Blessings in disguise
A few weeks ago, told was telling me time and time again that he was reading a book called the Alchemist, by Paulo Coehlo. And for a while I ignored it, but eventually, I gave. Mainly because Ugo didnt read much to begin with, so if there was a book that got him to rave on like he had about this one, there must be something to it. Secondly, Ugo was always pretty good at rating how much I would like certain media.
The book, in short, is about following one's dreams. I wont give off too much about the book here, only say that I truly recommend it to anyone who can relate to what I write in this entry.
And some quotes that stuck with me..
"...at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That's the world's greatest lie."
"Whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it's because that desire originated in the sold of the universe. It's your mission on Earth."
"People need not fear the unknown if they are capable of achieving what they need and want."
If you cant tell already, I loved the book. In a time where life has become so mundane, and the future so uncertain, the ideas manifested from the words in this book have brought back my own desire. Not so much that I had lost it before, or that I had given up on my dreams, but that I needed to recharge, refuel, and reignite the flame.
The book has simply given me the key to the inspiration and determination that had been locked away within my own heart. It's even caused me to write out a legitimate post on here.
Tonight after work, I went to LA yet again for a friend's send off dinner. On the way home, at 1am, I took the 10 freeway east, as usual. About half way between the 110 and the crazy junction by the 10/101/5/60, I remembered that I had not yet prayed. And so I did, and in time I made it to the junction to learn that the 10 east was closed and I would need to take a detour. Long story short, I got lost, as I believe on of the signs for the detour had been moved. But this wasnt the first and definitely wouldnt be the last time I got lost on a drive. One of the reasons I love driving is how it helps me to learn a city by finding my way through it.
And in driving through the city, I found my way to the part of downtown that had always been my favorite. The part I always secretly stare off at north of the 10, right around the 110 junction where there's skyscrapers, a skyline, parks, benches, life...And I did that by way of a gorgeous bridge that overlooked the LA River, which I had never driven on before. I saw the city from a new angle, in a different light, under the waning moon. And, I loved it.
Right then, I felt...i dont know; it's indescribable. But I do know, that things are working in my favor. Slowly, calmly and deceptively, things are aligning themselves for something amazing.
I thought back over the last 8 months of my life...the disappointment, lost desire, failed dreams, sadness, anger, impatience, and boredom...but I saw none of that.
I saw myself being prepared. By the passages I read, I gained wisdom.
Through the internship Ive skipped, loathed, and slept through, (on the good days) I gained experience of what it would be like to be a planner, working for a city, and realized, at least for this kind of city, that that isnt the life I would want.
By the other internship, Ive yet to start, endurance and perseverance; because by my continued calling and consistency, it should be starting in two weeks, Lord willing.
Through the job that's taken my time, patience, gas, and peace, Ive gained patience, Ive learned endurance, Ive learned the importance of being on time, Ive learned that there are steps of your life that cant be skipped if you really hope to rise up and grow.
From not being accepted, I've learned that I really wasn't ready to have gone to grad school right away. That I needed this time to grow and improve on myself; something that I am still in the process of doing.
From friends, family, and those I don't know, I've learned what really matters to me in life.
And from my drive through LA, I learned that 20 minutes can feel like an hour, that my faith can lead me home, and that LA is the city that I am destined to live in, and before long. As I drove through the streets of LA at 1:30am, what I saw, once I was finished being amazed by the beautiful architecture, candle lit avenues, and splendor, was tents...
I saw lines of tents on San Pedro, 7th St. and many others. I saw tents that represented what some people are thankful to have as homes rather than only having a sleeping bag, or boxes and newspaper. Tents that could barely provide shelters once the bipolar seasons of Southern California reach their highest highs or lowest lows. Even worse in city's and regions of the world where the weather only gets worse.
What I saw is what I want to spend my life working to help correct. What I saw was a blessing in disguise for me revealing the job that I should have been ecstatic about from the start.
In church last Sunday, the priest said something during his homily that I thought to jot down on my iPod:
"We do not go to heaven because we have helped ourselves. We go to heaven, because we have gone beyond ourselves to help others."
The other day I had a phone interview for a Supervisory position with AmeriCorps and Habitat for Humanity, to help in the construction of low income housing. To build affordable housing in the Greater Los Angeles. At the time, I was put off by the low $12,000 for a year long commitment. But now, I've realized that even now I'm making less. And this is the time in my life where I can actually live off of such an amount. A time in my life where I could do a job like that, and apply the experience later.
Unfortunately, I worry that I bombed the interview by not hiding well enough my disappointment at the pay, but Im calling the guy back to hopefully share my own story and my own reasons for now wanting the job.
Wish me luck.
Not like my usual 3am rant.
But, perhaps it's time for a change in that too.
The book, in short, is about following one's dreams. I wont give off too much about the book here, only say that I truly recommend it to anyone who can relate to what I write in this entry.
And some quotes that stuck with me..
"...at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That's the world's greatest lie."
"Whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it's because that desire originated in the sold of the universe. It's your mission on Earth."
"People need not fear the unknown if they are capable of achieving what they need and want."
If you cant tell already, I loved the book. In a time where life has become so mundane, and the future so uncertain, the ideas manifested from the words in this book have brought back my own desire. Not so much that I had lost it before, or that I had given up on my dreams, but that I needed to recharge, refuel, and reignite the flame.
The book has simply given me the key to the inspiration and determination that had been locked away within my own heart. It's even caused me to write out a legitimate post on here.
Tonight after work, I went to LA yet again for a friend's send off dinner. On the way home, at 1am, I took the 10 freeway east, as usual. About half way between the 110 and the crazy junction by the 10/101/5/60, I remembered that I had not yet prayed. And so I did, and in time I made it to the junction to learn that the 10 east was closed and I would need to take a detour. Long story short, I got lost, as I believe on of the signs for the detour had been moved. But this wasnt the first and definitely wouldnt be the last time I got lost on a drive. One of the reasons I love driving is how it helps me to learn a city by finding my way through it.
And in driving through the city, I found my way to the part of downtown that had always been my favorite. The part I always secretly stare off at north of the 10, right around the 110 junction where there's skyscrapers, a skyline, parks, benches, life...And I did that by way of a gorgeous bridge that overlooked the LA River, which I had never driven on before. I saw the city from a new angle, in a different light, under the waning moon. And, I loved it.
Right then, I felt...i dont know; it's indescribable. But I do know, that things are working in my favor. Slowly, calmly and deceptively, things are aligning themselves for something amazing.
I thought back over the last 8 months of my life...the disappointment, lost desire, failed dreams, sadness, anger, impatience, and boredom...but I saw none of that.
I saw myself being prepared. By the passages I read, I gained wisdom.
Through the internship Ive skipped, loathed, and slept through, (on the good days) I gained experience of what it would be like to be a planner, working for a city, and realized, at least for this kind of city, that that isnt the life I would want.
By the other internship, Ive yet to start, endurance and perseverance; because by my continued calling and consistency, it should be starting in two weeks, Lord willing.
Through the job that's taken my time, patience, gas, and peace, Ive gained patience, Ive learned endurance, Ive learned the importance of being on time, Ive learned that there are steps of your life that cant be skipped if you really hope to rise up and grow.
From not being accepted, I've learned that I really wasn't ready to have gone to grad school right away. That I needed this time to grow and improve on myself; something that I am still in the process of doing.
From friends, family, and those I don't know, I've learned what really matters to me in life.
And from my drive through LA, I learned that 20 minutes can feel like an hour, that my faith can lead me home, and that LA is the city that I am destined to live in, and before long. As I drove through the streets of LA at 1:30am, what I saw, once I was finished being amazed by the beautiful architecture, candle lit avenues, and splendor, was tents...
I saw lines of tents on San Pedro, 7th St. and many others. I saw tents that represented what some people are thankful to have as homes rather than only having a sleeping bag, or boxes and newspaper. Tents that could barely provide shelters once the bipolar seasons of Southern California reach their highest highs or lowest lows. Even worse in city's and regions of the world where the weather only gets worse.
What I saw is what I want to spend my life working to help correct. What I saw was a blessing in disguise for me revealing the job that I should have been ecstatic about from the start.
In church last Sunday, the priest said something during his homily that I thought to jot down on my iPod:
"We do not go to heaven because we have helped ourselves. We go to heaven, because we have gone beyond ourselves to help others."
The other day I had a phone interview for a Supervisory position with AmeriCorps and Habitat for Humanity, to help in the construction of low income housing. To build affordable housing in the Greater Los Angeles. At the time, I was put off by the low $12,000 for a year long commitment. But now, I've realized that even now I'm making less. And this is the time in my life where I can actually live off of such an amount. A time in my life where I could do a job like that, and apply the experience later.
Unfortunately, I worry that I bombed the interview by not hiding well enough my disappointment at the pay, but Im calling the guy back to hopefully share my own story and my own reasons for now wanting the job.
Wish me luck.
Not like my usual 3am rant.
But, perhaps it's time for a change in that too.