teenage zen

New Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Faga) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:26:00 +0000

You can find me now at http://undergrad.osu.edu/Buckeyes_Blog/?author=28. These are all of my posts from The Ohio State University blog. To read the other authors and their posts, go to http://undergrad.osu.edu/buckeyes_blog/.

Change

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Faga) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 00:37:00 +0000

I am leaving for college shortly. I am attending The Ohio State University.

I have only been writing this blog for a short time. At this point, I have less than 40 posts. But time has come for me to phase this blog out.

I have a few reasons why I'm doing this:

I am going to college. I am not in high school, which was the main reason I started this blog.
I am now a member of the Buckeye Blog Team. I want to be able to devote the majority of my blogging time to that. But I can't just stop writing for good on Teenage Zen.
I needed to do this eventually, sooner rather than later.

I have a few more posts planned for Teenage Zen. One will be off my move in day to college. The one after will be the last one. It will have all the information on my new blog, where to find my future posts, and what I'll be doing.

Teenage Zen has been read by readers worldwide, and I hope you will continue to follow me. I will still be writing, but for a different blog.

I had originally planned for this blog to be temporary in the first place.

I would like to thank all my readers and subscribers. You have helped me so much, and I appreciate you. This blog has blown up these few months, and I still can't imagine how it all happened. I am very sad to do this, but I need to. This blog was like a set of training wheels for me.

New Year. New You.

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Faga) — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 22:23:00 +0000

Summer is ending, and high school is starting. You've heard the phrase "it's a new year" before, but what does it really mean?

You are in the next grade.
You have new classes.
You are one year older.
You are more mature (I hope).
You have more responsibility.
You have more freedom.
You have become more you.

This is a lot to think about. It may mean nothing to the general public, but when you do actually think about it, it hits you.

You can be whatever/whoever you want. (Within good reason).

This new year lets you get a fresh start.

Bad grades last year? This year you know what you need to do to get good grades. Do your homework, or whatever needs changed.

Getting sucked into the wrong crowd? Don't let peer pressure control you. Do what is best. Even if it isn't necessarily the "cool" thing to do.

Find your own niche in life. Was last year's style of chains, dyed black hair, and black clothing just not for you? Don't repeat something you didn't like!

Take this new year to think about the complex life you've formed by society's pressure and today's culture. Do you really need those $100 jeans for school, does last year's pair still fit you? Make this year at school your most simple year ever. You'll be more likely to have less stress, get better grades, and be an overall happier person.

My senior year was by far the best year of high school. But before my senior year, I struggled too. Freshman through junior year I had problems with homework, testing, studying, everything. I needed more help than I was willing to admit back then. But I am glad to say that I succeeded, and did what I could to achieve my goals. I wasn't a 4.0 student, but I was able to juggle decent grades and extra curricular activities. I didn't prioritize correctly, and took on way too much. I let my commitments take over my life. I was constantly stressed and distracted.

I wanted to know how to fix this. How to juggle commitments, school and life simply.

I looked to the internet and found blogs covering just that. I gave it some thought. I read, and jumped into it. I started with the mental things: noticing what commitments I had, making my life easier, etc. I fell in love with the results and continued. I noticed how much I had changed over the summer of 2010 and thought about how much this would impact my schooling. It would either help it extremely, or hurt it.

It definitely wasn't the latter.

My grades during the 2010-2011 school year were the best I've ever had. I had a 4.1 during the first quarter. That is a huge difference than the 3.2 during the end of my junior year. I kept my grades up by simply paying attention, eliminating distractions, and focusing. I turned all my homework in, all of my tests were fantastic, and I was happier with my life outside of school as well.

This is all possible just from living simply and minimally; but if these kinds of results exist, why doesn't every high school student do this?

Society tells you no. Our culture wants you to have more. Do more. Be more. They want you do be the star athlete, take AP classes, be the student body president, and manage your social life. This is all wrong. Do what you want. Find the things you like and stick to them. Don't load your life with commitments and things that won't help you become what you want to be.

This year, do one thing. Live simply.

Help Yourself In Order To Help Others

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Faga) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 12:16:00 +0000

I had a nice heart-to-heart conversation with a great friend of mine a while ago. He seemed caught up in a mix of teenage drama, other people's issues, and problems in his own life. He is usually this happy, carefree, laid back guy. To see this side of him was a big change.

I was more than happy to help him though. I don't have anything too prevalent going on in my life. So I could give him all the help he needed.

What makes people so interested in other people's problems? Reality shows, school drama, and fights intrigue people daily.

This is all wrong. You shouldn't be putting more stresses on yourself than you need. Not only do you have your own problems, now you're throwing more and more at yourself. There ends up being piles of stress, problems, and commitments to things that do not affect you personally in any way. All of this stress makes your life complicated. You are unable to complete tasks, work on goals, or be truly happy.

You need to take care of your own issues first. You should be priority #1.

A few tips on helping yourself first:

List out everything that's going on in your life.

Go through this list one at a time. Doing everything in your power to take on this issue. If it's a simple commitment, see if you can drop it. Only take on one thing at a time. Go down the list one by one. These can act like goals, but don't work too hard on them all at once. Do one thing a day to help with it.

Take time to work these out. If you need to take a month or two to deal with something, whether it's a finance issue, bad break up, or something deep in your life, do so. Stresses need to be dealt with as soon as possible or they will sit there and fester.
Say no. When someone comes to you with their problems, say no. You might have been there for them before, but you need to be there for you. They will understand. Tell them you are dealing with things yourself right now, and can't take anything else on at the moment. You shouldn't be expected to take on their problem before your own.
Listen, don't do anything. If you truly need to help someone, just listen. Most of the time, people just need to vent. If you can't say no, then just listen. Listening is a powerful tool, and takes minimal effort from you. Just be in the moment for them, and pay attention. You don't need to fix any problem, give any advice, just be there for them to talk to. You don't need to worry about their problem, but they will know that you care.

"The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers." -Thich Nhat Hanh

Listening to someone and just being with them can make all the difference. You don't have to stress about their issue, and you can deal with your own before you worry about theirs.

A Glimpse Into A Barefoot World

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Faga) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 12:00:00 +0000

It feels amazing being barefoot.

It's pure, simple, and, well, bare.

I feel more relaxed, and less confined than when wearing shoes.

I love feeling everything beneath my feet. The different textures and temperatures feel so awesome.

I feel much more present and in the moment.

For the past month or so, I haven't chosen to wear my tennis shoes. In everything I've done, I have chose to do it barefoot or wearing my Sanuks, which don't need socks. I've gotten so used to it that I had formed a habit of not wearing shoes and socks.

I actually noticed about a week ago that I actually didn't have many pairs of socks. That would explain why I never could find a clean pair when I was wearing my tennis shoes.

Since I've been going mostly barefoot, I haven't needed socks. I've pretty much forgotten all about them. I say pretty much because I've had a few instances when I needed to wear "normal" shoes. That's when I went on a scavenger hunt to find any at all.

I want to fully embrace the barefoot lifestyle. You can do a lot of sports barefoot. I have wanted to get back into running, and I could do it barefoot. I don't know about being barefoot while climbing, I'm too attached to my climbing shoes.

If it weren't for Ohio's unpredictable weather and cold winter, I would probably get rid of all my socks. But since I can't change weather, I need to keep my socks for the colder seasons.

My Steps To 100 Things

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Faga) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Narrowing down everything I own to 100 things is challenging. Since my last post about 100 things, I've only been able to add one or two items. The 100 Thing Challenge is going to be tougher than I thought.

But if I thought this was going to be easy, it wouldn't be called a challenge then, would it?

So I came up with a plan.

My Plan:

List out everything I use.
Narrow it down to 100.

I'm not going to make a list of what I'm planning on taking, like what is normally done. I think that is defeating the purpose of being minimal. Instead, I'm going to make a list of everything I use daily. And then narrow that down to 100 things.

Why I think this plan is better:

I don't need to think about it. Normally, I would sit down and think of everything I use and would use and write it down. This way I get a perfect idea of what I use.
I account for everything. I won't miss little things like a toothbrush, or alarm clock.
I'll have a list ready to go. Since I won't be making the list on the spot, I'll have more time to think about what I need. I'll have a list made already to start making the final 100 thing list.

For the next week or two, I'm going to write down everything I use: clothing, technology, pencils, and even my trash can. This way I'll see what I'm currently using, and what I can cross off my list. Then I'll work on shortening that list.

What I like about this approach is that I don't need to sit down and think about what I'll need. But one flaw I can think of is that I have to do precisely what I'm talking about: writing down everything I use.

It'll be easier than I think though. I have a notebook I carry around with me, and my phone I can write in if need be. But I'll need to remember to write it all down. Which is exactly why I'm trying it out. By the end of this week, if I don't have anything accomplished, I need to consider a different method. That is my goal for this week: write down everything I use. Next week will be to write down anything new, and to narrow the list down.

I'll write again after this week is up on my progress.

A Vacation Of Simple Foods

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Faga) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 22:02:00 +0000

I spent this past week in South Carolina, vacationing in Myrtle Beach and visiting a relative further down the coast. This picture was the view from my hotel room. Such an awesome beach to wake up to! What made this vacation different from others I've been on is that I had had access to a kitchen everyday. I had the majority of my meals in my hotel room. With the exception of eating at the beach, or dinner out with my family.

For the past few months, I've been training myself to not eat fried foods and to lean off of soda. It's been hard, especially since there is a lot of restaurants where I live. You know my opinion of fast food if you read my previous post. During my vacation, we did eat out a few times (not entirely my choice). If given the option to eat fried or grilled, I chose grilled. Only once this week did I eat fried food, and that was by accident. I ordered a flounder and shrimp dinner, but it didn't say on the menu it was fried. I ended up with a huge plate of fried seafood. My whole dinner was fried.

What I ate from restaurants:

Turkey burger
Scallops (grilled)
Shrimp (grilled)
Salads
A wrap
The ONE fried dinner of shrimp and flounder... Yuck...
Sushi
A pesto pizza shared with my father
Homemade sandwiches
Mangoes
Bananas
Yogurt

During my week on vacation, I managed to only drink soda twice. Once when my family was having dinner while visiting my uncle, and once on the drive home.

After seeing how easy it is to eat healthy even when traveling, I realized how much easier it would be in everyday life! I know I usually eat fairly healthy, but I've felt so good this past week I plan on continuing this habit. I noticed how terrible I felt when I had that fried shrimp, or soda; not just because I broke my habit, but I physically felt awful. My body almost rejected the fried food, and I had do seriously gulp the soda down.

Added to my now list of goals: to have a whole food diet. According to Wikipedia, a whole foods are foods that are unprocessed and unrefined, or processed and refined as little as possible, before being consumed. Whole foods typically do not contain added ingredients, such as salt, carbohydrates, or fat. I'm not "dieting" so to speak (I'm terribly skinny as it is), I just want to limit what I eat to non-processed (ideally organic, but that can be hard to do 100% of the time), and healthy foods all the time. Since I eat with my family, I don't think it's possible to always buy organic, or no-preservative food all the time. My family isn't taking on this habit, I am.

I hope to be accustomed to a whole food diet by college, but we will see how that goes.

Fast Food Is Too Complicated

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Faga) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 13:27:00 +0000

Yesterday, someone bought me lunch from Taco Bell. It was very thoughtful of them. But when they asked me what I wanted, I had no idea. I rarely eat fast food at all, and I've never even ordered from Taco Bell. I didn't know the menu. So they got me a burrito and a taco. I was pleased. So nice of them to buy me lunch.

I started to think. I don't know fast food menus off the top of my head. It makes sense, since I don't eat fast food a lot. How do people do it? If you eat from restaurants or fast food daily, how to you decide on what to eat? How can you afford paying for it everyday? Where's the common sense? Americans are at a point where they think it is easier to go somewhere, order food, wait for it, pay for it when you get it, and drive back; then to just pay for a week's worth of food at once. I don't want it to seem like I am bashing on the food industry, so bear with me.

Why I don't like fast food:

It's unhealthy. I know eating fast food makes me feel bloated and sluggish. I can only imagine what eating it regularly could do to your body.
It's rushed. You're rushing one of the most enjoyable parts of your day. Eating a meal should be spent conversing with friends, enjoying the food, and savoring the simple pleasure of eating.
It's expensive. If you spend $50-75 (that can be a larger/smaller number. I'm just estimating.) at a grocery store for a week, that's roughly 3 meals a day. But if you spend about $5-6 per meal for fast food, that's over $100 a week. So shopping for food is cheaper in the long run.
It's complicated. Instead of buying food at a grocery and planning out basic meals, you'd have to order a burger, get toppings, a side, a drink, sizes for all those things, and the classic: "Do you want fries with that?"

People will always have questions like, "Mike, what if I'm in a hurry?" or "What about school?"

Being in a hurry is one thing, I can understand that. Fast food might be a reasonable choice then. I suggest taking more time in your day to eat at home. If you must eat out, then go for it. But by all means, make a smart decision. Get a chicken sandwich, or a salad. Not only are they healthier than burgers, but sometimes even cheaper. Don't form a habit of eating out.

In high school, I know I struggled to eat simply. Most days I caved and got the main dish, fries, and drink. I thought it was simpler to go with the flow of eating what was provided than to think about my meal beforehand.

In college, it can be different. You'll have much more selection and freedom. Go for wraps, salads, and sandwiches rather than burgers, pizza, and junk food. Most colleges have dorms with kitchens. Make use of it. Make your meals at your dorm instead of eating out.

To sum up my rant, eating at home and buying from a grocery store is simpler, easier, and inexpensive compared to eating out. You'll be much happier and your body will thank you.

100 Thing Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Faga) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 13:14:00 +0000

College is fast approaching, and a lot of people are talking about what they're taking to college. I hear mostly the same things: bedding, clothes, computer, furniture, and TV. I also hear about is the vast amount of things people will bring. It seems that my friends plan on bringing everything they own. But I have a different idea.

I plan on bringing only 100 personal items to college.

I read about this concept in a book by Dave Bruno, The 100 Thing Challenge. It's a fantastic book. The goal of this is to reduce the amount of clutter you have, and to see what you actually use and love. (Edit- I'd like to give a big thank you to Dave Bruno personally for reading my blog and retweeting this to all his followers. He has done me a huge favor by doing so.)

What isn't included:

Books
Cleaning supplies
Things that aren't personally yours, like dishes, an air conditioning unit, fridge, or TV.
Tools
Collections count as one item

I am excited to give this a try. Since I'm going to college soon, I'll be able to use this to guide what I take to college. That way I will truly see how well I can live with only 100 things. Then I will limit my entire life, and not just what I bring to college.

What is included:

Personal items

It's up to you to decide what's personal and what isn't. Usually you'd include shirts, pants, and clothing all as individual items. There is no judge, no competition, and no wrong answer to this.

How to start:

Inventory: Write down everything you choose. That way you can see how close to 100 you are.
Make a must keep pile. This is for things like a phone, keys, your Olympic Gold Medal, and clothing. Mark those separately, so you know not to forget them in the list.
Mark all the maybe items. If you get over 100, remove items from this list first. These are items you are borderlined about. Maybe it's that home run derby ball, or the shirt you got for Christmas.
Get rid of the rest. It's all right if this last step takes longer than the others. If you really think you might need these other items then put them in a box. Put that box in storage, and if you need to use it, you can.
If 100 is too easy, try a lower number. How about 95? If you're really daring, try 75, or 50.

My list so far:

Laptop
Phone
Camera
Climbing shoes
harness
chalk bag
Bible
printer
bedding
backpack
sunglasses
Sanuks
running shoes
running shoes
hiking shoes
flip flops
black dress shoes
brown/black reversible belt
cloth casual belt
gyro forearm exerciser
door frame pull up bar
yoga mat
coffee maker

I still have to go through my clothing. That will be the hardest part.

I might choose to list the coffee maker and printer as non-personal since my roommate might use them as well. I chose to list my laptop as one item, but I'm including it in the collection with its charger, mouse, mouse pad, and webcam. Same with my phone. It and its charger are one item.

Things I'm not counting (so far):

Furniture
school supplies

Once I know my full list, it will be posted.

Try the 100 thing challenge. Remember, you're the boss of this. You decide what counts and what doesn't. Write to me in the comments section on your progress, or message me in the contact section in the sidebar.

Update 2

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Faga) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 21:07:00 +0000

Back in the post, Empty Pockets, I talked about what I carry with me daily. A lot has changed since January. Now I carry what some would consider less, and some consider more:

Phone
Notebook
Pen
Wallet
Occasionally my keys clipped to my belt

Now I've carried a notebook and pen only since my last post, Update, but it's become quite the habit. I am starting to get the naked feeling when I don't have it on me. I write down so much stuff in it throughout the day.

But that's the thing! I don't want to be reliant on items. I don't know if this just isn't the system for me, or I just need to get used to this. Maybe the fact that I have a notebook in my pocket is odd for me. Either way, I like being able to write things down. It's quick, personal, and efficient.

Next on my list of habits is to start an inbox system. My desk is like any other teenagers: cluttered. I declutter it frequently, but have yet found a system that I personally like to keep it clear. What I plan to do is to have a single "box" (I don't know physically what it will be yet) to put all incoming papers/items into. The habit itself is to go through this box completely every day so that it is empty by the time I go to sleep. This is going to become quite a habit to start; I need to break my bad habit of having a cluttered desk.

I like focusing on one habit at a time. It has given me the ability to focus on it fully. I am looking forward to these new changes in my life.

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Disconnect and Be Present

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Faga) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:31:00 +0000

Your computer and phone were initially designed to save time, let you connect more with people, and maybe even relieve stress. But actually, it is the opposite. Right now, reading this blog post probably isn't the sole purpose of why you got on your computer. You maybe want to check Facebook, Twitter, or watch YouTube. Maybe even read the news. I'm not going to say give up doing all of that, I'm guilty of it too. I'm saying don't do it just because it's there.

What I am going to tell you is to disconnect.

Turn off the internet when you don't need to use it. It creates distractions and essentially makes any task longer. If you absolutely need the internet, use the full screen mode or close your other tabs. This lets you focus on what you need to accomplish.

I hung out with some friends the other day, and when I got there, a buddy of mine was searching his car for his phone. I helped him out, but without any luck, we couldn't find it. He then called his dad to see if it was at home. It was, and my friend was relieved. I was glad and started to go to the ice cream shop we wanted to go to. He had a different plan. Not only did he say he felt naked without it, he went back home to get it. He then arrived 20 minutes after everyone else, when he was actually the first one there. Even though the purpose of him going out was to be with other people. That got me thinking even more about disconnecting.

People don't even need their phones with them 24/7. It's a waste. Turn it off if you carry it around. An even better idea is to leave it at home. I know sometimes it can be a necessity to have it on you, but that doesn't mean keep it on. Turn it off instead.

How often do you go somewhere with the people you care about just to have your face in your phone talking to people you aren't with?

Turn it off and focus on the people you're with! Appreciate the moment you are in. Be present and not miles away talking to someone else. That text, Facebook and Twitter can wait, and so can you.

Update

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Faga) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 18:38:00 +0000

I didn't update like I wanted to. I have accomplished a lot since I wrote last.

I read Zen To Done by Leo Babauta. This ebook is great. I am now trying the system out. It's about creating habits, productivity, and achieving goals in a simplified way.
I decluttered much of my closet. I tore apart my closet and got rid of all the junk and trash. Now everything is in its place.
My desk has stayed relatively clear. I say relatively because I don't have an inbox set up yet. All of my "to do's" have piled up. That's one of the next things in the Zen To Done (ZTD) system for me.
I've started carrying around a small notebook. Instead of getting out my phone, going to the notes application, and typing, I now have a notebook to write my MITs and to do's. I've also started capturing ideas and the like in it. It's become useful and I hope to continue to use it.

I go to orientation this week for The Ohio State University. I'll get a good idea of what I will need in college, so I will be able to write down my list of everything I am bringing to college. I plan on doing the 100 Thing Challenge. I'm only bringing 100 things to college. I can't wait to start making the list!

I'll be able to update more frequently now that I have started ZTD. It consists of 10 habits I need to make, and I will record what I do.

A Simple Summer

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Faga) — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 17:24:00 +0000

My summer plans have grown exponentially over the last couple weeks. I have a 40 hour per week job babysitting and a bunch of things I want to do. It has become so overwhelming with my plans, my parents plans, preparing for college, hanging out with friends, and my friends plans that I have no "time" do just take it all in. So I broke it all down and summed it all into simpler plans.

My current summer plans/goals:

Construct another blog
Write an ebook
Write everyday
Vacation with my family
Babysitting
Climbing
Work on personal goals/habits

I feel that most plans are limiting. I still have a few things here and there I have scheduled. For example: I am going rappelling in late June. But I don't have anything scheduled that will take up a vast amount of time. I am now free to work on goals and habits. I am also free to schedule last minute things. I can also do more routine things like working out, or going climbing. Not only did I free up my commitments, I removed future stress from my summer.

Documenting My Simple Life

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Faga) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 19:51:00 +0000

This summer, I'm going to implement everything I've read, agree with, and have always thought "I want to try that sometime." I'm not saying I don't live simply, because I do. I have learned over my "break" from writing that since I wasn't writing, I started to revert back to a complicated lifestyle. My room started getting messy, I had more stress, and work was just piling up in my life.

My solution? I'm going to make a list of every topic, every idea, and every system I've come across in my journey to become a minimalist and have a simple life. My goal this summer is to focus on making my life more simple, and to document all of it. That way I will always have something to write about frequently, and it will make me think and prepare for other entries. Tomorrow's post will be of my plans. Meanwhile this summer, I will be writing my ebook. The only thing I will say about it is that it will be useful for all students even if they are not interested in "living simply."

I will post once to twice a week sharing what I've done to make my life simpler. If something happens or comes up, I will post about it.

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6 Gas Saving Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Faga) — Tue, 31 May 2011 14:52:00 +0000

With high gas prices, summer can get costly. I have a car, so my wallet is feeling the strain of filling up my gas tank. I have a simple solution for this.

Don't fill up your tank as much.

That's easier said than done. Daily errands, appointments, and commitments can eat up a major amount of gas. Here's some simple ways to not use as much gas:

Combine trips. If you plan on going to the bank, grocery store, and drugstore this week, do it all in one trip. Instead of driving back home between stops, plan out a day to do all the errands.
Carpool. If you know someone is going to the same destination, carpool to save money.
Ride a bike. Don't waste gas on trips across the street. Ideally you could ride your bike to work, but if that isn't realistic, ride a bike on simple trips. Going to a coffee shop to meet up with friends is a great time to ride a bike.
Walk. Walking can be very relaxing. If the summer weather is nice, a walk can relieve stress and offer a no cost solution to high gas prices.
Cut back on commitments. If you have a busy schedule, you will be paying for it at the pump. Cutting back on commitments can help eliminate trips and tank fill ups.
Drive slower. Driving fast uses a lot more gas than driving the speed limit. It seems pretty self explanatory, but in reality many people drive five, even ten miles per hour over the limit. Driving the speed limit can save you gallons of gas. Just don't rush, and give yourself a little more time to get to places.

I'm positive there are more ways to save money at the pump: rewards programs, gas cards, etc. You can easily come up with a few based on your own driving habits.

What do you do to save gas? Let me know in the comment section.

High School Is Over

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Faga) — Mon, 30 May 2011 20:37:00 +0000

Friday was my last day of high school. I now have a large commitment out of the way. I'm able to focus more on my blog now. I apologize for the lack of posting. Looking at my priorities, school trumped blogging. But now school is over for me, and now I have much more time to write.

My graduation is Saturday. This brings up two options for this blog:

Changing the name. I'm not going to be in high school, or a "teenager" that much longer. I need to appeal to a wider audience.
Keep this blog the way it is, and start another blog from scratch.

I'm leaning toward making another blog. I have links all over the web, and this blog has become a stepping stone for me. I have learned many things by writing this. Living simply is a journey, and I've gotten so much closer to my goal.

Keep your eyes out for a few things:

My new blog
An ebook (Big surprise! Even for me! I'm excited about this.)
More posts regarding my college plans, and having a simple summer

For all you high school students still in school: focus on exams, the day to day life, and being present. Don't be distracted. Good luck to all of you!

In 10 Years

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Faga) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 01:23:00 +0000

While being a senior, I have filled out many scholarship applications. Most of them are the same question, asking why I need the money, what field am I going into, etc. But the latest one I worked on was different. The essay prompt wanted me to write about where I wanted to be in ten years. I don't honestly know where I will be in ten years. I just know that I will be happy when I get to wherever that is. I will have made many more goals between now and when I am twenty-eight. I do not know what those goals are now, but I do know that they will have to do with my education, career, and personal life.

When I first wanted to plan my future after high school, I wanted to join the military. I wanted to be an Aviation Survival Technician for the Coast Guard, or to join the Navy. Once I did that, I thought I was all set. Then I needed to undergo spinal fusion surgery, now I have metal rods in my back. Having those prohibit me from joining any branch of the military. After having that surgery, I figured out that even if I try to plan, or predict, exactly where I want to be later in life, I have to literally take “life” into account. Life will throw a curveball and you need to be flexible. Now, I generally plan short term, while thinking about what I want to be doing later in life. I will also make sure I take the necessary steps to get there.

For my education, I am going to college at The Ohio State University in the School of the Environment and Natural Resources and I plan to major in Forestry, Fisheries, and Wildlife. My long term goal for my education is to complete my Masters degree. But in ten years, I'll be twenty-eight, out of college, and on my own. It would be ideal if I were to complete a doctorate degree, but preferably after I've started my career and know in what direction I am heading and in what I should specialize.

In terms of my career, ten years is a long way off. Ideally, I want to work in an ecology based field, working in conservation and with wildlife. In 10 years, I'll probably be looking at a job in the Metro Parks, National Parks, or even zoos. I want to work at conserving habitats, species, and ecosystems. I could work for the Department of Natural Resources, or a firm, but I'd like to stay away from an office position. I want to be outside, working with the things I am trying to protect.

Simply stated, I don't think anyone can even predict as to where they will actually be in ten years. I know that I will continue doing what I enjoy. I would like to see myself continue to rock climb, camp, kayak, run, and everything else I enjoy. I can see myself backpacking across Ohio, or climbing Denali in Alaska. I can see myself surfing in the Pacific ocean or hiking in the Rocky Mountains. I cannot see myself sitting in a cubicle all day, or working at a fast food restaurant.

I still have to answer the question, "Where do I expect to be in ten years?" I see myself in ten years as just that: myself. As long as I know what I want to be doing, and how I am going to get there, trying to look that far into the future doesn't necessarily matter to me. I know that I am on the right track with my life, and I know what I need to do to continue doing what I enjoy.

Setbacks

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Faga) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:32:00 +0000

Everyone has setbacks. Whether it's something that is between you and your goals, or it's holding you back from starting something. Don't let anything stop you.

I had a few setbacks recently. They weren't bad setbacks, just made me hold back on completing some goals. After rethinking things, I set my priorities straight. I haven't posted in a while. I realized that it is harder to blog during high school than I thought.

But these setbacks haven't stopped me. I am posting now, and that's because of a few things.

There is always another day. I wasn't necessarily putting off blogging until the next day, I was deciding what the best use of that day was.
Here and now is what really matters. I am posting this now, and it feels great. Having that feeling of accomplishment back will help me drive forward with my goals.
I went with the flow. I never got mad at myself for not posting. I simply went along with life.
I never forgot. I have a lot of topics planned out now.

Don't let things hold you back from completing your goals. Don't punish yourself for being held back. There is always tomorrow, and there is always time. Make sure to keep habits of working on your goals. Prioritize and do what is most important to you. Whether it's school, friends, or whatever happens in your life.

Calling vs Texting

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Faga) — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 16:57:00 +0000

Like the rest of the teenage population, I text. Way back when, I would text nonstop. But I look back on that now, and realize it was a complete waste of time. I never needed to really talk to that person. I was just bored. Most of the time, the conversations would be like this:

Me- "Hey"
So and so- "Hey"
Me- "What's up?"
So and so- "Nothin much. You?"
Me- "Nothin much."

And this pointless banter would continue for maybe 15 minutes, or even an hour. Nothing productive came from these texts.

Over the course of the 2010-2011 school year, I have made more phone calls than before. And I realized that I had much more meaningful conversation when I actually called and talked with them. I love being able to hear their voice rather than read from a screen. Now, this doesn't mean I hate texting. Texting is really useful when I am not in a situation to call, or honestly just don't feel like calling. The key with this is to know when to end the conversation. Simply ending it will not make the person you are texting mad. So don't worry.

Benefits:

Save battery. I noticed my phone's battery has lasted so much longer that I am not constantly texting someone.
Communication is more meaningful. Awkward silences don't happen as often since you have more to talk about.
It's less rude. I can't stand hanging out with a friend just to see them constantly staring at a phone screen. It's just not polite!

Texting is great though when you are able to have a conversation over a long period of time. It gives you the opportunity to not respond right away and finish what you are doing. Living in the moment and not texting go hand in hand. Are you busy working on a goal when you receive a text? Finish what you are doing. That text will be there when you are done.

There are probably more benefits for other people, those are just the ones that popped out at me the most.

Don't get me wrong, I do text. It is a great tool. I use it. But I don't overuse it.

Empty Pockets

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Faga) — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 22:20:00 +0000

At least everyday at school, I get hit in the hallway. Not by a person, but a purse. A huge, bulky, ridiculously large purse. I am used to it. It happens all the time. But recently, it got me thinking...

Why do we carry so much stuff?

We want instant gratification, and I think that having everything with you satisfies the need to get that instant gratification. Usually, it's only girls that have a million things with them, but now a lot of guys do too. Why do you need all that stuff?

Having all that "junk" is a burden. Not only does it literally weigh you down, but it also creates a burden, or weight, on your life. You become so dependent on what you have that you forget where you are, what you are doing, or who you're with. Here's a short list of what a lot of people carry every day.

The short list:

Phone

MP3 player

Headphones

Wallet

Purse (with make up, grooming items, lotion, tissues, etc.)

Pens/pencils

Watch

Keys

I used to carry all this, and sometimes even more. I felt so comfortable with having all of these items with me that forgetting one would make me feel awkward.

Right now, these are in my pockets:

Phone (Just able to call/text and take pictures. No internet or email.)

Wallet

Sometimes my iPod (Usually during times when I know I'm going to drive)

When I drive, I will grab my keys, but only when I need to drive. Sometimes, if I know I will be out for long periods of time or will need it, I will grab my iPod. Sure I have some gadgets like a laptop and a digital camera. I only take those with me when I know I need them.

So, what do you have in your pockets?

Put each item to the test.

Go a day without one of them, and see if you needed to use it. If you carry a camera all day, but never use it, why bother carrying it around? Then think if you actually have to use it everyday. If you don't actually need it, but it's a habit of wanting to, then try to go without using it.

Lifting the weight of possessions off your shoulders during the day relieves stress, and helps you live in the moment.

It's a great feeling to be burden free during the course of my day.

Use the Rush to Your Advantage

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Faga) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 02:37:00 +0000

The scramble at the end of the day. Traffic. Road rage. Crowded parking lots. Wouldn't it be great to leave school with no driving stress, whenever you decide to leave?

I arrive at school at 6:45 in the morning. I get a good parking spot, and can easily take my time to get to class. I am there when my friends arrive. If I am running late one day, I know that I still have plenty of time to get there.

But the afternoon is another story. School ends for me at 2:10.

My "After School" Routine:

Go to my locker, drop off my stuff.
Go to the music wing and pick up my violin.
Talk with friends along the way, taking my time.
Go back to my locker and get ready to leave. By now, the halls are somewhat empty.
Most likely, I am talking with other people.
Once ready, I head out the main entrance. The line to leave the parking lot has died down, but there are still people leaving.
Get in my car.
Breathe.
It's now usually 2:30, and I leave. I get home in roughly 2-3 minutes, now that everyone has cleared out.

Before I started this routine, I would rush out, and get stressed and frustrated by other drivers. I would end up getting home around 2:25-2:30. Now, I still get home around that same time.

With all of this: I get home reasonably, am not wasting gas in line, and am road-rage free.

Zen Computer Setup

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Faga) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 21:56:00 +0000

When I get on my computer, I see my desktop background. That's it. I used to have a bunch of icons, gadgets, and the toolbar taking up space. I thought that since it was right there, it was simpler.

I was wrong.

Having everything right there is very distracting. When I want to go online to check the weather, I see everything but what I want. I see games, programs, and, well, everything! I would get sidetracked and end up doing something completely unrelated.

Now all I have is a nice set of pictures. I have a slide show that changes every couple days. Now it's a glacial lake. I like a new background every so often.

I hid my Windows toolbar by selecting "Properties" and "Auto Hide." I also got rid of all the menu buttons. It's so relieving knowing that I have everything in a place, but that place isn't glaring at me, saying "Click on me..."

Other things I have done:

I hid all my desktop icons instead of deleting all of them, in case I can't find something in the program search.
I have all of my most used programs and files pinned in the Start menu. They are hidden away, but I can get to them quickly, while still being on task.
I got rid of gadgets. I never really liked gadgets. They take up eye space, and are never incredibly useful.

Now, about the Internet. I don't know what sites you regularly visit (Hopefully this is one of them!), but I try to limit to a select few.

I am now using Google Chrome. I love how minimal it is. I just recently switched, and am regretting not making the switch earlier. Also, I like to use full screen a lot when I am online. I see what is important, and am not tempted to do any surfing, since the search box is hidden.

In short, my desktop is bare, and my Internet browsing is simple. Just how I like it.

My Goals: Morning Routine

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Faga) — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 22:14:00 +0000

I started off right away with my 2011 goals. First on the list is my morning routine. I woke up today at 5 am, and drank some water. Then I proceeded to a nice half hour of yoga. If that didn't wake me up, I don't know what could!

Since I can do yoga in the morning, I just knocked out another goal without even realizing it. That is a simple and easy way to get my goals accomplished. If I only had gotten up at 5:00, and had done nothing, I probably would've fallen back asleep. If I do that every day, I will be a happy camper.

Knowing that waking up that early isn't much of a problem, or a challenge, I have decided that I can get much more done in the mornings than previously thought. But first, I need to be waking up at 5:00 consistently.

My Morning Routine Goal:

Wake up at 5:00.
Drink a glass of water.
Half hour or so of yoga.
Shower.
Eat breakfast.
Go to school.

My MITs for the next couple weeks are to get up at 5:00, drink more water throughout the day, and to do yoga every morning. These MITs help accomplish my goal(s): ideally to wake up earlier, but also it gives me time to do yoga.

Resolutions: Why They Do and Don't Work

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Faga) — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 16:36:00 +0000

"Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us." ~Hal Borland

Winter break is coming to a close for most high schools. Once back in school, everyone will probably talk about their New Year's resolution.

Resolutions are common, and even a tradition. Everyone makes at least one.

Resolutions can work for many reasons:

It can motivate you to become better.
Resolutions help clear out past mistakes, and will create a fresh start.
You can complete your resolutions with other people, and help keep each other on track.

That's a short list. I couldn't quite think of other reasons to make a resolution.

Even though I love having that spark of enthusiasm in the beginning of the year, I am not making a resolution. In the past, I have usually forgotten about it by April.

Problems I've had with resolutions:

No definite start/end. True you start on New Years day, but there isn't a plan. Just an idea.
It isn't a goal. Having a resolution is just a finished future product or result. Let's say you want to lose weight. Congratulations on wanting to lose weight, but how much? What are you going to do to lose it? How? What in your life are you going to change? What habits will you need to make?
Usually, resolutions are big and mighty. A common resolution I hear about is to cut out junk food completely. No! That's way too much to think about! Try something small first. Go a week without fast food, or have a better breakfast twice a week. Don't ever quite cold turkey.
Resolutions are pessimistic. You never hear things like: "I'm going to volunteer more!" It's always: "I need to lose weight..."

This year, I am not going to make a resolution. I am instead going to make a list of achievable goals, and tackle each goal one at a time.

“I think in terms of the day's resolutions, not the years." ~Henry Moore

If you are creating goals for the New Year (or if you still want to call them resolutions), make them in the present. For example, one of my goals is to wake up at 5 am. So I would say "I wake up at 5 everyday." But don't lie to yourself, actually try to achieve it.

My goals:

Wake up at 5 everyday. I love getting stuff done in the morning, so I need to make more time for that!
Do yoga everyday. I do yoga periodically, but I need to start doing it daily, so it's a habit.
Go climbing in Red River Gorge. I need to strengthen my climbing skills so I can go climbing on some real rock.
Write everyday. I am always saying "Oh that'd be a great post!" But then I never post it. If I write everyday regardless, I will always have something.
Eat healthy, preferably with whole foods. So far, I try to eat junk foods only during weekends/holidays. But that doesn't include all the crap foods at school. Eating better at lunch is my first goal, it will take some figuring out!
Run at least twice a week. I love to run, but I never have time to anymore. I need to fit that into my life. Time to edit my commitments again!
Be clutter-free. So far, I've done pretty good with my bedroom (desk, floor, etc) but there is so much more clutter and things I can remove.

I am starting these goals one at a time, beginning with waking up at 5. Currently I wake up at 5:30 on school days, but that still doesn't give me enough time to do yoga, and write in the mornings. Having goals that work off of each other really helps me stay motivated.

Read Goals for tips on making your own list of New Year's goals.

Review 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Faga) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 17:33:00 +0000

The other day, I decided that I needed to reflect on the year. 2010 is coming to a close, and I've done some pretty important things.

A short list of what I've done:

Fully recovered from my spinal fusion surgery. I have scoliosis, and in October 2009, I had to get some of my vertebrae fused together, and got two metal rods inserted along my spine. After a year of restrictions, I am now fully recovered.
Cut out a lot of my commitments. I feel so much better now that I am not spending time and energy doing things that I don't enjoy.
Got back into rock climbing. One restriction I had from my spinal fusion surgery was not being able to climb. I am able to climb again, and I love it!
Started this blog! With over 500 views so far, and with only existing for less than two months, who knows how far this blog will get in the whole year of 2011.
Started a twitter. It's a great way to socialize and get information out.
Started a tumblr blog. I started it for my own personal use and documentation.

2010 was full of other accomplishments, and I know 2011 will be too!