Everything Under the Sun

Perhaps the most powerful idea that I've been struck by in recent years is Jordan Peterson's central ideology; the key to a better society is better individuals. As an individual this is a straight forward, albeit work intensive task, improve yourself. But for me it has yielded significant results.  When I became the captain of the swim team in High School, I was one of three captains. We all had different leadership styles and after some thought I realized what mine was. Leadership by example. I'm not overly extroverted, particularly articulate, or all that inspiring, but I can work hard and maintain a high level of consistency. People see the success that comes from sustained effort and they emulate it. Humans are mimetic as Rene Gerard pointed out, and not just with emotions but also behaviors.  I saw the same phenomenon as a consultant on a business case team in college where I competed globally at Universities. I wasn't the best on the team when it came to putting ...

The Number For years, I was plagued by, or gifted with a number. How did the number get to me, and why? What did it mean? For the better part of 2 years I saw 3:14 everywhere. I happened to check my phone or watch almost daily at 3:14. I'd see it in passing on a sign or TV. On a few special occasions I even awoke at 3:14 AM and turned to see it on my clock. You could ask some of my friends and old girlfriends, I started to screenshot it after a while. I was taking pictures of it. Remembering every occasion. It had gotten past the point of coincidence. There were essentially two explanations for it. One in the realm of psychology and one in the realm of spirituality. Psychologically, it could have been Viewer's Bias. I could have started subconsciously checking my phone or watch every day around 3:14 to try and maximize my chances of seeing it, so to give credence to that idea and create a feedback loop. If I was doing that I certainly wasn't doing it consciously. Then ther...

Inside of me, is there a spirit that's free?  Honestly, is that what I desire to be?  Or is that what I desire to see? In her, as the light illuminates her cheeks. It's something I can't guarantee, Will lead to peace and stability. Am I structured and regimented?  Is that how I want to be represented?  Or is that a version of me I invented?  And if that was presented, Would it for me be complimented? Or would it leave me discontented?  These are questions no doubt a great man has asked, No doubt a man is faced with a great task.  Can a man understand the future or must he look to his past?  And in his time of choosing, for this man, how will it pass? Like the tortoise, he must act with wisdom; it won't be fast.  And no doubt in time, the truth will be unmasked. 

What is my life, the life that I've led? If you read it on paper, from the comfort of your bed, How would my words impact you? As I watched your eyes scan the page, would I think you dead? Or would I see your eyes light up with interest instead?  I wonder who cares in the end.  Me, my family, my friends? Perhaps God, and the goodness of men.  My goodness is it 10?  I've been stuck here writing again. To whom? It's just me and this pen.  I think I'll shut off my light and lay down my head.

Introduction We rarely have a platform or an opportunity to share some of our core beliefs and views on life and reality. So, we thought it would be insightful to pose a series of interview-esque questions in rapid fire which mirror our IRL conversations. The short-answer format encourages a straight forward answer while also giving an opportunity to share how we arrived to those conclusions. The three of us: Quinn, Mike, and Daniel, while similar in many ways, differ in our backgrounds, education, religious views, and political leaning. These differences allow us to arrive at varied conceptions of the world. We answered these questions separately to prevent any bias, leakage, or interference with pure thought and introspection. We hope readers will enjoy the perspectives and appreciate the spectrum of thought they will see, from three 25 year old males from Jacksonville. Table of Contents Question 1 Give up dessert or alcohol for the rest of your life? Question 2 What ...