Im sure this is gonna be a long read but I promise to make it worth it.
Not too many kids my age would admit to doing some soul searching but lately that's what I've done. Back in May when John Mayer (Yeah I know. Shut up I like him ) released the latest record it had a different vibe to it. I recently read in Men's Journal that he moved to Montana and claims to be doing well. Life was less hectic.

Less hectic sounds great because my life at school, gets to be kind of nuts sometimes and I have been searching for a way to slow that down. So when I found out Mayer moved to Montana, I remembered I had a professor from school who I greatly admire and we actually know each other pretty well so I asked him, "Is it the location of that friggin state that seems to calm people from there or is it something else I am missing?" He said, Andrew what I learned growing up there was how to enjoy the things around me that aren't online. I know your a technology student, but try to change your online habits a bit.

So I did. I started paying more attention to the world around me. Went on a great bike ride today through the emerald necklace here in Cleveland and never noticed how fun that could be. Found out an SRV tribute band is playing at our local library next week. Signed up to race in a 5k the next night and most importantly, I have played my acoustic on the back porch every night lately and its awesome.

Since all of this I have been a little more relaxed and truly appreciate the things around me. Obviously still online a lot. Its what I study for crying out loud but I am learning there is so much more to life. I challenge all of those who feel like I did, like the internet is just taking over, and go out and try some minor tweaks. It will make a world of difference.

Anyone else ever go through something like this?

AO1793. Your probably going to live to be a 110 years old with your revelation for life. I know too many people that have no interests other than plopping they're fatass on the couch and watching American Idol. Or getting on the internet to argue issues of the day.

I get picked on on a local forum for riding bikes, or playing with RC cars/planes, playing guitars and whatever. I'm almost 55 years old, and I refuse to grow up. We have one life on this planet, live it to it's fullest or you wasted it.

BTW, I don't own a couch.

I play with toys though.

Trek Fuel EX8.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s8GazKU ... ature=plcp

My slot car track.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytWJLN8s ... ature=plcp

RC8BE. I raced off and on for 19 years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8B9TmXG ... ature=plcp

10th scale truck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2e4wAOFS ... ature=plcp


Breaking in a Saito 56.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0mN9kG5 ... ature=plcp

I like 4 strokes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiY7-2xh ... ature=plcp

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Gary

Since I was about 13 the idea of 'getting real' has been in the back of my head. It was only sometime last year, when I was having my panic attacks, that I decided to actually act upon that idea. I was in such a mess at that point I just needed to get away from everything. So, I did, and am still doing, what you basically did; finding more about yourself. I discarded my phone, cut my internet usage back, went for walks outside of town with my guitar case on my back, chilled by the river, got a cruiser skateboard, rode that litterally everywhere I could, explored undeveloped paddocks, stargazed. You know, all the simple stuff you hear your parents always talking about. And you know what? I feel alot more fullfilled, and greatful, even though I still have alot of pessimistic views on society and people and what not.
If you need an extra motivator, watch 'into the wild'. I watched it 2 months ago, an I could totally relate to the dude. Its freaky, he has pretty much summed my views up, almost excatly

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former user radio_friendly_unit_shifter

Hello guys I like this thread. It is important to relate to the world in different aspects !
AO1793 & Riley -spread the word Gary :Keep on keeping on And if you all are looking for some different addition to your lives , it might be worth a try to get into meditation/yoga. I plan getting back to meditation , as I know it did me well over years, but thats a long time ago. My plans for today is getting a walk into some nice nature(or perhaps on a bicycle) ,then try to complete some recordings that started with a friend yesterday . That's not what I really work with , so I find it really relaxing and encouraging -something different than work. I think we all need starting loving a variety of things Cheers

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A-man

I'm there, too. Quotes from my Mom 45 years ago: Go outside and get some fresh air; turn off the TV and go play. Mom was right.

i have turned in my notice to leave an industry i have been part of for 40 years- the last 30 in sales.

it was a lot of fun, but in the last 10 years almost all of the family owned companies have been purchased by 2 large conglomerates. the rules have changed, and not for the better. not for me-and more importantly, not for my customers.

i am now going to work in a store, where i am appreciated, and when i leave at the end of the day, i don't have to field phone calls, answer problems, or do meaningless reports. i already feel a burden off me, and i am actually sleeping good at night.

the less stress i have now at age 58, the better my remaining years will be

"Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things."
-- Antonio Smith

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Mona
"Music is What Feelings Sound like"

i live in between dallas and fort worth here in the great country of Texas. as you can imagine, it is kinda hectic most of the time. i'm literally next door to DFW airport. sometimes (like now) i get really depressed. i start drinking heavily and get a really bad attitude. the first chance i get i'll take the wife fishing at the farm where i used to work. or even better, we'll go to Oklahoma and really, really get away from this stinking city. fishing, hunting or just shooting targets is something that forces me to relax. hell, just sitting on the porch looking out over the pasture and beyond at the beautiful tall pines is awesome.
i need to get away soon. thanks for reminding me.

Speaking of fishing jeebus, I used to do a lot of wade fishing down here in the Gulf. There was just something about being alone in the water knowing I was in THEY'RE element. And what I mean by "They're" is the Sharks and Stingrays tossing home made lures and catching fish, is awesome.

In the afternoons I would set up my tent on the beach and during one summer, I spent 26 out of 28 weekends camped out on the beach. I love the water.

I also love photography.

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Gary

I've been thinking about the same thing for a long time now. I'm almost ready to quit the job, pick up stakes and move north just a couple of counties where life is much slower and quieter. Work would be easier and require fewer hours, but it would pay less at a time when I have only 6 or 8 more years to earn. I'm working in the office 5-6 days a week and at home every day, night, weekend and holiday. All this and I had to take a pay cut to stay employed.

The beach is a 3 min walk from my home but I get there just once or twice a year usually when family comes to visit. I want my life back . . . but I'm not quite ready to let go of this career yet. I am torn. So AO793, don't fall into this trap.

I'd hate to think that my main purpose in life is to act as a warning to others.

exactly Houston. we just bank fish at the farm and dodge the snakes and an occasional curious bull. just being there away from this place does us both alot of good.
my favorite place is the woods. like you say, in their element. i've yet to harvest a deer. sure i've missed a couple because of excitement and just being a poor shot. but i've also watched at least 6 thru my scope without firing a round. i can't explain this. 2 were young bucks and i simply couldn't sqeeze the trigger. the others were does and although i had tags, i let them walk away.
i could sit or walk around in the woods for entire days. the elements mean nothing. the worse the weather is the more i enjoy it. the only thing that scares me are rattlers. the nearest hospital is several miles away.

Consider it noted. We all have certian responsibilites we have to take care of but it sounds to me that at somepoint we all did/do something that made us happy in some way, shape or form.

What I have noticed in myself personally through all of this (and to an extent my family has noticed too) but since I was around 17, I have been kind of a d***. Not a very nice person. People enjoyed my humor but felt that I was mean sometimes.

All of this has made me realize I can at least be a nicer person. Avoid things that upset me, apologize when I am wrong.

So through noticing a simpler world, one can look in themselves easier and find out what they can do better to be happier. I know I am happier thinking of myself as a man who reads more, plays guitar and is generally kind rather being a college frat boy who is mean and chases tail day and night. So far, the first feels so much better than the second.

Keep the responses coming guys. I am getting good ideas. Never fished before. Gonna try that soon.

I have to say I agree with this 100%.

I'm kinda in the same boat as Riley here, I'm suffering from Panic Attacks at the moment and I need to rearrange my life to get my head straight, getting away from work and having more "me" time at festivals, on my guitar and away from the internet is helping for sure.

I'm very close to ditching my smart phone and going back to texts and calls, cut out all the emails and facebook all day everyday.

I feel ya on that one. Although I do love my Angry Birds.

A thought I had earlier about all of this is we are reaching a point in history where we give to ourselves a whole lot. Think about it, I just said "I love my angry birds." Thats me giving entertainment to myself. I could just as easily read a book and learn something right?

I think the amount of ourselves we have to give to other people in our lives is somewhat correlated with how much we can give to ourselves. I can wake up, make breakfast and read "the paper" online (Disgusting thought) and go to work, waste away on the internet and go to bed every night and talk to 3 people.

Just going out and doing more is a way to find what part of you, you can give to friends and family so one is more connected with the real world.

There's a lot to be said for just 'slowing down' and breathing in life..........

Living in Scotland, we get a lot of rain. This past few days we have had a LOT of rain, the kind that bounces off the ground. The wife was getting all flustered cause the kids were coming in dragging their wet shoes over the new flooring and generally making a muddy mess after being caught out in the weather...........the stress levels started getting silly and I just thought, 'sod it!'......stuck on a pair of shoes and walked out into the garden and just stood in the rain........

AS I stood there getting soaked, the thunder and lightning started............I just took a deep breath and closed my eyes. When I opened them, there was the wife and kids staring at me from the window bemused at the sight of me in just a tshirt and jeans, utterly soaked. That 3 mins in the rain was 3mins of freedom from the bull that we are controlled by day after day after day...............

180 seconds of reality cleanses the soul man...................

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speak slowly I'm a drummer too!!

And I proudly lack a stick or a kazoo up my arse...........