!

I am the last student remaining on Ohio Northern University campus, At least that is what it feels like, and that is what I am going to tell myself. I have continued my days, I "go to class" online of course, I workout, I eat, I sleep, I play video games, I talk and hangout with friends. I refuse to let anything take away this life I have been given. To bring back a slogan that maybe more people need to apply to their lives, YOLO!

I have enjoyed these past couple days, walks through Ada, time with special people. I have taken this social distancing and isolation and in my own words, "Kicked COVID-19's ASS.

Do I have COVID-19? No, I don't think so but, considering what is continues to do to the world, I think everyone has it to some extent. However my Gen Z form of rebellion is not letting it effect me, or minimizing it to the best of my abilities.

Go live you life! Stay safe! Be smart!

But in your own way go kick COVID-19's ass!

Stargazing

Life is not easy. However maybe that is the beauty of it. Nothing seems to go to plan. Nothing seems to come easy. Yet we power through, we get through, we learn, we grow.

Tonight for the first time in far too long I went to our stadium and stared at the stars. Now keep in mind I go to school in the middle of a cornfield, our skies are gorgeous on clear nights. Something that I have not nearly taken enough advantage of. I sat underneath a windmill in a spot that will forever hold a spot in my heart for a multitude of reasons and I took it all in.

Maybe this was a reminder to "put my big boy pants on". Maybe this was a reminder that everything happens for a reason. Maybe this was a reminder to just go to work and focus on myself. None the less I needed it.

As someone who keeps his emotions, at least the deepest ones closest to his chest I will never be the first to admit that sometimes I don't know. For so long now I have kept the perception and the reputation of just being the guy in control. The guy with the answers, I am never too stressed always relaxed never too high or too low. From an early age I learned the 3 Cs calm, cool, collected. I have lived by them.

2020 has however tested all of me. In facets that I never could have predicted. I have seen those most important to me at their lowest. I have seen the normalcies of my life get thrown out the window. I have looked in the mirror and pushed myself to be better to step out of my comfort zone, to own who I am, who I want to be, and who I need to be.

So in a night where I needed some perspective I looked to the stars. I was in awe of their simplicity and beauty. It had been so long since I just looked up and enjoyed what has been given to me. Something that I have written about before. I truly don't know how the future unfolds, but I do know what I control. So it is my choice as to how I want to handle what I control, which is who I want to take the future on with, and how I want to live it.

So I ask, when was the last time you stargazed?

08/23/1978 :8/24: 01/26/2020

I have always heard the 24-hour rule. After a game, practice, event all of the above no matter how it goes wait 24 hours to make a big decision or speak your mind. Do not let the emotions of a moment get to you.

I hate that rule. And while it has saved me time and time again, I have always felt the rawest of emotions are the truest. The ones you haven't sat and thought about for 24 hours. 

24 has a different meaning today. I sit here numb. I grew up watching sports. They shaped and continue to shape who I am today. 

One of the first professional athletes that I grew up villainizing was Kobe Bryant.

For some reason, I was a Celtics fan at that point in my life. And Kobe just rubbed me the wrong way. As time went on and I moved on to love my beloved Heat and Dwayne Wade, I learned more of who Kobe was. I learned the drive he had, the work ethic, the fact that he was traded on draft night. I learned that this guy from Philadelphia, PA was someone to look up too. 

This is the first time that an athlete that I quietly looked up to has passed away. More so someone of this magnitude in my generation has passed away. 

The feeling is different, it slows everything down. You realize how quickly everything can change. Life is so precious, and so many of us are just going through the motions. 

The average life expectancy in the United States in 78 years. That is the average, but none of those years are promised. It sounds cliche but what would you change about your life if you knew when your time was up? What risks would you take? Who would you want to spend time with? Where would you want to go? 

One thing I began to admire about Kobe Bryant as his playing days came to end. Was that he chose to reach back to the next generation in the NBA. Making a difference, impacting, and teaching them not only about skills on the court but also off. Maybe this is one final mamba lesson. 

I challenge, NO I IMPLORE YOU to live life in a way that takes advantage of every minute. Because not a single one is guaranteed.

Technology.

Technology makes life easier. Technology makes things possible today that 15-20 years ago were not even thought of. Connecting with friends and family is easier than ever. Communicating across the globe is instantaneous. Technology is easy but is easy always the right way? I recently spoke to 800 middle schoolers. All of which had cell phones, social media accounts, and most likely Ipads or computers.

These kids have grown up with social media and technology. They have never known a time when they did not have a screen around them or in front of them. Parents are now more likely to hand kids and Ipad or mobile device to entertain them, than any other toy.

Over two thirds of the world's population have mobile cellular devices. Half of the world population uses social media. Technology is an ever evolving and changing market with new concepts and products out almost every six months.

Society's ability to balance the ease of technology and the part of the world that makes us human could determine whether or not society continues to grow or we end up like the civilization in Wall-E

Is technology really the future of connectivity?
Or the end of it?